Online Courses for Summer Sessions
Please note that online course enrollment is restricted to F-1 and J-1 students for fall and spring semesters only.
If a student is eligible for the annual summer break, the student can take either in-person or online classes at any school. Likewise, international students don’t have to be enrolled full-time during the summer. The summer term is a vacation period, and therefore it is optional for most continuing students. This applies to current students only at Gallaudet University.- The student MUST have been enrolled full time the previous (spring) semester and be returning (continuing) the next (fall) semester.
F-1 students can count three online credits toward their full-time enrollment requirements during fall and spring semesters.
For example:
- Graduate students must enroll in nine credits, six of which must be in traditional, on-campus courses.
- Undergraduate students must enroll in 12 credits, and nine of these must be in traditional on-campus courses.
F-1 students can take more than three online credits as long as they meet the minimum traditional on-campus course requirement for their academic program.
J-1 students must take traditional on-campus courses. No online courses may count toward a J-1 student’s full-time enrollment requirement. If a J-1 student has a required online course for their academic program, that student still must enroll in on-campus courses to meet the full-time enrollment requirement.
Can international students take online classes in the summer?
Answer: Yes and No
Depending on the type of online course chosen, international students holding an F-1 visa can take online courses in specific academic programs or online summer courses when studying in the U.S. It is important to keep in mind that the program a student enrolls in must not be fully online.
F-1 students can take online courses at their discretion. The only thing that could prevent this is if their sponsor does not pay for it. In this scenario, the student would have to pay for it themselves.
F-1 and J-1 students can enroll in online courses during summer IF:
- The student has been enrolled full time, at least for the preceding spring semester.
- The student will be enrolled in courses full time the following fall semester.
F-1 students cannot take fully online master’s courses in the summer. Students can’t get an F1 visa for an online degree and cannot enroll in a program that requires summer attendance.
- The student MUST NOT be enrolled in a program that requires summer attendance (example MASLED, AuD). In this case, normal online regulations apply.
- A student MUST NOT be enrolled in a single online course if it is the final course needed to complete their program. In this instance, the student must exit the U.S. and complete the course in their home country [or elsewhere].
Can international students work on a Master’s degree online?
U.S. immigration officials have issued new guidance that says new international students — as opposed to current international students — cannot come to the U.S. to take an entirely online course of study.
Can international students take summer classes?
Since Gallaudet’s class offerings are generally limited to winter and summer sessions, international students may have the option of taking summer classes for credit at another institution.
Caution: There are some sponsors who do not permit their students to take online courses. International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) has information on which sponsors do not permit online courses for their students. If affected students wish to take summer courses online, they must obtain and present written approval from their sponsor to ISSS, or pay for the course(s) themselves.
Advising international students is a very complex matter. Whenever a student has a question that touches on their visa/immigration status, and what they can or cannot do while in the U.S., please refer it right away to ISSS, where they can get advice from trained staff.