Skip to header Skip to Content Skip to Footer

STEM Designated Programs

Office of International Students & Scholars

UNCW offers undergraduate and graduate programs with CIP codes that make F-1 visa holders on Optional Practical Training eligible to apply for a two-year STEM OPT extension. 

STEM Designated Program

International students with an F-1 visa who earned a UNCW bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree in a STEM Designated Program, as defined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, have the option to apply for a 24-month OPT extension after their first year of standard OPT. This means they may be eligible to obtain a total of 36 months of OPT work experience in the U.S.

UNCW offers the following DHS STEM Designated Programs: 

Programs

Graduate

Graduate International STEM Programs
Program Name CIP Code CIP Description
Accountancy, MSAC 30.7104 Financial Analytics
Applied Coastal & Ocean Sciences, Ph.D. 30.3201 Marine Sciences
Biology, M.S. 26.0101 Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Business Administration (International), MBA 52.1301 Management Science
Business Analytics, M.S. 52.1399 Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other
Chemistry, M.S. 40.0501 Chemistry, General
Coastal & Ocean Policy, M.S. 03.0205 Water, Wetlands, and Marine Resources Management
Computer Science & Information Systems, M.S. 11.0101 Computer and Information Sciences, General
Data Science, M.S. 11.0802 Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration
Environmental Studies, M.S. 03.0103 Environmental Studies
Finance & Investment Management, M.S. 30.7104 Financial Analytics
Geoscience, M.S. 40.0601 Geology/Earth Science, General
Integrative, Comparative & Marine Biology, Ph.D. 26.9999 Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
Marine Biology, M.S. 26.1302 Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography
Marine Science, M.S. 40.0607 Oceanography, Chemical and Physical
Mathematics, M.S. 27.0101 Mathematics, General
Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Ph.D. 51.2004 Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Undergraduate

Undergraduate International STEM Programs
Program Name CIP Code CIP Description
Biology, B.A. 26.0101 Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Biology, B.S. 26.0101 Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Chemistry, B.A. 40.0501 Chemistry, General
Chemistry, B.S. 40.0501 Chemistry, General
Coastal Engineering, B.S. 14.9999 Engineering, Other
Computer Science, B.S. 11.0701 Computer Science
Cybersecurity, B.S. 11.1003 Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance
Digital Arts, B.A. 11.0803 Computer Graphics
Environmental Sciences, B.A. 03.0104 Environmental Science
Environmental Sciences, B.S. 03.0104 Environmental Science
Geology, B.S. 40.0601 Geology/Earth Science, General
Geosciences, B.A. 40.0601 Geology/Earth Science, General
Information Technology, B.S. 11.0103 Information Technology
Intelligent Systems Engineering, B.S. 14.9999 Engineering, Other
Marine Biology, B.S. 26.1302 Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography
Mathematics, B.A. 27.0101 Mathematics, General
Mathematics, B.S. 27.0101 Mathematics, General
Oceanography, B.S. 40.0607 Oceanography, Chemical and Physical
Physics, B.A. 40.0801 Physics, General
Physics, B.S. 40.0801 Physics, General
Statistics, B.S. 27.0501 Statistics, General

For more information about the program and processes for international students studying in the U.S., please visit the DHS website.