伴随着中国经济和互联网的发展，‘留学’这件事情似乎也越来越揭开了她神秘的面纱，它变得不再那么遥不可及。越来越多的‘90后’对自己留学之路的规划也更加理性。他们不再是一味追求所谓的热门专业，反而开始寻找自己真正喜欢的，或者跟自己的人生规划相结合的留学专业。这也是属于‘90后’自己的特征，他们有主见、有想法，也越来越知道自己需要什么。在他们眼里，留学不仅仅是留学，更是移民国外的理想途径。众所周知，美国是个留学大国，拥有着全球最优秀的教育资源，每年吸纳成千上万的海外留学生。然而，在美国的移民签证政策越来越收紧的状态下，留学生毕业后继续留在美国就变的越来越困难。那今天这篇文章，美嘉留学的陈华老师就来给大家分析下当下最火热的STEM专业，以及怎么好好的利用自己的专业，从而拥有更多的机会留在美国工作，甚至移民。

2013年，奥巴马总统提出新的移民政策中一直提到STEM这个词，那STEM到底是什么呢?其实，STEM代表的是四种不同专业的大方向，共包含422个具体的专业(具体专业看附录一)。本文就是要解开STEM的神秘面纱。

S代表Science科学，T代表Technology科技，E代表Engineering工程，M代表Mathematic数学。如果你的专业属于这一类里面的，你将要获得比别人多17个月的OPT(全称Optional Practical Training，专业实习)时间。OPT计划是美国针对国际留学生颁布的一项政策。根据OPT计划，国际学生从美国大学毕业后，可继续以学生的身份在美国工作实习12个月，但是美国移民海关总署(ICE)规定，科学、技术、工程和数学(即STEM)专业领域内的毕业生OPT时间可延长至29个月。

STEM，是美国乃至世界蓬勃崛起的前景学科，相关领域的工作也被认为是未来薪资最高、最有前途的职业。因此，STEM专业的留学生也享受到比其他专业学生多出150%(一年半)的毕业实习时间。近期有美国专家提出忧虑，认为美国目前在STEM教育上落后于全球其他国家，应该加强对其的重视和投入。

根据全球经济论坛提出的数据，美国在教育系统质量上排名全球28，在初等教育质量上排名全球38，在数学和科学教育质量上排名全球47。然而在与 STEM相关的工作中，超过70%都与计算机科学有关。STEM专业教育和STEM就业的匹配程度出现了巨大反差。同时，由于美国目前经济状况向下发展，与STEM相关的工作缺口非常巨大，已经达到了3700万。社会市场基金会(The Social Market Foundation)的报告表示，由于劳动大军的老龄化问题，每年将会有10万份需要STEM专业毕业生填补的工作缺口。而根据目前美国在学校中 STEM人才的缺失看来，到了2018年，这一人才缺口将达到8600万。倘若那些从事非STEM专业工作的STEM毕业生人数不变，那么在2020年之前每年都需要额外的四万名STEM专业毕业生。

STEM的学科性质决定了其自身发展的迅速性。据分析，到了2018年，92%的传统STEM工作将需要工作人员接受中学以上的教育和培训。而目前在高中开始时对STEM感兴趣的美国学生，60%在毕业时失去了兴趣。而那些选择继续在大学进行STEM学习的学生，则展开了在地球与空间科学、物质与能量、生物医学等广阔领域的学习。在毕业后的就职选择上，具有STEM知识背景的学生可以进入如航空工程、人工智能等充满乐趣的领域工作。另外，奥巴马总统已经提议投入800万美元提升STEM教育。所以国际学生在STEM领域具有非常大的发展潜力。

那么如此火热并拥有良好前景的专业，毕业后申请OPT的条件又是什么呢？
 

 

要申请OPT的延期，F-1身份的学生必须：

1. 目前已经完成学位，处于12个月的Post-completion OPT状态；

2. 已经获得了在科学、技术、工程、数学(Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) 专业的学位。具体包括以下领域：Actuarial science, Computer science, Engineering, Engineering technologies, Biological and biomedical sciences, Mathematics and statistics, Military technologies, Physical sciences, Science technologies, Medical scientist；

3. 受雇于美国雇主，在与其专业直接相关的领域内工作；

4. 雇主必须参加移民局的E-verify 项目；

5. 具有有效的F-1身份(注：OPT仍然属F-1身份) 。

预祝有这方面潜质的同学们，抓紧时间找好自己的专业定位，抓住这给力的政策，从而使自己在留美这条道路上越走越宽，越走越好。

附录一：史上最全422个STEM专业列表

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