Language courses
| Language courses | |
| Course Code and Credits: | Hindi 101 fall/spring (4) |
| Course Title: | Basic Hindi |
| Course Description: | |
| Basic Hindi focuses on vocabulary, foundational grammar patterns, and traditional pedagogy more appropriate for students intending to enter Intermediate Hindi during their time in India. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | Hindi 201 fall/spring (4) |
| Course Title: | Intermediate Hindi |
| Course Description: | |
| Intermediate Hindi follows on from Basic Hindi 101 and teaches further familiarity with grammar rules and vocabulary. Conversation forms a large part of this course in order to give students more confidence when speaking Hindi in their everyday life in Hyderabad. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | Telugu 101 fall/spring (4) |
| Course Title: | Basic Telugu |
| Course Description: | |
| This course introduces students to the basics of the Telugu language, focusing on conversation, reading and writing. Whenever possible, emphasis is given to practices (dialogues, role-playing, etc.) which allow students to use the language in real-life contexts. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | Urdu 101 fall/spring (4) |
| Course Title: | Basic Urdu |
| Course Description: | |
| This course introduces students to the basics of the Urdu language, focusing on conversation, reading and writing. Whenever possible, emphasis is given to practices (dialogues, role-playing, etc.) which allow students to use the language in real-life contexts. | |
SIP Sample Content Courses Taught in English
Students may take a maximum of 3 content courses. All courses are subject to a minimum enrollment of 10 students.
| Content Courses | |
| Course Code and Credits: | Anthropology/Social Science 301 (4) |
| Course Title: | Introduction to Indian Folk Culture |
| Course Description: | |
| Indian folk culture is a fascinating area of study owing to its multi-cultural and pluralistic composition. This course introduces the student to basic concepts about Indian folklore and folk life. The subject matter is framed taking into account different culture areas and ethnic groups (tribal and folk) in order to provide some sense of the variety of folk groups living in India and the effect of the cultural and natural environment on folk culture. This course seeks to develop the skills of the student in the understanding of unfamiliar cultures and in the interpretation of cultural differences. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | Cultural Studies 303 (4) |
| Course Title: | Islamic Culture in India |
| Course Description: | |
| Hyderabad is a very multicultural city with Islamic roots. It is the seat of Deccani culture which is an amalgamation of Hindu, Muslim and specifically regional issues. This course examines Islamic culture in India from an interdisciplinary perspective. Linguistic, religious, class and gender identities among Muslims in India are discussed. Contemporary debates on the Uniform Civil Code and the complexity of personal laws in India will be examined. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | Dance 101 (4) |
| Course Title: | Kuchipudi Dance |
| Course Description: | |
| India has many forms of classical dance. One of the most famous, originating in the state of Andhra Pradesh, of which Hyderabad is the capital, is Kuchipudi dance. This course includes both theory and practice of the Kuchipudi dance form. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | History/Social Science 305 (4) |
| Course Title: | Contemporary India |
| Course Description: | |
| This core course is interdisciplinary and seeks to introduce India in its multi-faced dimensions. The course is structured into two parts. (i) presents an overview of the diversity that exists in India; (ii) focuses on selected themes/issues that are of current interest or concern in the country today. The aim of this course is to provide a broad understanding of India and to expose students to the prevailing debates on various issues confronting contemporary India. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | History/Social Science/Women’s Studies 307 (4) |
| Course Title: | South-Asian Women in the Diaspora |
| Course Description: | |
| This course focuses on understanding South-Asian women in the Diaspora, particularly in North America and England. Memory work, like any other kind of labor, is carried out within a complex set of gender, class, and power relations which determine who remembers what and to what purpose. Immigrant women, more often than men, tend to serve as unpaid keepers and embodiments of memory. While the men are on the “fast track” of individualism in the new capitalist society, it is the women who are expected to stay in touch with the past and remind the men of their cultural background. The course looks at the immigrant women as well as the second-generation people of South-Asian origin in the Diaspora. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | Literature 311 (4) |
| Course Title: | Indian English Literature and Thought |
| Course Description: | |
| This course is a survey of Indian literary, cultural and critical writings, with an emphasis on the contemporary period. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | Literature 313 (4) |
| Course Title: | Indian Philosophy |
| Course Description: | |
| This course provides a survey of major philosophical traditions in India since the ancient times. Specifically, different schools of thought in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions are analyzed. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | Politics/Religion 315 (4) |
| Course Title: | Religion and Politics in Modern India |
| Course Description: | |
| This course attempts to examine the interplay of religion and politics in 20th century India by focusing on certain indicative intellectual positions, political movements, and parties inspired by religious belief systems. Religious beliefs and cultural practices have often informed political and other public activism. In the colonial period, it was variously in opposition to and collaboration with the British Indian State and its policies. After 1947, it has generally been in opposition to the modernizing State which has self-consciously furthered secularism and liberal parliamentary ideas. In fact, politics inspired by religion has not always remained on the fringes of mainstream politics. Independent India, in many instances, saw politics occupy the center stage through popular mobilizations and expansion of social base. This course also goes into the recent debates on questions of secularism and nationalism–debates which were generated by religion-based violence and politics in the last two decades. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | Philosophy 317 (4) |
| Course Title: | Yoga Philosophy, Theory and Principles of Practice |
| Course Description: | |
| This course offers an understanding of Yoga in the context of religion and explores the different approaches in Yoga based on age and stages in life: Srsti, Siksana, Sthiti/Raksana, Cikitsa, Adhyatimika/Laya Krama. The Asana principles, Pranayama theoretical foundations and Dhyanam theory and practice are also covered in detail. The course is assessed as follows: theory 40%; practical 40%, and project work 20%. | |
Regular University Courses
In addition to the courses listed above, AIFS students may choose to take regular courses at the University (taught in English) along with Indian students. Over 200 courses are offered every semester by different departments or schools of the University. For a full list of available courses, please contact the AIFS Admissions Officer. Please note that courses are subject to change.
Management and Information Technology courses
The School of Management and the School of Information Technology offer many specialized courses each semester. Depending on prerequisites, students may be able to take courses such as:
Management
International Business Strategies
International Marketing
E-Commerce
Project Management
Financial Management and Planning
Research Methodology for Managers
Computer Organization and Architecture
Programming Methodology
Operating Systems
Computer Based Optimization Techniques
Data Base Management Systems
A full list of management and computer application courses can be requested from the AIFS Admissions Officer.
Non-credit Courses
A number of non-credit courses will be arranged by the Study India Program – these may include Tabla (traditional Indian drumming) and other forms of traditional music and dance.
