India: Sustainable Development and Social Change
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This interdisciplinary program is designed to provide students with an understanding of social, political, and economic change within the Indian context by exploring both the historical and contemporary dynamics of India's colonial past and present frenetic growth. Students consider the most effective transformative tools for India in the 21st century, and examine the notion of "Indian culture" from both anthropological and contemporary Indian political perspectives.
The Field Methods and Ethics course addresses culturally appropriate, ethical field methodology, in preparation for the Independent Study Project (ISP). Study of Hindi opens windows into the culture and the theme of the program.
The following syllabi are either from a recent session of this program or for an upcoming session. Because courses develop and change over time to take advantage of dynamic learning opportunities, actual course content will vary from term to term.
The syllabi can be useful for students, faculty, and study abroad offices in assessing credit transfer. Read more about credit transfer.
Shaping Sustainable Social Change – syllabus (PDF)
(ASIA 3010 / 3 credits / 45 class hours)
This course explores successful interventions for viable economic, political, and social change; the role of change agents; and the exploration of alternative development paradigms to address emerging and future development issues. The course enables students to analyze successful development interventions through the lens of sustainability and to identify agents of change and their role in shaping sustainable social change.
Development Approaches and Distributive Justice – syllabus (PDF)
(ASIA 3020 / 3 credits / 45 class hours)
This course introduces India’s pre- and post-independence development scenarios. By critically analyzing and reflecting on past and ongoing development processes, students gain knowledge of basic aspects of Indian society, culture, and identity, including responses to and challenges of India’s colonial legacy. Pre-independence development approaches along with a Gandhian approach to development are also discussed.
Intensive Language Study: Beginning Hindi – syllabus (PDF)
(HIND 1000–1500 / 3 credits / 45 class hours)
Intensive Language Study: Intermediate Hindi – syllabus forthcoming
(HIND 2000–2500 / 3 credits / 45 class hours)
Intensive Language Study: Advanced Hindi – syllabus forthcoming
(HIND 3000–3500 / 3 credits / 45 class hours)
Emphasis on speaking and comprehension skills through classroom and field instruction. Based on in-country evaluation, including oral proficiency testing, students are placed in beginning, intermediate, or advanced classes.
Field Methods and Ethics – syllabus (PDF)
(ANTH 3500 / 3 credits / 45 class hours)
A course in the concepts of learning across cultures and from field experience and an introduction to the Independent Study Project. Topics include cross-cultural adaptation and skills building; project selection and refinement; appropriate methodologies; field study ethics and the World Learning/SIT Human Subjects Review Policy; developing contacts and finding resources; developing skills in observation and interviewing; gathering, organizing, and communicating data; and maintaining a work journal.
Independent Study Project - syllabus (PDF)
(ISPR 3000 / 4 credits / 120 class hours)
Conducted in Rajasthan or in another approved location in North India. Sample topic areas: theater for social change; traditional women’s crafts and the modern market; Indian wildlife conservation and international nongovernmental organization involvement; irrigation and water management issues; a critical analysis of elephant tourism; call centers as the job of the educated future; marketing culture and Rajput identity; microfinance and women’s empowerment; language and literacy; a comparison of traditional and mass production of Indian textiles.
Duration: 15 weeks
Program Base: Jaipur
Language Study: Hindi
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