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Tertiary education in America?
I'm a university student, but not in America, so I'm a bit confused by some of the info mentioned in questions at Advicenators. Also, if I ever study overseas, knowing this in detail will come in handy.
1) Is there a difference between 'college' and 'university' in an American context? (I'm presuming also that 'college' differs from 'vocational college', but is that correct?)
2) What are 'liberal arts' as studied in America? Do they play an important part in a standard university degree?
3) How many years does a general university degree (such as B. Arts) usually last, and in that length of time, how many majors are usually completed?
I already have some preconceptions of American tertiary education, but I expect they're wrong for the most part, so all clarification is appreciated. =)
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Maybe give some free advice about: Colleges & Universities?
People use the term college loosely. When someone is going to the University of "insert state" they usually say "I'm going to college"
A University is larger, and tends to offer more. Whereas a college is usually more specialized, such as the Maine college of art, which is full of art students, aside from the University of Maine, which has everything from art to marine biology.
Liberal arts are the extra classes that for some screwed up reason everyone who goes to a liberal arts college has to take. I'm a vet tech student, yet I have to take a computer class... please tell me how that makes sense. The argument is that taking a broad range of classes helps the student to get a job if their current major doesn't work out for them. I say it's just a ploy to get colleges more money.
How long as degree lasts depends on what kind. A bachelor is a four year degree, and an associates is a two year degree. After graduation, I'm not sure, I know a masters takes an extra 2, past a bachelors, and a doctorates takes an extra 4. I'm not sure what else.
In many four year colleges, people tend to take a bachelor as their major, and then their minor, which is an associates degree, that corresponds and helps out their major.
I'm going to get an associates degree in Veterinary Technology for now, with no other minor degree. Oddly though, the veterinary technology degree, which is consdiered an associates, is actually a three year degree... so there are exceptions to the rule.
So, the next time you hear someone say "I'm going to college" If they are from the United States, that most likely means that they're studying at a University of some sort. It's just more likely labeled as college....
ok, now I'm late for work, so I must stop typing, hope I could clear some things up for you.
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I'm about to go to college, and here's the way I understand it.
College is inclusive
A college can be a 2 year school you go to that isn't taken as seriously, or isn't as prestigious as a university.
Or it can be a university.
So when someone says they're going to college, or "what college are you going to?" They are referring to a two year college, or a university, which is also a type of college. I haven't heard of vocational college though.
A university usually has dorms (or rooms) you can live in on campus. Universities last for four years.
Liberal arts are anything from music to photography to painting. They aren't very for a normal degree. You might have to take a few courses depending on the college.
A general degree takes four years to earn. Some only take two, but to be a regular college graduate, one would want to take four years. Usually someone will only have one major and one minor. Then all the other required 'core' classes such as English, Math, Science and History.
A masters degree usually takes a few extra years (6 years) earn.
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Sometimes a college refers to a specialty school, but other times it simply refers to a smaller school where the same type of degrees can be obtained. For example, the differences between Colorado College versus University of Colorado are mainly concerned with size and type of institution (public or private). This might seem a little vague, but if you would like to look the schools up to see other differences try a college database like princetonreview.com/
Liberal arts are anything other than professional programs (e.g. nursing, business, engineering, etc.), they are programs such as the natural sciences (although normally emphasis is placed on the humanities), literature, philosphy, art, mathematics, etc.; there tends to be a general trend towards incorporating a basic groundwork of the liberal arts in at least freshman year at most institutions, but there are those that exist that do not facilitate such a program. In reference to liberal arts schools, they emphasize critical thinking and writing.
A B.A. degree ideally takes 4 years to get, but it takes some people 5 or 6 years if they do not have enough credits per semester. 1 major is usually completed during this time, but some opt for a double major.
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