No, not if you are applying for only one. If you apply for multiple cards, even if you get them ALL, that looks bad. (It might look like you are planning on running up a lot of those new cards and...
One credit hour is equivalent to one credit for institutions that operate on a two semester academic year. Thus, if you take a three credit course, it means three hours of class contact time per week...
You have to establish credit either via secure credit card or secure loan. Here is a excert from Phil Turner's Credit Bible:
This is how the secured credit card program works. Applicants will open...