Undergraduate Students 


Student enrollment status is defined as either full-time or part-time. 


Full-time status for undergraduate student enrollment is a minimum of 12 semester hours in a semester. The full-time course load is 12 through 17 semester hours. A course load average of 15 earned semester hours is needed to complete the program within 4 years. 


Part-time status is any number of credits fewer than 12 semester hours. 


Requests for a course overload greater than 17 semester hours must be submitted to Records and Registration. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher to request an overload.


A degree seeking student must complete their program of study within 8 years from the dare first enrolled in that program or the student may be required to change to the current catalog's program requirements. A student cannot pursue more than one degree at a time. 


An F-1 undergraduate student must remain enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester. A minimum of 9 credit hours must be in-person format classes. Falling below 12 credit hours or failing to meet the in-person class requirements is a violation of F-1 status and will result in SEVIS record termination. 


Part-time status is sometimes defines further using one of the following terms

  • Three quarter time: fewer than 12 semester hours but greater than or equal to 9 semester hours.
  • Half-time: fewer than 9 semester hours but greater than or equal to 6 semester hours. 
  • Less-than-half-time: fewer than 6 semester hours but greater than none. 



Graduate Students


Graduate students are expected to maintain consecutive enrollment, which is defined for certification purposes as either part-time or full-time. 


Full-time status for graduate students is 6 or more semester hours in a semester.


Part-time status for graduate students is fewer than 6 semester hours in a semester. 


Graduate students are limited to 6 semester hours for the first semester of enrollment. Graduate students cannot pursue more than one degree at a time. 


Consecutive enrollment is expected throughout the program; however, the one-semester break is permitted. F-1 graduate students must meet their status eligibility requirements to take a break. Program lead approval is required if a student requests a second break due to extreme circumstances. Under normal circumstances, if more than one consecutive break is requested, the student would need to withdraw from the program and reapply when ready to return. A student who does not return following a semester break will be unofficially withdrawn and must reapply. 


A non-degree student must decide to remain a non-degree student or a degree-seeking student after completing 12 semester hours of coursework.


An F-1 graduate student must remain enrolled for a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester. A minimum of 3 credit hours must be Executive Format classes. Falling below 6 credit hours or failing to meet the Executive Format requirements is a violation of F-1 status and will result in SEVIS termination.