Enrolling Properly as an F-1 Student

F-1 Undergraduate Students must enroll in at least 12 credits. Of these 12 credits, 1 course, worth up to 3 credits, may be online or distance learning. Any courses taken above this requirement may be online or on campus. For example, if a student is enrolled in 4 courses worth 3 credits each for a total of 12 credits, 3 courses must be on campus and 1 course may be online. If a student is enrolled in 5 courses worth 3 credits each for a total of 15 credits, 3 courses must be taken on campus and 2 courses may be online. 

Example One: Twelve Credit Enrollments

Example Two: Fifteen Credit Enrollments

F-1 Graduate Students must enroll in at least 9 credits. Of these 9 credits, one course, worth up to 3 credits, may be online or distance learning. Any courses taken above this requirement may be online or on campus. For example, if a student is enrolled in 3 courses worth 3 credits each for a total of 9 credits, 2 courses must be on campus and 1 course may be online. If a student is enrolled in 4 courses worth 3 credits each for a total of 12 credits, 2 courses must be taken on campus and 2 courses may be online. 

Example One: Nine Credit Enrollments

Example Two: Ten Credit Enrollments

Example Three: Eleven Credit Enrollments

Example Four: Twelve Credit Enrollments

F-1 Certificate Students must enroll in at least 6 credits. Of these 6 credits, 1 course, worth up to 3 credits, may be online or distance learning. Any courses taken above this requirement may be online or on campus. For example, if a student is enrolled in 2 courses worth 3 credits each for a total of 6 credits, 1 course must be on campus and 1 course may be online. If a student is enrolled in 3 courses worth 3 credits each for a total of 9 credits, 1 course must be taken on campus and 2 courses may be online. 

Example One: Six Credit Enrollments

Example Two: Seven Credit Enrollments

Example Three: Nine Credit Enrollments

Students in their final semester may be eligible to enroll in less than the required number of credits if first approved by the Academic Advisor and by ISSS. If approved and taking less than the required number of credits in the final semester, students must maintain their on campus presence by enrolling in the correct number of on campus courses. If you have one course remaining, it must be on campus. If you have two courses remaining, one is permitted to be online and the other must be on campus. If you have three courses remaining, two must be on campus and one may be online. 

Below are some examples of final semester course schedules that will meet the F-1 Regulations after the Program Completion Reduced Course Load is approved by ISSS:

Graduate Student with 6 Credits Remaining:

Graduate Student with 4 Credits Remaining:

Graduate Student with 3 Credits Remaining:

Graduate Student with 2 Credits Remaining:

Graduate Student with 1 Credit Remaining:

*Please remember that the Practicum Course is considered web campus enrollment.

Request a Reduced Course Load Form to enroll less-than Full Time in your Final Semester.

Students who wish to participate in CPT Work Authorization must be enrolled in the Practicum course in order to apply for the CPT Approved I-20.

Please note that Practicum enrollment is considered towards F-1 Student Full-Time enrollment and is considered a web campus course.

Students may enroll in a total of 3 credits worth of Practicum throughout their program at Stevens. Students and their academic advisors should work together to determine the correct Practicum course and credit worth for the semester.

Students cannot withdraw from the Practicum course once approved for CPT Work Authorization.

Read more about obtaining CPT Work Authorization on our CPT Webpage.

D-999 is for thesis or dissertation status students who have completed all of their coursework and do not have any courses remaining to enroll.

D-999 will maintain the F-1 Student Full-Time Status for the semester. D-999 students do not need to submit a Reduced Course Load Form unless they will be completing their program earlier than the end date listed on their Form I-20.

D-999 should be the student's only enrollment. Students should not enroll in credit-earning courses while enrolling in D-999.

The following courses are lecture/lab courses that will be counted as one course for an F-1 Students enrollment:

• MIS 631

• MIS 632

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• MIS 633

• MIS 634

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• MAT 570

• MAT 573

Below is an example of an acceptable course schedule for a student enrolled in one of these joined courses:

***If the above courses are split between in person and online, the course will count as a hybrid enrollment. For example, if the enrolled MIS631 is in person, and MIS 632 is online, both courses will count as hybrid enrollment.

F-1 Students are eligible to graduate in the summer term if they:

• Are enrolled in the required courses to complete their program in the Summer I or Summer II Terms

• Are maintaining their on campus requirements as listed above on this page. If you have one course remaining, it must be on campus. If you have two courses remaining, one is permitted to be online and the other must be on campus. If you have three courses remaining, two must be on campus and one may be online. 
  
  

Students who are not graduating in the summer term do not need to follow the enrollment requirements for summer enrollment.