On May 11, 2012 the Department of Homeland Security announced that it had expanded its list of STEM degrees that are eligible for extended OPT status.
The OPT program allows foreign national students graduating from U.S. colleges and universities to remain in the country and work within their field for up to 12 months. Students graduating in a designated STEM degree program can remain for an additional 17 months on an OPT STEM extension.
The DHS believes that the expansion of the STEM degree programs will help attract the most qualified international students to the United States.
A full list of expanded STEM degrees is available on the DHS website.