Indology is a separate branch of the humanities, which covers the study of the languages, literature, history, religions, ethnography, philosophy and material culture of Southwest Asia and the peoples of the Indian subcontinent.
The Indian subcontinent is one of the oldest centers of human civilization dating back to the 4th-3rd millennium B.C., the birthplace of four religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Today, India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, with nuclear potential and the third largest military in the world. It plays an essential role in the region and throughout the world.
For the first time in Armenia, the Institute of Oriental Studies of RAU offers the undergraduate and graduate programs in Indology. By choosing this area of Oriental Studies, students will get the opportunity to perceive the rich Indian culture and religions considered to be the cornerstones of the Indian society.
One of the priorities of our Institute is to develop among the students the analytical thinking and writing skills.
Students are provided with basic knowledge in the field of the humanities and social sciences: linguistics, cultural studies, religion, law, economics, with an in-depth study of two Western languages, Russian and English.
The Bachelor’s program involves the study of the characteristics and processes of ethnogenesis in the context of the origin and spread of the Indian-speaking communities, presents their history, language characteristics, the history of the Indian written tradition, rich literary culture, folklore, ethnography and ethnology, the history of religions, etc. Students will also explore the ancient, mediaeval and modern periods of the history of the Indian subcontinent, the domestic and foreign policy of contemporary India.
Hindi and Sanskrit are the main languages. Persian, Punjabi, or Arabic are offered as optional courses.
