STEM jobs — in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics — are in high demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects STEM jobs will grow by 10.5% between 2023 and 2033. This growth means more jobs for engineers, computer scientists, biochemists, and other STEM professionals.
As a top-tier research university, the University of Dayton offers STEM-designated degrees to undergraduates and graduates in several growing fields, including business analytics, computer science, and engineering management. And via UDayton Global, international students have an opportunity to access the career opportunities available in the area.
Dayton, Ohio, is fast becoming a significant hub for STEM careers. As the birthplace of the Wright brothers — inventors of the first successful airplane — Dayton has attracted innovators in the aerospace industry for more than a century.
The city is also expanding in the health sciences and information technology (IT) industries, which include medical research, health care technology, and computer systems.
WalletHub ranked Dayton among the top 50 Best Areas for STEM Professionals. In the same list, Dayton also ranks number one for quality of life, with high scores in housing affordability, recreation, family-friendliness, and singles-friendliness.
Currently, the University of Dayton’s STEM programs range from applied mathematical economics and psychology to biochemistry and computer engineering.
The University of Dayton graduate engineering program is one of the best in the country, ranked number 52 out of more than 220 programs by U.S. News & World Report — America’s most trusted university ranking system. It is also the nation’s number-one university for federally sponsored materials research and development.
Growing STEM fields require employees with specialized skills and technical expertise that employers need. Several majors can improve your chances of securing optional practical training (OPT) to help you build a long-term career in the United States.
OPT allows STEM students to work in the US for up to 12 months after graduation. International students can request to extend permission for an additional 24 months, for a total of 36 months. This three-year period helps students transition from their F-1 student visa to an H-1B visa, which is designed for skilled workers.
Since 2023, UD has helped secure 1,125 OPT work opportunities for international students. That represents 96% of the total enrolled undergraduate and graduate UD students (1,171) in 2024.
“I’ve worked for 3.5 years in the IT industry. And that was the reason why I came here,” said Ankit, a computer science graduate student from India. “My previous experience — I wanted to enhance it, I wanted to add value to it.”
The focused coursework, like Data Communications, attracted Ankit. “I believe the master’s program in Dayton will help advance my career … the sky’s the limit.”
Students in each program are free to tailor their academic path to their interests and career goals. “[UD] is the university where I found that the courses are pretty flexible,” explained Manasi, a Master of Computer Science graduate student from India. “You are allowed to choose your subjects. You just go with your interests. That’s the great thing — they have a lot of options.”
UD continues to invest in its STEM programs, adding more research options and innovative courses for students to choose from. The University of Dayton Research Institute, for instance, is developing new technologies in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning — computer systems that can learn and improve from experience.
Additionally, the university’s STEM Catalyst Initiative offers financial support in the form of grants to faculty and student STEM research projects, particularly those addressing challenges that span multiple disciplines or fields of study.
Support for STEM Studies at the University of Dayton
The University of Dayton provides exceptional career support for both international and American students. Within six months of graduation, 97% of students are either pursuing a graduate degree or participating in a service program.
Brittany Chill, assistant director for UDayton Global Career Services, oversees all career planning activities and serves as a major catalyst behind the program’s success.
“I call myself a bridge,” she explained. “I look at my students and employers as two of my primary stakeholders and my main role is to match them and build that bridge. A lot of the services that I offer are intended to get students prepared for their interactions with employers.”
Offering comprehensive career services for international students, UDayton Global provides students with access to group and one-on-one appointments, workshops, networking opportunities, and more. Activities may range from updating a resume and cover letter to determining where they belong within their chosen industry.
“Something that we value at UDayton Global is making sure that every important aspect we think students should know about, we incorporate into every aspect of what they do,” added Chill. Career courses are interwoven with the curriculum.
“It’s also asking questions like, ‘What type of work-life balance do you value?’” said Chill. “The conversation may sound more life-skills based versus career-skills based.”
International students have access to career services on campus that help them achieve their long-term goals, whether those goals include staying in the US or not. That might mean learning more about curricular practical training (CPT), OPT, or other ways to maximize their time pursuing a STEM degree at UD.
For instance, Chill helps students explore internship and career-based options available in Ohio and worldwide. “OPT and CPT are only tied to the US,” she explained. “Students can get experiential learning anywhere in the world. [A] variety of experiences is only going to help them.”
One student who worked with Chill, Nileshkumar, interned for an information technology company in India as a software developer.
“I wanted to do an MS in computer science [at] one of the reputed universities in the US,” he said, noting his research and recommendations from friends pointed him to UD. With his internship, he’ll gain more knowledge about software development.
“As I am working with a startup, I get a chance to work on multiple technologies that will help me to apply for jobs in the US,” he added. “The internship is helping me to achieve that goal.”
Nileshkumar’s ultimate goal is to start his own company. “But I think I will get some job experience after completing my degree,” he added.
Ohio Economic Development Builds STEM Careers
As a top US city for STEM careers, Dayton offers numerous opportunities. There are more than 90 tech startups in the city, with the top industries — aerospace, health sciences, and IT — mirroring some of Ohio’s major industries.
“Dayton is great in terms of innovation in general,” said Chill, noting the jobs, companies, and the fact that UD is a research-based university that is strong in STEM. Alongside Chicago and Detroit, “Dayton is part of the Midwest tech corridor.”
For Yubo, also known as Tim, a computer science graduate student from China, deciding to study at UD came down to being able to learn what he needs to pursue his career. “Nowadays, the potential of the future is the exploration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) … My tutor, Dr. Tam, is concentrating on this field. I feel more energy working with him.”
For her part, Chill has worked with an immigration attorney to educate organizations within the city of Dayton about the benefits of working with UD’s international graduates.
“We work with startups and other organizations to facilitate the hiring of our students,” she said.
As time goes on, Chill imagines that micro-internships and more project-based work will become increasingly popular.
“Regardless of what country a company is based in, employers are looking for multicultural competencies in their employees,” emphasized Chill. “Being in a different culture, acclimating to different social structures, working in classes with different types of people — all those things look different on a resume than someone who stays in the same country.”
Abdullah, a student enrolled in the computer science graduate program (and brought his family with him from Saudi Arabia while he studied), echoed this sentiment. “It is very different to study abroad, I think, from your own country,” he said. “We are actually trying to get familiar a little bit with the American culture, and I think it’s amazing, I think it’s nice.”
Chill also pointed out that the US remains a place for innovation. “One of our students became a business owner here on campus,” she said. “His idea was international students don’t know all the US brands and products helpful to living in the US, so he created a rental service so students can test things out.”
“Opportunities exist and innovation is being looked for,” she added.
For so many international students, successful futures start in Ohio.
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