South/Southeast Asian Studies (SSEA)

SSEA 202X - Introduction to India. 3 Credits.

Offered alternate years. This course introduces students to the history, economy, political and legal system, society, culture, religions, and literary and artistic traditions of India, which is the world's largest secular democracy and the birthplace of four major world religions.

Gen Ed Attributes: Historical Studies, Cultural Intl Diversity (X)

SSEA 234X - Hindu Religious Traditions. 3 Credits.

Offered spring, odd-numbered years. Same as RLST 234X. Critical exploration of selected aspects of Hindu thought, narrative and practice, both in contemporary and historical perspective. Focus primarily on India, but with consideration of Hinduism's transformation and impact beyond South Asia.

Gen Ed Attributes: Cultural Intl Diversity (X)

SSEA 330X - Peoples and Cultures of World. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Same as ANTY 330X. Ethnographic survey of societies and cultures of Indonesia and the Philippines.

SSEA 342 - Topics Comparative Lit & Rel. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Same as LSH 342. These courses compare major traditions, texts and trends in two or more world civilizations or cultures. Works of literature and/or philosophy are examined in their historical contexts, and in relation to each other.

SSEA 368 - Contemporary Buddhism in SSEA. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. No prerequisites. Like other major religions, modernity and globalization have presented profound challenges to Buddhist traditions. In this course we will explore various contemporary issues that have affected Theravada Buddhist societies-colonial and post-colonial revivalism, religious nationalism, women's rights and social reform-as case studies of some of the major ways religions have confronted modernity.