Hindu Studies

Students in the Hindu Studies concentration focus on the history of Hindu thought traditions and their cultural expressions. Students study Hindu philosophy of religion expressed in art, aesthetic theories, iconography, and semiotics; liturgical and worship systems; devotional music, liturgical chants, and sacred sound. Multidisciplinary methods are used for research on the multifaceted lived experience of the Hindu world in its celebrations and sacraments; pilgrimage and praxis; contemplative psychology; and Yoga philosophy. Interrelationships among Hindu, Indian Buddhist, and Jain traditions are examined. The concentration fosters cross-cultural and interreligious expertise, enabling graduates to employ their knowledge both in teaching and other professional avenues.