iae Global Nepal

🇺🇸 Flexibility within the American higher education system - Majors and Minors

Sagun Poudyal -


International students choose to study in the US for its flexible education system. Students can pick and choose subjects that interests them from a wide variety of courses. The American education system employs a major/minor system.

In stark contrast to the Nepali education system that depends on prescribed learning pathways, higher education in USA gets students involved in actually designing the course of their learning. The benefit of this system becomes clear when you understand what it entails.

Let's focus on four main ideas of the American higher education:

  • Core Courses
  • Major
  • Electives
  • Minor

Core Courses

Irrespective of your minor or major, all students are required to take core classes. These classes cover a wide variety of disciplines: Social Science, Languages and others. The core subjects ensure that the students are exposed to as many knowledge areas as possible.

Major

At end of the second year, the students must declare a major. A major is the field of study that the student will concentrate on for the rest of the undergraduate program. A major comprises core courses and electives.

Elective Classes

As part of the major, students will have the option to choose elective subjects. These subjects provide in-depth knowledge in specific areas.

Minor

A college minor is a secondary academic pursuit in addition to a minor. A student can pursue multiple interests even if those interests are not directly connected. However, students are not required to declare a minor

This system of getting students to explore myriad subject areas, intermingle with students of varied academic interests and experiment with learning can ultimately widen horizons and create a more well-rounded, better educated graduates.

iae Nepal, Dillibazar has been helping students plan out and apply to USA universities and colleges with great success. There are 4000+ universities and colleges to choose from; let your USA educated guidance counsellors at iae guide you to your dream USA university.