Selecting courses

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 351.

Curriculum. The courses given by a college or university are called the school's curriculum. The catalog of the institution outlines the complete curriculum. It gives the requirements for taking each course, as well as the credits given. Each course is designated as giving a specified number of credits. These usually equal the number of class hours devoted each week to the course. For example, a course that meets three times a week usually gives three credits for graduation. Schools using the semester calendar require about 120 credits for graduation. Between 30 and 40 of the required credits must be earned in the student's major subject.

Institutions vary considerably in the amount of freedom given students in selecting their courses. Almost all colleges and universities have a certain number of required subjects. Students usually can also choose nonrequired courses called electives. Liberal arts colleges usually give a student more opportunity to choose courses than do professional schools.

When college freshmen register, they usually indicate the major subject they want to study. Some students may take high-school level remedial courses before they enroll in freshman level courses. During the first two years of college, students take largely the basic required courses, such as English composition. The last two years are devoted mostly to the student's major. Many schools permit a student to have two majors.

Undergraduate study. The programs of study provided by universities and colleges are divided into undergraduate and graduatelevels. Most colleges offer few, if any, graduate programs. Undergraduate programs usually require four years to complete. Some engineering programs and most architectural programs require five years. Undergraduate study may be in the arts and sciences, or in a discipline such as English, economics, or chemistry. Undergraduate programs may also be given in a professional field such as agriculture, teacher education, or business administration.

Graduate study may also be in the arts and sciences, or in a profession. It ordinarily begins only after a person has completed undergraduate study. Some professional fields will only admit a student who has completed undergraduate study. This is generally true of medicine, law, dentistry, and theology.

Graduate study is more intensive and specialized than undergraduate study. It usually involves more reading and some research experience. The time required to earn a graduate degree is usually three years in law and theology and four years in medicine. But some graduate programs may be completed in one or two years.

Degrees. The bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree is the common degree for completing a four- or five-year program. One or two years of graduate study are usually required for the master of arts or master of science degree. A doctor's degree signifies more extensive graduate study. Many institutions also award honorary degrees for outstanding achievement in a profession or in public service. See DEGREE, COLLEGE.