Does anybody know what happens when you take too many first year courses (It says the limit is 48 credits) throughout your degree, even if you satisfy all requirements? Is there some kind of penalty?

I don't think there's a penalty, just that whichever first year courses you take above the 48 units limit won't count towards your degree.

my guess is that the worst that can happen is that you would have to forfeit the credits in excess of 48... I'm hoping thats not what happens but im on target for 49 atm lol (37 from first year + 6 from mandatory second year courses + 3 from taking orchestra as a freebie course + 3 from my future non-technical elective)...im guessing there must be some means to appeal this?

Originally Posted by ingénieur.xo

I don't think there's a penalty, just that whichever first year courses you take above the 48 units limit won't count towards your degree.

I'm pretty positive that's the case. You can take as many courses as you want but only 120 (generally, except for engineers) count towards your degree. Also, only 48 Level I credits will count towards your degree.

Therefore any Level I credits you take above the 48 credit limit is for your own personal interest, or perhaps for professional/graduate school because all the courses you've taken are listed in your transcript.