International students have more options to continue work in the United States with two additional graduate programs at Boston University\u2019s College of Communication eligible for the STEM OPT program this spring semester, following a change in federal policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Students with the F-1 status who are earning or want to earn an MS in Media Science<\/a> and MS in Media Science: Marketing Communication Research<\/a> may apply for a 24-month extension on top of the 12-month optional practice training with the STEM Optional Practical Training program, as designated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those two programs add onto two existing eligible graduate programs COM offers: MA in Emerging Media Studies<\/a> and MS in Media Ventures<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re thrilled that international students in F-1 student status may be able to apply for a 24-month extension of their 12-month [OPT] employment authorization,\u201d says Laurie Nichols, assistant dean of graduate affairs in COM. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Students can then work for 36 months with these COM degrees in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis change provides a huge benefit for COM international students in these four graduate programs and the experiences the college has to offer for their professional lives,\u201d Nichols says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Twenty-two new fields of study were added to the STEM OPT program in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBU was able to capitalize on this change, and thanks to significant work by BU\u2019s Office of General Counsel, ISSO, Office of the Provost, COM administration, we\u2019re able to make this change,\u201d Nichols adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n