South and Southeast Asian Studies


Language Proagram
239 Cowell College
(831)459-2054
http://lang2.ucsc.edu/language_program/index2.html

Guidelines for individual majors in both South Asian and Southeast Asian studies have been developed for students who wish to obtain a broad social, political, and cultural understanding of these areas and their place in the world context. The South Asian studies major has its focus on India, but course work and research on Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are also encouraged. The Southeast Asian studies major has as its focus the nations of insular Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines), but course work and research in other areas such as Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam are also encouraged.

The India and South Asia component of the program has three special resources in support of study of the traditional and contemporary civilization and cultures of India: the Satyajit Ray Film and Study Collection (Ray FASC) at McHenry Library, the Ali Akbar Khan Endowment, and the Talat and Kamil Hasan Endowed Chair in Classical Indian Music. Hindi/Urdu is offered as part of the core curriculum.

A student who undertakes the individual major in South or Southeast Asian studies is expected to complete a double major in conjunction with a discipline such as anthropology, one of the arts, Earth sciences, economics, education, environmental studies, history, politics, sociology, or women’s studies. Along with the course work for the individual major program, requirements for the South or Southeast Asian studies component include a senior project or thesis.

The minor in Southeast Asian studies. Students must complete Anthropology 130E, Ethnographic Area Studies: Culture and Politics of Island Southeast Asia, and three upper-division courses from lists maintained by the coordinator. For details on the minor program, contact the Language Program Office at (831) 459-2054, 239 Cowell College. For details on the individual major, contact your college academic preceptor.

Study Abroad. Students may apply to spend their junior year in Delhi or Hyderabad through the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP). Students can seek internships and enroll in special study abroad programs in addition to the ones in Delhi or Hyderabad through initiatives undertaken by UC Santa Cruz in cooperation with institutions in India.

Students may apply to the Volunteers in Asia program to teach English in Indonesia or other Southeast Asian countries; contact the Kresge College Office for more information on this program.