US Education System

The A.A./A.S. degree or Associate's Degree

Two-year degree given by a two-year community or junior college. It is possible to transfer from a two-year college to a four-year college for completing Bachelor's degree.

The B.S. (Bachelor or Arts) or B.S. (Bachelor of Science) Degree

Given after four years of study at an undergraduate college or university. This degree usually includes 60 credits of general education courses (Sociology, Psychology, History, Philosophy, etc;) plus 60 credits of specialization in the major. There are many types of Bachelor degrees- B.S.M.E. (Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering), B.F.A. (Bachelor of Fine Arts), etc.

The Master's Degree

Requires one to three years of study after obtaining the Bachelor's degree. Time required is dependent on the field of study. There are several types of Master's degrees: M.A. (Master of Arts), M.S. (Master of Science), M.B.A. (Master of Business Administration), M.Ed (Master of Education) A Master's degree requires the writing of a thesis and /or the taking of comprehensive exams.

The Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) or Ed.D.(Doctor of Education) Degree

Usually requires 3 additional years of study after obtaining the Master's degree. It requires original research to be conducted and written up in the form of a dissertation and the defense of that research orally.

Unique Features of the U.S. System

Accreditation

The U.S. uses a rigorous and complex system of monitored self-study by six regional accrediting bodies to determine whether or not an institution is "accredited." This is the word used in the U.S. to connote "recognized" or "approved."

College and University

In the United States, colleges and universities are ALWAYS postsecondary (past high school) institutions. Americans use the terms "college" and "university" interchangeably, and a degree from a college is equivalent to a degree from a university. In fact, some of the most selective institutions in the U.S. are colleges.

HINT: Don't let the name "college" make you think your institution is less reputable or qualified than a "university."

The major differences are that colleges tend to have smaller student bodies, focus on undergraduate education and hire professors for their teaching abilities. Universities tend to be larger, offer undergraduate and graduate programs and hire faculty to teach and conduct research.

P.S: Whether U.S. institutions are public or private does not tell anything about their quality - excellent colleges and universities are common in both categories.

Public and Private Universities

The U.S. has a great variety of strong public and private universities. The oldest universities (Harvard, Yale, Princeton) were and still are private. Funding comes from tuition, grants for research, and voluntary contributions. Public institutions are state-controlled and give preference to in-state students. They tend to be less expensive, but usually assess added out-of-state fees to students from other states and countries.

Credit System

Progress toward graduation in the U.S. is measured through the accumulation of credits, rather than in years as in many other countries. Each course/class you successfully complete is worth a certain number of credits and a determined number of credits is required for graduation.

Ability to transfer from one university to another

The credit system allows students to "take their credits" from one undergraduate program to another, or from a two-year college to a four-year college, and not have to begin over again at the beginning. However, each university determines how much credit they will grant for previous work and how much of that credit will fulfill their requirements.

Ability to change major fields of study

"Changing majors" after enrollment is a common practice among undergraduate students. Changing a major may mean more time is needed to complete the requirements of the new field before being eligible to graduate, but it does give students the opportunity to move into the program best suited to their needs and abilities.

P.S: While there are many universities that will be able to give you a degree, it is well worth your time and effort to find ones that truly match your ability, personality, budget, and goals.