About Undergraduate Education in the U.S.

The United States offers a wide variety of higher education institutions. This section explains the difference between them. Learn More

The vast number of undergraduate degrees offered by the different higher education institutions may seem daunting. This section casts some light of clarification.

Bachelor's and Associate Degrees

The bachelor's degree typically takes four years to complete. The associate degree usually takes two years to complete. Associate degree programs may be "terminal" programs, which lead into specific careers upon graduation, or "transfer" programs, which correspond to the first two years of a bachelor's degree and tend to be more liberal arts based. Under the latter option one could then transfer into the third year of a four-year bachelor's degree program. Associate degree programs are offered at two-year colleges known as junior or community colleges. Four-year colleges and universities offer bachelor's degree programs, with a small number also offering associate degree programs.

The U.S. Bachelor's Degree

One of the most attractive features of the bachelor's degree program in the United States is that it is highly flexible. You can usually choose from a wide variety of courses and create your own unique program of study. The degree is awarded after you complete a specified number of credits, which are usually completed in four years of full-time study. The first year is called the freshman year; the second is called sophomore; the third, junior; and the fourth, senior. You may read that students in the United States often take longer than four years to complete their degrees. This may be because they change majors and need to accumulate enough credits in the new major field to earn the degree. Or it may be because they take less than a full-time course load per term for academic, personal, or financial reasons. International students, however, cannot study part-time and must maintain full-time status.

United States higher education is grounded largely in the notion of a Liberal Arts Education. U.S. undergraduate education is based on the concept of "liberal arts," with the goal of providing a well-rounded academic education that develops students' verbal, written, and reasoning skills. Students at a liberal arts college, or at a university with a strong liberal arts program, begin their degree study by taking classes in a wide variety of courses in the arts, humanities, languages, and the social and physical sciences. They then choose a subject in which to specialize (called a major) and take about 25 to 50 percent of their classes in the major area. Even those who do not follow a liberal arts program and instead plan to major in a specialized subject like engineering are usually required to take about 25 percent of their classes in humanities and social sciences to complement their studies. Similarly, a student who wants to complete a major in history is required to take some classes in mathematics and, possibly, the sciences.

Different schools use different calendars, and sometimes the differences become confusing. The academic year is slightly different for each institution, but normally runs from early September to the end of May. It may either be divided into two terms of 18 weeks called semesters, or "quarters" or "trimesters," which are about 12 weeks long.  Universities very often provide six- to eight-week summer terms. These are optional, and students attend if they wish to complete their degree faster, decrease their course load during the regular terms, or make up for courses not completed successfully during the regular academic year.

There are at least two main holidays during the academic year: a two- to four-week break in the winter (December-January) and a one-week "spring break" some time between early March and mid-April.

American institutions of higher learning require students to take a certain number of courses in their major course of study as well as a number of courses in various other fields. Learn More

Highly disciplined students who desire a United States degree without leaving their home country for long periods of time are not disqualified from a U.S. education. This section explains the new trend of distance learning. Learn More

Do you want to study in the United States at a college or university, but not for a full degree? Perhaps you want to experience life on a U.S. campus, while improving your knowledge of certain subjects. This is certainly a useful addition to your educational experience, and U.S. colleges welcome students such as you. You should write to colleges, explain your situation, and request information on applying for "special student" or "non-degree student" status. See 'Short-Term Study' for more information on opportunities in the United States, and refer to 'Admissions' for further details on requesting information from U.S. universities.

Professional (career-oriented) education is included within the U.S. university system. Large universities tend to be comprised of a college of arts and sciences and several professional schools — usually business, agriculture, medicine, law, and journalism. Institutes of technology have a scientific emphasis in all the degrees they offer.