“I am very happy about the growth of STEM in the global workforce because it gives us more opportunities to choose what we want to do in the future,” said Catuxa Moran-Rey, a sophomore student from Spain majoring in bioengineering at the University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus. Spanning both campuses, the bioengineering program allows students to earn a bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree while working directly with medical professionals and researchers to improve human health through developing engineered devices and therapeutics.

“Me personally, I love biology and everything related to the human body and health, but I am very sensitive, so I wouldn't be able to be a doctor. With bioengineering, I can still do something related to human health, but in different ways than a doctor would do.”

The University offers a wide variety of degree options in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects ranging through accounting, architecture, biostatistics, business analytics, computer science, health economics, information systems, landscape architecture, and many others.

“With the STEM fields, there will always be jobs, and there’s room for growth,” said Julius Mbolosi, a biology/pre-med student. “The U.S. can adapt quickly to new, high quality technologies; the knowledge I’m gaining at CU Denver will make it easier for me to enter the workforce in my country, Tanzania, and in other countries.”

In the United States, for example, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that STEM jobs will grow 11 percent by 2029, creating more than 500,000 new jobs in the American labor market and intensifying a predicted gap of 3.5 million open positions in 2025.

The need for STEM professionals continues to grow throughout diverse global markets. One of the market sectors, Information Technology, is projected to increase to approximately $13,176.84 billion by 2029. Contributing factors include the need for new technologies and innovations relevant to smart cities, cybersecurity, e-commerce, and hybrid work settings. (Source: The Business Research Company)

“I believe that finding a job has become challenging for many, especially after COVID, not just international students but also domestic students. However, I still see new growth opportunities in the tech industry, especially with the continuous innovation in fields like artificial intelligence and machine learning,” explained Zhuo Chen, a student in International College Beijing, a successful 30-year partnership between the University of Colorado Denver and China Agricultural University. Chen is earning a double major in computer science and communication. She continued, “Many of my peers who persisted in job searching eventually received satisfying offers.”

ACADEMIC & MEDICAL CAMPUS CONNECTIONS

Unique connections and program pathways between the academic and medical campus expand opportunities for student learning, exploration, and employment. On each campus, undergraduate and graduate level students dive into innovation, interdisciplinary project research, and industry showcases and competitions.

At CU Denver, student can choose from STEM courses that include Community-Engaged STEM Leadership to explore ways to think about informal and formal learning spaces through the lens of STEM Leadership; and Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, a bioengineering course that familiarizes students with the application of stem cells in regenerative medicine and in tissue engineering. Another program, Foundations of STEM Communication, enables students to develop STEM content for a variety of audiences across multiple formats. Science, Engineering and Culture for Undergraduates is a course for undergraduate international and limited English proficient (LEP) students to improve their success in science and engineering degree programs through senior research paper writing, advanced STEM English skills and cross cultural training.

Students enrolled in math programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences look forward to entering math competitions such as the Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM) and the Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling (ICM).

CU Denver architecture students in the College of Architecture and Planning participate in design competitions that include the ACSA Steel Competition and the Museum of Outdoor Arts (MOA) National Design and Build Competition. Within recent years, Architecture and Landscape Architecture degree programs became eligible for STEM-Optional Practical Training (OPT)

In the Capstone Design program, College of Engineering, Design and Computing students across all five departments design, build, analyze, prototype, test, and provide documentation for a product they have developed; the projects are showcased during each Spring semester.

Other on-campus departments assist in student success. The CU Denver Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities. URCA helps to jump-start students’ research careers. Classroom learning is connected to real-world research opportunities through work-study, summer fellowships, and grants; the EURēCA! Grant supports student assistant positions.

“As long as long as students take the initiative, they can access great resources like independent study programs, consulting centers, and competitive on-campus job opportunities,” observed Chen. “I have received a lot of support from CU Denver professors and supervisors. Their guidance and encouragement have been invaluable.”

At CU Anschutz, STEM courses include examples such as Core Topics in Biomedical Science, which addresses subject areas that include protein structure and function, neurobiology, embryology, stem cell research, and cancer biology. A program example is the School of Dental Medicine International Student Program (ISP), which offers qualified graduates of foreign dental programs the opportunity to earn the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the CU School of Dental Medicine.

A number of undergraduate research opportunities are available to students, including the Cancer Research Experience for Undergraduates (CREU), Colorado Summer Institute in Biostatistics (CoSIBS), Neuroscience Colorado Research Experience (N-CORE), and more. The Rocky Mountain Public Health Case Competition, hosted by the Colorado School of Public Health, helps students across varied disciplines gain experience working in collaborative teams to design creative and innovative solutions to global health problems.

An informal cross-campus collaboration, International Scholar Collaborative Opportunity for Research Exchange (ISCORE), provides a non-credit, free program that matches CU Denver pre-health undergraduates with distinguished international scholars at CU Anschutz. During the eight-week session, the undergraduate students learn first-hand about innovative research in labs throughout the medical campus.

POST-GRADUATION PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: STEM-OPT

More than 50 degree programs at CU Denver | Anschutz are eligible for STEM-OPT  (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math-Optional Practical Training). STEM-OPT allows eligible international students visa extensions of up to three years after graduation, where they gain valuable experiential learning and practical professional training. The program provides a short term workforce advantage for employers to increase their business productivity through skilled professional workers and to expand their organization’s future global business contacts.

Dozens of Colorado companies and organization have hired CU Denver | Anschutz international graduates on OPT/STEM-OPT, including Deloitte, Nasdaq, Wells Fargo, Oracle, Western Union, Colorado Department of Public Health, KPMG, Salient Power Engineering, Access Dental, Architectural Workshop, Beacon Health, Charles Schwab, Cloud Hybrid Tech, and more.

STUDYING, LIVING, & WORKING IN DENVER

Colorado’s economy is one of the strongest in the United States, home to a diverse array of industries, including fourteen major industry sectors with seven STEM-based advanced industries.  (Source: Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade [OEDIT])

Along with opportunities for internships during school and OPT/STEM-OPT employment near campus, the Denver area is known for its cultural and recreational offerings.

“I like living in Denver because it’s small enough to be comfortable in, but still has a lot of things to do,” said Moran-Rey. “Since CU Denver is downtown, I have more options of activities to do between my classes; it’s faster to get to campus, since it’s only a 10-minute walk from my apartment.”

The city is home to museums featuring fine arts, history, and science and nature. Restaurants, bistros, and shopping establishments are adjacent to campus; stadiums for seven professional sports teams are nearby. The CU Denver and CU Anschutz campuses are set against the beautiful backdrop of the scenic Rocky Mountains, convenient for weekend biking, snowboarding, and other outdoor activities..

“Living in Denver has been an exciting experience, especially after making new friends. The city has great boba shops, coffee spots, and diverse food options downtown where we can hang out. I also love the outdoor activities—hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter,” said Chen. “Before leaving Denver, I hope to experience both skiing and the hot springs.”

Mbolosi concluded, ““I think it’s important to have a global education because it helps us to deal with people from different countries in our professions. The people in Denver and on this campus are lovely; I feel welcome here.”

Learn more:

Office of International Affairs

Employment Opportunities for International Students

CU Denver | Anschutz Course Catalogs            

            Undergraduate 

             Graduate