Director: Assistant Professor Meera Sehgal
South Asian Studies Concentration (SAST)
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 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
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 (Arts and Literature, Humanities, Social Sciences)
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
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
Core Courses: 18 credits from among the following; courses must be from at least two distribution areas
ENGL 250: Modern India Fiction
ENGL 251: Contemporary Indian Fiction
HIST 167: Survey of Modern South Asia
HIST 266: History of Islam in India
MUSC 248: Music of India (Not offered in 2010-2011)
RELG 150: Religions of South Asia
SOAN 157 Cultures and Politics in India
SOAN 257 Cultures and Politics in India
Supporting Courses: 24 credits from among the following: courses must be from at least two distribution areas.
ECON 240 Microeconomics of Development
ENGL 245 Bollywood Nation
ENGL 335 (Post)Colonialism and Identity
HIST 259 Women in South Asia: Histories, Narratives and Representation (Not offered in 2010-2011)
HIST 262 Post-colonial South Asia, 1947-present
MUSC 180 or 280 Raga: Vocal or Instrumental Study of Hindustani Music
RELG 122 Introduction to Islam
RELG 250 Hindu Traditions
RELG 251 Theravada Buddhism (Not offered in 2010-2011)
RELG 253 Tibetan Buddhism
RELG 256 Chinese Ways of Thinking
RELG 257 Buddha (Not offered in 2010-2011)
RELG 258 Women in Buddhism (Not offered in 2010-2011)
RELG 268 Encountering Islam
RELG 350 Emptiness
Capstone Course: For 2010-2011, the designated capstone course is:
HIST 266 History of Islam in India