Houston: The Florida International University (FIU) has tied up with the Hindu University of America, Orlando to offer on-line Sanskrit courses from this Fall.

The four-course sequence is fully accredited by the Florida University, the State University in Miami and is available to students worldwide.

"This is a pioneering partnership between a public university and America's only Hindu University," Dr Nathan Katz, Chair of FIU's Religious Studies Department, said.

The courses have been developed by Dr B V Venkata Krishna Shastry, a professor at the Hindu University and an adjunct faculty at FIU and will carry technical support from FIU.

The course is open to all students. While the fee is $ 675 for non-Florida residents, for those residing in the Sunshine State, the cost is the regular in-State tuition fees (which is yet to be determined) plus $ 275.

Registration for Fall courses will begin from August 18.