Reduced Course Load Exemption

Graduating students who need fewer courses than a full course of study to satisfy all graduation requirements with at least one of your remaining courses is required for your degree. The reduced course load must consist of at least 6 credits for undergraduate students or 4.5 credits for graduate students. Students must receive a degree audit and authorization from your academic advisor determining you will be satisfying all degree requirements in your final semester and have not previously been authorized for a full course of study exemption to complete your program in your final semester. If the student is not required to take any additional courses to satisfy the requirements for completion, but continues to be enrolled for administrative purposes, the student is considered to have completed the course of study and must take action to maintain status. Such action may include an application for change of status or departure from the U.S.

A student in their first semester who is experiencing; initial difficulties with the English language, initial difficulties with reading requirements, unfamiliarity with American teaching methods, or improper course level placement may be eligible for a full course of study exemption.  The reduced course load must consist of at least 6 credits for undergraduate students or 4.5 credits for graduate students.

The Designated School Official, located in International Services may authorize a reduced course load (or, if necessary, no course load) due to a student’s temporary illness or medical condition while the student is maintaining valid F-1 status at a particular program level. The student must provide medical documentation to substantiate the illness for a temporary leave from a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or clinical psychologist. A medical leave must be submitted by the individual student each academic semester and authorized by International Services in addition to Academic Services in order to continue to maintain valid F-1 status.

A student who has been previously authorized to drop below a full course of study due to illness or medical condition for an aggregate of 12 months, will not be eligible to be authorized for an additional exemption. Students wishing to request a temporary leave as a result of an illness or medical condition must complete all requirements for a medical leave of absence through Academic Services.