<p>Neltharion - your major is unique. MOST phd programs do not require fluency or even working knowledge of a foreign language. Sadly, in this respect, this isn’t europe.</p>
<p>It’s doable: I’m taking Spanish Linguistics, French I, and Tagalog I this semester. (And an upper-level English grammar course). My only regret is that I discovered my love for languages too late to take more classes in French and maybe start another language.</p>
<p>Language courses (especially intro ones that use the Roman script) are typically LESS time-consuming than most other courses. Languages like Arabic or Chinese where you have to learn a new script are typically MORE time consuming than other courses–at my school, non Roman script (intro) classes are 6 credits, whereas Roman-scripted (intro) classes are 4 YMMV.</p>
<p>neltharion, aiming for a particular PhD program, even as a first year student, is an entirely different proposition from what the OP described. Also, while Akkadian and Sumerian may be difficult, there isn’t actually so much of them to learn – no one is going to try to teach you how to make inane chit-chat in Sumerian. And reading courses aimed at grad students or potential grad students are much more efficient at teaching you to read academic prose than Anything I.</p>