New STEM-Designated Programs

To identify programs throughout the United States teaching similar content areas, the U.S. Department of Education developed the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes. Each academic program at the university is assigned a CIP code, and these codes are used for numerous purposes. International students in F-1 immigration status may recognize the code from the first page of your I-20.

Aside from being used on I-20s, the most significant purpose for F-1 students is the use of these codes to designate programs as being in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Graduates of STEM-designated programs are eligible to apply for a two-year extension to post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).

The Master of Science - Computer Science program had already been considered STEM-eligible, allowing our F-1 alumni to gain more valuable work experience in their field of study. Another STEM-designated program, Master of Science - Information Technology, has newly become available to F-1 students. On January 21, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security added twenty-two more CIP codes to the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. One of the additions is the code for Franklin's Master of Science - Business Analytics program. This program has, also, been recently made available to F-1 students at Franklin, and now it is STEM-designated. 

Want to learn more about the benefits of STEM-designated degree programs? Visit Study in the States. 

Interested in joining a STEM-designated major? Discuss the requirements with your international student advisor and academic advisor.