The Linguistic Culture-5 (USA-1) (1157932), страница 16
Текст из файла (страница 16)
For example, at HaverfordCollege they require 32 credits for graduation, 1 credit being awarded for each course taken andpassed per semester. So, 4 credits per semester and 2 semesters per year equals 8 credits peryear. Four years of college education multiplied by 8 credits per year equals 32 credits, or theamount needed to graduate. However, the Linguistics Department requires 10 credits oflinguistics courses in order to be eligible for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics. As aresult, it is necessary to fulfill both requirements before being allowed to graduate, i.e.
pass 32credits of courses, 10 of which must be in the Linguistics Department.In addition, most universities require a minimum grade-point average before thestudents is allowed to graduate. This means that all of the grades over the entire four years areaveraged; if this average is less than the minimum, the student may not graduate.There are four principal types of academic degrees, each representing a different levelof academic achievement:The associate degree is conferred upon the completion of two years of organizedprogram of general, pre-professional, or semiprofessional work.The bachelor’s (baccalaureate) degree is the oldest academic degree used in variousforms by almost every institution offering four or more years All students who have graduatedand received the bachelor’s degree are classified as advanced students or graduate students.Their transcript of grades is submitted with all applications to graduate schools.
To meet hightuition fees most graduate student’s work and study.Some graduate students receive grants, which cover the cost of their education; aperson on such a fellowship is called a university fellow or a grantee.The most common master’s degree program represents a minimum of 1 year of workbeyond the baccalaureate.
In certain areas this has been extended to 2 years of required graduatestudy (e.g. in business administration) or even 3 years (e.g. in fine arts). It may also involve oneor all of the following additional requirements: a thesis, a general examination, and mastery of aforeign language. The master’s degree candidate follows a rather specific course of study,usually in a single field and arranged in cooperation with his adviser. This is not, however,considered to be a research degree, but rather preparation for the PhD.
In certain cases it isbypassed by students going for PhD, but may be granted as a consolation prize to those who failto quality for the doctorate.Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) is one of the more rapidly growing; it is designedto prepare liberal arts graduate for secondary school teaching.
Normally neither a languageexamination nor a thesis is required for MAT, but course in practical teaching is usuallyincorporated.The earned doctorate is the most advanced degree conferred by Americaninstitutions. Doctoral programs usually consist of at least 3 years of study beyond thebaccalaureate. There are 2 quite distinct types of doctoral programs: the professional degreeand the research degree. The first type represents advanced training for the practice of a givenprofession, such as the Doctor of Medicine, the Doctor of Dental Science, and similar degrees.These degrees do not imply original research.The research doctorate (PhD) is the highest earned degree in the American graduateschool. Candidates usually follow a program of studies concentrated in one of the major fields ofknowledge. They are normally required to demonstrate reading proficiency in at least twoforeign languages.
After a student has satisfactorily completed his course work and met hisforeign language requirements, he must take a comprehensive examination to demonstrate ageneral knowledge of his field. It may be oral or written or both, and is evaluated by a specialcommittee to determine whether he is prepared to undertake his dissertation (it is usually thepreliminary, or qualifying, examination). The final period of predoctoral study is given overlargely to the preparation of the dissertation (this may require several years to finish). A finalexamination is required at most universities after the dissertation and other requirements for thedegree have been completed.According to tradition, the prospective doctor of philosophy should defend theconclusions of his dissertation.
Consequently, it is frequently the custom to make publicannouncements of the date and place of the final examination and to permit the attendance of anyscholars who may wish to participate. At one time, it was not uncommon for universities torequire that doctoral dissertation be published, but the increased expense in printing costs as wellas the increase in the number of dissertations have made such a requirements quite rare.18years old to21years to1 st year-freshmanPCP2 nd year-sophomoreo3d year-juniorlPPth4 year-seniorPPlegeorUniversityUndergraduateEducation(bachelor’sdegree)2yearsMaster’s programGraduateorProfessionalEducation3 to6 yearsProfessionalschool(law, medicine)3 to5 yearDoctoralprogram(after M.A. program)Other degrees Besides awarding earned degrees to students who have met theestablished requirements, some colleges and universities also award honorary degrees as a formof deserved recognition for distinguished public service or for outstanding creative work.Compared to the number of earned degrees, not many honorary degrees are awarded annually,and the recipient is usually an individual of such unquestionable reputation that the public looksupon the degree simply as a symbol of recognition for public service.The concept of continuing (or lifelong) education is of great importance to Americans.Every year, over ten percent of all adult Americans further their education through participationin part-time instruction.
Some estimate that as many as 45 million adult Americans are currentlytaking courses in universities, colleges, professional associations, government organizations oreven churches and synagogues.1.Answer the questions.I..What were the aims of early institutions of higher learning in2.Did American colleges duplicate their British counterparts in all respects?3.List the changes that took place in the American system of higher education in the19 th century and state their courses.4.What does the word “school” mean as applied to an element of an American university?.When were women first admitted to American unit?6.Is public education in the USA centralized?7.
Is there a unified system of education in the USA?8. At what age do children begin to attend school in the USA?9. What is an elementary school in the USA?10. What is a high school in the USA?11.What is the theoretical basis of the great amount of time allotted to extra-curricular activities?PP12.
What kind of personality do they try to develop in American school-students?13. Is there a national system of higher education?14. How can go an American school-leaver enter a higher educational institution?15. What are the entrance standards and admission policies at American universities andcolleges?16.Where is competitive admission more common: at public (state) or private colleges anduniversities?17.When is the dropout rating the highest?18.What are the two levels of the American universities?19.What is “majoring”?20.What are the American advanced degrees?21.How does one obtain the Master’s degree?22.Which of these degrees is actually a research degree?23.How does one get the PhD degree?24.What do the words “college” and “school” mean?25.What weaknesses have been revealed in the American educational system?26.What problems do minority have to face and how does educational system try tosolvethem?2.Translate the Russian words and phrases into English:Основной принцип; образование; общее образование; децентрализация образования;детский сад; начальная школа; средняя школа;класс, оценка, система образования,программа обучения, учебный год, домашнее задание, каникулы, учащийся, основныепредметы, бесплатное обучение, частная школа, плата за обучение, внекласснаядеятельность, окончить школу, училище, требования при поступлении в университет,общественные науки, точные науки, предметы гуманитарного цикла, ректор университета,декан, заведующий кафедрой, отсев учащихся, разделение учащихся по способностям,студент первого года обучения, второго, третьего; студент-отличник, окончитьуниверситет, учиться в магистратуре, аспирантуре, ученые степени (бакалавра, докторанаук), фонд пожертвований.3.Render the Russian texts in English:A).В США не существует четкого определения самого понятия «Высшего учебногозаведение».
В принципе любое учебное заведение, осуществляющее дальнейшуюподготовку после окончания средней школы, так называемые «послесредние учебныезаведения», объединяющие часто профессиональные различные училища типа школмедсестер, педучилищ,вероятностиназыватьсякурсов механизаторов и пр., может с равной степенью«колледжем»,«школой»,«институтом»,илидаже«университетом». Единственным критерием для определения характера какого-либоучебного заведения США может служить лишь качественный уровень подготавливаемыхим специалистов и выполняемых в нем научных исследований.В США существует группа, состоящая из ведущих вузов, резко отличающаяся посвоим показателям от всех остальных вузов страны. Именно эта группа, прежде всего иопределяет качественный вклад высшей школы в развитие научно- технического иэкономического потенциала страны.В их число входят «супервузы», которые являются безусловными лидерами вобразовании и науке США.