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Characteristics of Postsecondary Students
Table A-39-2. Percentage distribution of international students enrolled in U.S. postsecondary institutions, by academic level and field of study: Academic year 2007–08

Field of study Total   Undergraduate   Graduate
Total 100.0   100.0   100.0
Business and management 19.6   26.0   16.3
Engineering 17.0   11.5   23.3
Physical and life sciences 9.3   6.6   12.9
Social sciences 8.7   9.1   9.2
Math and computer science 8.2   5.5   11.3
           
Fine and applied arts 5.6   7.6   4.6
Health professions 5.1   5.9   5.1
Intensive English language 4.6   0.5   0.0
Education 3.1   1.9   4.5
Humanities 3.1   1.9   4.3
           
Agriculture 1.6   0.8   2.0
Other fields of study1 10.8   16.9   6.3
Undeclared 3.4   5.8   0.2
Optional practical training2 0.1    
— Not available.
1 Includes other fields of study not separately shown.
2 Optional practical training (OPT), available to certain foreign students, is temporary employment that is directly related to the student’s major area of study. For more information on OPT, see http://www.uscis.gov/.
NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. Total estimates include enrollments for other academic programs that are not separately shown. Undergraduate estimates include associate’s and bachelor’s enrollments. Graduate estimates include master’s, doctoral, professional training, and unspecified enrollments. For more information on fields of study and on the Open Doors International Student Census, see supplemental note 3.
SOURCE: Bhandari, R., and Chow, P. (2008). Open Doors 2008: Report on International Educational Exchange. New York: Institute of International Education.
 
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