The University - American System of Education
Primary school
American children start school at the age of five years. The first year at school is called kindergarten. It is required of all American children enrolled in the American education system. The second year at school is considered the first year of primary school and is referred to as first grade. In America, the word grade has two meanings: (1) the score achieved on an exam or in a course, and (2) a year of education in primary or secondary school. Primary school most commonly consists of five years of education, referred to as first through fifth grades.
Secondary school
Upon completion of fifth grade (the last year of primary school), American children enrolled in the American education system advance to secondary school. Secondary school most commonly consists of a total of seven years, referred to as sixth through twelfth grades. The ninth through twelfth grades are most commonly referred to as high school. Upon completion of twelfth grade, American students are awarded a certificate called the high school diploma. In the American education system, students must have obtained a high school diploma before they are admitted into college or university. Foreign students who would like to attend an American college or university must have completed coursework that is equivalent to what is taught at an American high school. Foreign students who would like to attend an American high school, need to consider how the high school they select will give them access to the best colleges. You can also learn about some of the finest girls boarding schools and boys boarding schools in the American education system.
Undergraduate school
Students who have completed high school and would like to attend college or university must attend what is referred to as an undergraduate school. These are schools that offer either a two-year degree (called an associate degree) or a four-year degree (called a bachelors degree) in a specific course of study. That course of study is called the major. While most schools that offer a four-year degree will admit students who have not yet chosen a major, all students are required to select (or declare) a major by their second year at school. Students who complete an associate degree can continue their education at a four-year school and eventually complete a bachelor degree.
Graduate school
Students who have obtained a bachelor’s degree can continue their education by pursuing one of two types of degrees. The first is a master’s degree. This is usually a two-year degree that is highly specialized in a specific field. Students are sometimes admitted to a master’s degree program only if they have a bachelor’s degree in a closely related field. However, there are many exceptions to this, such as with students who want to pursue a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) degree. Students who want to advance their education even further in a specific field can pursue a doctorate degree, also called a PhD. A PhD degree can take between three and six years to complete, depending on the course of study chosen, the ability of the student, and the thesis that the student has selected. The thesis is a very intensive research paper that must be completed prior to earning the degree. It is always required of students pursuing a PhD, and may sometimes be required of students pursuing a master’s degree (depending on the school).
Certain courses of study are only available at the graduate school level in America. The most notable of these are law, dentistry, and medicine. Students who want to pursue a degree in one of these fields must first obtain a bachelor’s degree.
You can click here to learn about and contact some of the best universities, colleges, community colleges, junior colleges, ESL schools and boarding schools in the American education system.
Boarding School: Boys Boarding Schools Girls Boarding School
Associate Degree: Associate Degree Guide
Masters Degree: Masters Degree Program Guide
Film Schools: Top film school and film directing schools
Cooking Schools – Culinary Schools: Top cooking schools and culinary schools
Online Colleges: Online college degrees and online college courses
U.S./Canadian students can also learn about earning an Online Bachelor Degree or a
Masters Degree Online: online master degree.
Green Card Lottery: US Green Card Lottery Application
Acting Schools: Film Acting Class
Schooling by Design
Accredited Colleges and Accredited Universities
The United States government does not regulate the quality of educational programs offered at colleges and universities. Instead, the accreditation of a university, college or school tells you that the school has met a minimum standard of quality in its academic programs. Accrediting organizations are authorized by the US Department of Education to set these standards and then evaluate whether a school’s program meets them. If so, then the university, college or school is said to be „accredited„ by that body.
There are several different accrediting organizations in the US, and universities and colleges may be accredited by just one or by a few. Also, individual programs (such as the engineering program) at universities and colleges can be accredited by a professional organization that is specialized in that discipline.
It is very important to choose a school, college or university that has been accredited by a proper accrediting organization. By attending an accredited college, university or school, you can be sure that your degree will be recognized by other colleges and universities (should you want to pursue an advanced degree), and by employers. You can find out directly from the school whether it is accredited and also by which organizations. This information may also be available in some college guides. Beware of bogus accrediting bodies. Some schools set up their own accrediting agencies (which often look legitimate) and then accredit their own school so that they can claim their campus is accredited. Below is a list of reputable accrediting organizations. Almost all reputable universities, colleges, and schools in the U.S. are accredited by one of the accrediting organizations listed below.
