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Does Your Job Match Your Degree? CPT, OPT & H-1B Worksheet

Written by Niloofar Rahimi Zadeh | Nov 11, 2026, 7:00:56 PM

The same question follows you through every stage of U.S. work authorization: is this job related to what you studied?

Your DSO asks it for CPT and STEM OPT. USCIS asks it for H-1B. The answer has to be on paper, and it has to be convincing.

This worksheet helps you map your actual job duties to your actual coursework before anyone else checks.

Why job-to-degree match matters

Status The standard Who checks it
CPT Directly related to your major and an integral part of your curriculum Your DSO
OPT Directly related to your major area of study You report it; your DSO or future filings may review it
STEM OPT Directly related to your STEM degree, documented in Form I-983 with an E-Verify employer Your DSO reviews the I-983
H-1B Requires a bachelor’s degree or higher in a directly related specific specialty USCIS

For H-1B, DHS’s modernization rule defines “directly related” as a logical connection between the degree and the job duties. USCIS looks at your actual course of study, not just your degree title.

An employer may accept several degree fields for one position. Each field must still be directly related to the duties.

The worksheet

Step 1: Write down your degree

Record your degree, your major exactly as it appears on your I-20 or diploma, and 6 to 10 core courses.

Step 2: Break the job into duties

List 5 to 8 specific duties. Estimate the percentage of time each one takes.

Step 3: Map each duty to coursework

For each duty, name the course or courses that taught the knowledge it requires.

Step 4: Name the specialized knowledge

Describe the method, tool, or theory you apply. “Regression modeling” works. “Analytical skills” is too vague.

Step 5: Note your evidence

List what proves the connection: syllabi, capstone projects, or language in the offer letter.

Duty % time Course(s) Specialized knowledge applied Evidence
Example: Build demand-forecast models in Python 35% BAN 610 Predictive Analytics Time-series regression, model validation Capstone forecasting project
Example: Design SQL data pipelines for reporting 25% BAN 520 Database Management Data modeling, query optimization Course project repository
Example: Present insights to product managers 15% BAN 640 Data Visualization Visual analytics, dashboard design Portfolio dashboards
Your duty        

The example rows show an MS in Business Analytics student hired as a data analyst. They are illustrations only.

Self-check

There is no official percentage threshold. Still, your core duties, the ones that take most of your time, should map clearly to your coursework.

If most of your duties have nothing in the “Course(s)” column, talk to your DSO or an immigration attorney before you accept the offer.

Red flags to fix early

  • Title–duties mismatch. For example, a job titled “Business Analyst” that is mostly data entry or administrative work.
  • Generic duty language. Phrases like “assist with various projects” or “other tasks as assigned” show no connection to any field.
  • A general degree for H-1B. The modernization rule says positions that accept a general degree without specialization, such as a general business degree, do not qualify as specialty occupations.
  • Duties copied from a template. A job description pulled from another company’s posting often won’t match your coursework.

Our guide to meeting H-1B specialty occupation criteria covers the H-1B side in more depth.

How to use your completed worksheet

  • With your hiring manager: Ask whether the offer letter or job description can use the same duty language.
  • With your DSO: Attach it to your CPT request or your STEM OPT I-983 discussion.
  • With an immigration attorney: Bring it to the start of an H-1B case. It saves time and can help you avoid a Request for Evidence. Our RFE guide explains what triggers RFEs.
  • When choosing a program: If you are still deciding what to study, see how to choose a Day 1 CPT major that fits your job.

Frequently asked questions

Does my OPT job have to match my degree exactly?

No. It must be directly related to your major area of study, not identical to it. Be ready to explain the connection in a sentence or two.

Does an unrelated job count as OPT employment?

Generally no. Work that is not related to your major does not count as qualifying OPT employment. That can affect your unemployment-day limits.

What does “directly related” mean for H-1B?

Under the H-1B modernization rule, there must be a logical connection between the degree, or its equivalent, and the job duties. USCIS considers your actual coursework, not just the title of your degree.

What if my degree is an MBA or another general business degree?

For CPT and OPT, the job still needs to relate to your program. For H-1B, a general degree without specialization may not qualify, so a concentration and the coursework behind it matter.

Is this the same as the CPT employer-document worksheet?

They are related but different. The CPT toolkit focuses on the documents your school needs for CPT. This worksheet applies the job-to-degree test across CPT, OPT, STEM OPT and H-1B.

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