Full-time Enrollment Requirement
F-1 students are required to be enrolled full-time every fall and spring semester. Summer semester enrollment is optional, unless it is a student’s first semester at LSU. "Full-time" means 12 credit hours per semester for undergraduates and 9 credit hours per semester for graduate students. Immigration rules do not specify that all the classes an F-1 student is enrolled in must be related to the student’s major, however F-1 students must continue to make normal progress toward their degree completion each semester.
Limit on Web-based Courses
No more than the equivalent of one class or 3 credit hours per semester may be counted towards full-time enrollment if taken on-line or through distance education. A distance education course is defined as a course that does not require the student’s physical attendance for classes, examination or other purposes integral to completion of the class. At LSU, this means that students cannot count more than one class (or 3 credit hours) of 100% web-based courses toward the full-time enrollment.
If a student only needs one course in their last semester to graduate, that class cannot be online. Students must enroll in a physical presence (non-distance education) courses(s).
Exceptions to Full-time Enrollment
The exception to the full-time enrollment requirement is a case of a student in their final semester of enrollment at LSU who needs less than full course load to complete their degree requirement. In such a case the student must officially file for graduation prior to enrolling part-time. International Student Services cannot authorize part-time enrollment unless the student’s graduation date is posted in the LSU system.
If you are considering part-time enrollment for any other reason, please contact International Student Services. F-1 students may not drop below a full course of study without prior advising from International Student Services.