美国高等教育层次结构变迁及影响因素分析

Hierarchical Structural Changes in American Higher Education

高等教育层次结构是指授予高等教育学位(学历)层次及其对应的机构组成。美国内战前高等教育结构只是体现为以古典教育为主并授予学士学位的学院特征,内战后才逐渐出现了授予硕士乃至博士学位的现代研究型大学,世纪之交美国又产生了授予副学士学位的初级学院,至此美国高等教育系统基本形成了可以授予副学士、学士、硕士和博士学位的层次结构特征,为二战后高等教育的规模扩张与质量提升提供了结构框架与制度保障。在市场、政府与高校三因素作用下,美国高等教育层次结构变迁是从政府不干涉主义的自由市场模式发展到政府宏观调控下的理性市场模式。

The hierarchical structure of higher education system refers to the organization of institutions that confer degrees of different levels ,such as doctoral ,master’s ,bachelor’s and associate degree .Before the Civil War ,American higher education system is only composed by the undergraduate colleges .After the Civil War , a complicated hierarchical structure emerges in American higher education system with the rise of Land-grant colleges ,modern universities and community colleges .Under the influences of the market ,government and ac-ademic institutions ,the hierarchical structure of American higher education has changed from a free-market model without interference of government to a rational market with macro-regulation of the government .