Bengaluru Courses – 2027 Spring

USAC Course Descriptions

Click the course title to view course details, description and availability. To request a course syllabus: syllabus@usac.edu

• Beginning Hindi I

  Fall

  Hindi World Languages and Literatures 100-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Spring

  Hindi World Languages and Literatures 100-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course will introduce the Hindi language and its literary heritage by developing language skills and structural analysis. In addition, the course will provide students with the lexical, grammatical, and functional resources required to manage daily situations while studying in India. It will also help them develop communication skills in basic Hindi to allow them to navigate the culture and make superficial conversations with locals.

• Bollywood Dance

  Fall

  Dance Recreation / Physical Education 100-level 1 credit Taught in English

  Spring

  Dance Recreation / Physical Education 100-level 1 credit Taught in English

  The film industry in India, and Mumbai - based Hindi language is what gives us the name Bollywood. Bollywood is the commercial name for modern Indian dancing and combines classical Indian dance, folk dance and even has Arabic and Latino influence. The dance style is very expressive and has a great deal of meaning in the music of films. You will learn to express what the music means in the films of Bollywood. This one-credit class will teach you the very basic, graceful moves. With regular and dedicated practice you would be able to dance in perfect harmony and style in tune with Indian music in the backdrop.

• Bollywood: India through Film

  Fall

  English Film 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Students will learn about the concept of national cinema, and how globalization and transnational media influences the development of the cinematic industry in India. Students will advance their ability to analyze the cultural, historical, stylistic, and industrial aspects of Bollywood cinema. The course explores Bollywood genres, stars, production practices, and audience reception and compares them with the Hollywood film industry and other cinemas worldwide.

• Caste, Class, and Gender in India

  Fall

  Sociology Women's Studies / Gender Studies 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  The social and structural hierarchy in India controlled the lives of its people throughout history. The Indian caste system has not only integrated itself into the culture, but it has also been the cause of inequality that has oppressed classes of people for centuries. This course will cover topics such as the history of the caste system, religion, politics, gender, and class inequality.

• Contemporary Political and Economic Issues in South Asia

  Fall

  Economics Political Science 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Spring

  Economics Political Science 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  India is the dominant power in South Asia; it has intervened in the civil war in Sri Lanka, controlled fuel imports into landlocked Nepal, and negotiated a nuclear stand-off with Pakistan. As India now transforms itself into a global economic powerhouse, its regional economic prowess will match or even surpass its political influence. In this course we will focus primarily on India, but we’ll also take into account contemporary political and economic events and issues in neighboring countries. Texts will include classics such as Rudolph's "In Pursuit of Lakshmi" and more recent articles in India’s Economic & Political Weekly.

• Cuisine of India

  Fall

  Spring

  A practical workshop focusing on Indian cooking, trends and practices.

• Cultural Traditions of India

  Spring

  Anthropology Sociology 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  India showcases a vibrant amalgamation of different thoughts, languages, cuisines, landscapes, fashion, architecture and people. In ‘Indian Cultures and Traditions’, we proudly pay tribute to the world’s greatest celebration of diversity-starting with the primordial Vedic ages, touching upon the grandeur of the Mughal era, narrating the riveting tales from the colonial period, and concluding with the wonder that is contemporary India. In this course, the students not only learn about India, but truly live and breathe in it too. They experience its rich and fiery spirit, clearly visible in dusty streets, crowded markets, old restaurants, marvelously adorned temples, mosques, churches and gurudwaras (sikh temple), and in the sweaty wide-eyed grins of the auto-walas. They can easily envision being an Indian citizen, with activities like shopping for spices and vegetables, going to the theatres, sipping tea from stalls, making chana masala, and weaving a million unforgettable memories. The festivals (from Holi to Diwali) which they write about in their research papers are also felt in their raw and real forms and gloriously enjoyed. Join us as we revel in the explosion of colours and cultures, and explore with us the depths of the soul of India.

• Economic Development in India

  Fall

  Economics 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Spring

  Economics 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course offers a contemporary and critical exploration of India’s developmental trajectory, blending economic analysis with political economy, social equity, and institutional change. It moves beyond conventional growth metrics to examine how development is experienced, contested, and reshaped across regions, sectors, and communities in India. Course topics include colonial legacies and post-independence planning to present-day challenges; patterns of growth, poverty, inequality, and the debates surrounding redistribution; the role of the state in shaping reform, governance, and welfare delivery; labor market dynamics, the demographic dividend, and the gig economy; jobless growth and social protection; uneven spatial development, the politics of infrastructure and urbanization, and the rise of digital public infrastructure as a development model; human development challenges in health, education, and nutrition; India’s climate commitments, environmental justice debates, and emerging alternatives to GDP-focused development — including behavioral insights, circular economy thinking, and global policy comparisons.

• Family to Franchise: Conducting Business in India

  Fall

  Entrepreneurship General Business Management 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Spring

  Entrepreneurship General Business Management 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course provides a comprehensive exploration of Indian family businesses and their strategies for survival through multiple generations. With a focus on cultural, economic, and managerial perspectives, students will gain insights into the unique challenges, successes, and strategies employed by Indian family businesses to ensure their longevity.

• Gandhi and Peace Studies

  Fall

  History Sociology 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  The Indian national movement was undoubtedly one of the biggest mass movements modern society has ever seen. It was a movement which galvanized millions of people of all classes and ideologies into political action and brought to its knees a mighty colonial empire. Consequently, along with the British, French, Russian, Chinese, Cuban and Vietnamese revolutions, it is of great relevance to those wishing to alter the existing political and social structure.

  Various aspects of the Indian national movement, especially Gandhian political strategy, are particularly relevant to the societies that broadly function within the confines of the rule of law and are characterized by a democratic and basically civil libertarian polity. It is however relevant to other societies too. We know for a fact that even Lech Walesa consciously tried to incorporate elements of Gandhian strategy in the Solidarity Movement in Poland.

  Gandhi did not claim to be a prophet or even a philosopher. “There is no such thing as Gandhism,” he warned, and “I do not want to leave any sect after me”. There was only one Gandhian, he said, an imperfect one at that: himself.

  The most important event in the Indian politics after the First World War was the advent of M. K. Gandhi. Gandhi discovered India in discovering himself. It is important indeed to understand Gandhi’s political life and particularly his non-violence, in the light of this radical discovery, from which, everything else received its meaning.

• Hindi Language for Daily Communication

  Fall

  Hindi World Languages and Literatures 100-level 1 credit Taught in English and Hindi

  Spring

  Hindi World Languages and Literatures 100-level 1 credit Taught in English and Hindi

  This course will introduce students to Hindi and its literary heritage. Students will develop the ability to navigate the city in the local language.

• India in the Media

  Fall

  Journalism Speech Communications 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Spring

  Journalism Speech Communications 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course offers an exploration of India's cultural, social, and political landscape through the lens of various forms of media. From Bollywood cinema to music, news media, and digital platforms, students will gain insights into what Indian media consists of and what goes into the content of constituting Indian media. The historical and social context of popular media and how it shapes perception of people. The course also delves into the power of media in shaping narratives and influencing public opinion about India.

• Population Dynamics

  Spring

  Sociology 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course focuses on the dynamics of population growth in India and the world, the significance of population composition, the sociocultural factors influencing demographic behavior, providing a theoretical base to critically examine and analyze these phenomena.

• Public Health in India

  Fall

  Community Health Sciences 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Spring

  Community Health Sciences 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  India is rich and diverse in her medical tradition since ages. The medical pluralism exists today in this country encompasses embracing of world culture as we have multiple medical systems such as biomedicine, ayurveda, unani, siddha, homeopathy, naturopathy, yoga, Chinese and Tibetan medicine and a variety of folk traditions. “The emergence and arrival of different medical systems, their acculturation into various communities, as well as the way they synchronized and contested with the indigenous are quite unique to Indian medical and cultural history” (Sujatha, V and Leena Abraham, 2012). This course, therefore, is distinctive in its approach in addressing the health care services in India today and its various issues. Students will also experience some healing practices through field visits and observation which will be thought provoking and inquisitive.

• Religions of India

  Fall

  Religious Studies Sociology 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Spring

  Religious Studies Sociology 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course focuses on a historical and thematic survey of the scriptures, doctrines, and rituals of the Buddhist and Hindu traditions in India, exploring some of the teachings and practices of these religious traditions and their interactions with other cultures and how they have changed over time.

• Service-Learning Internship

  Fall

  Service Learning Social Work Sociology 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Spring

  Service Learning Social Work Sociology 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Service learning combines community service with academic instruction, focusing on critical, reflective thinking, and personal and civic responsibility. Service-learning programs involve students in activities that address community-identified needs, while developing their academic skills and commitment to their communities. Service learning differs from volunteering, community service, internships, and field education through its use of structured, critical inquiry and the importance placed on reciprocal partnerships between this class and its community partners.

  USAC has partnered with a variety of organizations for the service-learning internship. More partnerships and opportunities are added based on the availability of work. Below are a few sample community-based projects: Transit School, a bridge school that provides educational instruction for children from disadvantaged communities not currently attending school to improve their educational skills and mainstream them into formal schooling; Self-help Groups and Microfinance; organizations that operate according to the concept of mutual aid and support and train women as they develop micro-enterprises and engage in other income generating activities; Parivarthana Waste Management, an organization advocating for and contributing to a clean and green environment; Children’s Library, where children work to improve their vocabulary, reading speed, language fluency and general knowledge; and a Computer Training Centre, where students from disadvantaged communities learn basic computer operations like MS-Office, e-mail, accessing the internet, and other applications. Sunbirds Straws, a student driven organization manufacturing drinking straws made from naturally dried coconut fiber.

  Students will get a chance to work with one of the projects over the course of the semester to experience these organizations first-hand and learn about the challenges they are facing.

  This course has an additional fee

• Women's Empowerment in India

  Spring

  Gender, Race, and Identity Sociology Women's Studies / Gender Studies 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  As a multicultural and diversified society, the gender question in India becomes even more complex with the intervention of caste, class, religion, cultural norms, and other societal forces. This course will locate the historicity of the women’s movement and women studies in India with its recent issues and problems. Students will evaluate the gradual developments in women’s empowerment and legal changes and develop a holistic understanding of the dynamics of women and society in India.

• Yoga

  Fall

  Spring

  Instruction in the practice of Yoga. General philosophy, history, and wellness benefits will be included. Emphasis is placed on the performance of ananas (postures), pranayamas (breathing exercises), dharanas (concentration exercises), and dhyanas (meditation and relaxation techniques) in order to improve wellness.