Higher Education in US

There is no national system of higher education in the United States. Instead, there are over 2,100 separate institutions ranging from two-year "junior" colleges to complex universities, and from technical institutes to classical liberal arts colleges. These institutions may be small or large, rural or urban, private or public, religious or secular, highly selective or open to all. Basically, however, American higher education developed its own pattern by the adaptation of two traditions: the collegiate tradition of England and the university tradition of the Continent Colleges.

The college course of study, at first three years in length, was soon extended to four years, and the classes are uniformly known as the freshman, the sophomore, the junior and the senior.

The degrees of Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Philosophy (Ph.B), and Bachelor of Letters (B.L.) are often conferred by colleges upon students who have pursued systematic courses of study which do not include Greek or the amount of Latin, required for the degree of Bachelor of Arts.

The methods of instruction in the universities are the lecture, discussion and work in laboratory or seminary - the latter transplanted from the German universities. The degree of Master of Arts is conferred upon students who, after one year of university residence and study, pass certain prescribed examinations.

The academic year is usually of nine months duration, or two semesters of four and a half months each. Classes usually begin in September and end in June. Of course, there are many variations on this, with summer sessions offered in almost all major institutions.

During one term or semester, a student will study, concurrently, four or five different subjects. The students' progress is often evaluated through quizzes (short oral or written tests), term papers, and a final examination in each course. Each part of a student's work in a course is given a mark which helps to determine his final grade. A student's record consists of his grade in each course. This system is unlike that of most European countries.

College grades, determined by each instructor on the basis of class work and examinations, are usually on a five point scale, with letters to indicate the levels of achievement. "A" is the highest mark, indicating supe­rior accomplishment, and the letters go through В, C, D, to E or F, which denotes failure.