Washington University

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Higher Education in the USA

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There is no national system of higher education in the United States of America. One can get higher education in colleges and universities. There are over 2 100 different higher educational institutions in the USA. The course of study usually lasts 4 years. The academic year is usually 9 months or 2 terms. As a rule, classes begin in September and end in June. It is interesting that the first-year students are called freshmen.

Students choose a major subject and take many courses in this subject. After four years, they get a traditional Bachelor’s degree. Then the students may go on to graduate school (старшие курсы) and after a year or two get a Master’s degree.

The highest degree is usually Doctor of Philosophy. The student’s progress is evaluated by means of tests, term work and final examinations in each course. Teachers usually give marks on a five point scale, where letters indicate the level of achievement. “A” is the highest mark.

The methods of instructions in the universities are lectures, discussions, laboratory and course works or seminars.

Most cities have colleges or universities that hold classes at night as well as in daytime. In this way people may work for a degree or just take a course in the subject that interests them.

The University of Washington was founded in 1861. It is one of the oldest state-supported institutions of higher education on the Pacific coast. The university includes three campuses: the Seattle campus, the Bothell campus and the Tacoma campus. The academic core of the University of Washington is its College of Arts and Sciences.

Washington University offers full-time courses, distance learning, evening-degree courses. Such diversity of forms of study extends educational opportunities to many people. Programs in law, medicine, forest resources, oceanography and fisheries, library science, aeronautics are offered exclusively (in accord with the state law) by the University of Washington. The schools and colleges of agriculture and urban planning, business administration, education, engineering, nursing, pharmacy, public affairs, social work have long tradition of educating students for service to the region and
nation.

No wonder, that the admition to the University of Washington is highly competitive and the university offers programs and exchanges in over 50 countries of the world.

The head of the university is the president of the university. Now the president of the University of Washington is Mark A. Emmert. He believes the role of the administration is to shape the university in such a way that supports the work of the faculty and staff.

Since 1974 the University of Washington has been the number one public university in America in receiving federal support for research and training. Private support also helps the university to contribute some programs and researches.

Дата добавления: 2015-05-26