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U.S. Education System


COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Two other names that mean the same are Jr. or 2yr. college They serve 2 purposes:
  1. Associate of Arts or Science degree – the 1st 2 yrs. of a Bachelor degree that include the ‘core’ curriculum. The same courses you would take the 1st two years at a University or College.
  2. Associate of Applied Science degree- 2 yrs. of specific technical/vocational courses that lead to a job in that field only. These courses do not transfer to a university to apply toward a Bachelor degree.
UNIVERSITY OR COLLEGE
These two names refer to an institution that offers:
  1. 4 yrs.of education that leads to a Bachelor degreeMaster's degree
  2. Doctoral degree
Students complete the ‘core’ courses in the first two years and then take specialized ‘major’ courses the final two years of a Bachelor degree. At the community college, the ‘core’ is 42 semester hrs. This leave 19 semester hours of courses that you can take in your area of interest that you will ‘major’ in at the University. A student who wants to study law, medicine, int’l business, engineering, computer science, will all take the same ‘core’ courses the first two years.

Understanding the U.S. Educational System & the Texas Core Curriculum

Before embarking on studying for a degree in the U.S., an international student should first understand the American educational system. Like many other things in the U.S., the philosophy of education is very different to most countries of the world. As international student advisor at Kilgore College for the past 11 yrs, the majority of my students come to my office with the idea that they will immediately begin studies in their major field of study. A student from Zimbabwe who wants to be a lawyer, thinks he will begin to study law, while another student from the Ukraine who wants to be a doctor believes he will begin medical classes. Thus, the reason for this article: to educate prospective students as to what they can expect upon arrival at an U.S. college, university, or community college and how the Texas’ Core Curriculum relates and helps students achieve their educational goals.

“Liberal Arts ” is the name given to the philosophy of education in the U.S. The liberal arts approach to educating people owes its origin to the intellectual culture of ancient Greece. Reserved for the elite only, education was to foster intellectual breadth, develop the whole person, cultivate character and citizenship, achievement in learning and living and of balance and harmony. The goal of contemporary liberal arts education in the U.S. is to produce a fully educated person by providing knowledge that develops character and prepares an individual to be an active citizen within their own societies. Basically, a Liberal Arts education establishes the foundation for ones capabilities to think clearly, communicate effectively, and exhibit initiative and pride in professional performance.

Judging by recent trends, most students today will have multiple careers in their lifetimes. In an environment of constant change, it makes sense to learn skills that apply across careers. Jobs of today and the future that involve responsibility, prestige, and higher incomes depend on self-management skills such as time management, conflict resolution, goal setting, stress control and flexible learning styles. Through the four skills that a liberal arts education teaches:
(1) general literacy, (2) information gathering; (3) thinking; and (4) writing, one should be able to do almost anything they choose to do throughout life by gaining a broader vision of life, and discovering one’s values, and interest.

Texas colleges and universities have agreed that a student who completes a “core curriculum” that illustrates the liberal arts philosophy and includes subjects in the fields of knowledge listed below can attend any other college or university with ease in transferring those courses between institutions.
  1. Social Theory - economics, law, political philosophy, psychology, anthropologyHistory and Politics - U.S. history & government; World CivilizationLanguage and Literature – English grammar usage, English, American and World literatureCulture - art, music, religion, philosophy, literature
  2. Science & technology - Biology, Chemistry, Physics, computer technology, engineering
This core curriculum is completed during the first two years of study in the U.S. This philosophy of educating the “whole” person also allows students these two years to explore and decide on a “major” or field of concentration. Then, during the third and fourth years of study, these specialized courses are intense and prepare students for the vocation they have chosen. The degree earned after these four or five years is called the Bachelor degree. Years of advanced study in a specialized area then lead to a Master degree and then a Doctoral degree.

To attain these degrees, the U.S. has over 3,600 universities, colleges and community colleges. Students also need to understand the differences in these three institutions of higher education to make wise choices in selecting where they will attend. There are advantages and disadvantages to each depending on each student’s circumstances.

University and College can be used interchangeably to mean the same thing. They are both institutions that offer the first four years for the Bachelor degree, a Master’s and Doctoral degrees. You can begin your education as a freshman and remain at that institution your entire educational career. Some students are confused by the word College now that the U.S. has Community Colleges. However, some of our most prestigious educational institutions such as Harvard, Stanford, and Yale have College as part of their name.
Community Colleges, which are also called Junior colleges, are two-year institutions that serve two purposes. One purpose is to offer the liberal arts core curriculum for students to complete and then transfer to a College or University for the final two years of specialized courses resulting in a Bachelor degree. A second purpose is to provide technical/vocational courses for students who want to learn a skill that will enable them to enter the work force at the end of a two year, specified set of courses. This avenue results in what is called an Associate degree.

Kilgore College, where I am international student advisor, is a Community college with a core curriculum that is transferable to major universities all cross the U.S. I have assisted many of my students to plan their curriculum at KC so that all their courses transfer and apply toward their degree at the University. As a result, my husband and I attend many graduation ceremonies across the nation to share the joy in the completion of a goal they began at KC. Just a few of the many advantages of attending any community college are as follows:
  • Lower tuition and fees for the same course work for the first 2 yrs. at a university – KC’s is around $5,825 for 9 months ( 1 school year) compared to $15,000 for an average university.
    Smaller class size – KC’s largest class is 40 students compared to 500 at universities.
    ESL classes (English as a Second Language) are offered to assist with English proficiency. KC offers ESOL classes which begin every 4 weeks, so entrance time are flexible and students can progress at their own rate. Because KC offers ESOL classes we do not require TOEFL scores. We prepare you to be success on TOEFL , which is required for entrance into all universities.
    A large percentage of instructors hold doctorate degrees but prefer to “teach “students rather than publish or do research, which is required at universities.
    Many community colleges like KC offer on-campus housing. KC housing cost $3,000 per school year (9 months) which includes room and meals. KC dorms remain open during holidays.
    Some community colleges, like KC offer volunteer host family programs and orientation programs. Families in the community pick students up at the airport and host them in their homes for a week during my international orientation. During the orientation, students are assisted with all aspects of becoming a student and living at KC.
  • Campuses are smaller and provide a good, safe, atmosphere for adjustment from home to the American culture and education system.

Regardless of where a student decides to study in the U.S. he will find that the Liberal Arts philosophy of education will prepare him for both his avocations and vocations of life.




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