CONCENTRATION
Students who concentrate in South Asian Studies must complete a total of twelve courses and should emphasize one or several aspects of this broad field. They may work primarily in a given chronological period (e.g. ancient, medieval, early modern, or contemporary) or in a given geographical area (e.g. Bangladesh, Bengal, Maharashtra, North India, Pakistan, South India) or in a given discipline (e.g. Anthropology, Hindi/Urdu, History, Religion, or Sanskrit) but should also take courses in areas outside of their chosen area of emphasis. Courses are available or can be arranged in Economics, Literature, Philosophy, Political Science, and Theatre Arts, as well as the core disciplines mentioned above. Each student should work out a coherent course of study in consultation with one or more members of the South Asia faculty. Courses that allow the student to write a major paper on a topic related to South Asia may be included in those needed to fulfill the concentration requirement.
Course Requirements
All South Asian Studies concentrators must take and pass one course in South Asian history and eleven additional South Asia courses, only four of which may be language classes. Any class that allows the concentrator to complete a substantial paper on South Asia may be counted towards the concentration.
Language Requirements
Proficiency in a South Asian language is required for the concentration (proficiency being determined by their either taking two years of Hindi/Urdu or of Sanskrit or by successfully passing a special examination in either language). Four courses taken to fulfill the language requirement may be counted among the eleven additional courses required.
Study Abroad
All South Asian Studies concentrators are encouraged to take Hindi/Urdu and to participate in Brown in India, a junior-year study abroad program at St. Stephen’s College and Lady Sri Ram College in Delhi.
Capstone Project
All concentrators other than honors concentrators will designate an upper-level course in the area of their primary focus as their capstone course. The student will take this course during the senior year and will produce as part of the written work for the course a substantial paper or annotated translation displaying the unique focus of his or her concentration.
Honors
A South Asian Studies Concentration with Honors requires a high B or A average in courses taken for the concentration as well as an honors thesis in the department of the student’s main focus. Candidates for the honors program should apply to the South Asia Faculty Committee through their advisor by the middle of their sixth semester.
Concentration Advisors
The following members of the South Asia Faculty Committee serve as concentration advisors:
| John Emigh | Theatre, Speech and Dance; English |
|---|---|
| Lina Fruzzetti | Anthropology |
| Ashok Koul | Hindi-Urdu |
| Peter Scharf | Classics; Sanskrit |
| Donna Wulff | Religious Studies |
| Vazira Zamindar | History |
The following is a list of possible South Asian courses. This list is not exhaustive, as any class which allows the concentrator to complete a substantial final project on South Asia may be counted towards the concentration requirements. Check course listings on BOCA for more information.
- AN 129 S01
- Film and Anthropology: Identity and Images in Indian Societies (Fruzzetti)
- AN 134 S01
- Comparative Sex Roles (Fruzzetti)
- AN 137 S01
- Impact on Colonialism: Gender and Nationalism in India (Fruzzetti)
- EC 152 S01
- The Economic Analysis of Institutions (Munshi)
- HI197 S37
- The Partition of 1947: Violence, Displacement and Memory in South Asia (Zamindar)
- HI158 S01
- Making of Modern South Asia (Zamindar)
- HI159 S01
- Recovering Early South Asia (Zamindar)
- HN 010–20
- Beginning Hindi (Koul)
- HN 030
- Intermediate Hindi (Koul)
- HN 040 S01
- Intermediate Hindi (Koul)
- HN 108 S01
- Advanced Hindi (Koul)
- PS 138 S01
- Ethnic Politics and Conflict (Cook)
- RS 003 S01
- Introduction to Indian Religions (Wulff)
- RS 005 S01
- Introduction to Islam (Staff)
- RS 088 S14
- Hindu and Christian Modes of Loving Devotion (Wulff)
- RS 088 S23
- Great Mystical Traditions of Asia (Roth)
- TA 127 S01
- Non-Western Theater and Performance (Emigh)
- RS 188 S01
- Music Drama and Religion in India (Wulff)
- SA 010–020
- Beginning Sanskrit (Scharf)
- SA 030 S01
- Intermediate Sanskrit (Scharf)
- SA 040 S01
- Intermediate Sanskrit (Scharf)
- SA 191 S01
- Advanced Sanskrit (Scharf)
