Part-Time Enrollment and
On-Campus Employment

Any international student working on campus must be enrolled in at least the minimum number of units below in order to be on USC payroll under U.S. Labor Laws. Please note that this is a separate issue from requesting a Reduced Course Load (RCL) and on-campus employment does not authorize students to go below full-time without RCL permission from OIS:

• 6 units for undergraduates
• 4 units for master’s degree students
• 3 units for doctoral level students

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The only exceptions are:

• Students in their final semester. Students in their final semester will be permitted to work on campus if they are enrolled for less than the units mentioned above. All students in their final semesters will be required to submit a Reduced Course Load form.
• Graduate students who register for thesis, dissertation or qualifying exams (GRSC 800) are considered to be enrolled full time although the number of units enrolled will be below the normal full-time course load. An RCL form is not required for students at these final stages in their academic program and they are permitted to work on campus.

Off-Campus Employment which may Qualify as On-Campus Employment

Immigration regulations allow international students to work at an off-campus location provided the following:

• The employer is educationally affliated with Atlantis University
• The educational affliation is associated with Atlantis University’s established curriculum or is related to a graduate level research project which Atlantis University has contracted to perform, AND
• The employment at this off-campus location is an integral part of the student’s academic program

  OIS requires a letter from the student’s academic advisor confirming that the employment meets ALL of the qualifications above.

  For clarification on whether an employment at off-campus location qualifies as on-campus employment, please make an appointment to meet with an OIS counselor.

A Note of Caution

While the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) regulations provide a variety of opportunities for F-1 international students to be employed during their time in F-1 student status, working without proper authorization is a serious violation of the F-1 student status. Please consult with an OIS advisor with any concerns.