Education in the United States: Useful Information->U.S. System of Higher Education #0

Four-Year Colleges and Universities

The terms "College" and "University" are often used interchangeably in the United States for both Public and Private institutions. There is no legal or official control over the institution's option to choose one or the other as part of its name. Over the years, many institutions change their names as they add new programs and levels of study. Usually, a college offers a four-year program of study leading toward the Bachelor's Degree. Colleges may be independent, offering only Undergraduate programs, or they may be part of a university that offers both Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees. Universities emphasize research and often include Professional Schools, Undergraduate Colleges of arts and sciences, and Graduate Schools.

There are over 2,000 traditional four-year Colleges and Universities in the United States, and each has a unique identity. Each College determines its own goals, emphases and admissions standards. Liberal Arts Colleges, for example, emphasize excellence in teaching basic subjects such as Humanities, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and Languages.

Besides Liberal Arts Colleges, there are many other types of colleges. Historically, some colleges have admitted only male, only female or only black students; however, most now are open to all academically qualified students who apply. Other colleges may have a particular religious emphasis. Colleges and Universities that stress career preparation may have special cooperative education programs or Internships in which students work part-time as a requirement for the degree.

Useful Information: U.S. System of Higher Education