Advising—2025-2026 South Asian Studies Classes
The B.A. Minor Concentration in South Asian Studies (18 credits) offers breadth and depth on the histories, literatures, languages, politics, religions, cultures, and societies of South Asia. Within a multidisciplinary and flexible framework, students can explore South Asian Studies through classes offered collaboratively by the Departments of Anthropology, English, History and Classical Studies, Political Science, and Sociology, the Institute of Islamic Studies, and the School of Religious Studies.
Students pursuing the minor concentration build foundational knowledge through introductory coursework (6 credits at the 200- and 300-level) and progress to intermediate and advanced curriculum (12 credits at the 300-, 400-, 500-level). Language credits in Urdu-Hindi, Sanskrit, Tibetan, and Persian may also be applied, and up to six relevant transfer credits. See the e-calendar for a list of pre-approved classes; see the list below for McGill classes being offered this coming academic year that can be counted towards the minor.
Academic Year 2025-2026 Classes
In Fall 2025, the following classes include thematic content relevant to South Asian Studies and/or are South Asia-focused and can be counted towards the minor:
- HIST 209 Introduction to South Asian History (3 credits)
- ISLA 200 Islamic Civilization (3 credits)
- RELG 252 Hinduism and Buddhism (3 credits)
- ANTH 327 Anthropology of South Asia (3 credits)
- ENGL 320 Postcolonial and World Literatures in English (3 credits)
- ENGL 344 Topic: Mountains in Literature and Culture (3 credits)
- GSFS 304 Postocolonial Feminist Theories, taught by Twisha Singh (3 credits)
- RELG 369 Tibetan Buddhism (3 credits)
- RELG 372 Hindu Goddesses (3 credits)
- RELG 378 Pilgrimage, Heritage, Tourism (3 credits)
- ISLA 488 Tales of Wonder–Islamic World (3 credits)
- RELG 544 Ethnography as Method in Religious Studies (3 credits)
- RELG 547 Special Topics in Hinduism (3 credits)
Language Classes
- ISLA 241D1 Introductory Persian (3 credits)
- ISLA 241D2 Introductory Persian (3 credits)
- ISLA 342D1 Lower Intermediate Persian (3 credits)
- ISLA 342D2 Lower Intermediate Persian (3 credits)
- ISLA 352D1 Intermediate Urdu-Hindi (3 credits)
- ISLA 352D2 Intermediate Urdu-Hindi (3 credits)
- ISLA 651D1 Urdu-Hindi for Reading (3 credits)
- ISLA 651D2 Urdu-Hindi for Reading (3 credits)
- RELG 496 Special Topics, Sanskrit 2 (3 credits)
- RELG 665 Primary Text: Sanskrit 1 (3 credits)
- RELG 669 Primary Text: Tibetan (3 credits)
In Winter 2026, the following classes include thematic content relevant to South Asian Studies and/or are South Asia-focused and can be counted towards the minor:
- ANTH 209 Anthropology of Religion (3 credits)
- ANTH 222 Legal Anthropology (3 credits)
- ISLA 210 Muslim Societies (3 credits)
- RELG 254 Introduction to Yoga Traditions (3 credits)
- RELG 270 Religious Ethics and Environment (3 credits)
- RELG 271 Religion and Sexuality (3 credits)
- HIST 315 Topics: Colonialism and Modern India (3 credits)
- RELG 337 Themes in Buddhist Studies (3 credits)
- RELG 344 Mahayana Buddhism (3 credits)
- RELG 350 Bhakti Hinduism (3 credits)
- ENGL 438 Literature and Environmental Imagination (3 credits)
- ENGL 490 Culture and Critical Theory 2–Empire and Environment (3 credits)
- POLI 435 Identity and Inequality (3 credits)
- RELG 455 Religion, Performance, and Agency in South Asia (3 credits)
- RELG 551 Special Topics in Buddhism (3 credits)