Curriculum
The curriculum will consist of two required courses:
- Contemporary India (3 credits) - a political, historical, and social survey of post-Independence India as a complex yet unified multi-cultural, multi-linguistic, religiously pluralistic democracy, a rising major global power and soon to be the world's largest country.
- Internship or Directed Research (6 credits) in an area of the students' interest. This will include training in research methods and conversational Marathi during the coursework period. Students will be offered opportunities for placement within Pune's most exciting NGOs, the international business and technology community, and institutions such as the National Film Archives. Students may also choose to work with a faculty member to pursue directed field research, create a documentary through the Film and Television Institute of India, or work within many of the think tanks and research institutes that give Pune its academic cache.
In addition, students will take two 3-credit electives in the following areas:
- Social Justice
- Environmental Issues
- Public Health
- Nation, Caste, and Gender through Film
- Development Economics
- Hindi Language
Students may choose to take a third elective for a total of 18 credits; the basic curriculum yields 15 credits. In addition, the program will offer students the option of taking co-curricular, non-credit classes in yoga, Kathak dance or Bharatnatyam, classical vocals, a musical instrument, or other cultural activity.
SEMESTER STRUCTURE
The 16-17 week semester will follow the U.S. academic calendar and include a week-long orientation, a 10-11 week coursework period, an urban field visit to Mumbai, a rural village visit, an independent travel weekend, a month-long internship or directed research period, and a final closing seminar with re-entry orientation.