Study Abroad Library

CIEE Arts and Sciences Program in Hyderabad, India

The goal of the Arts and Sciences program is to enhance students' knowledge of India from interdisciplinary perspectives. The orientation in Hyderabad, combined with specialized courses throughout the semester, enables participants to grasp the historic and cultural density of the largest democracy in the world. Situated at the gateway between northern and southern India, Hyderabad's location ensures that students gain insight into the linguistic, religious, and cultural diversity of the region - in a city undergoing massive physical and cultural transformation due to India's rapid ascension in the global economy. Academic Program The academic program is offered in collaboration with the Study India Program (SIP) at the University of Hyderabad. The SIP provides international students the opportunity to study various aspects of Indian society, history, and culture, and creates an international environment on campus. The SIP is nationally recognized by the Ministry of Education in India for its international education model. The CIEE program offers students a combination of specially designed courses organized by SIP and carefully selected regular university courses in history, literature, philosophy, sociology, communications, management studies, anthropology, dance, art history, cinema, political science, and economics. Academic Culture The University of Hyderabad is a graduatelevel Indian university. This designation is somewhat different than in the U.S. system but does not provide a barrier to undergraduates. The B.A. degree in India is three years long. M.A. students in their first year of study are roughly at the equivalent level to a senior at a U.S. university. As the University of Hyderabad primarily provides graduate education, CIEE students should expect a good deal of independent work in each class, including but not limited to, reading all the books and articles in the suggested readings list for each course. CIEE students primarily take their classes from the arts, social sciences, and humanities departments. The student body is made up of mostly Indian students drawn from all over the country. Classes are relatively small and are taught through lectures, although many professors welcome discussion and active student participation. Many faculty members have experience teaching American students. As no scheduled academic break exists in the university calendar, semester-only-students are encouraged to travel following the program end date. Academic year students will have a four-week break from late November to late December.