Enrollment Requirements

• Must enroll in at least 12 credit hours per semester (Fall and Spring).
• Summer and Winter session enrollment is optional and not required for status maintenance.

Master’s Programs:

• Must enroll in a minimum of 9 credit hours per required term (Fall and Spring).
• Summer and Winter session enrollment is optional, unless required by the student’s academic program.

UHUB Programs:

• Must enroll in a minimum of 6 credit hours per required term (Fall, Spring, and Summer).
• Summer session enrollment is required and not optional.

Doctoral Programs:

• Must enroll in a minimum of 9 credit hours per required term, or be registered for dissertation/thesis research with active faculty supervision (Fall and Spring).
• Summer and Winter session enrollment is optional, unless required by the student’s academic program.

• Must enroll in a combination of clock hours and/or credit hours as defined by the student’s plan of study.
• Summer enrollment is required (as determined by your academic program)

Must meet one of the following weekly instructional hour requirements:

• 18 clock hours per week if instruction is primarily classroom-based.
• 22 clock hours per week if instruction primarily occurs outside the classroom (e.g., labs, tutorials).

• Only one online course (maximum of 3 credits) may count toward the full-time enrollment requirement per term (Fall and Spring).
• Additional online courses may be taken in excess of the minimum enrollment, if desired.

• Online or distance learning courses cannot be counted toward the full course of study requirement.
• All required enrollment must be completed through in-person instruction.

• Since enrollment is generally optional in these terms (except for programs like UHUB), students may take any number of online courses during Summer and Winter sessions, unless otherwise required by their academic program.
• If enrollment is required during the summer term, the limit of one online course is applied.

• Traditional (T): 0–29% online — Majority of instruction takes place in person.

• HyFlex (HF): Permitted only if the student attends all sessions in person.

• Hybrid/Blended (B): 30–79% online — Requires some mandatory in-person attendance.

Only one online course (up to 3 credits) per required term may count toward full-time enrollment.

• Asynchronous Self-Paced (OA): 100% online — No scheduled live sessions.
• Synchronous/Asynchronous Mix (OC): 100% online — Combines real-time meetings and self-paced content.
• Synchronous Real-Time (OS): 100% online — Requires attendance at live, scheduled sessions.

A Reduced Course Load (RCL) may be authorized by the Designated School Official (DSO) if a student is unable to maintain full-time enrollment due to a temporary illness or medical condition. This exception allows the student to enroll in a reduced number of credits—or no credits at all—while maintaining F-1 status. If a medical leave of absence has been approved by International Services, a reduced course load will be authorized by the Designated School Official and the student will still maintain their F-1 status.

Related Policies and Procedures:

• Student Medical Leave of Absence Policy – Outlines the university’s procedures and expectations for medical leave.
• Medical Leave of Absence Request – Students must submit your request with supporting medical documentation.

Students in their first semester of study may qualify for an RCL due to the following challenges:

• Initial difficulty with the English language
• Difficulty with reading requirements
• Unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods
• Improper course level placement

Important Notes:

• This RCL category is limited to the first academic term only.
• Students must maintain at least six credits or half of the full-time course load, unless otherwise approved.

Students in their final semester may be eligible for an RCL if fewer than a full-time course load is needed to complete degree requirements.

Eligibility Requirements:

• The student must be in their final term with no additional coursework required beyond the enrolled classes.
• RCL must include at least six credits or half of the full course load.
• Authorization is granted only once and only in the final semester.
• All coursework must be completed by the last day of classes in the approved term.
• A degree audit and written confirmation from the student’s academic advisor are required to verify eligibility.

Students who enroll for administrative or non-required purposes after completing all academic requirements are considered to have completed their program and must take appropriate action to maintain lawful status. Such action may include application for change of status or departure from the U.S.

1. Consultation: Meet with your Academic Advisor and a Designated School Official (DSO) in International Services to discuss your situation before adjusting your course load.
2. Submission:
   1. Submit your RCL request through the International Services Portal.
   2. Upload all required documentation, including academic advisor authorization, medical documentation (if applicable), or degree audit as appropriate.
3. Deadlines: RCL requests must be submitted no later than the first day of classes for the term in which the reduced load is requested (refer to the academic calendar).
4. Approval: Wait for written authorization from International Services before dropping any courses. Unauthorized reductions in course load are considered violations of F-1 status.