For many international students aspiring to work in the US, pursuing a degree in STEM can be one of the best pathways to a long-term career and a way to gain valuable skills that top employers seek out.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 2016 and 2022, STEM-related jobs in the US are expected to increase by 10.8%. So, choosing to major in STEM (aka degrees in the field of science, technology, engineering, and math) opens many doors to career opportunities in the US — or anywhere else in the world.
In addition to having increasing job opportunities, F-1 students in the US who are STEM majors may also take advantage of programs to extend their stay in America. For example, international students who pursue a STEM degree are eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT) employment, which allows them to work in the US for up to 12 months. An added advantage of being a STEM major is that international students can then request to extend their OPT for 24 months. (To truly gain a competitive edge here, remember to also hone your soft skills to become a well-rounded STEM major.)
So, if you want to pursue OPT after graduation, getting a STEM degree can be a smart decision. But with many different STEM fields and degrees to choose from, it can be challenging to decide exactly which STEM major is right for you. To get informed, read on for a list of STEM majors eligible for work authorization at our partner universities.
STEM Majors at US universities
Adelphi University
Adelphi University, located in Garden City, New York, is a research university with a focus on STEM. It is also in the top 20% of the safest universities in the US, according to Niche. Here are the STEM majors available to Adelphi students:
Biochemistry
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science
Economics
Information Systems
Mathematics
Mathematics and Computer Science
Neuroscience
Physics
Psychology
Auburn University
When you choose a STEM major at Auburn University, you can get a degree in:
Aerospace Engineering
Agricultural Business & Economics
Agricultural Communications
Agricultural Science
Animal Sciences—Animal and Allied Industries Option
Animal Sciences—Meat Science Option
Animal Sciences—Pre-Vet/Pre-Professional Option
Applied Biotechnology
Applied Mathematics
Applied Mathematics—Actuarial Science Option
Applied Mathematics—Discrete and Statistical Sciences Option
Biochemistry
Biomedical Sciences
Biosystems Engineering
Biosystems Engineering—Bioprocess Option
Biosystems Engineering—Ecological Engineering Option
Biosystems Engineering—Forest Engineering Option
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Crop & Soil Sciences—Production Option
Crop & Soil Sciences—Science Option
Crop & Soil Sciences—Soil, Water, & Land Use Option
Crop & Soil Sciences—Turfgrass Management Option
Electrical Engineering
Environmental Science
Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences—Fisheries Management Option
Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences—Marine Resources Option
Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures—Pre-Professional Option
Food Science
Forestry
Geography
Geology
Geology—Earth System Science Option
Geospatial and Environmental Informatics
Horticulture—Fruit & Vegetable Production Emphasis
Horticulture—Landscape Horticulture Emphasis
Horticulture—Nursery & Greenhouse Science Emphasis
Horticulture—Pre-Landscape Architecture Emphasis
Industrial & Systems Engineering
Laboratory Sciences
Marine Biology
Materials Engineering
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Medical Technology
Microbial, Cellular, & Molecular Biology—Microbiology Option
Microbial, Cellular, & Molecular Biology—Cell & Molecular Biology Option
Natural Resources Management
Neuroscience
Organismal Biology—Conservation & Biodiversity Option
Organismal Biology—Ecology, Evolution, & Behavior Option
Organismal Biology—Integrative Biology Option
Physics
Poultry Science—Poultry Production
Poultry Science—Pre-Vet/Pre-Professional Option
Software Engineering
Sustainable Biomaterials Packaging
Wildlife Ecology & Management
Wireless Engineering—Hardware Option
Wireless Engineering—Software Option
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University (LSU) is a top-100 public university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. According to U.S. News & World Report, LSU’s Petroleum Engineering program is ranked #3. Here are the STEM majors available to international students at LSU:
Agricultural Pest Management/Entomology
Agricultural Pest Management/Plant Pathology
Animal Science
Applied Coastal Environmental Science
Astronomy
Biochemistry
Biological Chemistry
Biological Engineering
Biological Sciences
Chemical Engineering (biomolecular, environmental, materials)
Chemical Physics
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Cloud Computing and Networking
Coastal Environmental Science
Conservation Biology
Construction Management
Crop Science
Dairy Foods Technology
Dairy Production
Data Science and Analytics
Dietetics
Ecological Restoration
Electrical Engineering
Environmental Chemistry
Environmental Engineering
Environmental Geology
Environmental Health
Environmental Science and Research
Fisheries and Aquaculture
Food Science and Technology
Forest Enterprise
Forest Resource Management
Geophysics
Horticulture Science
Industrial Engineering
Marine Biology
Materials
Mechanical Engineering
Medical Physics
Microbiology
Nutrition, Health, and Society
Nutritional Sciences/Pre-Medicine
Petroleum Engineering
Physics
Polymers
Poultry Science
Pre-Professional Chemistry
Pre-Veterinary Medicine—Animal Sciences
Pre-Veterinary Medicine—Wildlife and Fisheries
Science and Technology
Soil Science
Software Engineering
Sustainable Production Systems
Wildlife Ecology
Wildlife Habitat Conservation
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida (UCF) has a diverse student body representing more than 150 countries. With top-ranked STEM programs, UCF alumni are often hired at global companies such as Lockheed Martin and Siemens Energy.
Here are the possibilities for STEM majors at UCF:
Actuarial Science
Aerospace Engineering
Biology Tracks: Zoology & Pre-Veterinarian Science, Plant Sciences, Pre-Health Professional, General Biology, Marine & Aquatic, and Ecology, Evolutionary, & Conservation
Biomedical Sciences Tracks: Molecular Microbiology, Neuroscience, and Molecular Cell Biology
Biotechnology
Chemistry Tracks: Biochemistry
Civil Engineering
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Computer Engineering Tracks: Comprehensive, Digital VLSI Circuits
Computer Sciences
Construction Engineering
Electrical Engineering Tracks: Power & Renewable Energy, RF & Microwaves, Communication & Signal Processing
Environmental Engineering
Forensic Science Tracks: Biochemistry, Chemistry
Health Sciences Tracks: Health Promotion and Pre-Clinical
Industrial Engineering
Information Technology
Kinesiology Tracks: Exercise & Sport Physiology and Sport & Athletic Coaching
Materials Science and Engineering
Mathematics Tracks: General Mathematics, Mathematical Biology, Mathematical Economics, Computational, Engineering/Physics
Mechanical Engineering
Medical Laboratory Sciences
Photonic Science and Engineering
Physics Concentrations: Technical Writing, Nanoscale Science & Technology, Education, Information Technology/Data Science, Biophysics
Physics Tracks: Materials, Optics & Lasers, Computational, Astronomy
Psychology
Statistics
University of Dayton
The University of Dayton, located in Dayton, Ohio, offers many top-ranked programs in STEM. According to U.S. News & World Report, their graduate engineering program is ranked #47. If you attend the University of Dayton, here are the STEM majors you could choose from:
Applied Mathematical Economics
Biochemistry
Biology
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Computer Information Systems
Computer Science
Economics
Electrical Engineering
Electronic & Computer Engineering Technology
Environmental Biology
Environmental Geology
Geology
Global Manufacturing Systems Engineering Technology
Industrial Engineering Technology
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Technology
Medicinal—Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Physical Science
Physics
Physics—Computer Science
Psychology
University of Illinois Chicago
The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) is ranked #75 in Undergraduate Engineering, according to U.S. News & World Report. More than 500 organizations have hired 25,000 UIC engineering students in the past two years. Here are the possibilities to study STEM at UIC:
Biochemistry
Bioengineering
Biological Sciences (Concentrations: General Biology; Molecular, Cellular, and Organismal Biology)
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Computer Science (Concentrations: Computer Systems, Human Centered Computing, Software Engineering)
Disability & Human Development
Earth and Environmental Sciences
Economics
Electrical Engineering
Engineering Management
Engineering Physics
Industrial Engineering
Kinesiology (Concentrations: Exercise; Science & Health Promotion; Movement Science)
Mathematics
Mathematics & Computer Science
Mechanical Engineering
Neuroscience
Physics
Psychology (Concentrations: Applied, General)
Rehabilitation Sciences
Statistics (Concentrations: Applied Statistics, Statistical Theory & Methods)
University of Kansas
Located in Lawrence, Kansas, the University of Kansas (KU) is a top-200 public university dedicated to research. KU’s Undergraduate Engineering program is ranked #93 by U.S. News & World Report. If you study STEM at KU, here are the degree programs available:
Aerospace Engineering
Applied Behavioral Science
Architectural Engineering
Astrobiology (minor)
Astronomy
Atmospheric Science
Behavioral Neuroscience
Biological Sciences
Biotechnology
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Clinical Laboratory Science
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Economics
Electrical Engineering
Engineering Physics
Geology
Health Information Management
Information Technology
Interdisciplinary Computing
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Petroleum Engineering
Pharmaceutical Studies
Physics
Psychology
Respiratory Care
University of the Pacific
The University of the Pacific is ranked #52 for their Undergraduate Engineering program, according to U.S. News & World Report. You can choose from a variety of STEM majors:
Actuarial Science
Applied Mathematics
Biochemistry
Bioengineering
Biological Sciences
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Economics
Electrical Engineering
Engineering Management
Engineering Physics
Environmental Studies
Geological Use & Environmental Sciences
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Physics
For graduate programs at the University of the Pacific, you can get an OPT-eligible master’s degree in:
Data Science (San Francisco campus only)
Engineering Science
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Computer Science
Mechanical Engineering
Engineering Management
University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina (UofSC) is a top-tier research university with more than 350 degree programs. According to U.S. News & World Report, UofSC’s Computer Engineering program is ranked #93. If you would like to study STEM at UofSC, here are the degree programs:
Aerospace Engineering
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Biological Sciences
Biomedical Engineering
Cardiovascular Technology
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Computer Engineering
Computer Information Systems
Computer Science
Economics
Electrical Engineering
Geological Sciences
Geophysics
Integrated Information Technology
Mechanical Engineering
Marine Science
Mathematics
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Physics
Psychology
Statistics
University of Utah
The University of Utah is a top-100 public school located in Salt Lake City. According to U.S. News & World Report, their undergraduate engineering program is ranked #61. Choose from the following STEM majors at the University of Utah:
Applied Mathematics
Atmospheric Sciences
Biology
Biomedical Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Construction Engineering
Economics
Electrical Engineering
Engineering
Geological Engineering
Geoscience
Material Science & Engineering
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Metallurgical Engineering
Mining Engineering
Physics
Psychology
With all of these STEM options to consider, take some time to think about what you enjoy most and the types of careers you would find fulfilling. Additionally, you can always speak with a trusted advisor who can help you focus and make the best decision for you and your goals.
No matter which STEM major you choose, as an international student, you will be making a smart decision for your future: pursuing a career in STEM is highly rewarding, whether you decide to work in the US or anywhere in the world.
Talk to a Shorelight advisor about academic support for international students >
