伴隨着中國經濟和互聯網的發展，‘留學’這件事情似乎也越來越揭開了她神秘的面紗，它變得不再那麼遙不可及。越來越多的‘90後’對自己留學之路的規劃也更加理性。他們不再是一味追求所謂的熱門專業，反而開始尋找自己真正喜歡的，或者跟自己的人生規劃相結合的留學專業。這也是屬於‘90後’自己的特徵，他們有主見、有想法，也越來越知道自己需要什麼。在他們眼裡，留學不僅僅是留學，更是移民國外的理想途徑。眾所周知，美國是個留學大國，擁有着全球最優秀的教育資源，每年吸納成千上萬的海外留學生。然而，在美國的移民簽證政策越來越收緊的狀態下，留學生畢業後繼續留在美國就變的越來越困難。那今天這篇文章，美嘉留學的陳華老師就來給大家分析下當下最火熱的STEM專業，以及怎麼好好的利用自己的專業，從而擁有更多的機會留在美國工作，甚至移民。

2013年，奧巴馬總統提出新的移民政策中一直提到STEM這個詞，那STEM到底是什麼呢?其實，STEM代表的是四種不同專業的大方向，共包含422個具體的專業(具體專業看附錄一)。本文就是要解開STEM的神秘面紗。

S代表Science科學，T代表Technology科技，E代表Engineering工程，M代表Mathematic數學。如果你的專業屬於這一類裡面的，你將要獲得比別人多17個月的OPT(全稱Optional Practical Training，專業實習)時間。OPT計劃是美國針對國際留學生頒布的一項政策。根據OPT計劃，國際學生從美國大學畢業後，可繼續以學生的身份在美國工作實習12個月，但是美國移民海關總署(ICE)規定，科學、技術、工程和數學(即STEM)專業領域內的畢業生OPT時間可延長至29個月。

STEM，是美國乃至世界蓬勃崛起的前景學科，相關領域的工作也被認為是未來薪資最高、最有前途的職業。因此，STEM專業的留學生也享受到比其他專業學生多出150%(一年半)的畢業實習時間。近期有美國專家提出憂慮，認為美國目前在STEM教育上落後於全球其他國家，應該加強對其的重視和投入。

根據全球經濟論壇提出的數據，美國在教育系統質量上排名全球28，在初等教育質量上排名全球38，在數學和科學教育質量上排名全球47。然而在與 STEM相關的工作中，超過70%都與計算機科學有關。STEM專業教育和STEM就業的匹配程度出現了巨大反差。同時，由於美國目前經濟狀況向下發展，與STEM相關的工作缺口非常巨大，已經達到了3700萬。社會市場基金會(The Social Market Foundation)的報告表示，由於勞動大軍的老齡化問題，每年將會有10萬份需要STEM專業畢業生填補的工作缺口。而根據目前美國在學校中 STEM人才的缺失看來，到了2018年，這一人才缺口將達到8600萬。倘若那些從事非STEM專業工作的STEM畢業生人數不變，那麼在2020年之前每年都需要額外的四萬名STEM專業畢業生。

STEM的學科性質決定了其自身發展的迅速性。據分析，到了2018年，92%的傳統STEM工作將需要工作人員接受中學以上的教育和培訓。而目前在高中開始時對STEM感興趣的美國學生，60%在畢業時失去了興趣。而那些選擇繼續在大學進行STEM學習的學生，則展開了在地球與空間科學、物質與能量、生物醫學等廣闊領域的學習。在畢業後的就職選擇上，具有STEM知識背景的學生可以進入如航空工程、人工智能等充滿樂趣的領域工作。另外，奧巴馬總統已經提議投入800萬美元提升STEM教育。所以國際學生在STEM領域具有非常大的發展潛力。

那麼如此火熱並擁有良好前景的專業，畢業後申請OPT的條件又是什麼呢？
 

 

要申請OPT的延期，F-1身份的學生必須：

1. 目前已經完成學位，處於12個月的Post-completion OPT狀態；

2. 已經獲得了在科學、技術、工程、數學(Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) 專業的學位。具體包括以下領域：Actuarial science, Computer science, Engineering, Engineering technologies, Biological and biomedical sciences, Mathematics and statistics, Military technologies, Physical sciences, Science technologies, Medical scientist；

3. 受僱於美國雇主，在與其專業直接相關的領域內工作；

4. 雇主必須參加移民局的E-verify 項目；

5. 具有有效的F-1身份(註：OPT仍然屬F-1身份) 。

預祝有這方面潛質的同學們，抓緊時間找好自己的專業定位，抓住這給力的政策，從而使自己在留美這條道路上越走越寬，越走越好。

附錄一：史上最全422個STEM專業列表

Acoustics

Actuarial Science

Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering Technology/Technician

Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, General

Aerospace Ground Equipment Technology

Aerospace Physiology and Medicine

Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautically/Space Engineering

Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding

Agricultural Animal Breeding

Agricultural Engineering

Agro Ecology and Sustainable Agriculture

Agronomy and Crop Science

Air and Space Operational Art and Science

Air and Space Operations Technology

Air Science/Airpower Studies

Aircraft Armament Systems Technology

Algebra and Number Theory

Analysis and Functional Analysis

Analytical Chemistry

Anatomy

Animal Behavior and Ethology

Animal Genetics

Animal Health

Animal Nutrition

Animal Physiology

Animal Sciences, General

Animal Sciences, Other

Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Specific Effects

Applied Mathematics, General

Applied Mathematics, Other

Aquatic Biology/Limnology

Archeology

Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology

Architectural Drafting and Architectural CAD/CADD

Architectural Engineering

Architectural Engineering Technology/Technician

Artificial Intelligence

Astronomy

Astronomy and Astrophysics, Other

Astrophysics

Atmospheric Chemistry and Climatology

Atmospheric Physics and Dynamics

Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General

Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, Other

Atomic/Molecular Physics

Automation Engineer Technology/Technician

Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician[SITESERVER_PAGE]

Behavioral Sciences

Bio Chemical Engineering

Biochemistry

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Other

Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering

Bio informatics

Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other

Biological and Physical Sciences

Biological/Bio system Engineering

Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician

Biology/Biological Sciences, General

Bio Mathematics, Bio informatics, and Computational Biology, Other

Biomedical Sciences, General

Biomedical Technology/Technician

Biometry/Biometrics

Biophysics

Bio Psychology

Bio Statistics

Biotechnology

Botany/Plant Biology

Botany/Plant Biology, Other

Business Statistics

CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician

Cardiovascular Science

Cell Biology and Anatomy

Cell Physiology

Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology

Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Other

Cell/Cellular Biology and Histology

Ceramic Sciences and Engineering

Chemical and Bio molecular Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Chemical Engineering Technology/Technician

Chemical Engineering, Other

Chemical Physics

Chemical Process Technology

Chemical Technology/Technician

Chemistry, General

Chemistry, Other

Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD

Civil Engineering Technology/Technician

Civil Engineering, General

Civil Engineering, Other

Clinical and Industrial Drug Development

Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist

Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics

Cognitive Science

Combat Systems Engineering

Command & Control (C, CI) Systems and Operations

Comparative Psychology

Computational and Applied Mathematics

Computational Biology

Computational Mathematics

Computational Science

Computer and Information Sciences, General

Computer and Information Sciences, Other

Computer and Information Systems Security/Information Assurance

Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other

Computer Engineering Technology/Technician

Computer Engineering, General

Computer Engineering, Other

Computer Graphics

Computer Hardware Engineering

Computer Hardware Technology/Technician

Computer Programming, Other

Computer Programming, Specific Applications

Computer Programming, Vendor/Product Certification

Computer Programming/Programmer, General

Computer Science

Computer Software and Media Applications, Other

Computer Software Engineering

Computer Software Technology/Technician

Computer Support Specialist

Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst

Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications

Computer Technology/Computer Systems Technology

Computer/Information Technology Services Administration and Management, Other

Condensed Matter and Materials Physics

Conservation Biology

Construction Engineering

Construction Engineering Technology/Technician

Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism

Cyber/Electronic Operations and Warfare

Cytotechnologist/Cytotechnologist

Dairy Science

Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration

Data Processing and Data Processing Technology/Technician

Developmental and Child Psychology

Developmental Biology and Embryology

Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia

Directed Energy Systems

Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General

Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other

Ecology

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Population Biology, Other

Econometrics and Quantitative Economics

Educational Evaluation and Research

Educational Statistics and Research Methods

Educational/Instructional Technology

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other

Electrical and Electronics Engineering

Electrical, Electronic and Communications Engineering     Technology/Technician

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering, Other

Electrical/Electronic Drafting and Electrical/Electronic CAD/CADD

Electromechanical and Instrumentation and aintenance

Technologies/Technicians, Other

Electromechanical Engineering

Electromechanical Technology/Electromechanical Engineering Technology

Elementary Particle Physics

Endocrinology

Energy Management and Systems Technology/Technician

Engineering Acoustics

Engineering Chemistry

Engineering Design

Engineering Mechanics

Engineering Physics/Applied Physics

Engineering Science

Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields, Other

Engineering Technology, General

Engineering, General

Engineering, Other

Engineering/Industrial Management

Engineering-Related Fields, Other

Engineering-Related Technologies, Other

Entomology

Environmental Biology

Environmental Chemistry

Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians, Other

Environmental Engineering Technology/Environmental Technology

Environmental Health

Environmental Science

Environmental Studies

Environmental Toxicology

Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering

Epidemiology

Evolutionary Biology

Exercise Physiology

Experimental Psychology

Explosive Ordinance/Bomb Disposal

Financial Mathematics

Food Science

Food Science and Technology, Other

Food Technology and Processing

Forensic Chemistry

Forensic Science and Technology

Forest Engineering

Forest Sciences and Biology

Genetics, General

Genetics, Other

Genome Sciences/Genomics

Geochemistry

Geochemistry and Petrology

Geographic Information Science and Cartography

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Other

Geological/Geophysical Engineering

Geology/Earth Science, General

Geometry/Geometric Analysis

Geophysics and Seismology

Geotechnical and Geo environmental Engineering

Hazardous Materials Information Systems Technology/Technician

Hazardous Materials Management and Waste Technology/Technician

Health/Medical Physics

Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician

Horticultural Science

Human Biology

Human Computer Interaction

Human/Medical Genetics

Hydraulics and Fluid Power Technology/Technician

Hydrology and Water Resources Science

Immunology

Industrial and Physical Pharmacy and Cosmetic Sciences

Industrial Engineering

Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians, Other

Industrial Radiologic Technology/Technician

Industrial Safety Technology/Technician

Industrial Technology/Technician

Informatics

Information Operations/Joint Information Operations

Information Science/Studies

Information Technology

Information Technology Project Management

Information/Psychological Warfare and Military Media Relations

Inorganic Chemistry

Instrumentation Technology/Technician

Integrated Circuit Design

Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations, Other

Intelligence, General

Joint Command/Task Force (C, CI) Systems

Laser and Optical Engineering

Laser and Optical Technology/Technician

Livestock Management

Low-Observables and Stealth Technology

Management Science

Management Science and Quantitative Methods, Other

Manufacturing Engineering

Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Technician

Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography

Marine Sciences

Materials Chemistry

Materials Engineering

Materials Science

Materials Sciences, Other

Mathematical Biology

Mathematical Statistics and Probability

Mathematics and Computer Science

Mathematics and Statistics

Mathematics and Statistics, Other

Mathematics, General

Mathematics, Other

Mechanical Drafting and Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD

Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians, Other

Mechanical Engineering/Mechanical Technology/Technician

Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering

Medical Informatics

Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology

Medical Scientist

Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Metallurgical Engineering

Metallurgical Technology/Technician

Meteorology

Microbial and Eukaryotic Genetics

Microbiological Sciences and Immunology, Other

Microbiology and Immunology

Microbiology, General

Military Applied Sciences, Other

Military Information Systems Technology

Military Systems and Maintenance Technology, Other

Military Technologies and Applied Sciences, Other

Mining and Mineral Engineering

Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians, Other

Mining Technology/Technician

Missile and Space Systems Technology

Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation

Molecular Biochemistry

Molecular Biology

Molecular Biophysics

Molecular Genetics

Molecular Medicine

Molecular Pharmacology

Molecular Physiology

Molecular Toxicology

Munitions Systems/Ordinance Technology

Mycology [SITESERVER_PAGE]

Nanotechnology

Natural Products Chemistry and Pharmacognosy

Natural Resources Conservation and Research, Other

Natural Resources/Conservation, General

Natural Sciences

Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering

Naval Science and Operational Studies

Network and System Administration/Administrator

Neuroanatomical

Neurobiology and Anatomy

Neurobiology and Behavior

Neurobiology and Neurosciences, Other

Neuropharmacology

Neuroscience

Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians, Other

Nuclear Engineering

Nuclear Engineering Technology/Technician

Nuclear Physics

Nuclear/Nuclear Power Technology/Technician

Nutrition Sciences

Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician

Ocean Engineering

Oceanography, Chemical and Physical

Oncology and Cancer Biology

Operational Oceanography

Operations Research

Optics/Optical Sciences

Organic Chemistry

Packaging Science

Paleontology

Paper Science and Engineering

Parasitology

Pathology/Experimental Pathology

Personality Psychology

Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum Technology/Technician

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Pharmaceutics and Drug Design

Pharmacy Economics/Pharmaceutical Economics

Pharmacology

Pharmacology and Toxicology

Pharmacology and Toxicology, Other

Photobiology

Physical Chemistry

Physical Science Technologies/Technicians, Other

Physical Sciences

Physical Sciences, Other

Physics, General

Physics, Other

Physiological Psychology/Psychobiology

Physiology, General

Physiology, Pathology, and Related Sciences, Other

Planetary Astronomy and Science

Plant Genetics

Plant Molecular Biology

Plant Pathology/Phytopathology

Plant Physiology

Plant Protection and Integrated Pest Management

Plant Sciences, General

Plant Sciences, Other

Plasma and High-Temperature Physics

Plastics and Polymer Engineering Technology/Technician

Polymer Chemistry

Polymer/Plastics Engineering

Population Biology

Poultry Science

Pre-Engineering

Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology

Psychopharmacology

Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians, Other

Quality Control Technology/Technician

Radar Communications and Systems Technology

Radiation Biology/Radiobiology

Range Science and Management

Reproductive Biology

Research and Experimental Psychology, Other

Robotics Technology/Technician

Science Technologies/Technicians, General

Science Technologies/Technicians, Other

Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology

Signal/Geospatial Intelligence

Social Psychology

Soil Chemistry and Physics

Soil Microbiology

Soil Science and Agronomy, General

Soil Sciences, Other

Solar Energy Technology/Technician

Space Systems Operations

Statistics, General

Statistics, Other

Strategic Intelligence

Structural Biology

Structural Engineering

Surveying Engineering

Surveying Technology/Surveying

Sustainability Studies

System, Networking, and LAN/WAN Management/Manager

Systematic Biology/Biological Systematics

Systems Engineering

Systems Science and Theory

Telecommunications Engineering

Telecommunications Technology/Technician

Textile Sciences and Engineering

Theoretical and Mathematical Physics

Theoretical Chemistry

Topology and Foundations

Toxicology

Transportation and Highway Engineering

Undersea Warfare

Urban Forestry

Veterinary Anatomy

Veterinary Infectious Diseases

Veterinary Microbiology and Immune biology

Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology

Veterinary Physiology

Veterinary Preventive medicine Epidemiology and Public Health

Veterinary Toxicology and Pharmacology

Virology

Vision Science/Physiological Optics

Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician

Water Resources Engineering

Water, Wetlands, and Marine Resources Management

Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design

Web/Multimedia Management and Webmaster

Welding Engineering Technology/Technician

Wildlife Biology

Wildlife, Fish and Wild lands Science and Management

Wood Science and Wood Products/Pulp and Paper Technology

Zoology/Animal Biology

Zoology/Animal Biology, Other