I. ASCRC General Education Form (revised 9/15/09)
Use to propose new general education courses (except writing courses), to change existing
gen ed courses and to remove designations for existing gen ed courses.
Note: One-time-only general education designation may be requested for experimental courses
(X91-previously X95), granted only for the semester taught. A NEW request must be
submitted for the course to receive subsequent general education status.
Group
III. Language
VII: Social Sciences
(submit
III Exception: Symbolic Systems * VIII: Ethics & Human Values
separate forms
IV: Expressive Arts
IX: American & European
if requesting
V: Literary & Artistic Studies
X: Indigenous & Global
X
more than one
VI: Historical & Cultural Studies
XI: Natural Sciences
general
w/ lab  w/out lab 
education
group
*Courses proposed for this designation must be standing requirements of
designation)
majors that qualify for exceptions to the modern and classical language
requirement
Dept/Program Liberal Studies/South and Southeast
Course #
202
Asian Studies
Course Title
Introduction to India
Prerequisite
None
Credits
3
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Date
Instructor
Ruth Vanita
Phone / Email Ruth.vanita@umontana.edu
Program Chair Stewart Justman
Dean
Christopher Comer
III. Type of request
New
One-time Only
Change
Renewal X
Reason for Gen Ed inclusion, change or deletion
Description of change
IV. Description and purpose of new general education course: General Education courses
must be introductory and foundational within the offering department or within the General
Education Group. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course
content to students’ future lives: See Preamble:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/gened/GEPreamble_final.htm
This course provides students with basic and introductory information about the history,
geography, culture, society and polity, of India. The Indian subcontinent is one of the cradles of
civilization, and is becoming an increasingly important player on the world stage, as it was in
antiquity and the medieval period. Students read a text book, essays, short stories, and view a
film and video clips.
This is a required course for the SSEA minor housed in Liberal Studies. It is also attractive to
students from many majors, who need to fulfill Gen Ed requirement X. There is no comparable
100 or 200-level course taught on campus, focusing on India as a whole, past and present.
V. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ASCRCx/Adocuments/GE_Criteria5-1-08.htm
This course introduces students to the values,
Indigenous and/or global courses will
histories and institutions of several diverse
familiarize students with the values,
communities living in India, such as Sikhs,
histories, and institutions of two or more
Hindus, Muslims, south Indians and north
societies through the uses of comparative
Indians.
approaches.
We look at how Indian history and culture
Indigenous perspective courses address the
longstanding tenure of a particular people in from ancient times to the present, and how
Indian communities have interacted with
a particular geographical region, their
histories, cultures, and ways of living as well each other and with people who have entered
India from elsewhere, such as Turkish,
as their interaction with other groups,
Persian and other middle eastern Muslims,
indigenous and non-indigenous.
and the British.
We look at a very wide range of Indian
Global perspective courses adopt a broad
focus with respect to time, place, and subject cultures and societies, with tremendous
matter and one that is transnational and/or linguistic, regional and religious diversity,
multi-cultural/ethnic in nature. Whether the undergoing change, from antiquity to the
present.
cultures or societies under study are
primarily historical or contemporary,
courses investigate significant linkages or
interactions that range across time and
space.
VI. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals. See: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ASCRCx/Adocuments/GE_Criteria5-1-08.htm
- 1. place human behavior and cultural
We examine Indian culture and society
ideas into a wider (global/indigenous)
from many different perspectives,
framework, and enhance their
ancient, medieval and modern.
understanding of the complex
interdependence of nations and societies
and their physical environments;
2. demonstrate an awareness of the diverse ways The course focuses on the vast diversity of
humans structure their social, political, and
cultures, societies and polities in India in
cultural lives;
the past and the present.
3. analyze and compare the rights and
The course examines India as a republic
st
responsibilities of citizenship in the 21 century and a secular democracy with
including those of their own societies and
comparable but different institutions in
cultures.
the US
VII. Justification: Normally, general education courses will not carry pre-requisites, will carry
at least 3 credits, and will be numbered at the 100-200 level. If the course has more than one
pre-requisite, carries fewer than three credits, or is upper division (numbered above the 200
level), provide rationale for exception(s).
VIII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form.  The syllabus
should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus
preparation see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
Attached
Please note: Approved general education changes will take effect next fall.
General education instructors will be expected to provide sample assessment items and
corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.