Fall 2024

  • ASST 101: Buddhist Studies India Program: Elementary Hindi

    An introduction to basic colloquial Hindi speaking and writing skills for everyday interactions in Northern India. Essential grammar is introduced and reviewed in morning meetings, and conversational and reading abilities are developed in afternoon practice. Students are encouraged to practice speaking and listening comprehension by conversing with Hindi speakers outside of class.

     Prerequisites:

    Acceptance in the Carleton OCS Buddhist Studies in India program.

     No Exploration; offered Fall 2024 · Arthur McKeown

  • ASST 101: Buddhist Studies in India Program: Elementary Tibetan

    This course seeks to develop students’ level of proficiency in spoken Tibetan for basic communication, as well as the ability to read and write simple sentence constructions. Learning is grounded in written Tibetan, covering the alphabet, pronunciation, grammar, and basic vocabulary. Reading and comprehension skills are enhanced through direct translation of essential texts such as the Heart Sutra and a prayer of Manjushri. Students gain facility with spoken Tibetan through classroom drills and informal practice with Tibetans in Bodh Gaya. Students will also improve their understanding of Tibetan culture and society through this course.

     Prerequisites:

    Acceptance in the Carleton OCS Buddhist Studies in India program.

     No Exploration; offered Fall 2024 · Arthur McKeown

  • ASST 103: Buddhist Studies India Program; Intermediate Hindi

    This course builds on the student’s previous training in spoken and written Hindi language. Students will gain the ability to initiate and sustain conversations with Hindi speakers, read and write in Hindi about personal and social situations, as well as extract the main idea and information from descriptive and narrative texts. Students will apply their language learning and deepen their understanding of Indian culture through interaction with local residents and participation in seasonal festivals and other activities. Prerequisites:

    Acceptance in the Carleton OCS Buddhist Studies in India program.

     No Exploration; offered Fall 2024 · Arthur McKeown

  • ASST 255: Buddhist Studies in India Program: Introduction to Field Methods and Ethics

    This course introduces students to the skills and ethics needed to conduct fieldwork for their independent study project in South Asia. In consultation with their adviser, students generate an independent study proposal (ISP) concerned with some aspect of Buddhist Studies (philosophy, ritual, meditation, the arts, culture, etc.) utilizing the unique resources available in India and neighboring countries. The ISP proposal outlines the topic, research methods, and resources located/developed by the student. Topics covered in the course include: introduction to research ethics; conducting a literature review; design and implementation of data collection protocols, interviewing, and survey questionnaires; summary, analysis and presentation data. Prerequisites:

    Acceptance in the Carleton OCS Buddhist Studies in India program.

     4 credits; No Exploration; offered Fall 2024 · Arthur McKeown

  • ASST 400: Integrative Exercise

    Prerequisites:

    Student is an Asian Studies major and has Senior Priority.

     S/NC; offered Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025 · Kathleen Ryor, Amna Khalid

Winter 2025

Spring 2025

  • ASST 110: Elementary Hindi Language

    This course will introduce students to basic spoken and written Hindi and Urdu, languages spoken widely across India and Pakistan. The course will teach speaking, listening, reading and writing skills as these are used in everyday social and cultural situations. While in elementary spoken form Hindi and Urdu are almost indistinguishable, they are written in two distinct scripts, both of which students will learn.  Prerequisites:

    Not open to students that have studied the Hindi Language through the Carleton OCS India: Globalization and Local Response program.

     6 credits; No Exploration; offered Spring 2025 · Brendan LaRocque

  • ASST 285: Mapping Japan, the Real and the Imagined

    From ancient to present times, Japan drew and redrew its borders, shape, and culture, imagining its place in this world and beyond, its cultural and racial identity. This course is a cartographic exploration of this complex and contested history. Cosmological mandalas, hell images, travel brochures, and military maps bring to light the imagined Japan—its religious vision, cartographic imagination, and political ambition—that dictated its geopolitical expansion abroad and the displacement of minority peoples “at home.” We will use a variety of textual and visual materials, including those in Carleton’s Rare Book and Map Collections.

     6 credits; HI, Humanistic Inquiry, IS, International Studies, WR2 Writing Requirement 2; offered Spring 2025 · Asuka Sango

  • ASST 400: Integrative Exercise

    Prerequisites:

    Student is an Asian Studies major and has Senior Priority.

     S/NC; offered Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025 · Kathleen Ryor, Amna Khalid

For a list of Asian-related courses by regional focus, subdivided by distribution area, please see the Asian Studies Major Requirements.