education.doc

Higher EducationIn USAPrimary School: Begins around age six, five or six years Secondary School: consists of either two three- year programs or a three-year and a four-year program. These are called middle school or junior high school and senior high school (often just called high school). Higher Education: After finishing high school, U.S. students may go on to college or university. College or university study is known as higher education. Study at a college or university leading to the Bachelors Degree is known as undergraduate education. Study beyond the Bachelors Degree is known as graduate school, or postgraduate education. State College or University: A state school is supported and run by a state or local government. Each of the 50 U.S. states operates at least one state university and possibly several state colleges. Some state schools have the word State in their names. Private College or University: These schools are operated privately, not by a branch of the government. Tuition will usually be higher than at state schools. Often, private colleges and universities are smaller in size than state schools. Two-Year College: A two-year college admits high school graduates and awards an Associates Degree(准学位). Some two-year colleges are state-supported, or public; others are private. Two-year college or junior college（大专） graduates usually transfer to four-year colleges or universities, where they complete the Bachelors Degree in two or more additional years. Community College: This is a two-year state, or public college. Community colleges serve a local community, usually a city or countyUndergraduate (College) YearsCourse of study: U.S. students usually study a wide variety of subjects while in college. Many students do not specialize exclusively in one field until graduate school. The first two years of college are called the freshman and sophomore years. Some schools require freshmen and sophomores to take courses in different areas of learning: literature, science, the social sciences, the arts, history, and so forth. Freshmen and sophomores are known as underclassmen. (低年级学生)The junior and senior, or third and fourth years, are the upper classes. (高年级学生) When students enter their junior year, they must choose a major field of study. They must take a certain number of courses in this department, or field. In some schools, students also choose a minor field. There is usually time for students to choose several other elective (extra) courses（选修课程）in other subjects. Each student is assigned a faculty advisor（指导老师） who teaches courses in the students major field. This advisor helps the student select a program of study. Classroom learning: Classes range from large lectures for several hundred students to smaller classes and seminars (discussion classes) with only a few students. Students enrolled in lecture courses are often divided into smaller groups, or sections. The sections meet separately to discuss the lecture topics and other material. Professors usually assign textbook and other readings each week. They also require several written reports each semester (term). Academic year: The school calendar usually begins in August or September and continues through May or June. The academic year at many schools is composed of two terms or semesters. Other schools use a three-term calendar known as the trimester system. Credits: Each course is considered to be worth a number of credits or credit hours. This number is roughly the same as the number of hours a student spends in class for that course each week. Postgraduate (Graduate) EducationMasters Degree: Most time in a Masters program is spent in classroom study. A Masters Degree candidate usually must prepare a long research paper called a masters thesis. BSc (Bachelor of Science) is a Science Degree BA (Bachelor of Arts) is an Arts Degree BEng (Bachelor of Engineering) is an Engineering Degree M.B.A., or Master of Business AdministrationDoctorate (Ph.D.): Many graduate schools consider the Masters Degree as the first step towards attaining the Ph.D. (doctorate). But at other schools, students may prepare directly for the doctorate without also earning a Masters Degree. It may take three years or more to earn the Ph.D. Degree. For the first two years, most doctoral candidates enroll in classes and seminars. For at least another year, students will conduct first and research and write a thesis or dissertation. This paper must contain views, designs, or research that have not been previously published. In BritainThe British education system is different from that of many countries: At 16 years of age, British students take GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) examinations at