US Universities

In the United States the title “University” is used indiscriminately of institutions which are in reality universities, which are colleges, and of institutions which are so ill equipped as not to take rank with good secondary school.

All of American institutions, except the Catholic University of America, are also colleges. The combination of collegiate and university instruction under one corporation and one executive administration is distinctive of higher education in the USA.

The private Universities are still very important, and most of the best-known institutions, such as Harvard, Yale and Princeton, are private. Harvard, the best-known of all, is situated in Massachusetts. There is much in common between Harvard and Yale and together they occupy a position in American university life rather like Oxford and Cambridge in England. Most public colleges and universities charge tuition, as do private universities. If the student is living away from home he must add to his tuition fee room and board expenses. Generally, private institutions are smaller than public institutions, more selective in admission policies and much more expensive.

The crowning honour of the University students is the degree of Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) although that of M.A. (Master of Arts) - obtainable in less time and much easier condition - is also sought. The minimum period of study accepted for the degree of Ph.D., is two years after obtaining the Bachelor’s degree, but in practice, three or even four years of study are found necessary. In addition to carrying on an investigation in the field of the main subject of study, the candidate for the degree of Ph. D. is usually required to pass examinations on one or two subordinate subjects, to possess a reading knowledge of French or German (often of Latin as well), and to submit - usually in printed form - the dissertation which embodies the results of his researches.

The degree of Master of Arts is conferred upon students who, after one year of university residence and study, pass certain prescribed examinations.

There is no prescribed pedagogic method in higher education, but the principal techniques of instruction are lecturing, discussion and work in laboratory and seminary - the latter transplanted from the German universities. Much instruction is provided by the lecture method. In some colleges lecture groups might be as small as 15 or 20 students. In others, such as large state universities, lecture groups might comprise 500 students. However, in the latter case, these students are usually divided into smaller sections (15 to 30 students), which meet with an instructor or teaching assistant to discuss the lecture material and assigned readings, and to answer questions.

Most large institutions of higher education carry on programs of research. These programs may be related to teaching, the training of graduate students, individual scholarship or request from federal or private agencies seeking solutions to specific problems. Very often programs include all of the above. Because of the amount of money required and the laboratories and equipment involved, some of the large universities have established research programs outside. The universities which have the largest scientific programs at the time (principally supported by the federal government) are: University of California, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Columbia University, University of Michigan, Harvard University, University of Illinois, Stanford University, University of Chicago, University of Minnesota and Cornell University.

@ Notes

to take rank with - быть равным,быть в одной категории

distinctive - отличительный,характерный

to charge tuition - брать плату за обучение

tuition fee - плата за обучение

room and board expenses - плата за пансион

to seek (sought, sought) - стремиться к чему-либо

to submit the dissertation - представить диссертацию на рассмотрение

to embody - включать,делать составной частью

to prescribe - предписывать

scholarship - гуманитарные науки