Students who concentrate in South Asian Studies should emphasize one or several aspects of this broad field. They may work primarily in a given chronological period (e.g. ancient, medieval, early modern or contemporary) or in a given geographical area (e.g. Bangladesh, Bengal, Maharashtra, North India, Pakistan, South India) or in a given discipline (e.g. anthropology, Hindi/Urdu, history, religion, or Sanskrit) but should also take courses in areas outside their chosen area of emphasis. Courses are available or can be arranged in economics, history of Science (astronomy, mathematics, medicine), literature, philosophy, political science, and theatre arts, as well as the core disciplines mentioned above. Each student should work out a coherent course of study in consultation with one or more members of the South Asia faculty. Courses that allow the student to write a major paper on a topic related to South Asia may be included in those needed to fulfill the concentration requirement.
All concentrators in South Asian Studies must take and pass a course in South Asian history and eleven other South Asia courses, and must be proficient in a South Asian language (proficiency being determined by their either successfully taking two years of Hindi/Urdu or of Sanskrit or by successfully passing a special examination in either language). Four courses taken to fulfill the language requirement may be counted among the eleven additional courses required. All concentrators are encouraged to take Hindi/Urdu and to participate in Brown's junior year abroad program at St. Stephen's College or at Lady Shriram College (both in Delhi).
All concentrators other than honors concentrators will designate an upper-level course in the area of their primary focus as their capstone course. The student will take this course during the senior year and will produce as part of the written work for the course a substantial paper or annotated translation displaying the unique focus of his or her concentration.
A South Asian Studies Concentration with honors requires a high B or A average in courses taken for the concentration as well as an honors thesis in the department of the student's main focus. Candidates for the honors program should apply to the South Asia Faculty Committee through their advisor by the middle of their sixth semester.
The following members of the South Asia Faculty Committee will serve as concentration advisors: Professors Emigh, Fruzzetti, Scharf, Wulff, and Zamindar.
Page last updated in April, 2007.