The Department of Homeland Security announced plans to amend the STEM Designated Degree Program List to add environmental/natural resource economics as a new field of study.

Key Points:

  • The STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Designated Degree Program List determines which F-1 students are eligible for the 24-month STEM extension of Optional Practical Training (OPT).
  • The new field of study, environmental/natural resource economics (CIP code 03.0204), focuses on the application of economic concepts and methods to the analysis of environmental issues.
  • This update will take effect upon publication in the Federal Register, which is currently scheduled for July 23, 2024.

Additional Information: Environmental/natural resource economics includes instruction in cost benefit analysis, environmental impact assessment, evaluation and assessment of alternative resource management strategies, policy evaluation and monitoring, and descriptive and analytic tools for studying how environmental developments affect the economic system. This field of study, as described in the National Center for Education Statistics definition, is comprised of STEM disciplines such as research, innovation or development of new technologies using natural sciences and mathematics.

BAL Analysis: Employers should encourage their eligible employees who are working pursuant to OPT to contact their Designated School Official to assess eligibility and plan their next steps.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.

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