“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.
South Asia Studies
[official College of Arts & Sciences requirements articulation also available as PDF]
A. Required Course (3 credit hours):
NELC 2220 [.01 or .02] Introduction to South Asian Studies (3) [cross-listed as Comp. Stds. 2220]
2. Elective Courses (12 credit hours)
- minimum 6 credit hours at the 3000-level.
- language coursework is strongly encouraged; up to 3 units of Hindi, Urdu, Persian or Tibetan coursework at the 2000-level or above may count toward the minor
Near Eastern and South Asian Languages & Cultures (NESA)
3620 Everyday Life in South Asia (3)
3625[.01/.02] Understanding Bollywood, Knowing India: Hindi Cinema Since 1960 (3)
5241 Interdisciplinary Approaches to South Asian Studies (3)
History
2390 Ancient India (3)
2392 Colonial India (3)
2393 Contemporary India (3)
3365 History of Afghanistan (3)
4390 Readings in South Asian History (3)
History of Art
5711 Art of India I (3)
5724 The Buddhist Art of Gandhåra and Kåßmªr (3)
Philosophy
2120 Asian Philosophies
Religious Studies
3671 Religions of India (3)
3673 The Buddhist Tradition (3)
Sanskrit
5902 Elementary Sanskrit (3)
5903 Intermediate Sanskrit (3)
5904 Vedic Sanskrit (1-3)
C. Special Topics Courses, substitutable electives by petitioned with relevant subjectmatter:
Comparative Studies
2105 Literature and Ethnicity (3)
2321 Introduction to Asian American Studies (3)
3661 The City and Culture (3)
4803 Studies in Asian American Literature and Culture (3) (cross-listed with English 4587)
5691 Special Topics in Comparative Studies (3)
English
4564.04 Major Authors: Salman Rushdie (3)
4581 Special Topics in U.S. Ethnic Literatures (3)
4583 Special Topics in World Literature: Imagining India (3)
4587 Studies in Asian American Literature and Culture (3) (cross-listed with Comp. Stds. 4803)
History of Art
2003 Asian Art (3)
Religious Studies
2102.01(H) Literature and Religion (3)
2370(H) Introduction to Comparative Religion (3)
Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies
2296(H) Topics in Women’s Studies (3)
Business & Tourism - History - Language, Literature, & the Arts
Medicine - Political Science & International Studies
Religious Studies - Security & Intelligence Studies
Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies
Business and Tourism
South Asia is one of the world’s economic giants; growth in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other countries implies expanding market share in nearly all industries. Endless opportunities exist for entrepreneurs and executives in a wide variety of fields, and rich chains of trade, import, and export bind South Asia with increasing strength to the global flow of goods. With the recession past, more and more culture-seeking tourists are flying to India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal than ever before, creating a burgeoning billion-dollar industry with great promise for the future.
Courses for Business & Tourism track:
Near Eastern and South Asian Languages & Cultures (NESA)
2220 Introduction to South Asia
3620 Everyday life in South Asia
Comparative Studies (COMPSTD)
3671 Religions of India
History (HIST)
2393 History of Contemporary India
2391 Muslim India
2392 Colonial India
Political Science (POLITSC)
4232 South Asian Politics
[Language series: Hindi 1101, Hindi 1102, Hindi 1103, Hindi 2104]
History
Historical and historiographical expertise is sought in often-neglected yet crucial parts of the world, and South Asia is no different. From the silk route to invasions, settlements, colonization, to freedom movements, cultural influences, and everything in between, South Asia has seen it all. Knowing the history of South Asia will inform you about what guides the present of this influential and vital region.
Courses for History track
Near Eastern and South Asian Languages & Cultures (NESA)
2220 Introduction to South Asia
3620 Everyday life in South Asia
Comparative Studies (COMPSTD)
2370 Introduction to Comparative Religion
3671 Religions of India
History (HIST)
2390 Ancient India
2391 Muslim India
2392 Colonial India
2393 Contemporary India
3365 History of Afghanistan
4390 Readings in South Asian History
4395 Research in South Asian History
[Language series: Hindi 1101, Hindi 1102, Hindi 1103, Hindi 2104]
Language, Literature, and the Arts
The linguistic diversity that South Asia presents is rarely paralleled world-wide, with languages from five different language families spoken in the region. Among these, Hindi and Urdu are mutually intelligible, though others remain opaque. Whether you want to study languages from a purely socio-cultural perspective or you desire competence in speaking and understanding a particular South Asian language, knowing Hindi will give you an edge as you pursue your intellectual goals in South Asia.
The study of the arts in South Asia, whether from a historical or a contemporary perspective, is a fascinating doorway into the continuously changing and developing linguistic heritage that reveals interlocking circles of centuries of linguistic, political, and religious activity.
Courses for Language, Literature, and the Arts track
Near Eastern and South Asian Languages & Cultures (NESA)
2220 Introduction to South Asia
3620 Everyday life in South Asia
English (ENGLISH)
4564.04 Major Authors: Salman Rushdie
4581 Special Topics in U.S. Ethnic Literatures
4583 Special Topics in World Literature: Imagining India
4587 Studies in Asian American Literatures and Cultures
History of Art (HISTART)
2003 Asian Art
5725 The Buddhist Art of Gandhara and Kashmir
5701 Buddhist Art: Theory and History
5711 Art of India I (Ancient- Gupta)
5712 Art of India II (Gupta-Colonial)
5702 Hindu Iconography
Linguistics (LING)
5906 Topics in Indo-Iranian Linguistics
Sanskrit (SANSKRT)
5902 Elementary Sanskrit
5903 Intermediate Sanskrit
5904 Vedic Sanskrit
[Language series: Hindi 1101, Hindi 1102, Hindi 1103, Hindi 2104]
Medicine
With more than 30% of the population still below the poverty line, disease control and prevention are of paramount concern to South Asians and their governments. Medicine also interacts with cultural boundaries in a reciprocal enriching relationship in South Asia. Whatever your medical goal, monitoring the pulse of South Asia’s medical apparatus will only enrich your resume as you seek enrollment in graduate or professional schools.
Moreover, South Asia is quickly becoming one of the world’s centers of medical tourism, and quality medical care is increasingly desired by an expanding middle class of approximately 350 million in India alone. Whether one seeks to work as a doctor or nurse in South Asia or here in the United States, a minor in South Asian Studies will connect you to a vibrant and growing global — and local — community whose medical needs continue to grow and change.
Courses for Medicine track:
Near Eastern and South Asian Languages & Cultures (NESA)
2220 Introduction to South Asia
3620 Everyday life in South Asia
Comparative Studies (COMPSTD)
3671 Religions of India
History (HIST)
2393 History of Contemporary India
2391 Muslim India
2392 Colonial India
Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSST)
2296H Topics in Women’s Studies
[Language series: Hindi 1101, Hindi 1102, Hindi 1103, Hindi 2104]
Political Science and International Studies
South Asia is home to India, whose spectacular elections and democracy are a unique example of national politics. As the world axis of power shifts, the South Asian region becomes more and more important; as the United States interacts more and more with the world’s rising powers, it and its public institutions will seek out the expertise of those who have studied South Asia academically. Whether you are interested in politics, diplomacy, peace studies, or political theory, a minor in South Asia will apprise you of the past while positioning you towards the future.
Courses for Political Science and International Studies
Near Eastern and South Asian Languages & Cultures (NESA)
2220 Introduction to South Asia
3620 Everyday life in South Asia
Comparative Studies (COMPSTD)
3671 Religions of India
History (HISTORY)
2393 History of Contemporary India
Political Science (POLITSC)
4232 South Asian Politics
[Language series: Hindi 1101, Hindi 1102, Hindi 1103, Hindi 2104]
Religious Studies
South Asia is home to every major religion of the world: sacrifices rise from Hindu temples across India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka; Islam’s call for prayer is heard with strength in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan; Christianity, scattered around the region, is most significantly represented in Southern India; Buddhist stupas still stand in India, Nepal, and Bhutan; and followers of Sikhism and Jainism declare their faith in enclaves all over South Asia. Some of the oldest religions of the world — and some of the newest — trace their origins to South Asia.
Courses for Religious Studies track
Near Eastern and South Asian Languages & Cultures (NESA)
2220 Introduction to South Asia
3620 Everyday life in South Asia
Comparative Studies (COMPSTD)
2370 Introduction to Comparative Religion
3671 Religions of India
3673 The Buddhist Tradition
Sanskrit (SANSKRT)
5902 Elementary Sanskrit
5903 Intermediate Sanskrit
5904 Vedic Sanskrit
[Language series: Hindi 1101, Hindi 1102, Hindi 1103, Hindi 2104]
Security and Intelligence Studies
The proliferation of global terror has not left South Asia alone; as the Middle East moves into a new, post-Spring phase of political unrest, increased radicalization in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and elsewhere has increasingly drawn the eyes of the international intelligence community. If security and intelligence are part of your interests, a minor in South Asia studies will not only open new avenue of research for you, but will also sensitize you to varied security concerns around the world.
Courses for Security and Intelligence Studies track
Near Eastern and South Asian Languages & Cultures (NESA)
2220 Introduction to South Asia
3620 Everyday life in South Asia
Comparative Studies (COMPSTD)
4661 The City and Culture
3671 Religions of India
Political Science (POLITSC)
4232 South Asian Politics
[Language series: Hindi 1101, Hindi 1102, Hindi 1103, Hindi 2104]
Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Being informed by thousands of years of cultural mingling of religions, languages, and sub-cultures, and political structures has given women and sexual minorities a unique freedom but has also subjected them to stifling control. Whether your interests in gender studies are purely academic or purely applied, South Asia displays unique characteristics in the fields of women, gender, and sexuality concerns. Knowledge of these features will exponentially broaden students’ educational horizons.
Courses for Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies track
Near Eastern and South Asian Languages & Cultures (NESA)
2220 Introduction to South Asia
3620 Everyday life in South Asia
English (ENGLISH)
4581 Special Topics in U.S. Ethnic Literatures
History (HISTORY)
2393 Contemporary India
Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSST)
2296H Topics in Women’s Studies
[Language series: Hindi 1101, Hindi 1102, Hindi 1103, Hindi 2104]
The following faculty offer expertise in an impressive array of different areas within South Asian Studies:
Shantha Balaswamy, Social Work (Critical thinking in Social Work, Social policy for older adults, Study abroad programs in India)
Hope Dawson, Linguistics (Classical Sanskrit, Vedic)
Pranav Jani, English (post-colonialism and literature)
Brian Joseph, Linguistics (Sanskrit, language in India)
Scott Levi, History (Central and South Asian history)
Ila Nagar, Near Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures (Hindi, ethnography, language and sexuality in India)
Mytheli Sreenivas, History / Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies (modern South Asian history)
Hugh Urban, Comparative Studies (religious traditions of South Asia)