Minor Requirements (15 credits)
The Minor in Indian and South Asian Studies equips students with linguistic and cultural proficiency focused on India and the other nations of South Asia (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, and Tibet) to enable their future work across the region and the disciplines. Students gain global cultural understanding, develop communication skills, and think analytically. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in study abroad programs, internships, student-centered organizations, and experiential learning opportunities through which they can practice the language and deepen their cultural understanding. Students will become conversant with digital technologies as an integrated part of their academic training in preparation for their career beyond MSU.
The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University. With the approval of the department and college that administers the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.
Students who plan to complete the requirements for the minor should consult an undergraduate advisor in the Department of Linguistics, Languages and Cultures.
1. Complete the equivalent of 2.5 years of academic study in a South Asian language or demonstrate equivalent proficiency through placement testing. Any courses needed at the 200-level or above to fulfill this requirement may count towards the 15 credits required for the minor.
2. Complete any additional courses needed to reach 15 credits from the list of approved South Asian language and culture courses.
Indian and South Asian Language Courses
All of our language courses have moved to the “ISA” course code from the “LL” course code. Students will be given a proficiency test for placement in the correct language class. Please contact the instructors listed below for more information.
Hindi
ISA101.1/ISA102.1 (LL 151.2/LL152.2) Basic Hindi I / Basic Hindi II
ISA201.1/ISA201.2 (LL 251.2/LL252.2 Intermediate Hindi I / Intermediate Hindi II
ISA 301.1/ISA302.1 (LL 301.2/LL302.2) High Intermediate Hindi I / High Intermediate Hindi II
ISA 401.1/ISA 402.1 (LL 401.2/LL402.2) Advanced Hindi I / Advanced Hindi II
Please contact Dr. Rajiv Ranjan (rranjan@msu.edu) for more information about Hindi as well as for Hindi language placement testing.
Tamil
101.734/ISA102.734 (LL 151.2/LL152.2) Basic Tamil I / Basic Tamil II (online)
Please contact Vidya Mohan (mohanvid@msu.edu) for more information as well as for Tamil language placement testing.
Urdu
ISA 101.2/102.2 (LL 151.23/LL152.23) Basic Urdu I / Basic Urdu II
ISA 201.2/202.2 (LL 201.23/LL202.23) Intermediate Urdu I / Intermediate Urdu II
ISA 301.2/302.2 (LL 301.23/LL302.23) High Intermediate Urdu I / High Intermediate Urdu II
ISA 401.2/402.2 (LL 401.23/LL402.23) Advanced Urdu I / Advanced Urdu II
Please contact Dr. Rajiv Ranjan (rranjan@msu.edu) for more information as well as for Urdu language placement testing.
Indian and South Asian Culture Courses
ASN 291/491 Special Topics in Asian Languages*
ENG 360 Studies in Postcolonial and Diaspora Literature*
FLM 350 National and Transnational Cinemas*
FLM 450 Studies in Ethnic Film*
FLM 451 Studies in Postcolonial Cinema*
HA 260 Asian Art
HA 261 Modern Asian Art
HA 461 Selected Topics in Modern Asian Art*
ISA 291 Special Topics in Indian and South Asian Studies
ISA 491 Special Topics in Indian and South Asian Studies
MUS 425 Music of South Asian and Its Diaspora
REL 340 Hinduism
REL 345 Religions of South Asia
REL 350 Buddhism of South Asia
REL 441 Devotional Hinduism
Students must obtain advisor approval before enrolling in ASN 291, ASN 491, ENG 360, FLM 350, FLM 450, FLM 451 and HA 461 to ensure appropriate South Asian content. Other South Asian language courses not used to fulfill the language requirement in item 1. and other approved courses with South Asian content may be used to fulfill the requirements of the minor.