To maintain active I-20 status, international graduate students must be enrolled in a full course of study of at least nine semester credit hours of classes each fall and winter semester in attendance. According to current immigration law, a maximum of three semester credit hours of online or distance learning classes can count toward the student's full course of study each fall and winter semester in attendance. Therefore, international graduate students must be enrolled in at least six semester credit hours of courses taught using traditional face-to-face or hybrid course delivery modes each fall and winter semester in attendance.
For each semester credit hour, a face-to-face (F2F) or hybrid course must include at least eight seat-time hours of F2F classroom instruction during the semester. Directed study and supplemental instructional activities such as tutoring or office-hour interactions do not count toward fulfillment of designated classroom instruction hours. During F2F classroom instruction, faculty must provide course content using direct instructional methods and related activities (e.g., peer-to-peer engagement, group projects, class discussions, case study analysis) that fulfill course goals, objectives and student learning outcomes.