South Asia Language Programs
Language courses at Columbia University are all taught in year-long sequential courses of Elementary I and II, Intermediate I and II, and Advanced I and II. For instance, Elementary I classes are taught in the Fall term, and Elementary II courses are taught in the spring terms. The only exceptions are the Hindi and Urdu Heritage programs, which are intensive programs that cover Elementary in the Fall term, and Intermediate in the Spring term.
Students with no previous language study should enroll in Elementary I classes in the Fall term. If you have previous study at other schools, or are a heritage speaker, you must take a placement exam to determine the best course for you to begin study at Columbia. Placement exams are offered at the start of the Fall and Spring terms annually.
Language programs are mainly housed in the Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies. Three programs are hosted by the Language Resource Center; and one through the LRC Shared Courses program, which is a collaboration with Cornell and Yale. Advanced Bengali is streamed to Columbia via Shared Courses, from Cornell.
Language Programs
Bengali (Bangla) (Two year program at Columbia LRC, with a third year offered via live-streaming via Cornell University, from the LRC Shared Courses program at Columbia.)
Hindi (Three year MESAAS program. Elementary and Intermediate Hindi are taught in two different options. First, as a two-year sequence, Hindi and Urdu are taught together. Second, for heritage speakers, there is an intensive Heritage Hindi program that comprises Elementary and Intermediate levels of Hindi in one year.)
Persian (Three year MESAAS program)
Punjabi (Two year LRC program)
Sanskrit (Three year MESAAS program)
Sinhala (Three year LRC program, offered via live-streaming via Cornell University, from the LRC Shared Courses program at Columbia)
Tamil (Two year MESAAS program, Elementary and Intermediate taught in alternate years)
Urdu (Three year MESAAS program. Elementary and Intermediate Urdu are taught in two different options. First, as a two-year sequence, Hindi and Urdu are taught together. Second, for heritage speakers, there is an intensive Heritage Urdu program that comprises Elementary and Intermediate levels of Urdu in one year.)
Links
Hindi and Urdu Teaching/Learning Modules Project
Language Webpage, Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies