Top Courses to Study in the USA for International Students

9 min read

Education & Career Trends: May 23, 2023
Curated by the Knowledge Team of ICS Career GPS


The majority of US universities offer a diverse range of courses and faculties in which international students can study.

  • Excerpts are taken from an article published on aeccglobal.com.

Studying in the USA is a great experience, but you must prepare by choosing suitable courses and a good university. Finding the best courses in the USA is a bit of a tricky matter. It would be best if you considered many factors, and not everyone will have the same priorities when choosing their course of study. You need to know what you’re looking for, and you need to know how to find it.

The United States is home to many educational facilities, from colleges to massive research universities. A range of best universities offers a vast selection of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes to suit every student’s needs and career.

There are so many different universities and programmes that it can be challenging to track them all. To find out the best courses in your field of study, you’ll need to understand where you want to live and work after graduating. To fully benefit from your time abroad, you should select a program of study that aligns with your goals.

The decision-making process includes more than just picking a university and a course. It’s equally crucial to comprehend the layout and variety of courses. You first understand what makes a course popular so you can choose from the best courses for international students to study in the USA.

Popular Courses to Study in the USA

We’ve put together a list of some of the best courses to study in the USA for international students that will help you find the right one for you:

1. Engineering

If you enjoy creating and developing things, engineering may be your appropriate career choice. The USA has some of the best engineering schools in the world. You can study engineering, from associate to bachelor’s degrees. 

Popular Engineering Fields:

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Engineering Management
ProgrammeTop Universities
Engineering-Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
-Stanford University
-University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
-Harvard University
-California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

2. Business & Management Studies

This course teaches you how to manage employees, customers, and finances while understanding business principles and practices that will be useful in your career after graduation. Bachelor’s degrees can pursue careers in finance, marketing or human resource management.

At the same time, those who have completed an MBA program are eligible for senior-level positions in large companies like Google or McKinsey & Company. Business and management studies programs throughout the USA, including at prestigious universities like Harvard or Stanford. 

Popular Engineering Fields:

  • Human Resource
  • Banking and Insurance
  • Finance
  • Marketing & Sales
  • Organisational Management
  • Digital Marketing
  • International Business
ProgrammeTop Universities
Business & Management Studies-Harvard University
-Stanford University
-Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
-University of Pennsylvania
-University of California, Berkeley (UCB)

3. Computer Science

Computer Science is one of the most popular university courses in the USA. The course covers databases, security systems and networks, which are necessary for any modern world.

The course also teaches you how these technologies affect people’s lives every day by giving them access to information they may not have before—and this will prove invaluable when working on projects later down the road!

Popular Computer Science Fields:

  • Computer Engineering
  • Computer Forensics
  • Computer Networking
  • Programming
  • Cyber Security
  • Database Administration
  • Information Security
  • Information Technology
  • Software Engineering
  • Web Development
ProgrammeTop Universities
Computer Science-Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
-Stanford University
-Carnegie Mellon University
-University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
-Harvard University

4. Communication & Media Studies

Communication & Media Studies is an excellent choice for international students studying in the USA. It is a great way to learn about how people interact with each other in the media and how it affects audiences who consume these messages.

You’ll learn about information technology, its impact on society, and the impact of propaganda and advertising on individuals’ decisions. You’ll be able to take on various roles in the media industry, such as reporter, producer, or editor.

You could work at a television station where you would produce news stories for broadcast or online. You could also work as a reporter for a newspaper or magazine. This is a great place to start if you’re interested in making documentaries or writing scripts for movies or television shows!

Popular Communication & Media Studies Fields:

  • Contemporary visual narratives
  • Ethics and journalism
  • Information governance, security and legislation
  • Introduction to digital storytelling
  • Media entrepreneurship
  • Print and digital production and design
  • Records, society and Accountability
  • Understanding the media landscape
ProgrammeTop Universities
Communication & Media Studies-University of Southern California
-University of Texas at Austin
-Stanford University
-University of Pennsylvania
-University of Wisconsin-Madison

5. Medicine

Medicine is one of the most popular fields among international students because it offers high-paying jobs with great benefits after graduation. Several universities with outstanding medical programs will equip you with the skills necessary for success in this field here at home or abroad.

Medicine deals with human health issues, such as disease prevention and treatment through medication or surgery by doctors.

Popular Medicine Fields:

  • Medicine and health studies
  • Anatomy, physiology, and pathology
  • Pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmacy
  • Complementary medicines
  • Nutrition
  • Dietetics
  • Optomtrey
  • Medical technology
ProgrammeTop Universities
Medicine-Harvard University
-Johns Hopkins University
-Stanford University
-Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
-University of California, San Francisco

6. Politics

Politics is a good program for international students because it teaches them about U.S. politics from all perspectives: conservative, liberal, libertarian and independent. This course focuses on analysing political systems and leaders to understand better how they work together. You’ll also examine social issues that affect each person individually or collectively, including environmental issues and human rights violations worldwide. A major in politics can give you a foundation for understanding the world around us—and how we interact with each other through politics. Whether you want to become an elected official or learn more about what goes into running for office (or even volunteering), this is an excellent degree for any aspiring politician!

Popular Politics Fields:

  • Public Administration
  • International Relations
  • Political Science
  • Business Administration.
  • Public Policy
  • Public Health
  • Communications.
ProgrammeTop Universities
Politics-Harvard University
-Princeton University
-Stanford University
-Yale University
-University of California, Berkeley (UCB)

7. Mathematics

One of the best courses to study in the USA for international students is mathematics. There are many options for studying math in the USA, ranging from community colleges to Ivy League universities.

The coursework will introduce students to introductory algebra, trigonometry and calculus concepts necessary to excel in mathematics at any level. Students will also learn about sets, proofs and proofs by contradiction and establish a firm foundation for understanding linear equations and inequalities.

Popular Mathematics Fields:

  • Pure Mathematics
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Computational Mathematics
  • Algebra and Number Theory
  • Topology and Foundations
  • Geometric Analysis
  • Analysis
  • Probability and Statistics
  • Real and complex analysis
ProgrammeTop Universities
Mathematics-Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
-Stanford University
-Harvard University
-University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
-Princeton University

8. Economics & Econometrics

If you’re looking for a course to help you understand the world around you, economics is a great choice. This course enables students better understand how to make decisions and solve problems in the real world—it’s not just about numbers.

The course will teach you about market forces, supply and demand, and how they interact. It’s a great way to start your education on this side of the pond. You will understand how economic systems work, the role of money in the economy, and how businesses operate.

You’ll also learn about financial markets, supply and demand, inflation and deflation, interest rates, unemployment and other economic issues.

Popular Economics Fields:

  • Microeconomics
  • Macroeconomics
  • Finance
  • Econometrics
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Statistics & Probability
  • Data Visualization
  • Data Analysis
Programme Top Universities
Economics & Econometrics-Harvard University
-Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
-Stanford University
-University of Chicago
-University of California, Berkeley (UCB)

9. Dentistry

This field has grown exponentially over the past few decades. The demand for dentists has increased significantly over time due to population growth and improved dental care technology. Dentists work closely with patients to provide them with high-quality dental care services that are affordable and accessible to all people who need them.

You’ll learn about dental terminology and how you can apply it to medical fields like medicine or nursing. This course also teaches students how to be patient care professionals by teaching them about proper procedures and treatments for patients who suffer from oral issues such as infections or gum disease.

Popular Dentistry Fields:

  • Patient assessment
  • Oral biology
  • Digestive, renal and endocrine systems
  • Healthcare ethics and law
  • Radiology
  • Periodontology
  • Paediatric dentistry and orthodontics
  • Clinical skills
ProgrammeTop Universities
Dentistry-University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
-University of California, San Francisco
-Harvard University
-University of North Carolina,
-Chapel Hill New York University (NYU)

10. Physics

Physics is a discipline that explores how matter behaves at minor scales of existence. It includes everything from atoms and molecules to stars and galaxies. If you want to understand why things happen the way they do, this is the course for you. Physics helps us understand our world by looking at things from different perspectives.

Popular Physics Fields:

  • Mathematical techniques
  • Quantum
  • Newtonian and relativistic mechanics
  • Plasma and fluids
  • Special and general relativity
ProgrammeTop Universities
Physics-Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
-Harvard University
-Stanford University
-University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
-California Institute of Technology

The majority of US universities offer a diverse range of courses and faculties in which international students can study. You have a choice between many different criteria, such as the length of the course, the cost, and its ranking. 


Have you checked out yesterday’s blog yet?

Study in Hong Kong for International Students


(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article mentioned above are those of the author(s). They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of ICS Career GPS or its staff.)

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