Departments & Programs

India Studies

Major in India Studies
Purpose

India is an important, dynamic part of today’s world. The India Studies major equips students to understand and become engaged with this complex and exciting region. The major is designed for undergraduate students on the Bloomington campus, including those in various professional schools. The program offers a variety of courses dedicated to investigating the culture, literature, arts, philosophy, socio-political and historical dimensions of India. The program also offers training in several Indic languages at the beginning, intermediate and advanced levels. When combined with a major in International Studies, Communication and Culture, Anthropology, History, Religious Studies, Comparative Literature, Political Science, or Folklore, to name a few, the India Studies major gives students a competitive edge in the increasingly global market.

Required Courses

Students pursuing a major in India Studies must complete a second major (B.A.) in a department of the College of Arts and Sciences. (Students completing a simultaneous second degree program in the College or through another school should check with the advisor for details.)

1. Six credits through the fourth-semester level of a modern Indic language, Sanskrit, or an appropriate substitute which must be approved in advance by the Academic Program Committee of the India Studies Program. Students demonstrating proficiency to a level commensurate with the completion of four semesters of course work may substitute six credit hours from other India Studies courses.

2. In addition to fulfillment of language requirements (specified above), completion of a minimum of 24 credit hours of India Studies courses, including the following:

  • The India Studies "core course"
  • At least one 3-credit course at the 300 level or above from the Literary and Performance Studies group
  • At least one 3-credit course at the 300 level or above from the Philosophical and Religious Studies group
  • At least one 3-credit course at the 300 level or above from the Social, Political, and Historical Studies group
  • One 3 credit course (or course equivalent) at any level
  • Three additional 3-credit courses at the 300 level or above, at least one of which must be at the 400 level.

See the India Studies website for a listing of courses in each group.

At the discretion of the Director, a student may receive credit for course work taken under the auspices of a Study Abroad program. Students wishing to receive such credit should consult their academic advisor and the Director of India Studies. Other IU course work that involves a significant amount of work related to India/South Asia, but without an India Studies designation, may also be applied to these requirements at the discretion of the Director. Students wishing to receive such credit should consult their academic advisor and the Director of India Studies.

Students must also complete the degree requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences.