Undergraduate Education
The undergraduate bachelor’s degree typically takes four years to complete. At most institutions the four years are known as the freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior years of undergraduate study. Many students complete their first two years at a junior or community college, earning an associate degree, and then transfer to a four-year college or university to complete two more years for a bachelor’s degree.
The curriculum of many undergraduate programs is based on a “liberal arts philosophy” that requires students to take courses from a range of subjects to form a broad educational foundation. During the first two years, students have the opportunity to explore various fields of study such as social sciences, humanities, and natural or physical sciences. These courses are often called a “core curriculum” or “distribution requirements.” By the end of the second year, students at many institutions are asked to choose a specific field of study–known as the “major”–on which to focus for the remainder of the undergraduate program. Students then spend the remaining two years taking more courses directly related to their major. Students who major in certain fields such as business, engineering, or science find that the curriculum is more tightly structured than it is in the humanities or social sciences. Business, science, and engineering majors may have to take more courses related to their major field of study and have fewer “elective,” or optional, courses.
Note:
Classes and Courses: Americans frequently use the word class to mean course. If you are asked what classes you are taking this semester, you should respond with a list of your courses. “Registering for classes” means choosing the courses you intend to take each semester.
Transfer: Many American students begin their college education at one institution and finish it at another. They transfer from one institution to another.
[Higher Education in the U.S.][Graduate Education]
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