This list contains courses explicitly on a South Asian topic and courses with an international or relevant thematic focus taught by South Asia Center affiliated faculty. Always double-check the UW Time Schedule for the most current course information.
AREA COURSES
JSIS A 207 Asian Civilizations: Traditions
Instructor: Deborah Porter
Asynchronous Online
5 credits (A&H, SSc) | SLN: 15594
Course Description
Interdisciplinary introduction to the civilizations of Asia, particularly those of India, China, Japan, and Korea. Explores the religion, philosophy, literature, art, and social and political thought of these civilizations from ancient times to the seventeenth century.
JSIS 201: The Making of the Twenty-First Century
Instructor: Scott L. Montgomery
MWF | 11:30 – 12:20 | RAI 121
MW | 1:30 – 2:20 | SAV 164
TTh | 10:30 – 11:20 | THO 202
TTh | 11:30 – 12:20 | CMU 243
5 credits (SSc, W) | SLN 15562, 15563, 15564, 15565
Course Description
Provides a historical understanding from the mid-twentieth century to major global issues today. Focuses on interdisciplinary social science theories, methods, and information relating to global processes, and on developing analytical and writing skills to engage complex questions of causation and effects of global events and forces.
JSIS 202 Culture and Power in International Studies
Instructor: Sara R Curran
TTh | 11:30 – 12:50 | KNE 210
MW | 9:30 – 10:20 | MUS 219
MW | 10:30 – 11:20 | CLK 316
MW | 10:30 – 11:20 | SAV 168
MW | 11:30 – 12:20 | THO 334
MW | 12:30 – 1:20 | THO 331
MW | 12:30 – 1:20 | CLK 316
MW | 1:30 – 2:20 | SAV 157
MW | 2:30 – 3:20 | THO 235
5 credits (DIV, SSc) | SLN 15566, 15567, 15568,15569, 15570, 15571, 15572, 15573, 15574
Course Description
Dives into how power, violence, and development shape the world, focusing on diverse cultures and histories. Explores how economic, political, and social backgrounds influence interactions and identities internationally. Students think critically about culture, examining how different groups use it today. Through case studies and social science methods, students gain new perspectives on how diversity plays a role in addressing global challenges.
JSIS 203 Rise of Asia
Instructor: Tabitha G Mallory
MW | 3:30 – 5:20 | SMI 102
5 credits (SSc) | 15575
Course Description
Key themes in the study of Asia, with focus on the present. Topics include: the notion of “Asia;” cultural and religious similarities and differences; comparison of colonial experiences under Western and Asian powers; World War II and liberation; postwar patterns of economic and political development; social patterns and issues.
S ASIA 498 Special Topics in Languages and Cultures of South Asia/GLITS 313 Literature Across Places
Instructor: Jennifer Dubrow
TTh | 2:30 – 4:20 | SAV 156
1-5 credits (A&H) | SLN: 19422, 14840
Course Description
Topics vary
S ASIA 498 Special Topics in Languages and Cultures of South Asia
Instructor: Sravanthi Kollu
MW | 2:30 – 4:20 | SMI 313
1-5 credits (A&H) | SLN: 19423
Course Description
Topics vary
JSIS A 409/HSTAS 404 History of Twentieth-Century India
Instructor: Anand A Yang
MW | 1:30 – 3:20 | SMI 115
5 credits (SSc, W) | SLN: 15608, 15115
Course Description
Analysis of the problems in the fields of social life, international and domestic politics, education, economics, and other areas that confront India today.
JSIS B 458 Energy and International Security
Instructor: Debamanyu Das
MW | 2:30 – 4:20 | THO 202
5 credits (SSc, W) | SLN: 21435
Course Description
Explores the future of energy and its impact on global power. Dives into the world of critical minerals, clean tech, and the countries racing to control them. From energy inequality to the fate of oil states, students analyze real cases from the Global South and North and learn how innovation, finance, and policy shape a rapidly changing energy landscape.
ANTH 345/GWSS 345/JSIS B 345 Women and International Economic Development
Instructor: Priti Ramamurthy
TTh | 10:30 – 12:20 | ECE 125
5 credits (DIV, SSc) | SLN: 10310, 14876, 15650
Course Description
Questions how women are affected by economic development in the Third World and celebrates redefinitions of what development means. Introduces theoretical perspectives and methods to interrogate gender and development policies. Assesses current processes of globalization and potential for changing gender and economic inequalities.
ANTH 369 A Special Problems in Anthropology
Instructor: Radhika Govindrajan
MW | 9:30 – 11:20 | CMU 230
5 credits (SSc) | SLN: 10313
Course Description
Delineation and analysis of a specific problem or related problems in sociocultural anthropology.
GWSS 460 Feminist Oral History Research Methodology
Instructor: Priti Ramamurthy
MW | 1:30 – 3:20 | GLD 436
5 credits (DIV, SSc) | SLN: 14892
Course Description
How to create feminist oral histories. Gain practical and technical skills. Includes preparing an interview guide, conducting interviews, learning to transcribe, contextualize, and move from the transcript to interpretation and analysis. Addresses issues of consent, research protocols, and archiving feminist oral histories.
JSIS B 331 Political Economy of Development
Instructor: Debamanyu Das
MW | 10:30 – 12:20 | CMU 226
5 credits (SSc, W) | SLN: 15644
Course Description
Examines development challenges, analyzing why some countries are poorer than others and how to address these challenges. Outlines the roles of state and non-state actors in development and explores how global political factors shape government policies, power dynamics, and economic development worldwide.
ART H 414/514 Topics in South Asian Art
Instructor: Akshaya Tankha
T | 1:30 – 4:20 | ART 317
5 credits (A&H, SSc) | SLN: 10502, 10510
Course Description
Explores topics on the art and visual culture of South Asia with a particular focus on India. Critical appraisal of the principle research methods, theories, and types of literature dealing with the art of South Asia.
CHID 250C: Icons and Idols: India’s Image Controversies
Instructor: Sudhir Mahadevan
MW | 12:30-2:20 | MGH 030
(5 credits SSc) | SLN: 12168
Course Description
Instructor: Anis Rahman
TTh | 12:30 – 2:20 | CMU 104
5 credits (SSc) | SLN: 12359
Course Description
Introduces students to a range of qualitative research methods for analyzing communication. Students design and execute a qualitative communication research project.
COM 422 Money and Power in International Communications
Instructor: Anis Rahman
TTh | 3:30 – 5:20 | CMU 104
5 credits (SSc) | SLN: 12362
Course Description
Explores emerging issues in international communications through a critical political economy lens, with a focus on the geopolitical and infrastructural aspects of media, communication, and digital platforms.
HSTCMP 221 Global Environmental History, Feast and Famine
Instructor: Purnima Dhavan
MW | 10:30 – 12:20 | CDH 139
F | 9:30 – 10:20 AM | SAV 132
F | 11:30 – 12:20 | SAV 137
5 credits (DIV, SSc, W) | SLN: 15121, 15122, 15123
Course Description
Examines how consumption in societies such as China, India, Japan, Africa, Europe, and the Americas developed from 1500 to the present. Broad patterns of global history and how they fit into debates about environmental history.
G H 593 Rethinking Global Health
Instructor: Deepa Rao, Keshet Ronen
M | 2:30 – 3:50 | HST T498
1 credit | SLN: 14646
Course Description
Focuses on building a global health Master of Public Health cohort with a sense of camaraderie, confidence, and communication skills to participate effectively in future work in global health. Topics covered include social injustice, inequity, and a deep examination of our roles as public health professionals within the field of global health. We use an open forum for exchange of viewpoints. Students are considered co-developers of the course.
LANGUAGE COURSES
HINDI 103 Elementary Hindi
Instructor: Amruta M Chandekar
MTWThF | 9:30 – 10:20 | MGH 248
5 credits | SLN: 15001
Course Description
Modern literary Hindi. Reading, writing, and conversation. Introduction to Devanagari script. Third in a sequence of three.
HINDI 203 Intermediate Hindi
Instructor: Amruta M Chandekar
MTWThF |10:30 – 11:20 | SMI 111
5 credits (A&H) | SLN: 15002
Course Description
Systematic expansion of vocabulary and grammar. Intermediate-level prose and poetry readings. Oral drills. Third in a sequence of three.
HINDI 324 Advanced Hindi Third Year: Drama
Instructor: Heidi R Pauwels
TTh | 1:30 – 3:20 | MGH 074
5 credits (A&H) | SLN: 15003
Course Description
Development of drama in Hindi, with readings of representative texts and discussion of historical and cultural contexts.
HINDI 431 Advanced Conversational Hindi
Instructor: Amruta M Chandekar
MW | 11:30 – 12:50 | SMI 109
3 credits (A&H) | SLN: 15005
Course Description
Conversational practice in contemporary Hindi.
SNKRT 103/SNKRT 513 Elementary Sanskrit
Instructor: David Fowler
MTWThF | 9:30 – 10:20 | SAV 140
5 credits (A&H) | SLN: 19510, 19514
Course Description
Basic grammar and vocabulary of the classical language. Reading of elementary texts from the epic or Puranic literature. Third in a sequence of three.
SNKRT 203/SNKRT 523 Intermediate Sanskrit
MWF | 11:30 – 12:50 | SAV 167
5 credits (A&H) | SLN: 19511, 19515
Course Description
Further study of classical grammar; introduction to classical literature and Vedic language and texts. Third in a sequence of three.
SNKRT 313/SNKRT 533 Advanced Sanskrit
Instructor: Heidi R Pauwels
TTh | 3:30 – 5:20 | SAV 132
5 credits (A&H) | SLN: 21257, 21258
Course Description
Reading and analysis of classical texts, chosen according to students’ interests. Third in a sequence of three.
SNKRT 205 Essential Sanskrit for Yoga and Meditation
Instructor: Joseph Marino
TTh | 1:30 – 2:50 | SMI 313
1-5 credits (A&H) | SLN: 19512
Course Description
Introduction to Sanskrit via South Asian contemplative traditions like yoga and Buddhist meditation. Learn script, pronunciation, basic writing/reading, while reading texts in English. May only be taken for credit once.
URDU 103 Elementary Urdu
Instructor: Jameel Ahmad
MTWThF | 9:30 – 10:20 | MGH 074
5 credits | SLN: 21046
Course Description
Modern literary Urdu. Reading, writing, conversation, and listening comprehension. Introduction to Perso-Arabic script. Third in a sequence of three.
URDU 203 Intermediate Urdu
Instructor: Jameel Ahmad
MTWThF | 10:30 – 11:20 | MGH 282
5 credits (A&H) | SLN: 21047
Course Description
Systematic expansion of vocabulary and grammar. Intermediate-level prose and poetry readings. Expansion of skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening comprehension. Third in a sequence of three.
URDU 324 Advanced Urdu Third Year: Drama
Instructor: Heidi R Pauwels
TTh | 1:30 – 3:20 | MGH 074
5 credits (A&H) | SLN: 21048
Course Description
Development of drama in Urdu with readings of representative texts and discussion of their historical and cultural contexts.