Should Fine Arts and Communications Qualify as STEM Degrees?
The U.S. government offers international graduates of STEM programs extended work visas. Now that some unconventional degrees qualify, some argue that the educational visa system is broken.
Susan D'Agostino
November 29, 2022
Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security expanded opportunities for international students who have earned U.S. degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics to extend their stays in the United States.
The government maintains a list of qualifying fields to try to expand the number and diversity of individuals in the United States who contribute to competitive STEM fields. Many of the 22 new qualifying fields of study on the updated government list, including general forestry, cloud computing and geobiology, fall within conventional understanding of STEM fields. Others, such as human-centered technology design and data visualization, live in the intersection of science and the arts.
Since colleges vary in the language they use to identify degree programs, they are welcome to align their course outcomes to DHS curriculum requirements and make the case that their degrees warrant inclusion on the STEM Designated Degree Program List.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2022/11/29/fine-arts-communications-degrees-qualify-stem-immigrants
