Early this summer, the administration took the step of expanding the list of degrees that are now eligible for an additional 17 months of optional practical training (OPT).
Normally, foreign national students who graduate from college are given 12 months of OPT – allowing them to work in the United States before securing another form of immigration status – or leaving the U.S.
However, certain degree holders are given an additional 17 months of OPT status. This additional time is provided to degree holders in critical scientific and technological areas in which the United States currently has a shortage of workers. The new, expanded list of 17 month OPT degrees includes:
List of 17-month OPT Extension Eligible Degrees
Animal Sciences, General
Agricultural Animal Breeding
Animal Health
Animal Nutrition
Dairy Science
Livestock Management
Poultry Science
Food Science
Food Technology and Processing
Plant Sciences, General
Agronomy and Crop Science
Horticultural Science
Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding
Plant Protection and Integrated Pest Management
Range Science and Management
Soil Science and Agronomy, General
Soil Chemistry and Physics
Soil Microbiology
Environmental Science
Forest Sciences and Biology
Wood Science and Wood Products/Pulp and Paper Technology
Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
Computer and Information Sciences, General
Artificial Intelligence
Information Technology
Informatics
Computer Programming/Programmer, General
Computer Programming, Specific Applications
Computer Programming, Vendor/Product Certification
Data Processing and Data Processing Technology/Technician
Information Science/Studies
Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst
Computer Science
Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design
Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration
Computer Graphics
Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
Network and System Administration/Administrator
System, Networking, and LAN/WAN Management/Manager
Computer and Information Systems Security/Information Assurance
Web/Multimedia Management and Webmaster
Information Technology Project Management
Computer Support Specialist
Educational Statistics and Research Methods
Engineering, General
Pre-Engineering
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical/Space Engineering
Agricultural Engineering
Architectural Engineering
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
Ceramic Sciences and Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Civil Engineering, General
Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Structural Engineering
Transportation and Highway Engineering
Water Resources Engineering
Computer Engineering, General
Computer Hardware Engineering
Computer Software Engineering
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Laser and Optical Engineering
Telecommunications Engineering
Engineering Mechanics
Engineering Physics/Applied Physics
Engineering Science
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
Materials Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Metallurgical Engineering
Mining and Mineral Engineering
Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
Nuclear Engineering
Ocean Engineering
Petroleum Engineering
Systems Engineering
Textile Sciences and Engineering
Polymer/Plastics Engineering
Construction Engineering
Forest Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Manufacturing Engineering
Operations Research
Surveying Engineering
Geological/Geophysical Engineering
Paper Science and Engineering
Electromechanical Engineering
Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering
Biochemical Engineering
Engineering Chemistry
Biological/Biosystems Engineering
Engineering Technology, General
Architectural Engineering Technology/Technician
Civil Engineering Technology/Technician
Electrical, Electronic and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician
Laser and Optical Technology/Technician
Telecommunications Technology/Technician
Integrated Circuit Design
Biomedical Technology/Technician
Electromechanical Technology/Electromechanical Engineering Technology
Instrumentation Technology/Technician
Robotics Technology/Technician
Automation Engineer Technology/Technician
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician
Energy Management and Systems Technology/Technician
Solar Energy Technology/Technician.
Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician
Environmental Engineering Technology/Environmental Technology
Hazardous Materials Management and Waste Technology/Technician
Plastics and Polymer Engineering Technology/Technician
Metallurgical Technology/Technician
Industrial Technology/Technician
Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Technician
Welding Engineering Technology/Technician
Chemical Engineering Technology/Technician
Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology
Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician
Quality Control Technology/Technician
Industrial Safety Technology/Technician
Hazardous Materials Information Systems Technology/Technician
Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering Technology/Technician
Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician
Mechanical Engineering/Mechanical Technology/Technician
Mining Technology/Technician
Petroleum Technology/Technician
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
Surveying Technology/Surveying
Hydraulics and Fluid Power Technology/Technician
Computer Engineering Technology/Technician
Computer Technology/Computer Systems Technology
Computer Hardware Technology/Technician
Computer Software Technology/Technician
Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General
CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician
Architectural Drafting and Architectural CAD/CADD
Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD
Electrical/Electronics Drafting and Electrical/Electronics CAD/CADD
Mechanical Drafting and Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD
Nuclear Engineering Technology/Technician
Engineering/Industrial Management
Engineering Design
Packaging Science
Nanotechnology
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Biomedical Sciences, General
Biochemistry
Biophysics
Molecular Biology
Molecular Biochemistry
Molecular Biophysics
Structural Biology
Photobiology
Radiation Biology/Radiobiology
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Botany/Plant Biology
Plant Pathology/Phytopathology
Plant Physiology
Plant Molecular Biology
Cell/Cellular Biology and Histology
Anatomy
Developmental Biology and Embryology
Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology
Cell Biology and Anatomy
Microbiology, General
Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology
Virology
Parasitology
Mycology
Immunology
Microbiology and Immunology
Zoology/Animal Biology
Entomology
Animal Physiology
Animal Behavior and Ethology
Wildlife Biology
Genetics, General
Molecular Genetics
Microbial and Eukaryotic Genetics
Animal Genetics
Plant Genetics
Human/Medical Genetics
enome Sciences/Genomics
Physiology, General
Molecular Physiology
Cell Physiology
Endocrinology
Reproductive Biology
Cardiovascular Science
Exercise Physiology
Vision Science/Physiological Optics
Pathology/Experimental Pathology
Oncology and Cancer Biology
Aerospace Physiology and Medicine
Pharmacology
Molecular Pharmacology
Neuropharmacology
Toxicology
Molecular Toxicology
Environmental Toxicology
Pharmacology and Toxicology
Biometry/Biometrics
Biostatistics
Bioinformatics
Computational Biology
Biotechnology
Ecology
Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography
Evolutionary Biology
Aquatic Biology/Limnology
Environmental Biology
Population Biology
Conservation Biology
Systematic Biology/Biological Systematics
Epidemiology
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Molecular Medicine
Neuroscience
Neuroanatomy
Neurobiology and Anatomy
Neurobiology and Behavior
Mathematics, General
Algebra and Number Theory
Analysis and Functional Analysis
Geometry/Geometric Analysis
Topology and Foundations
Applied Mathematics, General
Computational Mathematics
Computational and Applied Mathematics
Financial Mathematics
Mathematical Biology
Statistics, General
Mathematical Statistics and Probability
Mathematics and Statistics
Intelligence, General
Strategic Intelligence
Signal/Geospatial Intelligence
Command & Control (C3, C4I) Systems and Operations
Information Operations/Joint Information Operations
Information/Psychological Warfare and Military Media Relations
Cyber/Electronic Operations and Warfare
Combat Systems Engineering
Directed Energy Systems
Engineering Acoustics
Low-Observables and Stealth Technology
Space Systems Operations
Operational Oceanography
Undersea Warfare
Aerospace Ground Equipment Technology
Air and Space Operations Technology
Aircraft Armament Systems Technology
Explosive Ordinance/Bomb Disposal
Joint Command/Task Force (C3, C4I) Systems
Military Information Systems Technology
Missile and Space Systems Technology
Munitions Systems/Ordinance Technology
Radar Communications and Systems Technology
Biological and Physical Sciences
Systems Science and Theory
Mathematics and Computer Science
Biopsychology
Natural Sciences
Nutrition Sciences
Cognitive Science
Marine Sciences
Physical Sciences
Astronomy
Astrophysics
Planetary Astronomy and Science
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General
Atmospheric Chemistry and Climatology
Atmospheric Physics and Dynamics
Meteorology
Chemistry, General
Analytical Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Physical Chemistry
Polymer Chemistry
Chemical Physics
Environmental Chemistry
Forensic Chemistry
Theoretical Chemistry
Geology/Earth Science, General
Geochemistry
Geophysics and Seismology
Paleontology
Hydrology and Water Resources Science
Geochemistry and Petrology
Oceanography, Chemical and Physical
Physics, General
Atomic/Molecular Physics
Elementary Particle Physics
Plasma and High-Temperature Physics
Nuclear Physics
Optics/Optical Sciences
Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Acoustics
Theoretical and Mathematical Physics
Materials Science
Materials Chemistry
Science Technologies/Technicians, General
Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician
Industrial Radiologic Technology/Technician
Nuclear/Nuclear Power Technology/Technician
Chemical Technology/Technician
Chemical Process Technology
Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics
Comparative Psychology
Developmental and Child Psychology
Experimental Psychology
Personality Psychology
Physiological Psychology/Psychobiology
Social Psychology
Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology
Psychopharmacology
Forensic Science and Technology
Geographic Information Science and Cartography
Medical Scientist
Pharmaceutics and Drug Design
Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Natural Products Chemistry and Pharmacognosy
Medical Informatics
Management Science
Business Statistics
Actuarial Science