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Faculty
The South Asian Studies Council promotes the University’s teaching and scholarship on all aspects of South Asia and its diasporas. Drawing on faculty from across the University, Council’s members annually offer courses in the humanities, social sciences, and languages in topics as diverse as anthropology, economics, literature, history, religious studies, political sciences and language studies.
Studying South Asia at Yale
The program in South Asian Studies combines the requirements of a discipline-based first major with significant course work in South Asian studies. South Asian Studies can be taken only as a second major. The major is intended to provide students with a broad understanding of the history, culture, and languages of South Asia as well as the region’s current social, political, and economic conditions. Work in a discipline-based major coupled with a focus on South Asia prepares students for graduate study, employment in nongovernmental organizations, or business and professional careers in which an understanding of South Asia is essential.
The interdisciplinary nature of the South Asian Studies major permits students to choose courses from a wide range of disciplines. Programs should provide a balance between courses in the humanities and those in the social sciences. The proposed course of study must be approved each term by the director of undergraduate studies. Students should also identify a faculty adviser from the South Asian Studies faculty in their area of specialization as early as possible.
Permission to complete two majors must be secured from the Committee on Honors and Academic Standing. Application forms are available from the residential college deans. Forms must be submitted prior to the student’s final term.
Requirements of the major. In addition to fulfilling the requirements of the primary major, a student choosing South Asian Studies as a second major must complete seven term courses, not including the senior requirement, and meet the major’s language requirement. Four courses must be chosen from Group A; of these, two must address premodern South Asia. The three remaining courses may be chosen from either Group A or Group B. At least two of the seven required courses should be seminars.
Language requirement. The language requirement encourages both depth and breadth of language study. Courses are regularly offered in Hindi, Tamil, and Sanskrit. One South Asian language must be studied at the advanced level (courses designated L5); a second South Asian language must be completed through the beginning level (courses designated L2). Courses to fulfill this requirement must be taken while the student is at Yale. Students who matriculate with proficiency in Hindi or Tamil may take a different modern language (Bengali, Urdu, Telugu, or Kannara) through the Directed Independent Language Study program. Students are encouraged to pursue intensive language study through courses or work abroad.
Senior requirement. The senior requirement may be fulfilled by completion of a seminar that culminates in a senior essay. Alternatively, the requirement may be fulfilled by completion of a one-credit, two-term senior research project in sast 491. The use of primary materials in the languages of the region is encouraged in senior essay projects.
REQUIREMENTS OF THE MAJOR
Prerequisites: None
Number of courses: 7 (excluding senior req and language req)
Specific courses required: None
Distribution of courses: 4 term courses from Group A, 2 in premodern; 3 term courses from Group A or Group B
Official Yale College program and course information is found in Yale College Programs of Study, available on line at www.yale.edu/yalecollege/publications/ycps.
The Council supports the study of all languages of South Asia. We offer courses in Hindi, Tamil, and Sanskrit. Other languages can be pursued through the Directed Independent Language Study program (DILS) at the Yale Center for Language Study.
A course on South Asia English and Urdu literature is also occasionally taught through the English and Comparative Literature Departments.
Students and faculty are invited to join our weekly language tables in Hindi and Tamil. These provide an opportunity for learners and speakers to meet informally to converse and practice their language skills. See the Yale Bulletin and Calendar for current meeting times.
For details of languages, or language courses, please refer to our course list or contact the Associate Chair.
