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degree requirements,
research is an important part of most graduate programs.
Graduate students
do independent research in consultation with a supervising professor
(often called the "major professor" or thesis adviser)
or a committee of professors who help to set up research plans
and schedules.
Master's
Degree
Most universities
award Master of Arts (M.A.) degrees in arts, sciences and humanities
and master of sciences (M.S.) degrees in applied fields such as
engineering. The master of business administration (M.B.A.) equips
students with a credential for entry into the business world.
Master's degrees
may require one to two years of courses (30-60 credit hours) concentrated
in the field of study along with other courses in closely related
fields. Usually a grade average of "B" or higher must
be maintained to receive the degree. Master's degrees may require
a thesis in addition to course work.
Doctoral
Degree
Doctoral degrees
include 'The Doctor of Philosophy' (Ph.D.) in the arts and sciences,
and 'The Doctor of Education' (Ed.D.).
Doctoral programs
usually require original research leading to the defense of a
doctoral dissertation. Students may enter some programs with the
equivalent of a US bachelor's degree and take courses for one
to two years before beginning dissertation research.
Other doctoral
programs begin after the master's degree. Some programs require
that students pass a comprehensive oral and/or written examination
to attain candidacy for the degree.
Types
of Universities
Universities
may be public or private. Institutions of high quality are found
equally among public and private universities; the principal difference
is one of funding.
Public institutions
are funded partially by the government of the state in which the
institution is located, and partially by student tuition payments
and private donations.
State
universities fall into two general categories:
Research
Universities
Most states have at least one public university designed to provide
the traditional variety of educational opportunities in academic
fields. These universities, in addition to offering undergraduate
education, lay stress research as well as teaching. Generally,
emphasis on pure or theoretical research is higher as against
applied study and research.
Land Grant
and Sea Grant Universities
In 1862,
the Congress passed the Morrill Act to provide land grants to
states for establishing a "Land Grant university". These universities,
in addition to providing a broad general education in many fields,
emphasize the application of knowledge in fields such as agriculture
and engineering.
Recently,
some state universities are designated as 'Sea Grant Universities'
to emphasize the importance of marine applications.
Basic
Requirements for Admission
The three
basic requirements for admission to educational institutions in
the US are:
- A strong
academic background;
- Adequate
financial resources; and
- Command
over the English language.
To be eligible
for a graduate level program, you should have completed at least
four years of university education, earned an academic or professional
degree, and must have completed 16 years of study.
Graduate school
applicants should also have excellent grades, particularly in
the chosen field of study. Most colleges and universities require
a minimum of "B" (3.0) grade average in undergraduate
work. Proven research ability or relevant work experience definitely
increases your chances of admission.
Most colleges
and universities require one of the following examinations:
- A general
aptitude test such as GRE (Graduate Record Examination)
- A subject
test to demonstrate proficiency in your specialization
- English
proficiency TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
These tests
are only one of the factors in the evaluation of a foreign student's
record. Some of the other factors considered are:
- Acceptance
Ratio: The ratio between the number of applications received
for admission and the number of applications accepted at the
university.
- Grade average
or achievement ratings of successful applicants.
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