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，留学专家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：

• 目前已经完成学位，处于12个月的Post-completion OPT状态；
• 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；
• 受雇于美国雇主，在与其专业直接相关的领域内工作；
• 雇主必须参加移民局的E-verify 项目；
• 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