<p>I want to take a major and a minor plus gain as much fluency as possible in languages. There are only so many credits you can take per semester though, and requirements for graduation in other subjects. How many "required" credits are you taking per semester (classes to fulfill graduation requirements), major/minor credits, and how many slots are left open for electives? I want to take as many languages as possible but they will not be my major or minor - how many do you think I will be able to take at once, if I take the maximum credits every semester?</p>
<p>There are a few factors to consider. Some majors require more courses than others. Some majors/minors may overlap, which means one class might count toward both for fulfillment. Some colleges count courses as 3 or 4 credits each, and some cap at 16/18/21 credits per semester. Sometimes how many credits you can take per semester depends on your GPA and may require that you be approved to take above the typical course load. The average student takes 3-5 classes per semester depending on all of the above. You would need to look at the specific guidelines for your school to determine all of this, and talk to your academic advisors. </p>
<p>Your first year or so will be devoted to getting general education requirements out of the way so you may focus on your major/minor. Language is usually part of this, so you should be able to fit in one language course per semester. You could also take summer courses if you were really serious about it, but that would be extra costs. I had more room for electives as I progressed, so you could potentially fit 2 per semester in later years, but again, this depends on your major/minor requirements and how many courses you need to take, and when they’re offered.</p>
<p>If your major/minor is unrelated to language studies, I would say to focus on one, maybe two tops if you already have a background in one. You will not be fluent upon graduation. But you may choose to study abroad for a semester or year to help gain some functional fluency while still working toward your degree.</p>