Bachelor of Arts - BA, 4 years
Bachelor of Science - BS, 4 to 5 years

The curriculum of undergraduate programs is based upon the "Liberal Arts Philosophy" that requires students to take a range of courses to form a broad educational foundation.

During the first two years of the undergraduate program, the students are provided an opportunity to undergo courses in various fields of study including humanities, sciences or arts. These courses are referred as the core curriculum.

At the end of second year, the university asks the students to choose a major area of study. The curriculum in business, engineering or sciences is highly structured in the third and fourth years of undergraduate study.

Community, Technical and Junior Colleges

These schools offer academic programs that are comparable to the first two years of university work, and can be applied towards a four-year college degree. Community colleges offer courses in general education, technical education and vocational training, which prepare the students for immediate employment.

The goal of a community college is to offer inexpensive education to everyone in the community and therefore admit most students who meet basic requirements.

Most two-year colleges offer a full range of services to foreign students and have facilities and programs for foreign students, including English as a second language programs. Since most students live nearby and drive to campus, community colleges usually do not have housing on campus.

Not all community colleges are authorized to issue Form I-20 (the document necessary to apply for a student visa). In such cases, foreign students must be permanent residents (US immigrants) to attend these schools.

Four-year Colleges and Universities

Although not identical, the terms "college" and "university" are used interchangeably in the US. There is no legal or official control over the institution's option to choose one or the other as part of its name.

There are over 2,000 traditional four-year colleges and universities in the US, and each has a unique identity. Each college determines its own goals and admission standards. Liberal arts colleges, for example, emphasize excellence in teaching basic subjects such as humanities, natural sciences, social sciences and languages.

Colleges and universities may be private or public. The principal difference is one of funding.

Government of the state partially funds the public institutions. Tuitions and private donations generate the rest of the funds to run the public institution.

State Universities fall under two 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, stress research as well as teaching. Generally, they are less likely at the graduate level to place emphasis on applied study and research and more likely to place emphasis on theoretical, or "pure" research.

Land Grant and Sea Grant Universities

In 1862, Congress passed the Morrill Act that provided a grant of land to many of the states to establish "land grant" universities. These universities, in addition to providing a broad general education in many fields, emphasize the application of knowledge in such fields as agriculture and engineering.

More recently, some state universities were designated as "sea grant" universities, to emphasize the importance of marine applications.

Basic Requirements for Admission

• Strong academic background;
• Adequate financial resources; and
• Command over the English language

True to the tradition of freedom and diversity in the US, each institution sets its own admissions standards. Almost all colleges and universities, however, require the following for academic admission:

• Twelve years of education with the appropriate high school diploma or secondary school certificate;
• Academic achievement level sufficiently high to enter a university in your own country; and
• Any academic entrance examinations required by the institution.