<p>What about the half-credit courses? Would taking 4.5 classes still count as taking too many the first semester? It was recommended to me that I take a certian half-credit course, because it would help with one of the other courses I was going to be taking.</p>
<p>I don't think they do the half-credit thing but I could be mistaken</p>
<p>It depends on the half credit course. There are half credit courses like Javanese or Ghanian drumming which wouldn't be a huge time commitment. I would be less concerned about taking 4.5 classes.</p>
<p>the opposite situation: are double-credit foreign languages courses really intensive? And are they mostly composed of students planning on studying abroad in that country in the near future?</p>
<p>They are very intensive, but I don't know about the second part. I'd assume yes because those people are obviously in a rush to learn the language.</p>
<p>As a caution about the half credit courses...
In order to get credit you have to commit for two semesters (there technically isn't any such thing as a free standing half credit on your external transcript).</p>
<p>In other words if you take certain dance classes or ghanian drumming for only one semester--even though it says half credit--you will not get any credit for it unless you take it for two semesters so that it adds up to a full credit</p>