Types of Postsecondary Education
The structure of U.S. education includes 12 years of regular schooling, preceded by a year or two of pre-school education, and followed by a four-stage higher education degree system (associate, bachelor's, master's, doctorate) plus various non-degree certificates and diplomas. In addition, there are special education services, adult basic and continuing education, leisure learning programs, and continuing professional education and training programs. Completion of each level or stage is a prerequisite for access to the next, and a variety of assessment and evaluation tools are used to determine learning needs, academic achievement standards, and eligibility to proceed to higher levels of education.
Vocational and Technical Education
Vocational and technical education is offered at both the secondary and postsecondary levels in the United States.
This type of instruction is provided both for unlicensed and licensed occupations, and ranges from general and basic skills to
complex technical programs requiring extensive postsecondary level study and practice. In addition, vocational and technical programs
are frequently offered by employers, unions, professional associations, and private training services as well as by traditional educational
institutions, and they are among the most popular types of education to offer via distance education technologies.
Undergraduate Postsecondary Education
Undergraduate postsecondary education is the U.S. terminology for formal education after graduating from secondary school but prior to advanced study in the research disciplines or professional fields.
Undergraduate studies in the United States are generally divided into two phases: a set of distributed course requirements that must be completed involving basic study in several subjects; and a concentrated program of study in one or more subjects.
Two degrees are awarded at the undergraduate level:
The
Associate Degree
and the Bachelor's Degree.
Students at the undergraduate levels may earn certificates or diplomas in addition to degrees or instead of them.
Graduate Postsecondary Education
Graduate education is the term used in the United States for studies undertaken after the award of a bachelor's degree.
It corresponds to what is called post-graduate or advanced education in some other systems.
Education at this level in the U. S. can be of two types:
Professional studies that require the student to have already earned an undergraduate degree.
Research studies following either a bachelor's degree or a professional degree.
Two degrees are awarded at the graduate level:
The
Master's Degree
and the Doctoral Degree.
Distance Education
Distance education is an increasingly popular way to study for everything from a short professional course to a graduate degree in the
United States, and there are numerous institutions offering undergraduate degree programs using distance education teaching methods.
Under the distance education model, students no longer attend classes in a classroom on a campus; instead, classes are delivered
"from a distance" through the use of technologies such as the Internet, satellite television, video conferencing, and other means of
electronic delivery.
For international students this means that they can study for a U.S. degree without leaving their home country,
though they will almost certainly have to go to the United States for short periods of face-to-face contact and study on the campus.
Studying for a degree using distance education requires students to have special qualities such as self-discipline and the ability to work
on their own. If you are considering distance education, you should thoroughly research the quality of the program,
the accreditation of the institution in the United States, and its recognition in your home country to make sure this option
is the appropriate one for your future goals.
Distance education is considered to be a vehicle for delivering education to persons whose location,
circumstances or work make remote links necessary or convenient. It is not considered to be a separate type of education altogether.
Many varieties of education and training opportunities exist in the U.S. that are not formally structured,
do not result in recognized awards and are not intended to result in transferable credit or professional recognition.
Some programmes provided by employers are not intended to result in formal recognition,
such as informal seminars and presentations on topics related to work issues and products.
USA Education System - Information
Schools, Colleges, Universities, Institutes
Types of Postsecondary Education
Associate & Bachelor's Degree
Master's Degree
Doctoral Degree
Courses, Credits, Grades
Glossary of Education Terms
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