The USA is undoubtedly among the top choices for international students. The plethora of opportunities available for students encourages them to pursue their education in this country.
The education system of the USA is unique. To study in this country, it is essential to get acquainted with the American Education System. Broadly this system is divided into three categories namely, Primary Education, Secondary Education, and Higher Education.
Primary education also known as elementary school is the first category, it consists of 5 – 6 years of education. Secondary education consists of two levels, middle school, and high school. This category is until the 12th grade. Lastly, the third category is higher education, which involves college and university studies.
The USA is also one of the best places to pursue higher education. So, if you are looking forward to studying in this country, you must read this article to know more about the levels of study in the US. Keep reading.
Levels of Study
Higher education in the United States has three levels of study. Let’s have a detailed description of each level.
First Level: Undergraduate
The first level of higher education is undergraduate. Students who have completed their high school or 12th grade are eligible to seek admission at the undergraduate level. On the completion of this level, the student will earn a bachelor’s degree. The duration of the undergraduate level is typically four years and students can pursue it at a college or university.
In the first two years of education in the USA, you can enroll in different subjects. This is commonly known as prerequisite courses. These prerequisite courses include science, the social sciences, literature, history, etc. With these courses, students can achieve a general knowledge and foundation of a variety of subjects prior to their specific field of study.
At the beginning of the third year, you can choose the subject you want to major in. The education system in the USA is very flexible, you can change your major multiple times as well.
Second Level: Graduate (Master’s Degree)
Post the completion of the first level of education anywhere in the world, you are eligible to enroll in the second level of education in the USA. This level is known as Graduate. Students primarily choose to pursue this degree for career advancement. The duration of the graduate level is typically between one to two years and students can pursue it at a college or university. MBA is an extremely popular graduate program in the USA. Pursuing a master’s degree in the USA is highly recognized by employers. Getting a job also becomes easy.
Third Level: Doctorate Degree
The third and final level of study in the USA is a Doctorate degree. Usually, it is important to have a graduate degree in order to be eligible for a doctoral degree, but the US is an exception, students may prepare directly for a doctorate without also earning a master’s degree. The duration of getting a doctorate degree is five to six years, depending on the subject.
Since we now know the levels of study in the USA, let’s have a quick overview of the type of educational institutes that provide course options for these levels.
Type of Educational Institutes that provide completion of these Levels of Study
The educational institutes in the USA are
• Private colleges or universities
• Community colleges
• Public institutes- State College or University
• Institute of Technology
If you want to experience the unique and flexible higher education system of the USA, then you should start with your university applications for the upcoming academic intake. There are many study abroad consultants in India that provide complete application assistance for students planning to study abroad.
Plan your higher education with industry experts and embark on your bright future.
