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Which career categories did the U.S. Department of Commerce include as STEM occupations?
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STEM
An overview of STEM education.
The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) defined four specific categories of STEM occupations. These categories are:
- Computer and math
- Engineering and surveying
- Physical and life sciences
- STEM management
It is important to note that the DOC's criteria explicitly excluded education and social sciences from these categories. While other government agencies, such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, have utilized broader definitions that include social science and education fields, the DOC's classification focused on roles requiring specialized knowledge, though not necessarily a baccalaureate or graduate degree.1