1. Higher education at public colleges and universities in the USA is free of charge
2. 
The structure of higher educational establishments in the USA differs notably from that in your country
3. Accreditation is a voluntary process
4. Accreditation is granted by relevant governmental bodies
5. Two-year colleges dont award bachelors degree
6. Undergraduate students are admitted with the consent of the department in which they will study
7. In general there is a distinction between college and university
Answer the following What-questions
1. What does admission to university depend on?
2. What financial support are students eligible for?
3. What is the general structure of a university?
4. What does the term higher education in the USA refer to?
5. What degrees do universities award?
6. What is the general policy of the USA in higher education?
7. What categories are universities divided into in terms of financial sources?
6. Are the aspects of higher education the same or different from those in your country? Tick the correct box
| The same | Different | Comments | |
| Admission policies | |||
| Degrees awarded | |||
| Structure of university | |||
| Financial assistance of students | |||
| College university distinction | |||
| Private public distinction | |||
| Accreditation requirements | |||
| The term higher education |
Speaking 1
7. Using the material above make up a dialogue on one of the following situations:
1. Imagine your friend has just returned from the USA where hes been studying for about a year now. You want to enter a college in America the next year. But you need some information about their system. Ask your partner.
2. One of your parents has received an invitation to work in America. You have a chance of going to America to get your education there. Try to convince your parent to take you with him/ her.
3. Your cousin is sure that going abroad in order to get education is a cool idea. However, you think that there is no place like home and Russian system of higher education is better. Try to convince your cousin that he/she doesnt have to go abroad to get sufficient education.
Reading 2
8. Work in pairs. Student A reads the first text, student B reads the second one. Ask and answer each others questions.
Student A. Read the text. Be ready to answer Student Bs questions. Ask Student B what graduate program leads to, what degrees requirements are, how long it takes to obtain a degree.
Undergraduate students are classified according to their year of study. First year students are called freshmen, second-year students, sophomores; third-year students, juniors; and fourth-year students, seniors.
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The first two years of a four-year university program are devoted to general learning or the "liberal arts", that is, to a variety of courses in the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences designed to develop intellectual ability and provide a solid cultural background. The scope of each course is usually broad. The survey courses that treat a vast area of subject matter, i.e., history of painting, are usually taken as introductory courses or as prerequisites for more specialized courses.
During the third and fourth years (occasionally fifth as well) of college, students concentrate most of their courses in one discipline. The field of concentration is called a major. A number of courses are required to obtain a bachelors degree in the chosen field (the major); other courses may be taken as electives. Each student is assigned an academic advisor who is a member of the faculty in his major field and who offers guidance on the choice of electives and helps solve any academic problem that may arise. The B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) and B.S. (Bachelor of Sciences) are the most common degrees at this level, but the baccalaureate is also awarded in a few professional fields (Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Fine Arts).
Student B. Read the text. Be ready to answer Student As questions. Ask Student A what the program leads to, what degrees requirements are, how long it takes to obtain a degree
Graduate study leads to a master's degree and requires at least one-year program beyond the bachelor's degree. In some fields, such as engineering, law or business administration, a two-year program is common. The typical requirements for this degree include successful completion of a specified number of graduate courses, maintenance of a minimum average of grade B (approximately equal to 3) and preparation of a thesis. Advanced studies leading to a master's degree emphasize either research or preparation for professional practice. M.A. and M.S. are traditional degrees, but this level includes also professional degrees, i.e., M.B.A. (Master of Business Administration), or M.Ed. (Master of Education), etc.
The Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) degree requires at least two years of study beyond the master's degree, but in most fields much more time is necessary (four to five years). Doctoral students attend advanced lecture courses and seminars, undergo extensive written and oral examinations, and carry out research under professional guidance. Doctoral programs in most fields emphasize original research presented in the form of a dissertation. Doctorates may be also awarded in medicine (M.D.), education (Ed.D.), law (J.D.) and other specialized fields.
Research is one of the chief functions of the graduate school. Most researches in many fields are provided by universities.
Preparation for professional practice is another important function of the graduate study at a university, but there are also many independent (non-university) schools of music, art, law, engineering, medicine and other professions. The standards of professional schools are established by professional associations and societies in each field.
What do the following abbreviations mean:
B.A., B.S., M.A., M.S., M. Ed., M.B.A., Ph.D., M.D., Ed.D., J.D.?
What are the main requirements for obtaining various degrees in the USA?
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Listening 1
Before listening
