Studies Following is an overview of typical terminology and practice used at the undergraduate level of U.S. higher education. For further detail, see the Glossary of U.S. Educational Terminology and Structural Outline of U.S. Education . Most institutions use the semester system, in which the academic year is divided into fall and spring semesters of roughly 15 weeks in length. Universities using the semester system will often have a 8 week summer session as well.
Students apply for admission to a major subject at the end of their second year.
The maximum number of credit hours students are allowed to attempt per semester is usually 20, unless special permission is granted. A typical U.S. college course is worth 3 credit hours . Courses may also be worth more or fewer credit hours. Conversely a required physical education course may be worth only 1 or 2 credit hours. In addition to lectures, one or several textbooks would be required reading, and there would often be recommended supplementary reading as well.