What is a culminating experience? 

A culminating experience is required for the completion of a master's or doctorate 学位课程. It is the final requirement to culminate your degree.  请 在这里 for more detailed information.

As an F-1 graduate student, you need to enroll in a minimum of 9 units each term to maintain your immigration status. However, you may qualify for a 全职例外, if you are not in your final semester of study while you are enrolled in your culminating 体验课程. A 全职例外 allows you to maintain your F-1 status as 全日制学生. 

You are permitted to complete your Masters Project/Thesis Proposal course, Comprehensive Exam, or Creative Work along with your other courses in the same semester. 学术/教师 advisor and/or department chair must authorize the culminating experience. 请 注意事项如下: 

• If you are enrolled in 9 units or more in the semester you are completing your Masters Project/Thesis Proposal course, Comprehensive Exam, or Creative Work, you are not required to submit the 国际空间站 终极体验 form. 
• If you are required to complete a two-part project (e.g. 项目一个 & 项目B。 less than full-time enrollment, then you may be authorized to do so by completing the required form each semester.
• If you have a final project, thesis, or comprehensive exam remaining for the completion of your degree in your final semester, you should complete the 减少课程负担 Request (RCL) eform.
• If you are completing a project extension( i.e.,1290R), you should complete the 减少课程负担 Request (RCL) eform and you cannot get authorization to engage in CPT.

How to File the 国际空间站 终极体验 Form

1) Consult with your academic advisor to determine whether you are qualified for a 全职例外. 
2)完成 终极体验 Confirmation - F-1 Students Only 电子表单

• For the fall semester, we start accepting these requests in iSpartan on July 15th. 
• For the spring semester, we start accepting these requests in iSpartan on November 15th. 

3) Once your department approves your request, our office will be notified. 我们将 review the form and inform you if your request has been approved. 

** 请 note that this form is required by 国际空间站 to ensure you are meeting the federal regulations to maintain your F-1 status. Your Academic Advisor will also need to ensure to complete the GAPE 终极体验 form.

Additional Exceptions to Full-Time Enrollment:

• 减少课程负担
• 并发招生