Honours in Indian Sub-continental Studies
Entry Requirements and Program Structure
Assessment
Seminars
Thesis
Thesis Supervision
Enrolment
Contacts
Overview
‘Honours’ is an intensive year-long program of advanced study with research at its centre. The Honours year enables students to engage with the subject of their major in depth by undertaking research of their own, under the supervision of an expert in the their field. For some students, Honours is the culmination of their formal education while for other students, Honours is the first step on the path to careers as professional researchers and academics. Many staff in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences find Honours teaching the most rewarding part of their job.
Entry Requirements and Program Structure
Students need to have results at Credit (65%) level or better in eight Senior units of study (48 credit points) in the subject in they wish to take Honours. Department permission is required for enrolment in honours and two additional units must be taken from either
- ASNS2620 Classical Indian Philosophy
- ASNS2621 Buddhist Philosophy
- ASNS2623 India: Tradition and Modernity
- ASNS2624 Understanding Buddhist Literature
- ASNS2625 Buddhism in Modern Asia
- ASNS2626 Religious Traditions of South Asia
- ASNS2627 India, China, Tibet: Cultural Relations
Students whose bachelor's degree was undertaken at another university, or students who completed their bachelor's degrees at the University of Sydney more than two years ago should contact the Honours Coordinator to discuss whether the classes they have taken are equivalent to these prerequisites.
Assessment
Honours in Indian Sub-Continental Studies consists of a thesis of 18000-20000 words and 6000 words of written work, or it’s equivalent, for each seminar. Each of the two seminars meets weekly for 2 hours, for one semester. The thesis is worth 60% of the final mark, and each seminar is worth 20%. Please note that Honours is not available in Hindi or Urdu. While you will receive marks for all pieces of assessment, your academic transcripts will record only your final, overall Honours mark.
Seminars
The following seminars are on offer in 2011:
- Departmental Methodology (Dr Andrew McGarrity and Dr Mark Allon)
- Departmental Coursework (Dr Andrew McGarrity and Dr Mark Allon)
Thesis
The honours thesis constitutes an original piece of research and writing in a field that is supervised by a member of staff. It amounts to 18000-20000 words of writing and must demonstrate both a command of a wide range of secondary source material in Indian Sub-continental or Buddhist studies, as well as a command of a particular disciplinary or interdisciplinary approach to the topic of the research.
Thesis Supervision
In the first instance, students should contact the Honours Coordinator to discuss their preferred field of Honours study. The Chair of the Department will then be able to suggest the most appropriate member of staff within the department to supervise the Thesis. The list below, whilst not exhaustive, gives an idea of the areas of interest of staff from the Department.
Dr Mark Allon supervises in Pali, Gandhari, and Sanskrit * Buddhist literature * Buddhism in South, South-east and Central Asia * Buddhist thought and practice * Buddhist art.
Andrew McGarrity supervises in Early and Later Indian Madhyamaka and Yogācāra Buddhism * Indian Philosophy and Hinduism * Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Philosophy;
* Indian and Tibetan Buddhist Logic * non-Buddhist Indian Logic * History of Ideas in India and Tibet * Comparative Philosophy.
Enrolment
In the first instance you should discuss your intention to apply for Honours with the Honours Coordinator. Students will enrol in SANS4011, 4012, 4013 and 4014. These, however, are merely generic or ‘shell’ units for your coursework component.
Enrolments are completed online. Go to the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Honours webpage for further information on Honours and on the online enrolment application procedure.
Contacts
The Honours Coordinator can answer any queries relating to the Honours program.