首先贴上USC建筑学院官方邮件
To International Graduate Architecture Students:
We are pleased to inform you that USC’s M.Arch First Professional Degree Program has been recently approved as a STEM designated program (CIP Code 04.0902). This applies to both the three-year (+3) and two-year (+2) tracks. The STEM designation allows international students to be eligible for a 24-month extension of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) period (for a total eligibility of up to 36 months instead of the maximum 12 months of eligibility for non-STEM disciplines). OPT is a type of work authorization for F-1 student visa holders that provides an opportunity for employment experience in the U.S.
At this time the M.AAS degree has not received STEM designation, we will continue to pursue STEM designation for this degree and will inform students if or when there is further news.
More information about STEM OPT extensions and F1 visas can be found at the website for Office of International Services, http://ois.usc.edu/.
Best regards,
Selwyn Ting
Associate Professor of Practice
Associate Director of Graduate Architecture
University of Southern California
School of Architecture