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
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