Experience with language minors

I’m currently considering GWU my first choice and plan on majoring in biomedical engineering. I also want to minor in French so I’m wondering if anyone has information on how doable it would be to balance these. Thanks!

Disclaimer: I’ve done neither of those programs.

However, with a little bit of research, I’ve found the following applicable sites:

https://rgsll.columbian.gwu.edu/french-minor
https://www.bme.seas.gwu.edu/programs-degrees
http://www.bme.seas.gwu.edu/sites/www.bme.seas.gwu.edu/files/downloads/2016-2017BMECurriculum.xls
https://www.seas.gwu.edu/sites/www.seas.gwu.edu/files/downloads/HSS%20Form%20Fall%202015%20Admits%201_0.pdf

Basically, as a BME major, you’ll have to take 3 humanities and 3 social science electives to fulfill your degree. All French classes would qualify as a humanity. The engineering school (at least per the 2015 form I linked) mandates a specific humanity course that you must take, with the other two being up to you. That means that just by fulfilling the requirements for a BME degree you’ll take 2 out of 7 courses to have a French minor.

Sooo… you’ll have to take an additional 5 electives on top of your already-rigorous curriculum. Each of these classes will put you over your limit of 17 credits per semester, mandated by the University. You’ll have to pay for each credit over 17 that you take, so anywhere from $1,520-3,040 per semester (an additional $7,600 in the end). I saw a few references stating the engineering school can take up to 19 credits per semester without being charged, but I believe that’s only if you’re fulfilling your requirements, no pursuing an extra degree (but I’d still look into that if I were you.)

Any other questions, just let me know.