Frequently Asked Questions: Online Student For International Students (F-1 Status)
What counts as “full-time” study for international students?
If you are an undergraduate student, you must enroll in a minimum of 12 credits each required term. If you are a graduate student, you must enroll in a minimum of 8 credits or thesis each required term. You may request an Authorized Reduced Course Load in limited circumstances for academic or medical reasons, or in your final semester of study.
What if I am in my final semester of study?
If it is your final semester of study and you need less than full-time enrollment to complete your final degree requirements, you can request an Authorized Reduced Course Load via Terra Dotta. If your reduced course load is authorized, you are only required to enroll in the classes necessary to complete your degree. However, you cannot enroll in online-only study.
What options are available for me to enroll in person during summer term?
Many summer classes at Emerson are offered online. To meet your in-person study requirement you may enroll in:
- One or more classes taught in person on campus, including the 1-credit Career Launch Course
- A thesis course or one or more directed study courses where instruction or faculty direction occurs in person,
- An internship course where either the instruction occurs in person and/or the internship activity occurs in person. Note that Boston-campus internship courses do not meet in person so the internship must be substantially in person – either fully on site or a minimum of 50% in person.
When can I take more than one online course?
During semesters of required study (including summer, when it is your final semester), you may enroll in more than one online class if the additional online classes earn you credits beyond the minimum credit count for your full-time enrollment requirement.
For example: As an undergraduate student, you could take two classes (8 credits) of in-person study, and one class (4 credits) of online study to meet your 12-credit minimum, and could then take an additional online class beyond the minimum.
As a graduate student, you could take one class (4 credits) of in-person study and one class (4 credits) of online study to meet your 8-credit minimum, and could then take an additional online class beyond the minimum.
Can I study 100 percent online if summer is a “vacation” semester?
If you are eligible to and intend to continue your program of study at Emerson in the fall semester, you can count summer as your annual “vacation” semester. In this case, you are not required to register for summer classes, but you may choose to enroll in classes if you wish. Since summer registration is optional, you can enroll in online-only study. (Note: Eligibility for continued study includes academic good standing and maintenance of lawful immigration status.)
What counts as a summer semester if Emerson has two summer terms?
Although Emerson has two summer “terms,” both terms together are one semester. Students can register for classes in either Summer I or Summer II, or a course that spans both terms.
Can I study 100 percent online if I am out of the U.S.?
The limits to online study apply to students who wish to maintain legal F-1 immigration status in the U.S., including those who plan to remain in the U.S., apply for post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT), or transfer your SEVIS record to move to another degree of study. If you wish to finish your last degree requirements from abroad, and do not intend to return to the U.S., you can opt to enroll in online-only classes, but will not then be eligible to apply for F-1 benefits such as OPT. If you will finish your degree abroad, please contact OISA at oisa [at] emerson.edu (oisa[at]emerson[dot]edu) with a request to end your SEVIS record and your F-1 status.