F-1 Online Coursework

According to federal regulations, an online course is a class taken online or through distance learning which “does not require the student’s physical attendance for classes, examination, or other purposes integral to completion of the class.” (Source: U.S. Code of Federal Regulation: [8 CFR § 214.2 (f)(6)(i)(G)])

“An online or distance education course is a course that is offered principally through the use of television, audio, or computer transmission including open broadcast, closed circuit, cable, microwave, satellite, audio conferencing, or computer conferencing.” [ (Source: U.S. Code of Federal Regulation: 8 CFR § 214.2 (f)(6)(i)(G)])

“For F-1 students enrolled in classes for credit or classroom hours, no more than the equivalent of one class or three credits per session, term, semester, trimester, or quarter may be counted toward the full course of study requirement if the class is taken online or through distance education and does not require the student’s physical attendance for classes, examination or other purposes integral to completion of the class.” (Source: U.S. Code of Federal Regulation: [8 CFR § 214.2 (f)(6)(i)(G)])

Important: This regulation pertains only to F-1 students physically present in the United States.

For F-1 students studying at Champlain College, a full-time course load is required only during the Fall and Spring semesters. During the Fall and Spring semesters, an F-1 student is limited to only one online or distance education course that can be counted towards a full-time course load, whether it is a Champlain course or a course offered by another school.

There is no requirement that students be enrolled during the Summer session, which is optional. Thus, F-1 students at Champlain can take as many online or distance education courses from Champlain or from another institution as they wish during the Summer session.

Example 1:

An undergraduate international student is taking 16 credits in the fall semester, 9 of which are in traditional, on-campus classes and 6 of which are online. Since fall is a required term for Champlain College, only one online course (3 credits) counts toward the full-time course load. This student is maintaining their F-1 student status because they have 12 credits (9 traditional plus 3 on-line credits).

Example 2:

An undergraduate international student in their senior year wants to take three online courses during the Summer session. They want to stay at Champlain during the Summer session. Since summer session is optional for Champlain and they can take up to 9 credits during Summer session, this student may take all three courses online in the Summer session. They are maintaining their F-1 student status.

In certain circumstances, international students are allowed to take more than one online course. However, they MUST first have approval from their P/DSO.

No United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policy strictly prohibits students in their last semester of study from taking ONLY a distance education course. If students only need to take a distance education course, they must take another traditional course that requires regular classroom meetings.