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 and 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:
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- Literary/Artistic Analysis
- Humanistic Inquiry
- HIST 161 From Mughals to Mahatma Gandhi: An Introduction to Modern Indian History
- HIST 264 A History of India Through Food
- HIST 270 Nuclear Nations: India and Pakistan as Rival Siblings (not offered in 2023-24)
- RELG 153 Introduction to Buddhism
- RELG 155 Hinduism: An Introduction (not offered in 2023-24)
- RELG 237 Yoga: Religion, History, Practice
- RELG 257 Asian Religions and Ecology (not offered in 2023-24)
- Social Inquiry
- Supporting Courses: 24 credits from among the following; courses must be from at least two distribution areas:
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- Literary and Artistic Analysis
- ASST 101 Buddhist Studies India Program: Elementary Hindi
- ASST 103 Buddhist Studies India Program; Intermediate Hindi
- DANC 265 Performing the Orient (not offered in 2023-24)
- ENGL 245 Bollywood Nation (not offered in 2023-24)
- ENGL 251 Contemporary Indian Fiction
- ENGL 252 Caribbean Fiction (not offered in 2023-24)
- MUSC 180 Raga: Vocal or Instrumental Study of Hindustani Music
- MUSC 181 Sitar
- MUSC 280 Raga: Vocal or Instrumental Study of Hindustani Music
- MUSC 281 Sitar
- Humanities
- ASST 130 Globalization & Local Responses in India Program: Tourism and Development in India (not offered in 2023-24)
- ASST 319 Buddhist Studies India Program: History of South Asian Buddhism
- ASST 391 Buddhist Studies India Program: Independent Study Project
- HIST 268 Globalization & Local Responses in India Program: History, Globalization, and Politics in Modern India (not offered in 2023-24)
- HIST 270 Nuclear Nations: India and Pakistan as Rival Siblings (not offered in 2023-24)
- PHIL 318 Buddhist Studies India Program: Buddhist Philosophy
- RELG 100 Christianity and Colonialism
- RELG 122 Introduction to Islam
- RELG 153 Introduction to Buddhism
- RELG 155 Hinduism: An Introduction (not offered in 2023-24)
- RELG 237 Yoga: Religion, History, Practice
- RELG 257 Asian Religions and Ecology (not offered in 2023-24)
- RELG 266 Modern Islamic Thought
- RELG 280 The Politics of Sex in Asian Religion (not offered in 2023-24)
- RELG 283 Mysticism and Gender (not offered in 2023-24)
- RELG 289 Global Religions in Minnesota
- RELG 359 Buddhist Studies India Program: Buddhist Meditation Traditions
- RELG 362 Spirit Possession (not offered in 2023-24)
- RELG 365 Mysticism (not offered in 2023-24)
- Social Inquiry
- Literary and Artistic Analysis
- Capstone Course:
- ENGL 251 Contemporary Indian Fiction
Courses taken on off-campus programs in South Asia may be applied to the minor.