Enrollment requirements for international students
| Minimum credit hours required for each fall/spring semester | If you are not registered for that amount, you must | |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate student | 12 credit hours | Register for more credits* or submit a Reduced Course Load request (review eligibility requirements below) |
| Graduate student without an assistantship — have not finished formal coursework nor taken comprehensive exam | 9 credit hours | Register for more credits* or submit a Reduced Course Load request (review eligibility requirements below) |
| Graduate student with an assistantship — have not finished formal coursework nor taken comprehensive exam | 6 credit hours (department may require more — talk to your academic adviser about your requirements) | Register for more credits* or submit a Reduced Course Load request (review eligibility requirements below) |
| Graduate student who has completed all formal coursework (with or without an assistantship) | 1 or more research credit hours (MU may require more — talk to your academic adviser about your requirements) | Register for more credits* and submit a Reduced Course Load request (review eligibility requirements below) |
| Doctoral student who has passed the comprehensive exam (with or without an assistantship) | 2 research credit hours in the fall and spring; 1 research credit hour in the summer | Register for more credits* |
*Please check the MU academic calendar for the last day you can add a class.
Online courses
Only three online credits may be counted toward your full-time enrollment requirements. You are required to meet the minimum number of credit hours taken in the classroom shown below. Courses listed in myZou as 30-80 percent online are considered in-person if meeting dates and time are listed on the course information in myZou. If no meeting dates and times are listed, the course will be considered online and will be counted toward the maximum three credits of online coursework allowed for your full-time enrollment requirements.
| Total credits needed | Maximum online credits | Minimum classroom credits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 12 | 3 | 9 |
| Graduate (without assistantship) | 9 | 3 | 6 |
| Graduate (with assistantship) | 6 | 3 | 3 |
Exceptions to a full course of study
Individual departments or the Graduate School may require you to take more credits. Enrollment as an auditor or hearer or “in exam” credit does not count toward full-time enrollment. Incomplete courses continued in the following semester do not count toward full-time enrollment.
Reduced course load
U.S. immigration regulations allow you to enroll in a reduced course load in the following situations:
- Initial academic difficulties in your first or second semester (one semester only)
- Temporary illness or medical condition (one semester at a time, no longer than one year)
- Final semester, if fewer courses are required to complete your degree
- For graduate students, after completion of required coursework
To request a reduced course load, submit a Reduced Course Load request in myStatus before dropping below the minimum credit requirements.
Summer session enrollment
If summer is your first term at MU, you must be enrolled full time during that summer session.
- Undergraduate students: 6 credit hours
- Graduate students: 4.5 credit hours
If summer is your last term at MU, you must be enrolled in at least one credit hour that meets the following criteria:
- Credit must be offered on MU’s campus as face-to-face instruction
- You cannot be enrolled in only online credits
- Course enrollment must appear on the summer transcript
- If you are concurrently enrolled in another institution, at least one credit hour must be at MU
Continuing students are not required to enroll for summer courses unless it is your final semester at MU (you will complete your degree and graduate in August). Doctoral students who have passed comprehensive exams are required to take at least one credit during the summer. Refer to the Graduate School for more information.
Concurrent enrollment
You may take courses at another institution while attending MU. At least 50 percent of your courses must be taken at MU. The courses you take at another institution will count toward your full-time enrollment requirement at MU as long as you submit a Reduced Course Load request in myStatus with confirmation of enrollment at the other institution.
Process for dropping or withdrawing from a course
If you are dropping or withdrawing from a course during the semester, you must first receive permission from International Student and Scholar Services if the add/drop will cause you to fall below a full course load. You must follow these additional steps:
- Find out if you are eligible for a reduced course load by reviewing the enrollment guidelines above. If you need authorization to drop below full-time enrollment, submit a Reduced Course Load request in myStatus.
- If you are eligible to drop or withdraw from the course, your international student adviser will authorize your credit hours in myZou.
- You will receive an email from your international student adviser letting you know you are able to drop your course in myZou.