Credit Hours: Electives For International Students

International students in the United States are required to maintain their status by enrolling in a full course of study. The number of credit hours required for a full course of study varies depending on the student's visa type, level of study, and program of study. F-1 undergraduate students are generally required to take at least 12 credit hours per semester, while F-1 graduate students must take a full course of study as certified by the institution, typically requiring 9 credit hours per semester. J-1 students should enroll full-time in on-campus courses before adding any online courses. M-1 students at community colleges or junior colleges must also take at least 12 credit hours per term. Students with difficulties adjusting academically or medically may be eligible for a reduced course load, but this should be discussed with an international student advisor or designated school official (DSO).

Can an international student take electives for 12 credit hours?

F-1 visa requirements for international students

International students who wish to study in the United States need to obtain a student visa. The F-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows international students to enter the US and enrol in a full-time academic program at an accredited college, university, school, or other academic institution.

To be eligible for an F-1 visa, students must meet the following requirements:

• Enrol as a full-time student at an accredited academic institution.
• Demonstrate English language proficiency or be enrolled in courses leading to English proficiency.
• Have sufficient funds to cover all educational, living, and travel costs during their studies.
• Maintain a residence abroad with no intention of giving up their residency.
• Provide evidence of their intent to return to their home country upon completion of their studies.

During the F-1 visa application process, students must complete the DS-160 visa application form and submit supporting documents, including their passport, travel itinerary, photo, and Form I-20. They will also need to participate in a visa interview at a US embassy or consulate, where they will need to demonstrate their financial ability to support themselves during their stay and confirm their intention to return home after their studies.

It is important to note that F-1 visa holders must comply with certain regulations, such as maintaining their full-time student status and adhering to restrictions on online coursework. Additionally, any off-campus employment must be related to their area of study and authorized by the Designated School Official and USCIS.

Regarding the question of whether an international student can take electives for 12 credit hours, it appears that this is permissible as long as the student meets the minimum credit requirements for their visa status. Undergraduate students are generally required to enrol in at least 12 credit hours per semester, and these can include a mix of online and in-person classes, as long as the requirements for their visa status are met.

Undergraduate students' minimum credit hours

The minimum number of credit hours required for undergraduate students depends on the university and the degree level. Some universities require undergraduate students to be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester to be considered full-time students, while others may require 6 to 8 credits for part-time status. Typically, a bachelor's degree requires 120 college credits, but the number of credit hours can vary by institution, degree level, and personal goals. For example, education and engineering programs may require additional credits beyond the standard 120.

Undergraduate students must complete a certain number of credits in specific areas, including core courses and major courses. Core courses are standard across programs and institutions and include classes such as English, STEM, humanities, and social sciences. The number of free elective credits will differ depending on the program requirements. For instance, a program with more required credits may offer fewer elective options.

To be eligible for a course overload, which is more than the typical number of semester hours, an undergraduate student must meet certain requirements, such as having a record of successful study at the university and a minimum cumulative grade point average. Additionally, international students on F-1 visas must comply with regulations regarding online/distance education courses, as there may be restrictions on the number of online courses that can be counted towards full-time enrollment.

Overall, the minimum credit hours for undergraduate students can vary, and it is important for students to refer to their specific university's requirements and consult with an academic advisor to ensure they are on track with their degree progress.

Graduate students' minimum credit hours

The minimum credit hours required for graduate students vary across institutions. While some institutions require graduate students to be enrolled full-time, others set a minimum credit threshold for part-time students.

For instance, at UMBC, graduate students with a full-time assistantship on campus only need to take a minimum of 4 additional credits as their GA position counts as 5 credits. However, graduate students without an assistantship must take a minimum of 5 credits, while at UNCG, graduate students must be enrolled in at least 9 credit hours. Similarly, Portland State University classifies full-time graduate students as 9 credit hours.

It is important to note that every school calculates credit hours differently, and there may be exceptions to these requirements. For example, Ph.D. or master's students at UNCG who are registered for a thesis or dissertation course during the fall and spring semesters are considered full-time even if they are registered for less than 9 credit hours. Additionally, part-time students at Georgia Tech can register for a minimum of 3 credit hours, but they are encouraged to take on more credits if possible to progress toward their degree completion.

International students on an F-1 visa must also comply with federal regulations regarding minimum credit hours and restrictions on online coursework. For instance, F-1 students at UNCG can count 3 credits of online learning per semester toward their full-time enrollment requirement, meaning a minimum of 6 out of 9 credits must be on-campus.

Online courses

International students on an F-1 visa must take at least 12 credit hours per term to maintain their status. Out of these 12 credits, only one class or three credits can be from an online or distance learning course. This means that a minimum of 9 out of 12 credits for undergraduates must be on-campus, face-to-face courses. F-1 graduate students must register for a minimum of 6 out of 9 credits on-campus. Students with a full-time graduate assistantship on campus (GA, TA, or RA) will have their GA position count as 5 credits, so only a minimum of 4 additional credits is required. Undergraduate students can take one online course for 3 credits and three regular courses for 9 credits to meet the 12-credit requirement. They can then take an additional online course beyond this minimum enrollment.

J-1 students cannot count online courses towards their full-time enrollment requirement. They should enroll full-time in on-campus, face-to-face courses before adding any online courses each semester.

M-1 students at a community college or junior college must take at least 12 credit hours per term. M-1 students at certain post-secondary vocational or business schools must take at least 12 hours of instruction per week. No online or distance learning classes may count toward an M-1 student's full course of study requirement.

International students in their final semester or who have completed all required coursework may be considered full-time enrolled and may be registered for less than 9 credit hours. Students in their first semester in the US who are struggling with the English language or teaching methods can be eligible to drop credits during the semester. They will need written support from their instructor and approval from their academic adviser.

Reduced course load

International students in the US on F-1 and J-1 visas are required to register as full-time students every semester. For undergraduate students, this means enrolling in a minimum of 12 credits or credit hours per semester, while graduate students must typically enrol in at least 9 credits per semester.

However, under certain circumstances, F-1 and M-1 students may be eligible to maintain their student status while enrolled in a reduced course load (RCL). An RCL is anything less than full-time registration. To be eligible for an RCL, students must meet certain requirements and gain approval from their academic department and/or the Office of Global Services (OGS).

Qualifying circumstances for an RCL include:

• Medical reasons, such as a condition or illness, with a letter of recommendation from a doctor or mental health practitioner.
• Initial difficulty with the English language or reading requirements.
• Unfamiliarity with US teaching methods or cultural differences in classroom expectations.
• Improper course placement, such as taking a course for which the student does not have the prerequisite knowledge.
• Being in your final term or semester, or only needing to enrol in credits remaining to graduate.

It is important to note that not all reasons for an RCL are accepted for all visa types. For example, M-1 students can only get permission to reduce their course load for medical reasons. Additionally, students must gain approval for an RCL before dropping below a full course of study, as doing so without proper authorisation could jeopardise their active student status.

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