You might be surprised at the range of courses offered at Cornell in the languages and civilizations of South Asia. Bengali, Hindi, Nepali, Sinhala, Sanskrit, Tamil and Urdu are taught in the Department of Asia Studies. A number of courses in the literatures and religions of South Asia are offered in the Asian Studies Department. And through offerings in Anthropology, Architecture, Economics, Government, History, Rural Sociology and other departments diverse disciplinary perspectives can be gained on South Asian area topics. Students wanting to pursue an interdisciplinary major in South Asia have long been able to do so through the Asian Studies Department. Now students majoring in a particular disciplinary field can simultaneously pursue a co-ordinated course of studies in South Asia through the South Asia concentration.

Purpose

The South Asia Concentration provides undergraduates with a formal link to the South Asia Program, giving them the means to devise a course of study of more modest scope than that needed for a major. Working with an advisor from the Program, students assemble a balanced set of South Asia courses that is suited to their interests. Those in the humanities or social sciences may want to integrate the concentration closely with their broader programs. Those majoring in the biological and physical sciences may want to treat the concentration as a self-contained subsidiary field. In all cases, students get recognition for the concentration when they graduate.

Requirements

The basic requirement for the concentration is simple: 18 units in applicable South Asia area courses. Although no language study is required, it is recommended. Asian Studies 215, "Introduction to South Asian Civilization," which is designed to give a general background that will complement any individual program, is strongly encouraged. Please note that only six credits of language may be used towards a South Asia concentration. The formal requirements for the concentration are listed in Courses of Study under Asian Studies.

Students making progress with a South Asian language and taking a few area courses, too, may find themselves already well on the way to fulfilling the requirements for the concentration. Such students especially should consider meeting with an advisor from the South Asia Program to complete the concentration and get recognition for their work. For further information about admission to the concentration consult the Program office at 170 Uris Hall.

Courses

Most of the courses applicable to the concentration can be found under the Asian Studies section of Courses of Study, which gives long lists of offerings under the headings of South Asia Language Courses and South Asia Area Courses. New courses, however, and those not regularly taught, may be missing from those lists. Moreover, sometimes a course well suited to a student's particular needs may be applicable to the concentration if a research paper is written on a South Asian topic. To check on the applicability of a particular course for your program, you should consult with your advisor.

For more information about the concentration, please contact us.