South Asian Studies Minor

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, Myanmar, and Tibet. The minor consists of a program of study combining language training, off-campus study, required core courses in various disciplines; supporting courses, including a designated capstone course. The purpose of the minor 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 South Asian Studies Minor

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)

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

Usually, 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:
    • Literary/Artistic Analysis 
    • Humanistic Inquiry
      • HIST 161 History of Modern South Asia from the Mughals to Modi
      • HIST 270 Nuclear Nations: India and Pakistan as Rival Siblings (not offered in 2020-21)
      • RELG 150 Religions of India (not offered in 2020-21)
      • RELG 153 Introduction to Buddhism (not offered in 2020-21)
      • RELG 155 Hinduism: An Introduction
    • Social Inquiry
      • SOAN 257 Culture and Politics in India
  • Supporting Courses: 24 credits from among the following; courses must be from at least two distribution areas:
    • Literary and Artistic Analysis
    • Humanities
      • ASST 130 Globalizaton & Local Responses in India Program: Tourism and Development in India
      • ASST 319 Buddhist Studies India Program: History of South Asian Buddhism
      • ASST 391 Buddhist Studies India Program: Independent Study Project
      • HIST 259 Women in South Asia: Histories, Narratives, and Representations (not offered in 2020-21)
      • HIST 268 Globalization & Local Responses in India Program: History, Globalization, and Politics in Modern India
      • HIST 270 Nuclear Nations: India and Pakistan as Rival Siblings (not offered in 2020-21)
      • PHIL 318 Buddhist Studies India Program: Buddhist Philosophy
      • RELG 122 Introduction to Islam (not offered in 2020-21)
      • RELG 153 Introduction to Buddhism (not offered in 2020-21)
      • RELG 155 Hinduism: An Introduction
      • RELG 222 Politics, Medicine, and the Self in Asian Religion (not offered in 2020-21)
      • RELG 237 Yoga: Religion, History, Practice (not offered in 2020-21)
      • RELG 238 The Sacred Body (not offered in 2020-21)
      • RELG 245 Buddha (not offered in 2020-21)
      • RELG 247 The Islamic Republic: Explorations in Religion and Nationalism (not offered in 2020-21)
      • RELG 263 Sufism (not offered in 2020-21)
      • RELG 265 Religion and Violence: Hindus, Muslims, Jews (not offered in 2020-21)
      • RELG 280 The Politics of Sex in Asian Religion
      • RELG 289 Global Religions in Minnesota
      • RELG 353 Saints, Goddesses, and Whores (not offered in 2020-21)
      • RELG 359 Buddhist Studies India Program: Buddhist Meditation Traditions
      • RELG 362 Spirit Possession (not offered in 2020-21)
      • RELG 365 Mysticism
    • Social Inquiry
      • ECON 240 Microeconomics of Development
      • ECON 241 Growth and Development (not offered in 2020-21)
      • POSC 120 Democracy and Dictatorship
      • POSC 237 Southeast Asian Politics (not offered in 2020-21)
      • POSC 241 Ethnic Conflict (not offered in 2020-21)
      • POSC 378 Political Economy & Ecology of Southeast Asia: Social Changes in Southeast Asia (not offered in 2020-21)
      • POSC 379 Political Economy and Ecology of S.E. Asia: Diversity of Social Ecological Systems in Southeast Asia (not offered in 2020-21)
      • SOAN 322 Buddhist Studies India Program: Contemporary Buddhist Culture
  • Capstone Course:
    • ENGL 251 Contemporary Indian Fiction
    • HIST 259 Women in South Asia: Histories, Narratives, and Representations (not offered in 2020-21)

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