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LEVELS OF U.S. HIGHER EDUCATION
ASSOCIATE DEGREE
Students pursue an associate degree in either academic or professional subjects in terminal career or technical programs. Unlike certificate and diploma programs, the associate degree is recognized as a higher education degree and credits earned during the program may be transferred to a bachelor’s degree program under certain conditions. The most common types of associate degrees earned in academic programs are the Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degrees. Completion of these programs generally requires at least 2 years of full-time academic studies.
BACHELOR'S DEGREE
A bachelor’s degree is the most common degree in U.S. higher education and leads to advanced study possibilities. Obtaining a bachelor’s degree usually requires 4 years of full-time academic studies. However, many degrees can take longer to complete, including those in engineering, architecture, and other fields. Most bachelor’s degrees are titled Bachelor of Arts (BA or AB) or Bachelor of Science (BS or SB), but there are many other bachelor’s degree titles in use.
FIRST-PROFESSIONAL DEGREE
First-professional degree is a category of qualifications in professional subject areas that require students to have previously completed specified undergraduate coursework and/or a degree before enrolling. It is considered to be a graduate-level program in U.S. system, and first-professional degree holders may undertake graduate study in professional fields following award of the degree. Some of these degrees use the term “doctor” in the title, but do not contain an independent research component or require defending a dissertation. A first-professional degree requires a total of at least 6 academic years of college work to complete the program, including prior required college work and the length of the professional program itself.
MASTER'S DEGREE
A master’s degree is the first graduate-level qualification in U.S. higher education system and may lead to PhD studies. Master’s degrees usually take two years to complete, but the time period may vary depending on the field of study and structure of the program. Popular fields of study for master’s programs include business, education, health and medicine, public administration, and social services. The most common master’s degrees are Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Science (MS). However, there are many different degree titles, especially in the professional fields.
DOCTORATE/PHD DEGREE
A doctorate or PhD degree is considered to be the highest academic qualification in the U.S. education system. The structure of the doctorate programs is more formal and complex than previous degrees and requires complete and independent research upon completion. Furthermore, students admitted to doctoral programs must participate in doctoral seminars or colloquia and pass written comprehensive examinations that cover their chosen research specialization. A student may spend four to six years earning his or her doctorate.
PROGRAMS OF U.S. HIGHER EDUCATION
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
With the world’s top universities and a rich field of undergraduate degree programs, the U.S. is one of the best study abroad destinations in the world. Each year many international students come to the U.S. to pursue post-secondary education and gain valuable real-life experience. The country is a melting pot of people from all over the world.
An undergraduate program is the first level of post-secondary education that begins after secondary schooling. Most universities and colleges offer a liberal arts education, which means students are required to take courses across several disciplines before choosing one specific field of study in which to specialize. Furthermore, American higher education has a unique characteristic, allowing students to change majors at any point in their undergraduate studies. The most common undergraduate program is a bachelor’s degree, which students can begin pursuing at a community college or a four-year university or college.
The United States offers a wide range of institutions, programs, and locations, and the number of choices may overwhelm many international students. To help you make the right decision now, please contact our advisors who will help you to choose the program and the institution that best suits your needs and expectations.
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
U.S. postgraduate courses combine first-class teaching and leading research to prepare graduates for professional excellence in the world of work. Students who pursue a master’s or doctoral degree are called “graduate students”. Graduate education is different from the undergraduate level of study in that students focus more intensely on their specific field of study, which requires more independent research work and dedication.
Each year, over 500,000 students earn a master’s degree, making a master’s degree the most frequently awarded graduate degree in the U.S. There is a variety of types of master’s offered in the U.S. with the option to proceed for advanced PhD-level. Tuition fees for U.S. master’s degrees vary significantly depending on courses and institutions, but international students don’t usually pay more than other “out of state” students. Approximate fees for a Master’s degree at a U.S. public university are between $20,000 and $30,000 USD per year. For PhD students, this can rise to $28,000 – 40,000 USD per year; however, the majority of PhD students in science and engineering get significant amounts of funding to cover these costs.
Many graduate programs offer internships with valuable networking opportunities and help students to gain knowledge and experience in their specific field of study. Since the U.S. is such a large country with vast resources, almost every field of study is available in the country.
ESL/ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE PROGRAM
Learning a foreign language has become an invaluable skill for future career opportunities in an ever-changing global market. However, reasons for wishing to learn a new language may vary, including the desire to study abroad, or the interest in exploring other languages and cultures.
The U.S. is considered to be the most popular destination to study English as a Second Language. A wide range of institutions, including colleges, universities, and private language schools, offer ESL programs to suit every need.
Additionally, many international students have the opportunity to study English at a U.S. university even if they do not yet meet the language requirements for the degree program of their choice. Learning English through pathway programs allow students to develop their academic English skills and learn about student life in the U.S. while acquiring credits towards their bachelor’s or master’s degree. Based on success in their academic English proficiency, students may directly enter into the second year of an academic program. These English support programs are usually available at top universities such as the University of Maine or Roosevelt University in Chicago.
One of the most important benefits of going abroad and learning a new language is the ability to improve your current skills and a chance to immerse yourself in a different environment and gain a better understanding of North American culture.
