Apr 21, 2023
STEM Education is a type of program that was developed to prepare students in primary/secondary school for college, graduate study and careers that are in the domain of technology, science, engineering and mathematics. After the publication of a few science reports, the concept of STEM gained prominence in the early 2000s. A STEM program integrates four disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) in such a manner which compel students to approach a problem and solve it using cross-disciplinary knowledge. The goal behind encouraging the study of STEM education was to promote innovation and bring up the USA's competitive status globally by increasing the number of qualified high-tech workers. This knowledge will impact the economy of the USA positively and enable students to engage in real world projects with real world outcomes.
Let us quickly read below to find out more on STEM, how different it is from our understanding of science and what are some of the best courses in STEM to study in USA.
The answer to this question is both yes and no. STEM is an abbreviation that stands for four disciplines, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. It is an umbrella term which also includes all science programs under its ambit.
Lately, STEM has become the buzzword all over the globe and courses in STEM are held to be the most popular and lucrative fields in the current world-scenario. USA continues to be the go-to place for these courses and to maintain their top position, universities there are integrating technical programs as part of their curriculum to give students an edge over others.
Pursuing a STEM program in the USA is a good idea on many accounts. Here are a few reasons why every year, more and more students are preparing to go to the US to study a course in STEM.
The quality of education in the USA is unparalleled for their state-of-the-art facilities, global opportunities and expert faculty. There are prestigious universities like Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which have greatly contributed to science and modern technology with their quality of research and innovation. Approximately 98 Nobel laureates have been affiliated with MIT either as researchers or faculty members. So, a degree obtained from the US is recognised and valued by both educational institutions and employers the world over.
The universities located in the USA have consistently performed well in both subject and world rankings. Among such noteworthy universities are California Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley.
One of the highlights of US educational institutes is that they have an extremely diverse student body. The population found on the campus is representative of the culture of different nationalities. Being in such an environment will widen your horizon, improve your perspective on life and will take your education to a fresh dimension. Adjusting to such a unique social environment and making new friends will grant you an experience of a lifetime.
Once you complete your STEM course, there is no dearth of opportunities both in terms of research and jobs. US universities also have a great placement cell and a dedicated career team that will help you find a job after your studies. Students who have graduated with a STEM degree are Computer Scientists, Certified Ethical Hackers, Civil Engineers, Astronauts, Food Scientists, Chemical Engineers, Software Developers, Roboticists, Prosthetics Engineers, Marine Biologists and Geologists amongst many others. You could be working at the National Science Foundation (NSF) or at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Another reason why students opt to study in the US is its close proximity to Silicon Valley, California which is the IT hub of the west. Situated in the Bay Area of San Francisco, this area is renowned for technological innovation. Some of the biggest companies like Apple, LinkedIn, HP, Intel, eBay and Chevron are located there offering a bright future in terms of pay scale and possibilities to any graduate or post-graduate interested in innovation and research.
There are many programs in STEM that are available for students to select from. But it is always a worthy step to take some time to research about the prospects in jobs and research in the program you are about to enrol in. We have listed some of the best programs in science and technology that can offer you the most promising outcomes upon course completion:
Some of the most popular STEM Courses are explained below:
1. Information Technology
An IT student upon successful course completion gets the best offers with competitive salaries in both the USA and in India. Since technology is in a constant state of evolution. IT is an essential feature of running any organisation.
The cost to study in USA in information technology can be around $ 60,000.
2. Cyber Security
With more and more development in technology and data, comes the menace of data vulnerability. This necessitates the need for greater data and overall cyber security. Another very trending work profile, students aspiring to work in cyber security can expect to have great employment as well as research opportunities.
The cost to study in USA in cyber security can be approximately $ 65,000
3. Aerospace Engineering
The world market is in need of eco-friendly, sustainable and fuel-efficient technologies. This gives students a lot of scope to design and develop spacecraft, aircrafts, and other types of defence infrastructure. Aerospace engineering therefore, makes for an exciting career opportunity for any STEM student.
The cost to study in USA in aerospace engineering can be approximately $ 70,000
4. Software Engineering
It is a set of programs containing instructions that help to provide the desired outcome in terms of functionality. And engineering is ideating and creating something that helps to provide cost-effective solutions to problems. Software engineering as a whole is designing, testing and maintaining the software that has been created. It is a systematic approach to software development that creates reliable, high-quality software that can be easily maintained.
The cost to study in USA in software engineering can be around $75,000
To be considered eligible to study in USA for a STEM program, every international student is expected to possess certain prerequisites. Although some of the eligibility conditions can vary slightly from university to university, listed below are some credentials that all interested applicants have to furnish as part of their application portfolio.
Entry to bachelor’s level STEM programs requires completion of high school (10+2) education with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Mathematics.
For admission to master’s level STEM courses, a standard 3 or 4 years’ bachelor’s degree in the field of STEM is required. The minimum requirement for admission to STEM approved universities in the USA is a GPA of 3.0 on 4.0
• English proficiency test results:
• TOEFL: 80+ score
• IELTS: 6.5+ band score
• PTE: 53+ score
• Standardised Tests: SAT/GMAT/GRE
If you pick a program in STEM and decide to study in the USA, you will undoubtedly have one of the most rewarding careers that any skilled professional can ask for. At the bottom, we have researched some of the job roles that STEM graduates are hired for and the remuneration they can expect for their skill and knowledge.
Title of the Position | Average Annual Salary in Approximation (US Dollars) |
Civil Engineer | $88,700 |
Chemical Engineer | $98,700 |
Mechanical Engineer | $86,500 |
Computer Scientist | $157,000 |
Physicist | $204,000 |
Statistician | $134,000 |
Biochemist | $189,000 |
Chemist | $192,000 |
Architect | $120,000 |
Aeronautical Engineer | $101,000 |
When you pursue STEM courses to study in the USA, you are equipped with desirable skill sets and advanced knowledge that you can use to your full advantage anywhere in the world. You get immediate access to lucrative jobs in the Silicon Valley of California aside from boundless research opportunities in both private and public high-brow organizations. Completing a bachelor's or masters in the USA in a STEM program can really open up the doors to a bright future. And to make this possibility into a palpable reality, there are top EdTech companies in India like KC Overseas that are constantly working with aspiring students and giving them guidance on the scholarship and application details to make their process smoother.