Students dance at a celebration of the Hindu festival Holi

South Asian Studies explores various countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The minor includes language training, off-campus study, and courses drawn from several disciplines. Our goal is to understand this complex and significan region in both ancient and modern terms.

Students dance at a celebration of the Hindu festival Holi

About South Asian Studies

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:

Literary/Artistic Analysis

  • ENGL 250: Indian Fiction 1880-1980 · not offered in 2023-24
  • ENGL 251: Contemporary Indian Fiction

Humanistic Inquiry

  • HIST 161: From Mughals to Mahatma Gandhi: An Introduction to Modern Indian History · not offered in 2023-24
  • 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

  • RELG 237: Yoga: Religion, History, Practice
  • SOAN 257: Culture and Politics in India · not offered in 2023-24
  • Supporting Courses: 24 credits from among the following; courses must be from at least two distribution areas:

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
  • LCST 101: Buddhist Studies India Program: Elementary Hindi · not offered in 2023-24
  • LCST 103: Buddhist Studies India Program: Intermediate Hindi · not offered in 2023-24
  • MUSC 180: Raga: Vocal or Instrumental Study of Hindustani Music
  • MUSC 181: Sitar
  • MUSC 248: Music of South Asia · not offered in 2023-24
  • 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 269: Religion, Race & Caste 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 289: Global Religions in Minnesota
  • RELG 359: Buddhist Studies India Program: Buddhist Meditation Traditions
  • RELG 362: Spirit Possession · not offered in 2023-24

Social Inquiry

  • ECON 240: Microeconomics of Development
  • ECON 241: Growth and Development
  • POSC 120: Democracy and Dictatorship
  • POSC 241: Ethnic Conflict
  • POSC 378: Political Economy & Ecology of Southeast Asia: Social Changes in Southeast Asia · not offered in 2023-24
  • POSC 379: Political Economy and Ecology of S.E. Asia: Diversity of Social Ecological Systems in Southeast Asia · not offered in 2023-24
  • RELG 237: Yoga: Religion, History, Practice
  • SOAN 322: Buddhist Studies India Program: Contemporary Buddhist Culture
  • Capstone Course:

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