Gain a deep understanding of how India nurtures its vibrant, traditional medicine systems while experiencing economic growth and modernization.
8
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English
Jun 15 – Jul 26
India
New Delhi, Satoli-Nainital, Rishikesh, Palampur and Dharamsala-McLeod Gunj
Required
Development & Inequality
Global Health & Well-being
From bustling New Delhi to the quiet grandeur of the Himalaya, explore India’s ancient and traditional health systems. These include the vitally important practices of Ayurveda, traditional Tibetan (Amchi), folk medicine, yoga, and naturopathy. On this journey, learn about the social, economic, and cultural paradigms that provide a context for healthcare in India. During a 10-day stay in the Himalaya, home to many of India’s rich botanical resources, see how mountain communities’ healthcare systems are affected by climate change, globalization, development and sustainability efforts. Compare traditional and allopathic systems, gaining a multidimensional view into healthcare and health delivery among diverse groups including marginalized and indigenous populations. Visit centers of traditional medicine in Delhi and in rural and urban areas in the Himalaya and meet practitioners of traditional and holistic Indian medicine. Travel to Dharamsala, headquarters of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile and where His Holiness the Dalai Lama lives, and receive Tibetan medicine lessons.
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Learn about holistic approaches to healthcare in multiple Indian health systems. Understand the body, mind, and soul connection and the philosophy and principles of yoga, and different yoga postures in the holy town Rishikesh, considered a global center for yoga and meditation.
Take classes on Ayurveda and naturopathy from a specialist. Observe various Ayurvedic therapies, and eat organic meals at Kayakalp healing center.
Travel to McLeod Ganj in Dharamsala, home to the headquarters of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Receive Tibetan medicine lessons and observe the Amchi clinic associated with the Men-Tsee-Khang Medical and Astrology School. Study the concept of life and death in Buddhism and health, disease, diagnosis, and treatment in Tibetan medicine. Visit a Tibetan clinic to observe an Amchi examination of patients and participate in an interactive Amchi session.
Please note that SIT will make every effort to maintain its programs as described. To respond to emergent situations, however, SIT may have to change or cancel programs.
Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:
The following syllabi are representative of this program. Because courses develop and change over time to take advantage of dynamic learning opportunities, actual course content will vary from term to term.
The syllabi can be useful for students, faculty, and study abroad offices in assessing credit transfer. Read more about credit transfer.
Traditional Indian Medicine: Theory and Context – syllabus
(ASIA3010 / 5 credits)
This six-week seminar provides a framework for the investigation of several traditional healthcare systems in India by examining some of the country’s basic social, economic, cultural, and legal paradigms. It considers India’s rich and ancient philosophical traditions pertaining to theories of health, healing, and medicine. These traditional healthcare systems are both widely practiced and receive government support today. The course introduces students to the origins of these wellness theories and systems through lectures, discussions, readings, and field visits designed to facilitate direct observation. The primary focus is on the systems of Ayurveda, yoga, Unani, Siddha, Amchi, folk medicine, and ethnic-traditional healing in the states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
Field Study of Traditional Indian Healthcare Practices – syllabus
(ASIA3020 / 3 credits)
This six-week course complements the Traditional Indian Medicine: Theory and Context seminar. The course emphasizes field study methods that give students a foundation for engaging in basic ethnographic approaches to studying and understanding the practice of traditional medicine. Through visits to and interaction with organizations and individuals working in India’s traditional healthcare system, students gain firsthand exposure to the practices and environments social contexts of these alternative methods of wellness. Though observation, note-taking, and interviewing, students gain experience with primary sources, thereby increasing their knowledge of traditional medicine in India.
Spend approximately 10 days with a host family in rural Nainital. Typically, two or three students are placed with one family. Most families have lived in the same place for generations and, in some cases, for centuries. They are typically lower middle class, but vary in size and caste background. Most host families have members of multiple generations under one roof and typically live in small villages.
In addition to language practice, the homestay offers a chance to participate in the daily life of rural communities in the Himalaya and to experience religious ceremonies or weddings, and share in memorable meals.
During the orientation and concluding periods of the program, accommodations will be provided at a hotel in New Delhi, as well as in guesthouses in the mountainous Palampur, Rishikesh, and the hillside city of Dharamsala, surrounded by cedar forests on the edge of Himalaya.
SIT Study Abroad is committed to ensuring that international education is within reach for all students. We believe in the transformative power of immersive, intercultural experiences and are dedicated to supporting students in their educational journey.
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Students are required to obtain a visa for this program. Your admissions officer will provide you further guidance on the process and support documents. Please do not apply without instructions from your admissions officer.
