Study in the USA

The ABC of US Education system

The US education system requires students to complete 12 years of primary and secondary schooling prior to attending a university or college. This may be accomplished either at public (or government-operated) schools, or at private schools. These 12 years of schooling (or their equivalent) may also be completed outside the USA, thus giving foreign students the opportunity to pursue higher education in the US.

Primary school

In USA, children start school at the age of five years. The first year at school is called kindergarten. It is a must for all students enrolled in the American education system. The second year at school is considered the first year of primary school and is referred to as first grade. Primary school most commonly consists of five years of education.

Secondary school

Upon completion of the last year of primary school, students enrolled in the US education system advance to secondary school. Secondary school usually consists of a total of seven years. Upon completion of secondary school, students are awarded a certificate called the high school diploma. In the US education system, students must have obtained a high school diploma before they are admitted into college or university. Foreign students who would like to attend a US college or university must have completed coursework that is equivalent to what is taught at an American high school.

Undergraduate school

Students who have earned the high school diploma are eligible to attend an undergraduate school. These are schools that offer either a two-year degree (called an associate degree) or a four-year degree (called a bachelors degree) in a specific course of study. That course of study is called the major. Students who complete an associate degree can continue their education at a four-year school and eventually earn a bachelor’s degree.

Graduate school

Students who have obtained a bachelor’s degree are eligible to enter a graduate school. Graduate schools offer two types of degrees – a master’s degree and a doctorate degree. A master’s degree is usually a two-year program that is highly specialized in a specific area of study. Some master’s degree programs only admit students who have a bachelor’s degree in a closely related field. The doctorate degree, also called a PhD, is for those students who want to study further in a specific field. A PhD program can take between three and six years to complete, depending on the course of study chosen, the ability of the student, and the thesis that the student has selected.

Certain courses of study are only available at the graduate school level in America. The most notable of these are law, dentistry, and medicine. Students who want to pursue a degree in one of these fields must first obtain a bachelor’s degree in a closely related field.