Designated STEM OPT Degrees

For a foreign student to apply for STEM OPT employment, he or she must have earned a designated STEM degree in an accredited U.S. college. In 2012, DHS expanded the list of designated STEM OPT degrees significantly including such fields as pharmaceutical sciences, econometrics, clinical and industrial development, food science and technology, quantitative economics, etc. Below is a complete list:

CIP Code Family	2010 CIP Code	Numeric Order CIP Code Title
1	1.0308	Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture.
1	1.0901	Animal Sciences, General
1	1.0902	Agricultural Animal Breeding
1	1.0903	Animal Health
1	1.0904	Animal Nutrition
1	1.0905	Dairy Science
1	1.0906	Livestock Management
1	1.0907	Poultry Science
1	1.0999	Animal Sciences, Other.
1	1.1001	Food Science
1	1.1002	Food Technology and Processing
1	1.1099	Food Science and Technology, Other.
1	1.1101	Plant Sciences, General
1	1.1102	Agronomy and Crop Science
1	1.1103	Horticultural Science
1	1.1104	Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding
1	1.1105	Plant Protection and Integrated Pest Management
1	1.1106	Range Science and Management
1	1.1199	Plant Sciences, Other.
1	1.1201	Soil Science and Agronomy, General
1	1.1202	Soil Chemistry and Physics
1	1.1203	Soil Microbiology
1	1.1299	Soil Sciences, Other.
3	3.0101	Natural Resources/Conservation, General.
3	3.0103	Environmental Studies.
3	3.0104	Environmental Science
3	3.0199	Natural Resources Conservation and Research, Other.
3	3.0205	Water, Wetlands, and Marine Resources Management.
3	3.0502	Forest Sciences and Biology
3	3.0508	Urban Forestry.
3	3.0509	Wood Science and Wood Products/Pulp and Paper Technology
3	3.0601	Wildlife, Fish and Wildlands Science and Management.
4	4.0902	Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology.
9	9.0702	Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia
10	10.0304	Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
11	11.0101	Computer and Information Sciences, General
11	11.0102	Artificial Intelligence
11	11.0103	Information Technology
11	11.0104	Informatics
11	11.0199	Computer and Information Sciences, Other.
11	11.0201	Computer Programming/Programmer, General
11	11.0202	Computer Programming, Specific Applications
11	11.0203	Computer Programming, Vendor/Product Certification
11	11.0299	Computer Programming, Other.
11	11.0301	Data Processing and Data Processing Technology/Technician
11	11.0401	Information Science/Studies
11	11.0501	Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst
11	11.0701	Computer Science
11	11.0801	Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design
11	11.0802	Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration
11	11.0803	Computer Graphics
11	11.0804	Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation
11	11.0899	Computer Software and Media Applications, Other.
11	11.0901	Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
11	11.1001	Network and System Administration/Administrator
11	11.1002	System, Networking, and LAN/WAN Management/Manager
11	11.1003	Computer and Information Systems Security/Information Assurance
11	11.1004	Web/Multimedia Management and Webmaster
11	11.1005	Information Technology Project Management
11	11.1006	Computer Support Specialist
11	11.1099	Computer/Information Technology Services Administration and Management, Other.
13	13.0501	Educational/Instructional Technology.
13	13.0601	Educational Evaluation and Research.
13	13.0603	Educational Statistics and Research Methods
14	14.0101	Engineering, General
14	14.0102	Pre-Engineering
14	14.0201	Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical/Space Engineering
14	14.0301	Agricultural Engineering
14	14.0401	Architectural Engineering
14	14.0501	Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
14	14.0601	Ceramic Sciences and Engineering
14	14.0701	Chemical Engineering
14	14.0702	Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
14	14.0799	Chemical Engineering, Other.
14	14.0801	Civil Engineering, General
14	14.0802	Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
14	14.0803	Structural Engineering
14	14.0804	Transportation and Highway Engineering
14	14.0805	Water Resources Engineering
14	14.0899	Civil Engineering, Other.
14	14.0901	Computer Engineering, General
14	14.0902	Computer Hardware Engineering
14	14.0903	Computer Software Engineering
14	14.0999	Computer Engineering, Other.
14	14.1001	Electrical and Electronics Engineering
14	14.1003	Laser and Optical Engineering
14	14.1004	Telecommunications Engineering
14	14.1099	Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering, Other.
14	14.1101	Engineering Mechanics
14	14.1201	Engineering Physics/Applied Physics
14	14.1301	Engineering Science
14	14.1401	Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
14	14.1801	Materials Engineering
14	14.1901	Mechanical Engineering
14	14.2001	Metallurgical Engineering
14	14.2101	Mining and Mineral Engineering
14	14.2201	Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
14	14.2301	Nuclear Engineering
14	14.2401	Ocean Engineering
14	14.2501	Petroleum Engineering
14	14.2701	Systems Engineering
14	14.2801	Textile Sciences and Engineering
14	14.3201	Polymer/Plastics Engineering
14	14.3301	Construction Engineering
14	14.3401	Forest Engineering
14	14.3501	Industrial Engineering
14	14.3601	Manufacturing Engineering
14	14.3701	Operations Research
14	14.3801	Surveying Engineering
14	14.3901	Geological/Geophysical Engineering
14	14.4001	Paper Science and Engineering
14	14.4101	Electromechanical Engineering
14	14.4201	Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering
14	14.4301	Biochemical Engineering
14	14.4401	Engineering Chemistry
14	14.4501	Biological/Biosystems Engineering
14	14.9999	Engineering, Other.
15	15	Engineering Technology, General
15	15.0101	Architectural Engineering Technology/Technician
15	15.0201	Civil Engineering Technology/Technician
15	15.0303	Electrical, Electronic and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician
15	15.0304	Laser and Optical Technology/Technician
15	15.0305	Telecommunications Technology/Technician
15	15.0306	Integrated Circuit Design
15	15.0399	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other.
15	15.0401	Biomedical Technology/Technician
15	15.0403	Electromechanical Technology/Electromechanical Engineering Technology
15	15.0404	Instrumentation Technology/Technician
15	15.0405	Robotics Technology/Technician
15	15.0406	Automation Engineer Technology/Technician
15	15.0499	Electromechanical and Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians, Other.
15	15.0501	Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician
15	15.0503	Energy Management and Systems Technology/Technician
15	15.0505	Solar Energy Technology/Technician.
15	15.0506	Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician
15	15.0507	Environmental Engineering Technology/Environmental Technology
15	15.0508	Hazardous Materials Management and Waste Technology/Technician
15	15.0599	Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians, Other.
15	15.0607	Plastics and Polymer Engineering Technology/Technician
15	15.0611	Metallurgical Technology/Technician
15	15.0612	Industrial Technology/Technician
15	15.0613	Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Technician
15	15.0614	Welding Engineering Technology/Technician
15	15.0615	Chemical Engineering Technology/Technician
15	15.0616	Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology
15	15.0699	Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians, Other.
15	15.0701	Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician
15	15.0702	Quality Control Technology/Technician
15	15.0703	Industrial Safety Technology/Technician
15	15.0704	Hazardous Materials Information Systems Technology/Technician
15	15.0799	Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians, Other.
15	15.0801	Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering Technology/Technician
15	15.0803	Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician
15	15.0805	Mechanical Engineering/Mechanical Technology/Technician
15	15.0899	Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians, Other.
15	15.0901	Mining Technology/Technician
15	15.0903	Petroleum Technology/Technician
15	15.0999	Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians, Other.
15	15.1001	Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
15	15.1102	Surveying Technology/Surveying
15	15.1103	Hydraulics and Fluid Power Technology/Technician
15	15.1199	Engineering-Related Technologies, Other.
15	15.1201	Computer Engineering Technology/Technician
15	15.1202	Computer Technology/Computer Systems Technology
15	15.1203	Computer Hardware Technology/Technician
15	15.1204	Computer Software Technology/Technician
15	15.1299	Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other.
15	15.1301	Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General
15	15.1302	CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician
15	15.1303	Architectural Drafting and Architectural CAD/CADD
15	15.1304	Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD
15	15.1305	Electrical/Electronics Drafting and Electrical/Electronics CAD/CADD
15	15.1306	Mechanical Drafting and Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD
15	15.1399	Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other.
15	15.1401	Nuclear Engineering Technology/Technician
15	15.1501	Engineering/Industrial Management
15	15.1502	Engineering Design
15	15.1503	Packaging Science
15	15.1599	Engineering-Related Fields, Other.
15	15.1601	Nanotechnology
15	15.9999	Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields, Other.
26	26.0101	Biology/Biological Sciences, General
26	26.0102	Biomedical Sciences, General
26	26.0202	Biochemistry
26	26.0203	Biophysics
26	26.0204	Molecular Biology
26	26.0205	Molecular Biochemistry
26	26.0206	Molecular Biophysics
26	26.0207	Structural Biology
26	26.0208	Photobiology
26	26.0209	Radiation Biology/Radiobiology
26	26.021	Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
26	26.0299	Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Other.
26	26.0301	Botany/Plant Biology
26	26.0305	Plant Pathology/Phytopathology
26	26.0307	Plant Physiology
26	26.0308	Plant Molecular Biology
26	26.0399	Botany/Plant Biology, Other.
26	26.0401	Cell/Cellular Biology and Histology
26	26.0403	Anatomy
26	26.0404	Developmental Biology and Embryology
26	26.0406	Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology
26	26.0407	Cell Biology and Anatomy
26	26.0499	Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Other.
26	26.0502	Microbiology, General
26	26.0503	Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology
26	26.0504	Virology
26	26.0505	Parasitology
26	26.0506	Mycology
26	26.0507	Immunology
26	26.0508	Microbiology and Immunology
26	26.0599	Microbiological Sciences and Immunology, Other.
26	26.0701	Zoology/Animal Biology
26	26.0702	Entomology
26	26.0707	Animal Physiology
26	26.0708	Animal Behavior and Ethology
26	26.0709	Wildlife Biology
26	26.0799	Zoology/Animal Biology, Other.
26	26.0801	Genetics, General
26	26.0802	Molecular Genetics
26	26.0803	Microbial and Eukaryotic Genetics
26	26.0804	Animal Genetics
26	26.0805	Plant Genetics
26	26.0806	Human/Medical Genetics
26	26.0807	Genome Sciences/Genomics
26	26.0899	Genetics, Other.
26	26.0901	Physiology, General
26	26.0902	Molecular Physiology
26	26.0903	Cell Physiology
26	26.0904	Endocrinology
26	26.0905	Reproductive Biology
26	26.0907	Cardiovascular Science
26	26.0908	Exercise Physiology
26	26.0909	Vision Science/Physiological Optics
26	26.091	Pathology/Experimental Pathology
26	26.0911	Oncology and Cancer Biology
26	26.0912	Aerospace Physiology and Medicine
26	26.0999	Physiology, Pathology, and Related Sciences, Other.
26	26.1001	Pharmacology
26	26.1002	Molecular Pharmacology
26	26.1003	Neuropharmacology
26	26.1004	Toxicology
26	26.1005	Molecular Toxicology
26	26.1006	Environmental Toxicology
26	26.1007	Pharmacology and Toxicology
26	26.1099	Pharmacology and Toxicology, Other.
26	26.1101	Biometry/Biometrics
26	26.1102	Biostatistics
26	26.1103	Bioinformatics
26	26.1104	Computational Biology
26	26.1199	Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Other.
26	26.1201	Biotechnology
26	26.1301	Ecology
26	26.1302	Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography
26	26.1303	Evolutionary Biology
26	26.1304	Aquatic Biology/Limnology
26	26.1305	Environmental Biology
26	26.1306	Population Biology
26	26.1307	Conservation Biology
26	26.1308	Systematic Biology/Biological Systematics
26	26.1309	Epidemiology
26	26.131	Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
26	26.1399	Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Population Biology, Other.
26	26.1401	Molecular Medicine
26	26.1501	Neuroscience
26	26.1502	Neuroanatomy
26	26.1503	Neurobiology and Anatomy
26	26.1504	Neurobiology and Behavior
26	26.1599	Neurobiology and Neurosciences, Other.
26	26.9999	Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other.
27	27.0101	Mathematics, General
27	27.0102	Algebra and Number Theory
27	27.0103	Analysis and Functional Analysis
27	27.0104	Geometry/Geometric Analysis
27	27.0105	Topology and Foundations
27	27.0199	Mathematics, Other.
27	27.0301	Applied Mathematics, General
27	27.0303	Computational Mathematics
27	27.0304	Computational and Applied Mathematics
27	27.0305	Financial Mathematics
27	27.0306	Mathematical Biology
27	27.0399	Applied Mathematics, Other.
27	27.0501	Statistics, General
27	27.0502	Mathematical Statistics and Probability
27	27.0503	Mathematics and Statistics
27	27.0599	Statistics, Other.
27	27.9999	Mathematics and Statistics, Other.
28	28.0501	Air Science/Airpower Studies.
28	28.0502	Air and Space Operational Art and Science.
28	28.0505	Naval Science and Operational Studies.
29	29.0201	Intelligence, General
29	29.0202	Strategic Intelligence
29	29.0203	Signal/Geospatial Intelligence
29	29.0204	Command & Control (C3, C4I) Systems and Operations
29	29.0205	Information Operations/Joint Information Operations
29	29.0206	Information/Psychological Warfare and Military Media Relations
29	29.0207	Cyber/Electronic Operations and Warfare
29	29.0299	Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations, Other.
29	29.0301	Combat Systems Engineering
29	29.0302	Directed Energy Systems
29	29.0303	Engineering Acoustics
29	29.0304	Low-Observables and Stealth Technology
29	29.0305	Space Systems Operations
29	29.0306	Operational Oceanography
29	29.0307	Undersea Warfare
29	29.0399	Military Applied Sciences, Other.
29	29.0401	Aerospace Ground Equipment Technology
29	29.0402	Air and Space Operations Technology
29	29.0403	Aircraft Armament Systems Technology
29	29.0404	Explosive Ordinance/Bomb Disposal
29	29.0405	Joint Command/Task Force (C3, C4I) Systems
29	29.0406	Military Information Systems Technology
29	29.0407	Missile and Space Systems Technology
29	29.0408	Munitions Systems/Ordinance Technology
29	29.0409	Radar Communications and Systems Technology
29	29.0499	Military Systems and Maintenance Technology, Other.
29	29.9999	Military Technologies and Applied Sciences, Other.
30	30.0101	Biological and Physical Sciences
30	30.0601	Systems Science and Theory
30	30.0801	Mathematics and Computer Science
30	30.1001	Biopsychology
30	30.1701	Behavioral Sciences.
30	30.1801	Natural Sciences
30	30.1901	Nutrition Sciences
30	30.2501	Cognitive Science
30	30.2701	Human Biology.
30	30.3001	Computational Science.
30	30.3101	Human Computer Interaction.
30	30.3201	Marine Sciences
30	30.3301	Sustainability Studies.
40	40.0101	Physical Sciences
40	40.0201	Astronomy
40	40.0202	Astrophysics
40	40.0203	Planetary Astronomy and Science
40	40.0299	Astronomy and Astrophysics, Other.
40	40.0401	Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General
40	40.0402	Atmospheric Chemistry and Climatology
40	40.0403	Atmospheric Physics and Dynamics
40	40.0404	Meteorology
40	40.0499	Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, Other.
40	40.0501	Chemistry, General
40	40.0502	Analytical Chemistry
40	40.0503	Inorganic Chemistry
40	40.0504	Organic Chemistry
40	40.0506	Physical Chemistry
40	40.0507	Polymer Chemistry
40	40.0508	Chemical Physics
40	40.0509	Environmental Chemistry
40	40.051	Forensic Chemistry
40	40.0511	Theoretical Chemistry
40	40.0599	Chemistry, Other.
40	40.0601	Geology/Earth Science, General
40	40.0602	Geochemistry
40	40.0603	Geophysics and Seismology
40	40.0604	Paleontology
40	40.0605	Hydrology and Water Resources Science
40	40.0606	Geochemistry and Petrology
40	40.0607	Oceanography, Chemical and Physical
40	40.0699	Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Other.
40	40.0801	Physics, General
40	40.0802	Atomic/Molecular Physics
40	40.0804	Elementary Particle Physics
40	40.0805	Plasma and High-Temperature Physics
40	40.0806	Nuclear Physics
40	40.0807	Optics/Optical Sciences
40	40.0808	Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
40	40.0809	Acoustics
40	40.081	Theoretical and Mathematical Physics
40	40.0899	Physics, Other.
40	40.1001	Materials Science
40	40.1002	Materials Chemistry
40	40.1099	Materials Sciences, Other.
40	40.9999	Physical Sciences, Other.
41	41	Science Technologies/Technicians, General
41	41.0101	Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician
41	41.0204	Industrial Radiologic Technology/Technician
41	41.0205	Nuclear/Nuclear Power Technology/Technician
41	41.0299	Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians, Other.
41	41.0301	Chemical Technology/Technician
41	41.0303	Chemical Process Technology
41	41.0399	Physical Science Technologies/Technicians, Other.
41	41.9999	Science Technologies/Technicians, Other.
42	42.2701	Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics
42	42.2702	Comparative Psychology
42	42.2703	Developmental and Child Psychology
42	42.2704	Experimental Psychology
42	42.2705	Personality Psychology
42	42.2706	Physiological Psychology/Psychobiology
42	42.2707	Social Psychology
42	42.2708	Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology
42	42.2709	Psychopharmacology
42	42.2799	Research and Experimental Psychology, Other.
43	43.0106	Forensic Science and Technology
43	43.0116	Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism.
45	45.0301	Archeology.
45	45.0603	Econometrics and Quantitative Economics.
45	45.0702	Geographic Information Science and Cartography
49	49.0101	Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, General.
51	51.1002	Cytotechnology/Cytotechnologist.
51	51.1005	Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist.
51	51.1401	Medical Scientist
51	51.2003	Pharmaceutics and Drug Design
51	51.2004	Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry
51	51.2005	Natural Products Chemistry and Pharmacognosy
51	51.2006	Clinical and Industrial Drug Development.
51	51.2007	Pharmacoeconomics/Pharmaceutical Economics.
51	51.2009	Industrial and Physical Pharmacy and Cosmetic Sciences.
51	51.201	Pharmaceutical Sciences.
51	51.2202	Environmental Health.
51	51.2205	Health/Medical Physics.
51	51.2502	Veterinary Anatomy
51	51.2503	Veterinary Physiology
51	51.2504	Veterinary Microbiology and Immunobiology
51	51.2505	Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology
51	51.2506	Veterinary Toxicology and Pharmacology
51	51.251	Veterinary Preventive Medicine Epidemiology and Public Health
51	51.2511	Veterinary Infectious Diseases
51	51.2706	Medical Informatics
52	52.1301	Management Science
52	52.1302	Business Statistics
52	52.1304	Actuarial Science
52	52.1399	Management Science and Quantitative Methods, Other