I571 Medieval
Devotional Literatures of India (in translation) (3 cr.)
This course covers some of the earliest devotional
literature from South India; the northern poems of the
Krishna-devotional traditions; and some Indian Sufi materials. We
explore the literary innovations of this material; the role of
social class in the devotional traditions; and consider why
seemingly transgressive material has become so widely accepted and
loved.
I580 Women in South Asian Religious Traditions (3
cr.) A historical view of the officially sanctioned roles for women in
several religious traditions in South Asia, and women's efforts to become
agents and participants in the religious expressions of their own lives.
I597 Sanskrit Religious Literature (3 cr.) P:
INST I501-I502 Elementary Sanskrit or consent of instructor. Arranged
tutorial readings from selected Indian religious texts in the original
Sanskrit representing a variety of styles, periods, and religious
traditions; includes selections from Hindu scriptures, religious epics,
commentaries, religious law, hymns, philosophical texts, and Buddhist
literature. May be repeated once for credit when topics vary.
I605 Seminar on Indic Studies (3 cr.) Advanced
research seminar on selected topics in India Studies. Seminar may focus on
specific texts, specific historical figures, basic themes, or issues in
India Studies.
I656 Graduate Readings in Indic Studies (1-6 cr.)
R: reading knowledge of Sanskrit and Hindi.
Selected and substantive topics investigated from
ancient, medieval, and modern texts about the civilization of India.
May be repeated when topic varies for a maximum of six credit
hours.
L500 Elementary Indian Languages I (3 cr.)
Various languages will be offered when available.
Bengali is offered for Fall 2007. May be
retaken for credit, but only in a different language from that of the
first enrollment. Introduction to and brief history of language.
Basic sound patterns and writing system with ideas about basic grammar.
Ideas about simple sentence structure and basic grammar leading to
reading and construction of short sentences. Learning essential
vocabulary for everyday conversation. Practicing different expressions:
apology, greeting etc. Classroom use of films, tapes, short
conversation, stories, etc.
L550 Elementary Indian Languages II (3cr.)
P: L500 or equivalent proficiency in the same
language. Various languages will be offered when available.
Bengali is offered for Spring 2008.
May be
retaken for credit, but only in a different language from that of the
first enrollment. This course will be an advanced level of the first
semester. There will be more exercises on basic grammar and sentence
structures. Emphasis will be on learning new words, composing short
dialogues and using them in everyday conversation by developing basic
reading skills and understanding main ideas from the texts. Increased
writing skills will be expected with continuous drills in grammatical
structures. Students will also be expected to write short personal
letters, different expressions, descriptions etc. Classroom use of story
telling on personal experience, music etc. will be encouraged.
U506 Beginning Urdu I (3 cr.) Introduction to the Urdu language and
basic grammar. Graded exercises and readings leading to mastery of
grammatical structures and essential vocabulary. Simple conversations
based on personal information, courtesy expressions, and greetings in
contemporary Urdu. Classroom use of stories, tapes, films and songs.
U507 Beginning Urdu II (3 cr.) P:
U506 or equivalent proficiency. Continuation of the first semester.
The writing system of Urdu and development of reading and writing.
Graded exercises and reading for mastery of grammatical structures and
essential vocabulary. Composing short dialogues on everyday survival
topics.
U508 Second-Year Urdu I (2 cr.) P:
U507 or equivalent proficiency. Urdu short stories, essays, poetry (gazals),
dramas, newspapers and magazine articles, etc. will be utilized for
reading. Initiate basic communicative tasks related to daily activities
and various situations.
U509 Second-Year Urdu II (2 cr.)
P: U508 or equivalent proficiency. Promotes rapid reading skills and
vocabulary building. Study of grammar is based on Urdu reading
material and includes regular grammar drills. Students sharpen
composition skills by retelling stories from the reading material orally
and in writing. Increase speaking skill to initiate, sustain and close a
general conversation on a range of topics.
Y657 Comparative Politics (Political Science) Topic:
Ethnicity, Politics and Violence in South Asia (3 cr.) Every
conceivable form of ethnic conflict has wracked the states of South
Asia. They stem from colonial legacies, from the breakdown of political
institutions and from social tensions concomitant with dramatic economic
changes. This course will survey a number of competing theoretical
explanations for ethno-religious conflict and violence. There are
two components to the course. It will initially focus on a substantial
corpus of literature from the fields of comparative politics and
international relations on ethnicity and political violence. It will
then turn to an application of this literature to the South Asian
context. All students will be expected to write a substantial term paper
on a particular case and also present the findings in a brief class
presentation. The course does NOT assume any prior knowledge of South
Asian politics.
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