Higher Education in the United States
Higher education is given in colleges and universities. There are over 2. 100 various higher educational institutions, including colleges, technological institutes and universities. The oldest American universities are Harvard, Yale, Pennsylvania, Princeton, Columbia. They were founded in the 17 th and 18 th centuries.
Later on the network of higher educational institutions spread from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific. A college is a four-year institution of higher learning that offers courses in related subjects. A business college, for example, offers courses in accounting, investment, marketing. Many colleges are independent and award Bachelor's degrees to those completing a program of instruction that typically takes four years. But colleges can also be components of universities.
A large university typically comprises several colleges, graduate programs in various fields, one or more professional schools, and one or more research facilities.
A college student takes courses in his or her «major» field, the area of study in which he or she chooses to specialize, along with «electives» , courses that are not required but chosen by the student.
After four years of studies the students get a traditional Bachelor's degree. Then the students may go on to a graduate school and with a year or two of further study gets a Master's degree. After another year or two of study and research, they may get a still higher degree as Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D. ).
The student's progress is evaluated by means of tests, term works and final examinations in each course. Colleges and universities, both private and public, charge tuition.
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