STEM Degree List: Majors and Subjects

Complete list of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) degrees.

Based on enrolment data, 28% of Australian university students, or 436,000 people, are studying for a STEM degree. The largest fields are Natural and Physical Sciences (8.6% of students), Engineering (7.8%) and Information Technology (7.5%).

If you’re studying science, technology, engineering or math at university, you can be sure you’re enrolled in STEM. Other obvious STEM degrees are data science, geology, robotics, and software engineering. But fields such as accounting and nursing are less clear and usually excluded.

Are you curious about what STEM degrees are available? To help, we’ve compiled a list of STEM degrees, majors, and subjects that you can study at university or college. Let’s explore the different education options for a STEM career.

Science

Science is the largest and most diverse STEM field. The “S” in STEM covers dozens of disciplines, from agricultural science to zoology. Online science courses are available except where lab work or field work are essential for learning.

If you’re starting university and want to study science, enrolling in a Bachelor of Science is normally the way to go. You can start with a cross-disciplinary program that allows for numerous possible majors. Just be sure to do the introductory subjects (e.g. “Chemistry 101”) for the major(s) you’re interested in.

Science majors

Agricultural Science
Animal Science and Management
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Biochemistry
Biodiversity Conservation
Biological Anthropology
Biotechnology
Cell and Developmental Biology
Chemistry
Climate and Weather
Computational Biology
Earth Science
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Ecosystem Science
Environmental Science
Food Science
Genetics
Geography
Geology
Human Biology
Human Nutrition
Human Structure and Function

Immunology
Indigenous Science and Knowledges
Infection and Immunity
Marine Biology
Microbiology
Neuroscience
Pathology
Pharmacology
Physics
Physiology
Plant Science
Psychology
Quantitative Biology
Quantitative Environmental Modelling
Resource Management
Science Communication
Spatial Systems
Sustainability Studies
Veterinary BioSciences
Water Science
Zoology

Sources: Bachelor of Science programs at ANU and the University of Melbourne.

Science degrees online

Bachelor of Science
Environmental Science
Nutrition
Psychology
Science

Technology

Technology is important across many disciplines. With respect to STEM and university degrees, “technology” essentially refers to information technology, computer science and data science.

Most technology students are enrolled in a Bachelor of Information Technology, Master of Information Technology, or similar program. Core subjects may include programming, systems analysis, database management, networking and communications, security, and technology support. At both undergraduate and masters levels, you can specialise by selecting subjects from a study stream.

Technology majors

Advanced Intelligent Systems
Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics
Business Information Systems
Computer Engineering
Computer Forensics
Computer Networking
Computer Programming
Computer Science
Computer Systems
Cyber Security
Data Management
Data Science
Enterprise Systems Development
Geographic Information Systems
Health Informatics
Information Systems
Information Technology

Intelligent Systems
Interaction Design
Library Science
Network Security
Operations Research
Quantum Information Science
Security and Cloud Computing
Software Development
Software Engineering
Software Systems Development
Systems Administration
Systems Security
Technology Management
Telecommunications
Web and Mobile Computing
Web Development

Sources: World Wide Learn, UTS computing science program, BIT programs at ANU and RMIT.

Technology degrees online

Engineering

To be an engineer, a Bachelor of Engineering degree is the standard qualification. Engineering consists of four broad disciplines: chemical, civil, electrical and mechanical engineering. Finer, more specific majors are also possible within each engineering branch.

Generally speaking, engineering is a hands-on STEM discipline. For this reason, a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree requires campus attendance and work placements. 100% online study is, however, supported for some para-professional and postgraduate programs.

Engineering majors

Aerospace Engineering
Agricultural Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Building Services
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Coastal and Ocean Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Electronics and Telecommunications
Environmental Engineering
Food Engineering
Geotechnical Engineering
Hydraulics (Water) Engineering
Industrial Engineering

Marine Engineering
Materials Engineering
Mechanical and Manufacturing
Minerals and Metallurgical
Mining Engineering
Petroleum and Petrochemical
Pharmaceutical
Process Control
Production
Resource Engineering
Risk Engineering
Structural Engineering
Transport Engineering

Source: Engineers Australia.

Engineering degrees online

Mathematics

Mathematics is a building-block subject at university level, especially for STEM majors. Many students do loads of math without actually majoring in the discipline. Mathematics and statistics subjects feature in programs for business, education, engineering, information technology, science and social science.

Even within a “non-math” subject, mathematical concepts and methods may feature prominently (e.g. in a social research or marketing unit). If you want to major in mathematics, generally you do this as part of a science degree. However, mathematics specialisations also appear in other STEM categories.

Mathematics majors

Actuarial Studies
Bioinformatics
Business Analytics
Data Analytics
Data Science
Econometrics
Finance

Mathematical Economics
Mathematical Finance
Mathematical Modelling
Mathematical Physics
Mathematics
Mathematics and Statistics
Statistics

Sources: Course finder at the University of Melbourne and the science program at ANU.

Mathematics degrees online

FAQs

Is accounting a STEM degree?

No, accounting is not typically considered a STEM degree. Accounting is a business field that focuses on financial reporting, taxation, and auditing. While accounting does require knowledge of mathematics, it is not typically classified as STEM.

Some sources may classify accounting as a STEM degree due to the use of quantitative methods and data analysis. However, such applications of math and statistics are generally not of a scientific kind. Accounting does not appear in the relevant category, Business, Management, Marketing and Related Support Services (52), of the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List.

Is nursing a STEM major?

Nursing is not typically considered a STEM major, although it does involve some elements of STEM fields such as biology, anatomy, and physiology.

In the United States, the National Science Foundation and the Department of Homeland Security do not include nursing in their official STEM fields list. The DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List, which determines eligibility for certain visas and work opportunities for international students, includes specific health-related degrees such as medical sciences, pharmacology, and public health.

Nursing is still a valuable and important field. Being a nurse requires a strong scientific foundation and analytical skills. Nurses apply scientific principles to patient care and use technology to improve health outcomes.

Is psychology a STEM major?

Yes, psychology is a STEM field. Psychology involves the scientific study of the human mind and behaviour. Research methods and scientific principles are applied to understand and explain psychological phenomena.

Many universities and colleges categorise psychology as a STEM field, and psychology is often included in lists of STEM majors.

Further reading: Is Psychology a STEM Major? Science vs Social Science

Psychology fields listed in the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List include cognitive psychology and psycholinguistics, comparative psychology, developmental and child psychology, experimental psychology, personality psychology, behavioural neuroscience, social psychology, psychometrics and quantitative psychology, psychopharmacology, research and experimental psychology, industrial and organisational psychology, and other psychology fields.