Enrolling Properly as an F-1 Student
As per F-1 Student Regulations, students must enroll properly each fall and spring semester.
F-1 Student Type | Credit Requirement |
---|---|
Undergraduate Students | 12 Credits |
Graduate Students | 9 Credits |
Certificate Students | 6 Credits |
Of the requirements listed above, only one course, worth up to three credits, may be a web campus or hybrid style course. All other courses within the requirements must be on campus.
Any courses taken above these requirements may be on campus or web campus/hybrid.
*Please note that 'hybrid' style courses and CPT Practicum courses are considered online enrollment.
First-semester graduate students can find information about the English Language Proficiency policy on the ELC Webpage, as well as guidance regarding the English Language Communication courses.
Swapping Courses before or during the Add/Drop Period
Students taking the minimum number of credits required who wish to swap one of their courses for another should add their new course to their enrollment prior to dropping the course they do not wish to take.
This will allow you to make changes to your schedule without violating your immigration status.
This does not apply to students who are taking 12 (for Graduate students) or 15 (Undergraduate students) credits or more.
F-1 Student Enrollment Examples
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
Course Number | Credit Amount | Location |
---|---|---|
Course One | 3 credits | On Campus |
Course Two | 3 Credits | On Campus |
Course Three | 3 Credits | On Campus |
Course Four | 3 Credits | On Campus |
Course Number | Credit Amount | Location |
---|---|---|
Course One | 3 credits | On Campus |
Course Two | 3 Credits | On Campus |
Course Three | 3 Credits | On Campus |
Course Four | 3 Credits | Web Campus/Hybrid |
Example Two: Fifteen Credit Enrollments
Course Number | Credit Amount | Location |
---|---|---|
Course One | 3 credits | On Campus |
Course Two | 3 Credits | On Campus |
Course Three | 3 Credits | On Campus |
Course Four | 3 Credits | On Campus |
Course Five | 3 Credits | Web Campus/Hybrid |
Course Number | Credit Amount | Location |
---|---|---|
Course One | 3 credits | On Campus |
Course Two | 3 Credits | On Campus |
Course Three | 3 Credits | On Campus |
Course Four | 3 Credits | Web Campus/Hybrid |
Course Five | 3 Credits | Web Campus/Hybrid |
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
Course Number | Credit Amount | Location |
---|---|---|
Course One | 3 credits | On Campus |
Course Two | 3 Credits | On Campus |
Course Three | 3 Credits | On Campus |
Course Number | Credit Amount | Location |
---|---|---|
Course One | 3 credits | On Campus |
Course Two | 3 Credits | On Campus |
Course Four | 3 Credits | Web Campus/Hybrid |
Example Two: Ten Credit Enrollments
Course Number | Credit Amount | Location |
---|---|---|
Course One | 3 credits | On Campus |
Course Two | 3 Credits | On Campus |
Course Three | 3 Credits | On Campus |
Course Four | 1 Credit | Web Campus/Hybrid |
Course Number | Credit Amount | Location |
---|---|---|
Course One | 3 credits | On Campus |
Course Two | 3 Credits | On Campus |
Course Three | 3 Credits | Web Campus/Hybrid |
Course Four | 1 Credit | Web Campus/Hybrid |
Example Three: Eleven Credit Enrollments
Course Number | Credit Amount | Location |
---|---|---|
Course One | 3 credits | On Campus |
Course Two | 3 Credits | On Campus |
Course Three | 3 Credits | On Campus |
Course Four | 2 Credits | Web Campus/Hybrid |
Course Number | Credit Amount | Location |
---|---|---|
Course One | 3 credits | On Campus |
Course Two | 3 Credits | On Campus |
Course Three | 3 Credits | Web Campus/Hybrid |
Course Four | 2 Credits | Web Campus/Hybrid |
Example Four: Twelve Credit Enrollments
Course Number | Credit Amount | Location |
---|---|---|
Course One | 3 credits | On Campus |
Course Two | 3 Credits | On Campus |
Course Three | 3 Credits | On Campus |
Course Four | 3 Credits | Web Campus/Hybrid |
Course Number | Credit Amount | Location |
---|---|---|
Course One | 3 credits | On Campus |
Course Two | 3 Credits | On Campus |
Course Three | 3 Credits | Web Campus/Hybrid |
Course Four | 3 Credits | Web Campus/Hybrid |
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
Course Number | Credit Amount | Location |
---|---|---|
Course One | 3 credits | On Campus |
Course Two | 3 Credits | On Campus |
Course Number | Credit Amount | Location |
---|---|---|
Course One | 3 credits | On Campus |
Course Four | 3 Credits | Web Campus/Hybrid |
Example Two: Seven Credit Enrollments
Course Number | Credit Amount | Location |
---|---|---|
Course One | 3 credits | On Campus |
Course Two | 3 Credits | On Campus |
Course Four | 1 Credit | Web Campus/Hybrid |
Course Number | Credit Amount | Location |
---|---|---|
Course One | 3 credits | On Campus |
Course Three | 3 Credits | Web Campus/Hybrid |
Course Four | 1 Credit | Web Campus/Hybrid |
Example Three: Nine Credit Enrollments
Course Number | Credit Amount | Location |
---|---|---|
Course One | 3 credits | On Campus |
Course Two | 3 Credits | On Campus |
Course Four | 3 Credits | Web Campus/Hybrid |
Course Number | Credit Amount | Location |
---|---|---|
Course One | 3 credits | On Campus |
Course Three | 3 Credits | Web Campus/Hybrid |
Course Four | 3 Credits | Web Campus/Hybrid |
Special Considerations
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 Form is approved by ISSS:
Graduate Student with 6 Credits Remaining:
Course | Credits | Location |
---|---|---|
Course One | 3 Credits | In Person |
Course Two | 3 Credits | Web Campus/Hybrid |
Graduate Student with 4 Credits Remaining:
Course | Credits | Location |
---|---|---|
Course One | 3 Credits | In Person |
Course Two | 1 Credit | Web Campus/Hybrid |
Graduate Student with 3 Credits Remaining:
Course | Credits | Location |
---|---|---|
Course One | 2 Credits | In Person |
Course Two | 1 Credit | Web Campus/Hybrid |
Graduate Student with 2 Credits Remaining:
Course | Credits | Location |
---|---|---|
Course One | 1 Credit | In Person |
Course Two | 1 Credit | Web Campus/Hybrid |
Graduate Student with 1 Credit Remaining:
Course | Credits | Location |
---|---|---|
Course One | 1 Credit | In Person |
*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
---------------
MIS 633
MIS 634
--------------
MAT 570
MAT 573
Below is an example of an acceptable course schedule for a student enrolled in one of these joined courses:
Course | Course Credits | Location |
---|---|---|
Course One | 3 Credits | In Person |
Course Two | 3 Credits | In Person |
MIS 631 / MIS 632 | 2 Credits | Web Campus/Hybrid |
MIS 632 / MAT 573 | 1 Credit | Web Campus/Hybrid |
***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.