All F1 and J1 students must study full time. For undergraduate students that is 12 credits per semester and for graduate students that is 9 credits per semester. Additionally, only one course (3 credits or less) of that full-time load can be online.
There are some limited exceptions to this full-time study requirement for medical and academic reasons. They are called Reduced Course Loads (RCL). Contact the International Student Services Office before you drop below full time to learn if you qualify for an RCL, or if you have questions about RCL authorization.
If you need to take a semester off studying, or can’t study full time, then you must work with an International Student Advisor within the Center for Global Engagement (CGE) before dropping courses or making a complete withdrawal request.