Higher Education in the USA

After high school young people either start working or continue in higher education. There are several ways to do it: universities, colleges and technical or vocational schools. The cherished desire of any U.S. school leaver is to enter one of the most prestigious educational establishments in the USA, such as Harvard, Princeton, Yale or Columbia Universities.

A university in the United States usually has several different colleges in it. Each has a special subject area. There may be a college of liberal arts where humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and mathematics are taught to provide general knowledge and to develop the mine. These colleges are not professional or technical. There may be a college of education and a college of business. A programme for undergraduates usually takes four years. University students get an undergraduate degree in the arts or science. If they complete a course of study they get Bachelor of Arts or Science degree. Students may leave the university at this time. They may also go on for a graduate or professional degree.

College students usually spend four years in school too. But a college does not have graduate or professional programmes.

The technical or vocational school has only job training. It has no academic programme. A course of study may take from six months to two years and more. The technical or vocational school gives training for work in areas such as electronics, carpentry and others.

Since tuition fees can be rather high (ranging from $20,000 for an academic year at Harvard, Yale or Columbia to under $1,000 at small public institutions) at most colleges and universities, a large number of students hold jobs besides studying. These part-time jobs may be either "on campus" (in the dormitories, cafeterias, students services, in research and in teaching and tutoring jobs) or "off campus" (with local firms and businesses, in offices, etc.).

As a result of economic changes and the rapid advance of the "information age", the necessity to acquire new occupational skills has increased. Adult courses in business, health care, engineering and education are very popular. Most participants in continuing or adult education have a practical goal: they want to update or upgrade their job skills.

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