Work in pairs. Student a reads the first text, student b reads the second one. Ask and answer each other’s questions.
Student
A.
Read the text. Be ready to answer Student B’s questions. Ask
Student B what graduate program leads to, what degrees requirements
are, how long it takes to obtain a degree.
Undergraduate students are classified according to their year of study. First year students are called freshmen, second-year students, sophomores; third-year students, juniors; and fourth-year students, seniors.
The first two years of a four-year university program are devoted to general learning or the "liberal arts", that is, to a variety of courses in the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences designed to develop intellectual ability and provide a solid cultural background. The scope of each course is usually broad. The survey courses that treat a vast area of subject matter, i.e., history of painting, are usually taken as introductory courses or as prerequisites for more specialized courses.
During the third and fourth years (occasionally fifth as well) of college, students concentrate most of their courses in one discipline. The field of concentration is called a major. A number of courses are required to obtain a bachelor’s degree in the chosen field (the major); other courses may be taken as electives. Each student is assigned an academic advisor who is a member of the faculty in his major field and who offers guidance on the choice of electives and helps solve any academic problem that may arise. The B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) and B.S. (Bachelor of Sciences) are the most common degrees at this level, but the baccalaureate is also awarded in a few professional fields (Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Fine Arts).
Student B. Read the text. Be ready to answer Student A’s questions. Ask Student A what the program leads to, what degrees requirements are, how long it takes to obtain a degree
G
raduate
study leads to a master's degree and requires at least one-year
program beyond the bachelor's degree. In some fields, such as
engineering, law or business administration, a two-year program is
common. The typical requirements for this degree include successful
completion of a specified number of graduate courses, maintenance of
a minimum
average of grade B (approximately equal to 3) and preparation of a
thesis. Advanced studies
leading to a master's degree emphasize either research or
preparation for professional practice. M.A. and M.S. are traditional
degrees, but this level includes also professional degrees, i.e.,
M.B.A. (Master of Business Administration), or M.Ed. (Master of
Education), etc.
The Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) degree requires at least two years of study beyond the master's degree, but in most fields much more time is necessary (four to five years). Doctoral students attend advanced lecture courses and seminars, undergo extensive written and oral examinations, and carry out research under professional guidance. Doctoral programs in most fields emphasize original research presented in the form of a dissertation. Doctorates may be also awarded in medicine (M.D.), education (Ed.D.), law (J.D.) and other specialized fields.
Research is one of the chief functions of the graduate school. Most researches in many fields are provided by universities.
Preparation for professional practice is another important function of the graduate study at a university, but there are also many independent (non-university) schools of music, art, law, engineering, medicine and other professions. The standards of professional schools are established by professional associations and societies in each field.
What do the following abbreviations mean:
B.A., B.S., M.A., M.S., M. Ed., M.B.A., Ph.D., M.D., Ed.D., J.D.?
What are the main requirements for obtaining various degrees in the USA?
Listening 1
Before listening