A concentration in South Asian Studies enables students to develop a critical understanding of the diverse cultures, histories, languages, and literatures of South Asia, which includes Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Tibet. South Asia is home to more than a billion people and some of the world’s most fascinating and important civilizations. Its influence has extended historically from Central, East, and Southeast Asia to Europe and North America, which today have vibrant South Asian diasporas. The study of South Asia is an increasingly important area of academic inquiry, especially in recent decades as the region emerges as a global cultural, economic, and political power.
The concentration offers a range of possibilities for students interested in studying South Asia. Students interested in the arts and humanities may choose to study modern and/or pre-modern South Asia from the disciplinary perspectives of history, history of art, literature, music, philosophy, and/or religion. Students interested in the social sciences may create academic programs which combine the study of languages, literatures, and cultures with course work in anthropology, economics, government, public health, sociology, and/or urban planning.
In addition, joint concentrations with South Asian Studies and another department are possible with the approval of both departments. The department also offers a secondary field in South Asian Studies, as well as language citations in Hindi-Urdu, Sanskrit, Tamil, and Tibetan.
There are two concentration options:
Option A: South Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
