South Asian Studies Concentration

South Asia, which contains nearly a quarter of the world's people, refers to the countries comprising the South Asian subcontinent: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and sometimes Afghanistan and Tibet. The concentration consists of required core courses in various disciplines; supporting courses, including a designated capstone course; and normally, off-campus study in South Asia and some study of a South Asian language. The purpose of the concentration is to provide cross-cultural interdisciplinary understanding of a complex civilization that is both ancient and modern, and of great significance in the contemporary world.

Requirements for the Concentration:

A total of 42 credits, with at least 6 credits drawn from each of the three ASST distribution areas (Literary/Artistic Analysis; Humanistic Inquiry; Social Inquiry)

18 credits in core courses, drawn from at least two of the three ASST distribution areas

24 credits from supporting courses, drawn from at least two of the three ASST distribution areas, and including a designated South Asia-related capstone course

Courses taken on off-campus programs in South Asia may be applied to the concentration

Normally, at least one term of off-campus study in South Asia

Normally, the closest equivalent to one year of study of a South Asian language, obtained through one or more of the following: off-campus study; summer programs at colleges, universities, or institutes; independent study at Carleton; native proficiency

Core Courses: 18 credits from among the following; courses must be from at least two distribution areas

  • ENGL 250 Modern Indian Fiction (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • ENGL 251 Contemporary Indian Fiction (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • HIST 161 History of Modern India c. 1700-1947 (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • HIST 167 History of Modern South Asia 1947 Onwards (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • RELG 150 Religions of South Asia
  • SOAN 157 Cultures and Politics in India (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • SOAN 257 Cultures and Politics in India (Not offered in 2016-2017)

Supporting Courses: 24 credits from among the following: courses must be from at least two distribution areas.

  • ASST 260 Resistance Struggles and People's Movement in India (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • ECON 240 Microeconomics of Development
  • ECON 241 Growth and Development
  • ENGL 245 Bollywood Nation (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • ENGL 252 Caribbean Fiction (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • ENGL 335 England in India/India in England (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • HIST 162 Politics and Public Culture in Modern South Asia (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • HIST 259 Women in South Asia: Histories, Narratives and Representation
  • HIST 263 Plaques of Empire
  • HIST 266 History of Islam in South Asia (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • LCST 101 Elementary Hindi Language
  • MUSC 180 or 280 Raga: Vocal or Instrumental Study of Hindustani Music
  • MUSC 181 or 281 Sitar
  • MUSC 248 Music of India (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • POSC 237 Southeast Asian Politics
  • POSC 241 Ethnic Conflict (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • POSC 378 Political Economy and Ecology of Southeast Asia: Social Changes in Southeast Asia (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • POSC 379 Political Econ and Ecology of S.E. Asia: Diversity of Social Ecological Systems in Southeast Asia (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • RELG 122 An Introduction to Islam
  • RELG 233 Gender and Power in the Catholic Church
  • RELG 245 Buddha (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • RELG 250 Buddhism and Ecology (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • RELG 253 Tibetan Buddhism (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • RELG 255 Social Engagement in Asian Religions (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • RELG 256 Modern Hinduism: Encounters with the West (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • RELG 257 Shari'a (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • RELG 259 Gandhi (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • RELG 260 Tantra: Secrecy, Sex, and the Sublime (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • RELG 261 Hearing Islam (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • RELG 263 Sufism (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • RELG 265 Religion and Violence: Hindus, Muslims and Jews
  • RELG 266 Religion and the Senses (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • RELG 267 The Bhagavad Gita (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • RELG 280 The Politics of Sex in Asian Religion (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • RELG 281 Performing Tradition: Art, Religion and Globalization (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • RELG 289 Global Religions in Minnesota (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • RELG 350 Emptiness (Not offered in 2016-2017)
  • RELG 362 Spirit Possession

Capstone Course: For 2016-17, the designated capstone course is to be announced