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For a long time，the US has led the world in higher education，quantitatively at least.The total number of the institutions of higher education is about 3，300.This figure represents one institution for every 78，000Americans.Slightly more than half of all institutions of higher education are privately supported，many of them by religious groups.Between 1998and 2008，the number of full-time students increased by 37percent，compared to a 24percent increase in part-time students.College enrollment was a projected 19.6million in fall 2009，higher than in any previous year.

There are five categories of institutions of higher education in the United States.

（1）Doctoral-level institutions：This category includes the large research universities and other universities with strong Ph.D.programs.The faculty at such universities is usually expected to do research and to publish.The average enrollment at these universities exceeds 18，000students，and campuses with 30，000to 40，000students are common.The latest figures indicate that there are 167doctoral-level universities in the US，of which 106 are public，receiving，on average，75%of their funds from government sources，and 61are private that are supported almost entirely by religious bodies or private funds.

（2）Comprehensive institutions：In this group，universities offer several programs but usually no degree higher than a master’s.They total 408，with 254of them public and 154private.

（3）General baccalaureate institutions：Most of the institutions in this category are small colleges whose liberal arts program dominates the curriculum.Of them 123are public，whereas 604are private，for a total 727.

（4）Specialized institutions：This category consists of theological seminaries，medical schools，business colleges，and other institutions which specialize in a single field of study.Of a total of 583such institutions，66are public and 517are private.

（5）Two-year institutions：The historic term for this category of institutions is“junior college”，but now it is mainly associated with community colleges.Of a total of 1，206two-year institutions，925are public，and only 281are private.

The figures used above represent only accredited institutions，that is，those recognized by agencies which set standards for university study.If non-accredited institutions are added in，the total number would be nearly 10，000.

In American colleges and universities，a vast array of subjects is offered.The students can select different fields of knowledge，but he usually majors in one field during last two years of college.If he wishes，he may obtain professional training at the undergraduate level，for example，in accounting，teaching，journalism，or dramatics.Certain state colleges specialize in training agricultural experts and engineers.

At the college level，the academic year is about nine months long.After completing four academic years with acceptable grades in an approved course of study，the student earns a bachelor’s degree.Some students complete college in less than four years by attending summer sessions.College grades，from highest to lowest，run A，B，C，D，F.An F is a failing grade.If a student receives an F in a particular course，he does not get credit for having taken the course.College students must maintain at least a low C average in order to remain in school.

American universities offer three main categories of graduate degrees.In most fields of specialization，a master’s degree can be earned by one or two academic years of study beyond the bachelor’s degree.A Ph.D.degree（doctor of philosophy）usually takes at least three years beyond the master’s.To earn a Ph.D.in almost any field，the student must generally pass oral and written examinations in his specialty，produce a long research paper which makes as original contribution to his field of study，and pass reading examinations in one or two foreign languages.There are also graduate professional schools in medicine，dentistry，and law，among other fields.

The faculty members in colleges or universities are responsible for providing academic counseling to the students in their courses.At graduate level，the advisory role of the faculty increases.One professor will be named graduate advisor，the person who is generally charged with counseling graduate students and resolving their problems.All professors at graduate level are expected to provide their students special training，reading courses，or individual tutorials.Most importantly，they work intensively with students writing theses or dissertations for degrees.Guiding master’s and Ph.D.candidates through the final writing and examination stages of their programs may be seen as an extension of the teaching act；nevertheless it takes up much faculty time.

After strain of work，students become involved in many different activities—extracurricular，religious，social and athletic.Some clubs or groups have faculty advisers.Many religious groups have their meeting places where services and social activities can be held.Student groups run parties of all types from formal dances to picnics.Most colleges have their students unions where students can get together for lunch，study sessions，club meetings，and socializing.Athletics is an important phase of life in most campuses.American football is the college sport which stirs up the most national interest.Other sports，particularly basketball，swimming and track，are also pursued with enthusiasm.Some schools have competitive teams of tennis，skiing，sailing，wrestling，soccer，and baseball.

The cost of 4-year public or private colleges has increased greatly in resent years.For example，in 1994-1995，the average cost for tuition and fees was＄2，686in a public college and＄11，709in a private one.Yet in 2009-2010，the cost came up to＄27，967and＄40，476respectively.Fortunately for the American students with limited funds，financial help is available from many sources.Every year college students receive more than＄300million in monetary assistance，including scholarships，loans，and part-time jobs.More than 200，000scholarships are offered by industries，alumni groups，individual donors，the federal government，and colleges and universities.A student may cut cost by attending a state or community school，or combining part-time work with a part-time college program.Many college students use their summer earnings to help finance their education.Some students pursue undergraduate or graduate degrees at night school while working full time during the day.Some college courses are offered on television or through computer networks，and these are inexpensive.Many young people from poor families struggle along on limited budgets in order to stay in college because they know that a college degree brings higher income，greater job security，more prestige，and a more significant career.

American Dream：The term means different things to different people.It is usually associated with the aspirations of most people：peace，prosperity，personal ownership of property，personal liberty，and the belief that individuals are free to achieve any goals，to accumulate material wealth，to live any lifestyle.Central to American Dream is the notion that America is the land of opportunity for the enterprising.Any competitive，practical go-getter can make a fortune，or build a dream home.Its focus is primarily self-centered，materialistic，pragmatic，and individualistic.

Ⅰ.Choose the correct answer.

1.Who is chiefly responsible for education in the US？

A.The federal government.　　　B.The state government.

C.The county government.　　　 D.The local government.

2.In the US school system，there are twelve levels called________.

A.classes　　　B.divisions

C.grades 　　　D.degrees

3.The elementary and secondaryeducation in the US lasts________.

A.8years　　　B.10years

C.12years 　　D.13years

4.The average teacher salary in private secondaryschools is________that in public schools.

A.higher than　　　　　　B.lower than

C.almost same as　　　　 D.half of

5.A great majorityof doctor-level universities in the US are________.

A.private　　　B.supported by religious groups

C.public 　　　D.supported by private funds

6.After completing four-year study in a college，the student usuallycan earn________.

A.a university degree　　　B.a graduate degree

C.a bachelor’s degree 　　D.a master’s degree

7.In order to remain in college the student must maintain at least a________ average.

A.B 　　　B.C 　　　C.D 　　　D.F

8.In 2009-2010，the average cost for tuition and fees in a private college was________.

A.＄2，686　　　B.＄11，709　　　C.＄27，967　　　D.＄40，476

Ⅱ.Fill in the blanks.

1.The federal government can give financial helpbut not ________in education.Each state has an educational administration，and the state authorities lay down general ________concerning the organization of schools and such matters as the ages of ________education.Schools are managed by local________of education，whose members are elected.Most schools are run on________levied by local districts and states.

2.Private schools in the US were divided into two categories：parochial and nondenominational.Parochial schools are supported by various________ groups.Thirty-five percent of them are affiliated with the________ Church，and the left affiliated with other religious groups.The nondenominational schools are not ________with a religious group.They are fewer than________schools.

3.The total number of the institutions of higher education is about________.This figure represents one institution for every ________Americans.Slightly more than half of all institutions of higher education are________ supported，many of them by ________groups.

4.American universities offer three main categories of graduate degrees：1）________，2）________，3）________.In most fields of specialization，a________degree can be earned by one or two academic years of study beyond the bachelor’s degree.A Ph.D.degree usuallytakes at least________years beyond the ________degree.

Ⅲ.Questions for Discussion.

1.At elementary stage what do the teachers usually emphasize？

2.What are the five categories of institutions of higher education in the United States？

3.What are the two requirements for gaining a Ph.D.degree？

4.What are the responsibilities of the faculty members in colleges and universities？