gohighereducation

Graduate education in the United States will almost certainly be different from the system offered in your country.  The two graduate degrees offered in the United States are the Master’s Degree and the Doctoral Degree; both involve a combination of research and coursework. Graduate education differs from undergraduate education in that it offers a greater depth of training, with increased specialization and intensity of instruction. Study and learning are more self-directed at the graduate level than at the undergraduate level.  Graduate courses assume that students are well-prepared in the basic elements of their fields of study. Depending on the subject, course may be quite formal, consisting primarily of lecture presentations by faculty members, or they may be relatively informal, placing emphasis on discussion and exchange of ideas among faculty and students. Seminars involve smaller groups of students than lecture courses, and students may be required to make presentations as well as participate in discussions. Class participation, research papers, and examinations are all important.   The Master’s Degree is designed to provide additional education or training in the student’s specialized branch of knowledge, well beyond the level of baccalaureate study. Master’s degrees are offered in many different fields, and they are two main types of programs. Academic masters and Professional masters. Under academic masters we have masters of Arts and masters of Science. Under professional masters we have masters of business administration, masters of social work, masters of education or masters of fine arts.  Doctoral Degrees is designed to train research scholars and, in many cases, future college and university faculty member. The Ph.D (doctor of Philosophy) is the most common degree awarded in academic disciplines. The other doctoral degrees are awarded primarily in professional fields such as Ed.D (doctor of Education) and business administration D.B.A.  Academic Calendar  The academic year in the united states generally lasts nine months, from late August or early September until the middle or end of May, and it may be divided into two, three, or four academic terms depending on the institutions. If the year is divided into two terms, this are called the Fall and Spring terms or “Semesters”. Short breaks occur during both Fall and Spring terms. And optional summer term is often available and provides the opportunity to continue courses if you wish to accelerate your program. It is best to start a program in the fall term (beginning in August / September). Many courses must be taken in sequence, and time may be lost in completing the degree if you start in another term. It is also easier to become accustomed to study in the United States and to meet other students in the department if you start at the beginning of the academic year. Lastly, scholarship opportunities may be more readily available to students starting in the fall rather than mid-year.

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