South and Southeast Asian Studies

University of California, Berkeley

Overview

The Department of South and Southeast Asian Studies offers programs of both undergraduate and graduate instruction in the languages and cultures of South and Southeast Asia. It offers opportunities to explore the rich cultural, social, and religious histories as well as the living contemporary cultures of these areas. The curriculum covers modern cultural history, the classical literary canon, religious literature, folk and popular works, oral traditions and performance media (including recitation, musical and dramatic performance, dance, media, and film), and modern literatures of the colonial and post-colonial period. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the extensive opportunities for interdisciplinary linkages by pursuing courses offered by the South and Southeast Asia faculty in other departments at UC Berkeley. Students are also encouraged to pursue courses and independent readings that will acquaint them with pertinent methods in the various disciplines such as contemporary literary theory, ethnographic theory, historiography, and cultural studies. Appropriate comparative work on Asian and non-Asian cultures is encouraged as well.

Resources

One of the world's leading institutes for research and programs on South Asia, the Institute for South Asia Studies at UC Berkeley works with faculty members, graduate students, community members, private institutions, and nonprofit organizations to deepen understanding of the region and to create new generations of scholars of South Asia.

The Center for Southeast Asia Studies (CSEAS) is one of the oldest and most prominent academic centers concerned with Southeast Asia in the United States. CSEAS functions as an administrative base to promote the expansion of Southeast Asian studies on the Berkeley campus by facilitating faculty and graduate research, presenting campus lecture series and cultural programs, organizing public outreach and international conferences, and hosting visitors and scholars from around the world.

The Center for Buddhist Studies oversees a variety of research programs, scholarly events, and outreach activities, often in collaboration with units on and off campus. Activities include a colloquium series, conferences, a visiting scholar program, a film series (with the PFA), the Numata Visiting Professorship, and the International Buddhist Film Festival (with the Buddhist Film Society).

The Institute of East Asian Studies (IEAS) is an Organized Research Unit that serves as the focal point for all of UC Berkeley programs related to East Asia and the Pacific. Frequently ranked first in depth and breadth among all such programs in the nation, East Asian Studies at Berkeley is a unique national resource and an invaluable asset for California and the West Coast.

Undergraduate Programs

South and Southeast Asian Studies: BA (with concentrations in Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Indonesian, Khmer, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tagalog, Tamil, Thai, or Vietnamese), Minor

Graduate Programs

South and Southeast Asian Studies: MA, PhD

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Courses

Languages and Culture:

Languages:

South and Southeast Asian Studies

Southeast Asian Studies

South Asian Studies

Bengali

 

Filipino

 

Hindi

 

Indonesian

Khmer

 

Punjabi

Sanskrit

Tamil

 

Telugu

Thai

Urdu

Vietnamese

 

Contact Information

Department of South and Southeast Asian Studies

7233 Dwinelle Hall

Berkeley, CA 94720-2540

Phone: 510-642-4218

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Department Chair

Paula Varsano

7233 Dwinelle Hall

Phone: 5106424218

pvarsano@berkeley.edu

Undergraduate Advisor

Presi Diaz

3409 Dwinelle Hall

Phone: 510-6423-8741

ealc-advising@berkeley.edu

Graduate Advisor

Kristen Brooks

3411 Dwinelle Hall

Phone: 510-642-4219

kristenbrooks@berkeley.edu

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