AN INTRODUCTION TO THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM Elizabeth Therese Gaughan English Language Assistant – IES La Arboleda

Public vs. Private Public and private refer to the way a school is funded. Public Schools Obtain a part of their support from the state in which they are located Tuition is often lower than that of private schools Generally charge lower tuition to state residents Private Schools Supported by student tuition, investment income, research contracts, and private donations

Public and private refer to the way a school is funded.

Public Schools

Obtain a part of their support from the state in which they are located

Tuition is often lower than that of private schools

Generally charge lower tuition to state residents

Private Schools

Supported by student tuition, investment income, research contracts, and private donations

University and College The terms university and college are used interchangeably. Within each institution you may find schools such as the school of arts and sciences or school of business. Each school is responsible for the degree programs offered by the college or university in that area of study. There are more than 600 public and 1,700 private, four-year colleges and universities in the United States.

The terms university and college are used interchangeably.

Within each institution you may find schools such as the school of arts and sciences or school of business. Each school is responsible for the degree programs offered by the college or university in that area of study.

There are more than 600 public and 1,700 private, four-year colleges and universities in the United States.

Community College Community colleges Also known as junior college or two-year college Provide two-year associate degree programs as well as short certificate and diploma programs in a variety of academic and vocational fields Form a transitional academic link between high school and the university Many have agreements that allow students to move easily into the third year of a bachelor's degree at the local state university

Community colleges

Also known as junior college or two-year college

Provide two-year associate degree programs as well as short certificate and diploma programs in a variety of academic and vocational fields

Form a transitional academic link between high school and the university

Many have agreements that allow students to move easily into the third year of a bachelor's degree at the local state university

Technical/Vocational Colleges Specialize in preparing students for work Offer certificate and other short-term programs that train students in a specific vocation or technology Programs usually last two years or less There are several thousand technical and vocational colleges across the United States

Specialize in preparing students for work

Offer certificate and other short-term programs that train students in a specific vocation or technology

Programs usually last two years or less

There are several thousand technical and vocational colleges across the United States

Highest Level of Education Attained by Persons 25 Years and Older Source: 2003 Digest of Education Statistics , Figure 5. (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Education, NCES, 2004).

The Liberal Arts Philosophy The majority of U.S. undergrad programs are based on the concept of liberal arts . Liberal arts : well-rounded academic education that develops verbal, written, and reasoning skills. Students begin their degree by taking 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 (a major ) and take about 25 to 50 percent of their classes in the major area. Students can also take a minor . It is a secondary specialization and does not require as much coursework as does a major . Some students take multiple majors and/or minors.

The majority of U.S. undergrad programs are based on the concept of liberal arts .

Liberal arts : well-rounded academic education that develops verbal, written, and reasoning skills.

Students begin their degree by taking 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 (a major ) and take about 25 to 50 percent of their classes in the major area.

Students can also take a minor . It is a secondary specialization and does not require as much coursework as does a major .

Some students take multiple majors and/or minors.

Top 12 Bachelor’s Degrees SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS), "Degrees and Other Formal Awards Conferred" surveys, 1970-71 through 1985-86; and 1990-91 through 2005-06 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, "Completions Survey" (IPEDS-C:91-99), and Fall 2000 through Fall 2006. Business degrees (includes business, management, marketing, and related support, personal and culinary services) 318,042 Social sciences and history degrees 161,485 Education degrees 107,238 Health professions and related clinical sciences degrees 91,973 Psychology degrees 88,134 Visual and performing arts degrees 83,297 Communication, journalism, and related degree programs 73,955 Biological and biomedical sciences degrees 69,178 Engineering degrees 67,045 English language and literature/letters degrees 55,096 Computer and information sciences degrees 47,480 Liberal arts and sciences, general studies, and humanities degrees 44,898

The Ivy League The Ivy League is an athletic conference of eight private schools in the Northeastern U.S. The phrase is no longer limited to athletics, but generally refers to these eight schools as a group. The term has connotations of academic excellence, selectivity in admissions, and social elitism. Institution Founded Harvard College 1636 as New College Yale University 1701 as Collegiate School University of Pennsylvania 1740 Princeton University 1746 as College of New Jersey Columbia University 1754 as King's College Brown University 1764 as College of Rhode Island Dartmouth College 1769 Cornell University 1865

The Ivy League is an athletic conference of eight private schools in the Northeastern U.S.

The phrase is no longer limited to athletics, but generally refers to these eight schools as a group.

The term has connotations of academic excellence, selectivity in admissions, and social elitism.

Ten Best Institutions 2009 1. Harvard University 2. Princeton University 3. Yale University 4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 4. Stanford University 6. California Institute of Technology 6. University of Pennsylvania 8. Columbia University 8. Duke University 8. University of Chicago

1. Harvard University

2. Princeton University

3. Yale University

4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

4. Stanford University

6. California Institute of Technology

6. University of Pennsylvania

8. Columbia University

8. Duke University

8. University of Chicago

Admissions When institutions consider students for admission, decisions generally take into account the following: Academic success in secondary school Scores on standardized tests (ex. SAT: Scholastic Aptitude Test) Recommendation letters from teachers Student-written essays Demonstration of leadership potential Participation in extracurricular activities For certain majors like music or theater, an audition is normally required.

When institutions consider students for admission, decisions generally take into account the following:

Academic success in secondary school

Scores on standardized tests (ex. SAT: Scholastic Aptitude Test)

Recommendation letters from teachers

Student-written essays

Demonstration of leadership potential

Participation in extracurricular activities

For certain majors like music or theater, an audition is normally required.

Cost of Higher Education For the 2006-2007 academic year, The College Board reported the following average annual tuition: Two-year, Community Colleges: $2,272 Four-year, Public Institutions: $5,836 Four-year, Private Institutions: $22,218 When room, board, transportation, and other expenses are taken into account, they report the following: Two-year, Community Colleges (commuter students): $12,294 Four-year, Public Institutions (commuter students): $16,967 Four-year, Public Institutions (state residents): $16,357 Four-year, Public Institutions (out-of-state students): $26,304 Four-year, Private Institutions (commuter students): $33,085 Four-year, Private Institutions (residents): $33,301 $1 ≈0,73€

For the 2006-2007 academic year, The College Board reported the following average annual tuition:

Two-year, Community Colleges: $2,272

Four-year, Public Institutions: $5,836

Four-year, Private Institutions: $22,218

When room, board, transportation, and other expenses are taken into account, they report the following:

Two-year, Community Colleges (commuter students): $12,294

Four-year, Public Institutions (commuter students): $16,967

Four-year, Public Institutions (state residents): $16,357

Four-year, Public Institutions (out-of-state students): $26,304

Four-year, Private Institutions (commuter students): $33,085

Four-year, Private Institutions (residents): $33,301

Financial Aid Many students obtain part-time employment to help pay for their studies, while others also receive grants, scholarships and loans to help meet expenses. More than half of all U.S. undergrad students receive some form of financial aid, as do 60 percent of all grad students. Scholarships and grants are generally awarded by a variety of nongovernmental organizations, as well as by states. The largest single source of such student financial aid is the federal government, which provides more than $73 billion a year in grants, loans and work-study assistance.

Many students obtain part-time employment to help pay for their studies, while others also receive grants, scholarships and loans to help meet expenses.

More than half of all U.S. undergrad students receive some form of financial aid, as do 60 percent of all grad students.

Scholarships and grants are generally awarded by a variety of nongovernmental organizations, as well as by states.

The largest single source of such student financial aid is the federal government, which provides more than $73 billion a year in grants, loans and work-study assistance.

Study Abroad and International Students More than 170,000 students earn academic credit each year through study at institutions in other countries. The top five destinations for undergraduate students are the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France and Australia. More than 550,000 international students study at U.S. colleges each year. The top five countries of origin for undergraduate students are China, India, Japan, South Korea and Canada.

More than 170,000 students earn academic credit each year through study at institutions in other countries.

The top five destinations for undergraduate students are the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France and Australia.

More than 550,000 international students study at U.S. colleges each year.

The top five countries of origin for undergraduate students are China, India, Japan, South Korea and Canada.

A Typical College Experience

Sources http://community.elearners.com/blogs/elearnersnews/archive/2008/08/07/15-most-popular-bachelor-s-degrees.aspx www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/edus/overview.doc http://educationusa.state.gov/home/about-us/undergraduate-study/about-undergraduate-education-in-the-u.s http://educationusa.state.gov/home/education-usa/global-left-nav/graduate-study/about-graduate-education-in-the-u.s http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy_league http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/national

http://community.elearners.com/blogs/elearnersnews/archive/2008/08/07/15-most-popular-bachelor-s-degrees.aspx

www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/edus/overview.doc

http://educationusa.state.gov/home/about-us/undergraduate-study/about-undergraduate-education-in-the-u.s

http://educationusa.state.gov/home/education-usa/global-left-nav/graduate-study/about-graduate-education-in-the-u.s

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy_league

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/national