Registration Requirements

Full-time enrollment is expected of all students throughout the academic year:

• Graduate students = 10 or more credits each quarter
• Undergraduate students = 12 or more credits each quarter

Immigration allows students to be authorized for a reduced course load under specifically defined circumstances:

• Initial difficulty with the English language
• Initial difficulty with reading requirements
• Unfamiliarity with American teaching methods
• Improper course level placement
• Illness or medical condition

Students are not permitted to drop below full-time without first meeting with an adviser in the Office of International Students and Scholars.

Students are required to submit documentation which supports their need to drop below full-time. In most instances, a letter from a department adviser or course professor will satisfy this requirement. Students are allowed to drop below full-time for an academic reason only once per degree level.

Students wishing to drop for a medical reason are required to submit a letter from a "licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist." A reduced course load due to a medical reason may be authorized multiple times so long as the aggregate period does not exceed 12 months.

Other exceptions:

Graduate students: Students who have completed all course work and are only required to register for thesis/dissertation credits may register for 2 credits at the 700/800 level and be considered full-time.  However, students receiving assistantships may be required to register for 10 credits.

Final quarter: Students are required to register only for the courses needed to graduate. During the final quarter, students are considered full-time even if registered for less than 10/12 credits. Students should email their assigned ISS adviser to request part-time status their final quarter.

Annual vacation quarter: Students may take a vacation quarter and remain in the U.S. if they have completed three consecutive full-time quarters, and are eligible and intend to register for the quarter following the vacation. A student who arrives in the U.S. for the first time and begins study winter or spring quarter may take the summer as a vacation quarter. Students should email their assigned ISS adviser if they will take a quarter other than summer as vacation.

Graduate students taking a vacation quarter must comply with the Graduate School's On-Leave Policies.

During the annual vacation quarter, students are permitted to remain in the U.S. In addition, they may work full or part-time on-campus.

Students are free to leave the U.S. at any time. Students planning to leave the U.S. for a quarter or longer should consult with an ISS adviser prior to departure.

Full-time enrollment is expected of all students throughout the academic year:

• Graduate students = 10 or more credits each quarter
• Undergraduate students = 12 or more credits each quarter

Students may be authorized to take fewer credits under the following conditions:

• Valid academic reason
• Documented medical condition

Students must receive authorization from an ISS adviser before dropping below full-time.

Other exceptions:

Graduate students: Students who have completed all course work and are only required to register for thesis/dissertation credits may register for 2 credits at the 700/800 level and be considered full-time. However, students receiving assistantships may be required to register for 10 credits.

Final quarter: Students are required to register for only the courses needed to graduate. During the final quarter, students are considered full-time even if registered for less than 10/12 credits. Students should email their assigned ISS adviser to request part-time status their final quarter.

Annual vacation quarter: Students may take a vacation quarter and remain in the U.S. if they have completed three consecutive full-time quarters, and are eligible and intend to register for the quarter following the vacation. A student who arrives in the U.S. for the first time and begins study winter or spring quarter may take the summer as a vacation quarter. Students should email their assigned ISS adviser if they will take a quarter other than summer as vacation.

Graduate students taking a vacation quarter must comply with the Graduate School's On-Leave Policies.

During the annual vacation quarter, students are permitted to remain in the U.S. In addition, they may work full or part-time on-campus.

Students are free to leave the U.S. at any time. Students planning to leave the U.S. for a quarter or longer should consult with an ISS adviser prior to departure.