The NYSICCSI program is rigorous and challenging, personally and academically.  It is our goal to meld direct experience and academics in such a way that you come away from this program with a deeply enriched understanding of yourself, India, the United States, and your place in the world.  You should expect a demanding academic experience: in that sense (and in others) it will not be an easy or relaxed semester.  Reading, study, writing, and discussion will be part of your weekly if not daily schedule. Attendance is expected at all classes, at all group weekly meetings,  and on all field trips, except in the case of serious illness or when an event is designated as optional.  Absences will affect your grades and can put you at risk of being dismissed from the program.

HISTORY OF INDIA and CONTEMPORARY INDIA

The History and Contemporary India courses are based upon the readings (from the required books and articles), classroom lectures, discussion groups, and field trips. You will be asked to do some reading over the summer for which you will be required to submit journal entries (See Academic Journal below)  In Mussoorie, there will be group discussions of various required readings led by designated discussion leaders from the group.  (In so far as possible, the assignments of discussion leaders will follow the interests of the students involved.)  We will have regular classroom meetings four days a week in Jaipur, almost every day in Delhi, and usually in Varanasi.  Some of these classes will also be led by designated discussion leaders from the group.  Field trips will take place during the early days in Delhi, on some weekends in Mussoorie and Jaipur and during the entire stay in Varanasi.

Historic India will explore the history of the South Asia subcontinent prior to Independence in 1947. Don't worry. This will not be boring. Seeing many of the historical sites in person, hearing lectures by people immersed in the study of past events, will bring your readings alive. The most difficult part will be to engage yourself seriously in your readings this summer, so that you will be able to place events within a larger historical perspective. This course gives you essential information for understanding contemporary India.

Contemporary India will focus on major issues in India today. We will explore political movements in modern India, economic issues, the influence of globalization, women's issues, the environment, developments in religions, and much more. The summer readings of books, articles and Indian newspapers should help you gain some idea of these issues. In India, lectures, field trips, discussions, and personal observations will continue to inform your understanding.

In both these courses, you will be expected to write journal entries and papers, as well as to participate actively in class discussions. The goal of your work is not solely to memorize information, but to reflect upon the topics and to undertake your own  analysis. This will require brain storming, as well as careful logical reasoning. You will be receiving an enormous amount of information in the course of the semester. To process this information requires your full engagement in the courses.

●     Hindi Language: including reading, writing, and conversational skills

 

●     Independent Research Project: designed in consultation with the home-campus NYSICCSI faculty representative and, often, with the    student's major advisor, to take advantage of resources available in India, and undertaken with one or more faculty mentors in India, culminating in a substantial written paper. The emphasis is on field work, not merely library research.

●     Academic journal