1.
junior college; two-year college
A post-secondary educational institution offering two- or three-year programs, shorter than a four-year university. Often abbreviated as 短大.
短期大学を卒業した。
I graduated from a junior college.
姉は短期大学で栄養学を学んだ。
My older sister studied nutrition at a junior college.
近年、短期大学の数は減少し、四年制大学への転換が進んでいる。
In recent years, the number of junior colleges has been declining as many convert to four-year universities.
The formal name for a Japanese junior college. Almost always abbreviated as 短大 in everyday conversation. Typically two-year programs (some are three years), offering associate degrees.
ABBREVIATION:
短大 is the standard abbreviation used in everyday speech and writing. The full form 短期大学 appears mainly in official documents and formal contexts.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 短期大学に通う: to attend a junior college
- 短期大学を卒業する: to graduate from a junior college
- 短期大学卒: junior college graduate
- 短期大学士: associate degree
CULTURAL CONTEXT:
Japanese junior colleges have traditionally been associated with women's education, offering programs in fields like nutrition, early childhood education, and secretarial studies. Their numbers have been declining since the 1990s as more women attend four-year universities and many 短大 have converted to full universities.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 大学: university — the standard four-year institution
- 専門学校: vocational school — focuses on practical skills training rather than academic study
- 高等専門学校 (高専): technical college — a five-year institution combining high school and college-level technical education