Dhar India Studies Program
Certificate in Indic Languages and Cultures
Students on Summer 2024, Fall 2024, or Spring 2025 requirements INLNCLACRT
Requirements
The certificate requires at least 21 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
- Primary Indic Language. One (1) of the following options
- Bengali.
- Intermediate Bengali I. One (1) course:
- INST-B 200 Intermediate Bengali I
INST-B 200 Intermediate Bengali I
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- INST-B 150; or consent of instructor
- Description
- Focuses on listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Special emphasis given to communicative approach to language learning.
- Intermediate Bengali II. One (1) course:
- INST-B 250 Intermediate Bengali II
INST-B 250 Intermediate Bengali II
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- INST-B 200; or consent of instructor
- Description
- Focus given to listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Emphasis given to communicative approach to language learning.
- Advanced Bengali I. One (1) course:
- INST-B 300 Advanced Bengali I
INST-B 300 Advanced Bengali I
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- INST-B 250 or consent of instructor
- Description
- Development of higher level linguistic functions in Bengali in the four skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. Cultural literacy is enhanced through interaction with native speakers and the use of authentic media and literature. Culminates with a research paper in Bengali. Conducted entirely in Bengali.
- Advanced Bengali II. One (1) course:
- INST-B 350 Advanced Bengali II
INST-B 350 Advanced Bengali II
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- INST-B 300 or consent of instructor
- Description
- Continues the refinement of language skills from INST-B 300. Culminates with a research paper in Bengali. Conducted entirely in Bengali.
- Intermediate Bengali I. One (1) course:
- Hindi.
- Second-Year Hindi I. One (1) course:
- INST-H 200 Intermediate Hindi I
INST-H 200 Intermediate Hindi I
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- INST-H 150; or consent of instructor
- Description
- Reading mythology, folklore, modern short stories, essays and poetry, including several examples from Hindi literature. Students compose and perform dialogues based on the material read and the usage of role playing cards.
- Second-Year Hindi II. One (1) course:
- INST-H 250 Intermediate Hindi II
INST-H 250 Intermediate Hindi II
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- INST-H 200; or consent of instructor
- Description
- Promotes rapid reading skills and vocabulary building. Study of grammar is based on Hindi reading material and includes regular grammar drills. Students sharpen composition skills by retelling stories and making brief synopses from the reading material orally and in writing. Increase speaking skill to narrate and describe with short connected discourse.
- Advanced Hindi I. One (1) course:
- INST-H 300 Advanced Hindi I
INST-H 300 Advanced Hindi I
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- INST-H 250 or consent of instructor
- Description
- Development of higher level linguistic functions in Hindi in the four skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. Cultural literacy is enhanced through interaction with native speakers and the use of authentic media and literature. Culminates with a research paper in Hindi. Conducted entirely in Hindi.
- Advanced Hindi II. One (1) course:
- INST-H 350 Advanced Hindi II
INST-H 350 Advanced Hindi II
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- INST-H 300 or consent of instructor
- Description
- Continues the refinement of language skills from INST-H 300. Culminates with a research paper in Hindi. Conducted entirely in Hindi.
- Second-Year Hindi I. One (1) course:
- Sanskrit.
- Intermediate Sanskrit I. One (1) course:
- INST-S 200 Intermediate Sanskrit I
INST-S 200 Intermediate Sanskrit I
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- INST-I 340 or INST-S 150 or consent of instructor
- Description
- Comprehensive review of Sanskrit grammar followed by the reading of epic Sanskrit. Texts allow students to explore issues of syntax and changes in the language over time.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of INST-I 349 or INST-S 200.
- Intermediate Sanskrit II. One (1) course:
- INST-S 250 Intermediate Sanskrit II
INST-S 250 Intermediate Sanskrit II
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- INST-I 349 or INST-S 200 or consent of instructor
- Description
- Development of reading skills with a broadening range of materials, including Vedic Sanskrit.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of INST-I 350 or INST-S 250.
- Advanced Sanskrit I. One (1) course:
- INST-S 300 Advanced Sanskrit I
INST-S 300 Advanced Sanskrit I
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- INST-S 250; or consent of instructor
- Description
- Students will read from a variety of genres including kavya, shastra, and religious literature.
- Advanced Sanskrit II. One (1) course:
- INST-S 350 Advanced Sanskrit II
INST-S 350 Advanced Sanskrit II
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- INST-S 300; or consent of instructor
- Description
- Continuation of INST-S 300. Students will continue reading from a variety of genres including kavya, shastra, and religious literature.
- Intermediate Sanskrit I. One (1) course:
- Urdu.
- Second-Year Urdu I. One (1) course:
- INST-U 200 Intermediate Urdu I
INST-U 200 Intermediate Urdu I
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- INST-U 150; or consent of instructor
- Description
- 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.
- Second-Year Urdu II. One (1) course:
- INST-U 250 Intermediate Urdu II
INST-U 250 Intermediate Urdu II
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- INST-U 200; or consent of instructor
- Description
- Promotes rapid reading skills and vocabulary building. Study of grammar is based on Urdu reading material and includes regular drills. Students sharpen composition skills by retelling stories from reading material orally and in writing. Increase speaking skill, to initiate, sustain, and close a general conversation on a range of topics.
- Advanced Urdu I. One (1) course:
- INST-U 300 Advanced Urdu I
INST-U 300 Advanced Urdu I
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- INST-U 250 or consent of instructor
- Description
- Development of higher level linguistic functions in Urdu in the four skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. Cultural literacy is enhanced through interaction with native speakers and the use of authentic media and literature. Culminates with a research paper in Urdu. Conducted entirely in Urdu.
- Advanced Urdu II. One (1) course:
- INST-U 350 Advanced Urdu II
INST-U 350 Advanced Urdu II
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- INST-U 300 or consent of instructor
- Description
- Continues the refinement of language skills from INST-U 300. Culminates with a research paper in Urdu. Conducted entirely in Urdu.
- Second-Year Urdu I. One (1) course:
- Bengali.
- Secondary Indic Language. At least six (6) credit hours in a language other than the Primary Indic Language
- Bengali:
- INST-B 100 Elementary Bengali I
- INST-B 150 Introductory Bengali II
- INST-B 200 Intermediate Bengali I
- INST-B 250 Intermediate Bengali II
- INST-B 300 Advanced Bengali I
- INST-B 325 Bengali Conversation
- INST-B 350 Advanced Bengali II
- Hindi:
- INST-H 100 Beginning Hindi I
- INST-H 150 Elementary Hindi II
- INST-H 200 Intermediate Hindi I
- INST-H 250 Intermediate Hindi II
- INST-H 300 Advanced Hindi I
- INST-H 325 Hindi Conversation
- INST-H 350 Advanced Hindi II
- INST-H 420 Hindi Literature
- Sanskrit:
- INST-S 100 Elementary Sanskrit I
- INST-S 150 Elementary Sanskrit II
- INST-S 200 Intermediate Sanskrit I
- INST-S 250 Intermediate Sanskrit II
- INST-S 300 Advanced Sanskrit I
- INST-S 350 Advanced Sanskrit II
- Urdu:
- INST-U 100 Elementary Urdu I
- INST-U 150 Elementary Urdu II
- INST-U 200 Intermediate Urdu I
- INST-U 250 Intermediate Urdu II
- INST-U 300 Advanced Urdu I
- INST-U 325 Urdu Conversation
- INST-U 350 Advanced Urdu II
INST-B 100 Elementary Bengali I
- Credits
- 5
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Basic sound patterns and writing system with ideas about 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.
INST-B 150 Introductory Bengali II
- Credits
- 5
- Prerequisites
- INST-B 100 or consent of instructor
- Description
- Exercises in basic grammar and sentence structure. Emphasis on learning new words, composing short dialogues, and using them in everyday conversation by developing basic reading skills and understanding main ideas from texts.
INST-B 200 Intermediate Bengali I
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- INST-B 150; or consent of instructor
- Description
- Focuses on listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Special emphasis given to communicative approach to language learning.
INST-B 250 Intermediate Bengali II
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- INST-B 200; or consent of instructor
- Description
- Focus given to listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Emphasis given to communicative approach to language learning.
INST-B 300 Advanced Bengali I
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- INST-B 250 or consent of instructor
- Description
- Development of higher level linguistic functions in Bengali in the four skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. Cultural literacy is enhanced through interaction with native speakers and the use of authentic media and literature. Culminates with a research paper in Bengali. Conducted entirely in Bengali.
INST-B 325 Bengali Conversation
- Credits
- 2
- Prerequisites
- INST B-150 or consent of instructor
- Description
- Develops conversational skills in several registers of colloquial Bengali, a language spoken in Bangladesh and India. Students participate in everyday conversations, learn popular songs, and watch and discuss Bengali movies.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated for a maximum of 8 credit hours.
INST-B 350 Advanced Bengali II
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- INST-B 300 or consent of instructor
- Description
- Continues the refinement of language skills from INST-B 300. Culminates with a research paper in Bengali. Conducted entirely in Bengali.
INST-H 100 Beginning Hindi I
- Credits
- 5
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Introduction to the Hindi language, the writing system and basic grammar. Graded exercises and readings leading to mastery of grammatical structures and essential vocabulary. Development of reading and writing competence and simple conversations based on personal information, courtesy expressions, greetings in contemporary Hindi. Classroom use of stories, tapes, films and songs.
INST-H 150 Elementary Hindi II
- Credits
- 5
- Prerequisites
- INST-H 100; or consent of instructor
- Description
- Continuation of the first semester. Graded exercises and reading for mastery of grammatical structures and essential vocabulary. Composing short dialogues on everyday survival topics. Improve reading skill to understand main ideas from the simplest connected texts. Writing competence is increased to be able to write letters and journals, etc.
INST-H 200 Intermediate Hindi I
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- INST-H 150; or consent of instructor
- Description
- Reading mythology, folklore, modern short stories, essays and poetry, including several examples from Hindi literature. Students compose and perform dialogues based on the material read and the usage of role playing cards.
INST-H 250 Intermediate Hindi II
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- INST-H 200; or consent of instructor
- Description
- Promotes rapid reading skills and vocabulary building. Study of grammar is based on Hindi reading material and includes regular grammar drills. Students sharpen composition skills by retelling stories and making brief synopses from the reading material orally and in writing. Increase speaking skill to narrate and describe with short connected discourse.
INST-H 300 Advanced Hindi I
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- INST-H 250 or consent of instructor
- Description
- Development of higher level linguistic functions in Hindi in the four skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. Cultural literacy is enhanced through interaction with native speakers and the use of authentic media and literature. Culminates with a research paper in Hindi. Conducted entirely in Hindi.
INST-H 325 Hindi Conversation
- Credits
- 2
- Prerequisites
- INST-H 150 or INST-U 150, or consent of instructor
- Description
- Develops conversational skills in several registers of modern Hindi. Students participate in everyday conversations, learn popular Bollywood songs, and watch and discuss Hindi-Urdu movies.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated for a maximum of 8 credit hours in INST-H 325 and INST-U 325.
INST-H 350 Advanced Hindi II
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- INST-H 300 or consent of instructor
- Description
- Continues the refinement of language skills from INST-H 300. Culminates with a research paper in Hindi. Conducted entirely in Hindi.
INST-H 420 Hindi Literature
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- INST-H 250 or consent of instructor
- Description
- Overview of Indian culture through its literature. Taught in Hindi.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
- Summer 2025CASE AHcourseSpring 2025CASE AHcourseFall 2024CASE AHcourse
INST-S 100 Elementary Sanskrit I
- Credits
- 5
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Introduction to Sanskrit, a classical language of ancient India. Students master the script and begin to learn grammar as they read simple material and gain vocabulary.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of INST-I 339 or INST-S 100.
INST-S 150 Elementary Sanskrit II
- Credits
- 5
- Prerequisites
- INST-I 339 or INST-S 100
- Description
- Continues the work begun in S100. Students acquire grammar needed to read authentic texts, with attention to reading increasingly difficult materials.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of INST-I 340 or INST-S 150.
INST-S 200 Intermediate Sanskrit I
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- INST-I 340 or INST-S 150 or consent of instructor
- Description
- Comprehensive review of Sanskrit grammar followed by the reading of epic Sanskrit. Texts allow students to explore issues of syntax and changes in the language over time.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of INST-I 349 or INST-S 200.
INST-S 250 Intermediate Sanskrit II
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- INST-I 349 or INST-S 200 or consent of instructor
- Description
- Development of reading skills with a broadening range of materials, including Vedic Sanskrit.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of INST-I 350 or INST-S 250.
INST-S 300 Advanced Sanskrit I
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- INST-S 250; or consent of instructor
- Description
- Students will read from a variety of genres including kavya, shastra, and religious literature.
INST-S 350 Advanced Sanskrit II
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- INST-S 300; or consent of instructor
- Description
- Continuation of INST-S 300. Students will continue reading from a variety of genres including kavya, shastra, and religious literature.
INST-U 100 Elementary Urdu I
- Credits
- 5
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- 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.
INST-U 150 Elementary Urdu II
- Credits
- 5
- Prerequisites
- INST-U 100; or consent of instructor
- Description
- 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.
INST-U 200 Intermediate Urdu I
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- INST-U 150; or consent of instructor
- Description
- 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.
INST-U 250 Intermediate Urdu II
- Credits
- 4
- Prerequisites
- INST-U 200; or consent of instructor
- Description
- Promotes rapid reading skills and vocabulary building. Study of grammar is based on Urdu reading material and includes regular drills. Students sharpen composition skills by retelling stories from reading material orally and in writing. Increase speaking skill, to initiate, sustain, and close a general conversation on a range of topics.
INST-U 300 Advanced Urdu I
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- INST-U 250 or consent of instructor
- Description
- Development of higher level linguistic functions in Urdu in the four skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. Cultural literacy is enhanced through interaction with native speakers and the use of authentic media and literature. Culminates with a research paper in Urdu. Conducted entirely in Urdu.
INST-U 325 Urdu Conversation
- Credits
- 2
- Prerequisites
- INST-H 150, INST-U 150, or consent of instructor
- Description
- Develops conversational skills in several registers of modern Urdu. Students participate in everyday conversations, learn popular Bollywood songs, and watch and discuss Hindi-Urdu movies.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated for a maximum of 8 credit hours in INST-H 325 and INST-U 325.
INST-U 350 Advanced Urdu II
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- INST-U 300 or consent of instructor
- Description
- Continues the refinement of language skills from INST-U 300. Culminates with a research paper in Urdu. Conducted entirely in Urdu.
- Bengali:
- Electives. At least one (1) course:
- Additional courses from the Primary and Secondary Indic Languages lists
- INST-I 100
- INST-I 211 Introduction to South Asian History
- INST-I 212 The Civilization of Tibet
- INST-I 303 Issues in Indian Culture and Society
- INST-I 320 Contemporary India: History, Politics, and Society
- INST-I 330 Issues in Indian Culture and Society
- INST-I 362 International Relations of South Asia
- INST-I 368 Philosophies of India
- INST-I 370 Literature of India in Translation: Ancient and Classical
- INST-I 371 Songs of Ecstasy: Loving God in Medieval India
- INST-I 380 Women in South Asian Religious Traditions
- INST-I 402 Introduction to the History of Tibet
- INST-I 412 Criminal Justice in India
- INST-I 414 India: Lost and Found in Translation
- INST-X 490 Individual Readings in India Studies
- Additional course(s) approved by the Director of India Studies
INST-I 211 Introduction to South Asian History
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- South Asia today encompasses India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. Introduction to some of the principal historical themes and cultural features of this diverse region from the Neolithic era to the present day.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
INST-I 212 The Civilization of Tibet
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Introduction to the diverse aspects of Tibetan civilization. Topics include Tibet's literature, art, religion, society, history, and language.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of CEUS-R 270, CEUS-U 284, or INST-I 212.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
INST-I 303 Issues in Indian Culture and Society
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Examination of the culture and society of India through the study and analysis of a specific issue or theme. Topic varies.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
INST-I 320 Contemporary India: History, Politics, and Society
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Critical survey of social, economic, and political trends in modern India (1947-present), primarily through the study of relevant novels. Lectures and readings provide students with knowledge of modern Indian history and politics, caste and class relations, the evolution of India\'s political institutions since independence, and current debates in Indian society.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
INST-I 330 Issues in Indian Culture and Society
- Credits
- 1–3 credit hours
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Examination of the culture and society of the Indian subcontinent through the study and analysis of a specific issue or theme. Topic varies.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 3 credit hours.
INST-I 362 International Relations of South Asia
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Focuses on terrorism, nuclear proliferation, inter-state war and ethnic conflict in South Asia as these issues relate to American foreign and security policy.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
INST-I 368 Philosophies of India
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Historical and critical-analytic survey of the major intellectual traditions of the cultures and civilizations of India. Attention to early philosophizing and the emergence of the classical schools in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions. Attention also to contemporary thought in India, including critical theory and subaltern theorizing.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of INST-I 368, PHIL-P 328, or REL-R 368.
- Summer 2025CASE AHcourseSpring 2025CASE AHcourseFall 2024CASE AHcourse
INST-I 370 Literature of India in Translation: Ancient and Classical
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Survey of the ancient and classical Sanskrit literature of India in translation, presented in cultural context.
- Summer 2025CASE AHcourseSpring 2025CASE AHcourseFall 2024CASE AHcourse
INST-I 371 Songs of Ecstasy: Loving God in Medieval India
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Explore how some of the poets of medieval India couched their devotion for Krishna in erotic, seemingly transgressive language, and the circumstances that permitted them to do so.
- Summer 2025CASE AHcourseSpring 2025CASE AHcourseFall 2024CASE AHcourse
INST-I 380 Women in South Asian Religious Traditions
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- 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.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of INST-I 380, REL-B 330, or REL-R 382.
- Summer 2025CASE AHcourseSpring 2025CASE AHcourseFall 2024CASE AHcourse
INST-I 402 Introduction to the History of Tibet
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Surveys Tibet's history from its earliest period through the present, including the Tibetan empire of the seventh through ninth centuries, the impact of Buddhism on political and social structures, Tibet's relations with neighboring peoples, the development of the Dalai Lama's government, and the current issues of Tibet.
- Summer 2025CASE SHcourseSpring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
INST-I 412 Criminal Justice in India
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Presents an overview of the Indian criminal justice system, issues related to crime, and its control mechanism in the country. Topics include Indian history, system of government, constitution, court system, police, corrections, and the phenomenon of crime.
INST-I 414 India: Lost and Found in Translation
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- An ethnographic approach to international fictional films produced in recent decades that treat both the political/public and domestic/private spheres of Indian life as sites that invite cultural critique and debate over the success of India as a modern and modernizing nation.
INST-X 490 Individual Readings in India Studies
- Credits
- 1–6 credit hours
- Prerequisites
- None
- Notes
- R: Reading knowledge of Sanskrit and Hindi
- Description
- Selected substantive topics investigated from ancient, medieval, and modern texts about the civilization of India.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of 6 credit hours in INST-I 496 and INST-X 490.
- Certificate GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
- Certificate GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the certificate—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
- Certificate Minimum Grade. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the certificate.
- Certificate Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 15 credit hours in the certificate must be completed at the 300–499 level.
- Certificate Residency. At least 9 credit hours in the certificate must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
Certificate Area Courses
-
Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:
- Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements at the time the course is taken—as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent—except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
- Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception
- NULL:
Exceptions to and substitutions for certificate requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.