Discussion

Put these degrees in the order that you would earn them, starting from the first one.   High school diploma Master's degree Associate's degree PhD Bachelor's degree

Match these degrees to the number of years needed to earn it Match these degrees to the number of years needed to earn it. (After you earn the one before it). a. 12 years b. 1-2 years c. 2 years d. 3-7 years e. 4 years 1. High school diploma 2. Master's degree 3. Associate's degree 4. PhD 5. Bachelor's degree

Introduction to the US Education System

US Education Overview Post-secondary education PhD or advanced professional degree Master’s degree Undergraduate programs Vocational-technical institutions Junior/community colleges Primary & secondary education Early childhood education Source: 2003 Digest of Education Statistics, Figure 1. (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Education, NCES, 2004).

Graduation High school diploma General Education Development (GED) certificate Associate’s degree Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree Doctorate (PhD) Professional degrees

Early Childhood Education

Early Childhood Education Nursery school Preschool Daycare Head Start Kindergarten

Primary & Secondary Education

Elementary & Secondary Education Compulsory, but varied by state 12 years Elementary or primary school Middle school or junior high school Secondary school (high school)

School Choice Public school Private school Running Start Homeschool

Elementary & Secondary Educ. (cont’d) Calendar Daily routine Transportation Extracurricular activities Parental involvement

Curriculum Elementary curriculum Secondary curriculum Grades Letter Grade point average (GPA) Standardized tests Washington State: WASL Measurements of Student Progress (MSP) High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE)

Post-Secondary Education

Professional-Technical Training History Current goals Schools

Professional-Technical Training Types of training Internships Apprenticeships Traditional classroom Certificate, diploma or associate degree Developing fields

Undergraduate Education

Colleges and Universities Associate’s degree Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree Doctorate (PhD) Professional degrees *To transfer foreign credits – transcript/ credential evaluation

Colleges and Universities Tuition Public vs. private Goal Years Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior

Admission Grades & transcript Standardized test scores (SAT or ACT) Recommendation letters Student essays Extra-curricular activities

Student Life Large lectures with discussion or lab section Typical student: 18-22 years old Full-time student, part-time worker Lives on campus in a dormitory or off-campus apartment Athletics, Party Life, and Greek system

Community & Junior Colleges High school completion GED Job training Associate’s degree Some bachelor’s degrees *To transfer foreign credits – transcript/ credential evaluation

Community & Junior Colleges Tuition Public vs. private Goals: Adult basic education (ABE/ESL) Vocational and technical training Training for local employers Transfer to university Community education

Admission Information form Placement testing Transfer credits

Student Life Smaller classes – 20-30 Nontraditional students Average age Student/worker Live off-campus Campus life – studying

Course Numbering

Course Numbering Prefix Numbers ESL, BUS, MATH, BIOL&, CHEM& Ampersand (&) indicates a common course Numbers Less than 100 Over 100 Over 400

College Credits

College Credits Basis for tuition Credits ≈lecture hours Full-time = 12+ credits Transfer credits not always equal

Sources "Testing Students in Washington State." State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Web. 25 June 2010. U.S. Department of Education, International Affairs Staff, Education in the United States: A Brief Overview, Washington, D.C., 2005. Print.