Minor in South Asian Studies - San Francisco S

The Minor in South Asian Studies at San Francisco State University provides a multidisciplinary exploration of South Asia, encompassing culture, history, economics, politics, and diaspora. Through a flexible curriculum, students gain knowledge and critical thinking skills, preparing them for careers in education, social services, law, politics, government, and beyond. The program emphasizes the diverse and intricate aspects of South Asia, including its linguistic, ethnic, religious, and cultural heritage.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Minor in South Asian Studies at San Francisco State University is a multidisciplinary program designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the culture, history, economics, and politics of South Asia and its diaspora. This region, encompassing Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, is a crucial area of study due to its rich linguistic, ethnic, and religious diversity, its complex history under British colonial rule and subsequent independence, its recent economic growth and global technological influence, and the widespread migration of South Asians over the past century. The program aims to equip students with the ability to:

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the diverse and intricate aspects of South Asian culture, politics, history, immigration, and other social formations.

Articulate and critically evaluate key discussions and debates within the scholarship of South Asian studies through research and response papers, exams, and class presentations.

Apply theoretical frameworks and methodologies from various academic disciplines in the arts, humanities, and social sciences to communicate the underlying causes of historical and contemporary debates concerning South Asia.

The minor is beneficial for students seeking careers in education, social services, law, politics, government, business, media, and art, both nationally and internationally. It also prepares students for advanced academic study in various fields.

Outline:

The South Asian Studies minor requires the completion of 18 units. The program structure is divided into a core curriculum and a set of electives:

Core Curriculum (9-10 units):

Students must select one course from each of the three core areas:
Core Area 1: Culture of South Asia (3 units)
HUM 5353
HUM 5363
Core Area 2: History and Politics of South Asia (3-4 units)
HIST 370/CLAS 582/HUM 582: Tales from Ancient India: Hinduism and Buddhism (3 units)
HIST 371: (3 units)
HIST 372: (3 units)
HIST 373: Contemporary India (3 units)
I R 3264: (4 units)
PLSI/I R 412: South Asian Politics (4 units)
Core Area 3: South Asian Diaspora (3 units)
AA S 540: South Asians in the United States (3 units)
RRS 657/AA S 541: South Asian Diaspora (3 units)

Electives (8-9 units):

Students can select elective courses from the core courses not already used to satisfy core requirements or from the following list:
AA S 210: History of Asians in the United States (3 units) or AA S 510: Asian Americans in California
ARTH/HUM 205: Asian Art History (3 units)
ARTH 421: Special Topics in Art History (3 units)
ARTH/HUM 496: Art, Architecture, and Space in the Islamic World (3 units)
HIST 374/HUM 586: Bollywood and Beyond: Indian History Through Film (3 units)
HIST 382: History of Iran and Afghanistan 1500 - Present (3 units)
HUM 366: India's Gandhi (3 units)
PHIL 509: The Buddhist Tradition (3 units)

Careers:

The Minor in South Asian Studies can prepare students for a range of career paths, both nationally and internationally, in the following fields:

Education
Social Services
Law
Politics
Government
Business
Media
Art

Other:

The program is designed to be flexible, allowing students to choose from courses across various disciplines, including:

Art History
Asian American Studies
Economics
English
Ethnic Studies
History
Holistic Health
Humanities
International Business
International Relations
Philosophy
Political Science
Women and Gender Studies