# 2026-2027 Course Catalog
**Source**: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/minors/south-asian-studies-interdisciplinary/
**Parent**: https://catalog.illinois.edu/degree-programs/undergraduate_index/
*for the Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Minor in South Asian Studies*
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The [Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies](http://www.csames.illinois.edu/) offers an Interdisciplinary Minor in South Asian Studies. The minor is especially suited for students interested in a program of studies with focus on South Asia, as a complement to their disciplinary study. The structure of the minor provides students a great amount of flexibility; possible areas of emphasis include language and literature, as well as history and social sciences. A minimum grade-point average of 2.75 in South Asian Studies courses is required for completion of the minor. The 18-20 hours of courses selected by students for the South Asian Studies Minor should form a coherent program of study and must meet the approval of an advisor in the Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. The program must include at least 6 hours of 300- or 400-level courses. A student's plan of courses for the minor must be approved by the program.
For a list of approved courses, visit [CSAMES Course Archive](https://csames.illinois.edu/all-courses-archive ).
*for the Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Minor in South Asian Studies*
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Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Language | | 3-5 |
| Fourth-semester course work in an area-relevant language. A course that meets this requirement and is currently offered on a regular basis is [HNDI 404](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=HNDI%20404 "HNDI 404") (4 hours). In consultation with your advisor, the requirement may also be met by comparable courses in these and other South Asian and South Asia-related languages, taught at UIUC or at other universities, through online courses (where available), and through a proficiency examination. | | |
| Core Course | | 3 |
| [HIST/ANTH 130](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=HIST%20130 "HIST/ANTH 130") | History of South Asia | |
| Electives | | 12 |
| Courses on South Asian history, language, literature, culture, and society from the following list: (Other area-relevant courses may be substituted as they are offered, with approval of the advisor. These include courses in languages other than Hindi and independent study courses with South Asia teaching faculty and with appropriate topics, such as the following [ANTH 390](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=ANTH%20390 "ANTH 390"), [HIST 490](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=HIST%20490 "HIST 490"), [LING 290](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=LING%20290 "LING 290"), [PS 490](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=PS%20490 "PS 490"), [REL 390](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=REL%20390 "REL 390"), [SOC 390](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=SOC%20390 "SOC 390"). Students wanting to take such independent study courses need to get permission from the instructor; not more than two independent study courses may be taken to meet the degree requirements.) | | |
| [ANTH 221](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=ANTH%20221 "ANTH 221") | Archaeology of South Asia | |
| [CWL 207](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CWL%20207 "CWL 207") | Indian Cinema in Context | |
| [CWL 208](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CWL%20208 "CWL 208") | Cultures & Literatures of South Asia | |
| [HNDI 405](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=HNDI%20405 "HNDI 405") | Advanced Hindi I | |
| [HNDI 406](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=HNDI%20406 "HNDI 406") | Advanced Hindi II | |
| [HNDI 408](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=HNDI%20408 "HNDI 408") | Intro to South Asian Lit | |
| [HNDI 412](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=HNDI%20412 "HNDI 412") | Business Hindi | |
| [HIST 430](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=HIST%20430 "HIST 430") | India from Colony to Nation | |
| [LING 115](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=LING%20115 "LING 115") | Language and Culture in India | |
| [PS/ASST 346](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=PS%20346 "PS/ASST 346") | Gov & Pol of South Asia | |
| [REL 104](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=REL%20104 "REL 104") | Asian Mythology | |
| [REL 260](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=REL%20260 "REL 260") | Mystics and Saints in Islam | |
| [REL 286](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=REL%20286 "REL 286") | Introduction to Hinduism | |
| [REL 287](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=REL%20287 "REL 287") | Introduction to Buddhism | |
| [REL 291](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=REL%20291 "REL 291") | Hinduism in the United States | |
| [REL 350](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=REL%20350 "REL 350") | South Asian Goddesses | |
| REL 401 | | |
| [REL 403](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=REL%20403 "REL 403") | Women in Muslim Societies | |
| [REL 408](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=REL%20408 "REL 408") | Islam & Politics in Mid. East | |
| [REL 495](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=REL%20495 "REL 495") | Topics in Asian Religions | |
| [REL 520](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=REL%20520 "REL 520") | Hindu Pilgrimage, Power & Place | |
| [REL 567](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=REL%20567 "REL 567") | Mahayana Buddhism | |
| Minimum Total Hours | | 18 |
*for the Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Minor in South Asian Studies*
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1. Introductory interdisciplinary knowledge of South Asian (SA) area studies in terms of the cultures and societies of these regions in a broader international and global context, including:
1. Various historical, cultural, social, economic and political conditions that shaped the development of SA region.
2. Proficiency in a SA language.
1. Student should develop knowledge of a region or country in SA, acquire proficiency in a relevant language of that region or country.
3. Interdisciplinary knowledge of South Asian (SA) area studies in terms of the cultures and societies of these regions in a broader international and global context.
1. Students should have a basic understanding of the various historical, cultural, social, economic and political conditions that shaped the development of South Asia.
2. Students should be able to place their knowledge of SA in a broader world context and from a multidisciplinary perspective.
4. Proficiency in SA or ME languages and knowledge of research methodologies.
1. Student should develop appropriate expertise in a South Asian language, acquire proficiency in a relevant language of that region or country, and equip themselves with a basic understanding of the appropriate research tools to study that region/country.
*for the Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Minor in South Asian Studies*
---
## [Center for South Asian & Middle Eastern Studies](http://www.csames.illinois.edu/)
[Center for South Asian & Middle Eastern Studies faculty](http://www.csames.illinois.edu/people/)\
[csames@illinois.edu](mailto:csames@illinois.edu)
## [College of Liberal Arts and Sciences](https://las.illinois.edu/)
Overview of College Admissions & Requirements: [Liberal Arts & Sciences](https://catalog.illinois.edu/schools/las/academic-units/)