Higher Education Curriculum

Higher education refers to optional formalized learning following secondary school. It may also be referred to as post-secondary education or tertiary education. There are 4,599 institutions across the United States capable of granting degrees. These may include public and private universities, liberal arts colleges, and community colleges. Current issues pertaining to tertiary institutions include the high cost of tuition, courses offered online, and student debt. American universities are among the most prestigious and widely-recognized in the world, making them an esteemed destination for international students and professors.

Who is it for?

Higher education is for students who have completed high school and are in general, over the age of eighteen. Higher education is optional. In 2009, 21% of adults over the age of eighteen had attended college but did not have a degree, 7.5% had obtained an associate’s degree, 17.6% had obtained a bachelor’s degree, and 10.3% had a professional degree or a graduate degree. While any student who meets the academic requirements is free to apply, there are other conditions that affect which students may pursue higher education. In particular, the American system has been criticized for shutting out students of low socioeconomic status, including racial and ethnic minorities. Among high school graduates, 83% of high-income students enrolled for college within two years of graduation, while only 52% of low-income students enrolled. Students with a low socioeconomic status who enter college are also likely to work long hours during their studies, putting them at a disadvantage.

Educational Focus

In the United States, the educational focus may change according to the type of institution. Most colleges and universities offer a number of different programs, offering students a wide range of choice in terms of specialization. Some may emphasize engineering, vocational, business, or technical studies. Community colleges offer associate’s degrees, which may be obtained after a two-year course of study. Liberal arts colleges place an emphasis on instruction, with high student-teacher ratios and less faculty involvement in research. Universities, on the other hand, are educational institutions that conduct research but also offer undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional designations. It is up to students to choose the program or degree that interests them and aligns with their career goals.

Outcomes

Research has shown that obtaining a bachelor’s degree is associated with better career outcomes and higher wages. In fact, the higher the degree an individual obtains, the higher the salary he or she is likely to make. While these outcomes have been shown time and again, the value of a university or college education has recently come under fire. Given the extreme investment required – including tuition, student loans, lost potential earnings, and time – some people are now questioning the actual payoff. Research has shown that the payoff varies by specialization or major. For instance, graduates who held a bachelor’s degree in education earned $44,000 annually, while engineering graduates earned $83,000 annually. Certain fields also tend to produce more graduates than there is room for in the workforce, resulting in a phenomenon known as the higher education bubble. Graduates are forced to consider jobs for which they are overqualified.