The STEM-designated degree program list of undergraduate and graduate degree programs is determined by the United States Department of Homeland Security. F-1 students can apply for a 24-month OPT Extension if they:
- Receive a degree designated as STEM by the US Department of Homeland Security
- Are employed by employers enrolled in the E-Verify system
- Have received an initial approval of Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) employment authorization related to such a degree
Find UWM’s STEM-designated degree program list below (note that this list may change at any time). The application can be received by USCIS up to 90 days prior to the current OPT end date and MUST BE received before the end date of current OPT.
UWM’s STEM-Designated Degree Program List
- All BS, MS, and PhD programs (including Computer Science) in the College of Engineering and Applied Science
- BS Data Science (College of Engineering and Applied Science/College of Letters and Science)
- Master of Architecture (School of Architecture and Urban Planning)
- Master of Urban Design (School of Architecture and Urban Planning)
- MBA and Executive MBA (Lubar School of Business) *for students entering Fall 2021 or after*
- MS Information Technology Management (Lubar School of Business)
- MS Management (Lubar School of Business) *for students entering Fall 2021 or after*
- PhD Management Science (Lubar School of Business)
- MS Freshwater Sciences & Technology – Professional Science Track (School of Freshwater Sciences)
- BS Freshwater Sciences (School of Freshwater Sciences)
- MS Freshwater Sciences & Technology – Thesis Track (School of Freshwater Sciences)
- PhD Freshwater Sciences (School of Freshwater Sciences)
- MS Data Science (Graduate School)
- BS and MS Biomedical Sciences (College of Health Sciences)
- MS Healthcare Informatics (College of Health Sciences)
- BS Nutritional Sciences (College of Health Sciences)
- BS and MS Information Science & Technology (School of Information Studies)
- PhD Information Studies (School of Information Studies)
- BA Actuarial Science (College of Letters and Science)
- BS Applied Mathematics & Computer Science (College of Letters and Science/College of Engineering and Applied Science)
- BS, MS, and PhD Atmospheric Science (School of Freshwater Sciences)
- BS Biochemistry (College of Letters and Science)
- BS, MS, and PhD Biological Sciences (College of Letters and Science)
- BS, MS, and PhD Chemistry (College of Letters and Science)
- BS Conservation & Environmental Science (College of Letters and Science)
- BS Data Analytics (College of Letters and Science)
- MA and PhD Economics (College of Letters and Science)
- BS, MS, and PhD Geosciences (College of Letters and Science)
- BS, MS, and PhD Mathematics (College of Letters and Science)
- BS Microbiology (College of Letters and Science)
- BS Neuroscience (College of Letters and Science)
- BS, MS, and PhD Physics (College of Letters and Science)
- MS Biostatistics (Zilber School of Public Health)
- PhD Epidemiology (Zilber School of Public Health)
If you are pursuing a STEM-designated degree at UWM, it is extremely important that you meet with a UWM Center for International Education Immigration Coordinator, the semester before you are scheduled to graduate, to obtain full information on the OPT application process. Email isss@uwm.edu to make an appointment or call (414) 229-4846.