South Asia Studies Minor

“South Asia” describes the region that includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.  Rich in history and culture, South Asia is increasingly important on the global scene. Over one fifth of the world’s population lives in South Asia, an area which is home to major world religions, including Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Christianity. South Asia also hosts the largest democracy in the world, made up of a 1.2 billion person constituency. Over two thousand languages from five different language families are spoken here.

Whether you are interested in language and the arts, medicine, religion and society, business and development, or politics and history, knowledge about South Asia is crucial to becoming a global citizen of today’s world.  The associated faculty is pleased to offer a variety of courses that will allow you to choose classes which fit your future goals best.

The program requirements for the Minor in South Asia Studies are predicated on NELC 2220 (Introduction to South Asian Studies), which delivers the basic knowledge necessary to engage in deeper study.  To complete the minor, you’ll complete this course along with the electives you choose. Although students can build their minor by taking the required course and any other electives, several recommended sample curricula are available that will give students examples of what their South Asia Minor could look like depending on their majors or interests.