For questions contact: Saiba Varma, Director South Asian Studies minor program at, s2varma@ucsd.edu, or check out the virtual advising center here!
A South Asian studies minor requires twenty-eight units, which should include three four-unit core courses (with 75–100% South Asia content) and four four-unit elective courses (with content of 25–50%). At least five of these courses must be upper-division. Only two upper-division courses (eight units) may overlap with courses taken for a major, and no more than two courses (eight units) may be taken with a pass/no pass grading option.
We publish a list of courses offered that count for our minor every quarter. Here are the current courses for Fall 2024:
Core Classes -
MUS 95W - World Music Ensemble (2 credits)
INTL 190 - International Relations of South Asia (Open to ISP majors)
Elective Classes -
ANSC/GLBH 148: Global Health and Cultural Diversity
ANTH 1: Introduction to Culture
CGS 134: Gender and Climate Justice
CGS 136: Gender and Tech Development
ETHN 189: Asian American Community Health
Download the Fall 2024 Course Flyer here!
Student Testimonials
"The SAS minor gave me the chance to go out into the world and explore; my anthropology classes guided me through my first attempts at ethnographic research, and eventually helped me build my own independent research thesis. The courses I took for the SAS minor provided necessary historical and anthropological context for the real-world implications of what I learned in my STEM classes.
I would highly recommend this minor as a way to expand one’s understanding of new cultures, while simultaneously exploring their own current interests in a more global context"
- Akshita Silas, Cognitive Science
" The SAS minor is incredibly eye opening and adds much-needed context to my understanding of my family, culture, and history. Additionally, even being premed and from a college with lots of GEs (ERC), this minor fit in well and overlapped with many of my courses. I highly recomment this minor for anyone looking to expand their undergraduate education, particularly if you are a STEM major!"
- Ananya Kandikonda, Global Health
"I first learned about the South Asian Studies classes offered after taking the Social Justice in South Asia seminar offered. That class truly opened my eyes to the simultaneous diversity and unity in South Asian experiences, and how we can develop a shared understanding of the region from a scholarly perspective. The classes I’ve taken have helped me become a more global citizen, questioning traditional establishments while forming opinions based on viewpoints I wouldn’t have otherwise thought to consider. I am so grateful to have had such a unique opportunity such as this during my academic career, and has shaped and inspired my future aspirations. "
- Khushi Kumra, Global Health
"As an International Student, pursuing South-Asian Studies is about reclaiming and honoring the legacy that has perched me for 18-years. When you’re in a foreign-land, forging a community that bridges you to your roots might seem like a distant dream, but its pursuits like these that help you immerse in a tapestry of cultures and identities. It empowers you to contribute to global dialogue, explore questions- academic & personal, articulate the layers of history and modernity. The literature, the philosophy, languages and art—South Asia is a treasure—and it’s time to really propagate that vision."
- Bhavika