The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of State (DOS) have recently taken new actions aimed at attracting and retaining talent in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). These actions are likely designed in response to an 11% reduction in the number of international students enrolled in our universities over the past 5 years, resulting from restrictive policies of the Trump administration. Foreign students, who are issued F-1 nonimmigrant visas and come to our country in pursuit of their academic studies, contribute millions of dollars and thousands of jobs to our economy by spending education and living-related costs in local economies, such as the tuition they pay to universities and the food they consume at restaurants near college campuses. In an effort to change the U.S. image around immigration and ease the restrictions concerning skilled foreign workers, the DHS and DOS have added 22 new fields to the existing STEM list for F-1 visa holders. Many of these fields are very lucrative, no doubt to incentivize international students to come to the U.S. to study and then seek employment after their graduation.
F-1 visas are issued to international students for them to pursue academic studies in the U.S. These visas come with an Optional Practical Training (OPT) period that typically allows F-1 students to get a year of temporary employment directly related to their field of study. They may work before or after finishing their academic studies, but the maximum time available is limited to 12 months. A period of 12 months often isn’t enough time for these international students as their OPT may be used up every summer by internships, and they may not have any meaningful time for OPT at the time when they graduate. There are some exceptions, but these exceptions require that an H-1B petition is currently being processed. A STEM OPT allows the student to get a 24-month extension upon expiration of the regular OPT if they have a degree in a STEM field. This OPT extension will enable the student to spend two more years to participate in the OPT program, gain more practical experience, and have more time during which their U.S. employers will help them secure a H-1B visa number and petition for the H-1B status. Once they receive the H-1B status, they will be able to continue their residence and employment in the U.S. for an extended period of time that may eventually lead to their lawful permanent residence.
The 22 new fields added to the STEM list have expanded the qualifying sectors and industries to participate in the STEM OPT program. Notably, the STEM fields have expanded to the financial sector, such as mathematical economics, economics and computer science, and financial analytics being added to the list, allowing future and current students to pursue high econometric degrees in these fields. Additionally, new areas of study that blend multiple fields have been added, such as anthrozoology and geobiology. A list of these newly added fields, followed by a brief description of each of them, is provided as follows.
Bioenergy
A program of study that focuses on the environmental and economic impact of using plants and microbes for the production of bio-based fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. Includes instruction in biochemical engineering, bioprocessing, bioseparations, conversion, feedstock, economics, environmental sustainability, hydrology, and natural resource management.
Forestry
A program that generally prepares individuals to manage and develop forest areas for economic, recreational, and ecological purposes. Includes instruction in forest-related sciences, mapping, statistics, harvesting and production technology, natural resources management and economics, wildlife sciences, administration, and public relations.
Forest Resources Production and Management
A program that focuses on the application of forestry principles to the production, harvesting, and processing of forest resources and that prepares individuals to perform associated technical and managerial functions. Includes instruction in forest production and utilization, industrial forestry, agroforestry, transplantation, timber harvesting, selection and identification of trees, processing technologies and systems, equipment operations and maintenance, and related management skills.
Human-Centered Technology Design
A program that focuses on incorporating a human perspective into designing, researching, and creating technological interfaces. Includes instruction in design, human-computer interaction, learning, neuroscience, perception, product design, user-centered design, and usability
Cloud Computing
A program that prepares individuals to design and implement enterprise software systems that rely on distributed computing and service-oriented architecture, including databases, web services, cloud computing, and mobile apps. Includes instruction in data management, distributed and cloud computing, enterprise software architecture, enterprise and cloud security, mobile systems and applications, server administration, and web development.
Anthrozoology
A program of study that combines anthropology and zoology in order to examine the relationship between animals and humans. Includes instruction in animal behavior and communication, animal welfare, animal conservation, animal training, animal-assisted therapy techniques, biology, ethics, and education.
Climate Science
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the climate system of the earth with emphasis on the physical, dynamical, and chemical interactions of the atmosphere, ocean, land, ice, and the terrestrial and marine biospheres. Includes instruction in biology, chemistry, climate analysis, climate change adaptation/mitigation, climate policy, ecology, energy development, environmental impacts, marine chemistry, meteorology, and oceanography.
Earth Systems Science
A program that focuses on the interaction of the Earth's oceanographic, atmospheric, and terrestrial systems. Includes instruction in biogeochemistry, climate dynamics, geographical information science (GIS), geophysics, hydrology, landscape ecology, meteorology, and satellite remote sensing analysis.
Economics and Computer Science
A program of study that focuses on the theoretical and practical connections between computer science and economics. Includes instruction in data analysis, database design, data mining, computer algorithms, economics, econometrics, computer programing, mathematics, and statistics.
Environmental Geosciences
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the environmental implications of geological processes and human activities on Earth. Includes instruction in environmental/natural resource management, geographic information systems (GIS), geology, hydrology, regulatory agency compliance, hazard identification and mitigation, environmental law, environmental policy, and sustainability studies.
Geobiology
A program that focuses on the scientific study of how living things interact with geological systems. Includes instruction in evolution of Earth systems, geochemistry, geology, geomicrobiology, marine chemistry, paleobiology, paleoecology, paleontology, and petrology.
Geography and Environmental Studies
A program that focuses on interactions between people and the natural and built environments. Includes instruction in climate science, sustainability, environmental science and policy, research methods, geographic information systems (GIS), human geography, physical geography, remote sensing, and public policy.
Mathematical Economics
A program that focuses on the application of mathematical methods to the development of economic theory, models, and quantitative analysis. Includes instruction in data analysis, applied business economics, calculus, econometrics, linear algebra, microeconomic theory, probability, and statistical methods.
Mathematics and Atmospheric/Oceanic Science
A program that focuses on the application of mathematics to atmospheric and oceanic problems. Includes instruction in chemistry, physics, atmospheric/ocean dynamics, climatology, weather simulation, climate modeling, mathematics, oceanography, and atmospheric science.
Data Science
A program that focuses on the analysis of large scale data sources from the interdisciplinary perspectives of applied statistics, computer science, data storage, data representation, data modeling, mathematics, and statistics. Includes instruction in computer algorithms, computer programming, data management, data mining, information policy, information retrieval, mathematical modeling, quantitative analysis, statistics, trend spotting, and visual analytics.
Data Analytics
A program that prepares individuals to apply data science to generate insights from data and identify and predict trends. Includes instruction in computer databases, computer programming, inference, machine learning, optimization, probability and stochastic models, statistics, strategy, uncertainty quantification, and visual analytics.
Business Analytics
A program that prepares individuals to apply data science to solve business challenges. Includes instruction in machine learning, optimization methods, computer algorithms, probability and stochastic models, information economics, logistics, strategy, consumer behavior, marketing, and visual analytics.
Data Visualization
A program that prepares individuals to organize and derive meaning from data by using visual presentation tools and techniques. Includes instruction in cognitive science, computer programming, data management, data visualization theory, graphic design, infographics, perceptual psychology, statistics, and visual design.
Financial Analytics
A program that focuses on financial big data modeling from algorithms to cloud-based data-driven financial technologies. Includes instruction in financial analytics, financial data processing, knowledge management, data visualization, effective decision communication, machine learning for finance, statistical inference and dynamic modeling on financial data, and project management.
Data Analytics
Any instructional program in data analytics not listed above. Ie Social Media Trend Spotting.
Social Sciences, Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods
A program that focuses on the design of research studies, measurement of variables, data analysis, and formulation of models. Includes instruction in experimental, quasi-experimental, and case study methods; historical research; participant observation; questionnaire design; sampling theory; and statistical methods. Examples: [Methodology, Measurement, and Statistics
Industrial and Organizational Psychology
A program that focuses on the scientific study of individual and group behavior in institutional settings, applications to related problems of organization and industry, and that may prepare individuals to apply such principles in industrial and organizational settings. Includes instruction in group behavior theory, organizational theory, reward/punishment structures, human-machine and human-computer interactions, motivation dynamics, human stress studies, environmental and organizational influences on behavior, alienation and satisfaction, and job testing and assessment.
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