South and Southeast Asian Studies

College of Letters and Science
Department Office: 7233 Dwinelle Hall, (510) 642-4564

Chair: Jeffrey Hadler, PhD
Department Website: South and Southeast Asian Studies

Related Course Descriptions:
South and Southeast Asian Studies courses
South Asian courses
Southeast Asian courses
Bengali courses
Filipino courses
Hindi-Urdu courses
Khmer courses
Malay/Indonesian courses
Punjabi courses
Sanskrit courses
Tamil courses
Telugu courses
Thai courses
Vietnamese courses

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 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.

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Major Requirements

The two tracks in the South and Southeast Asian studies major are flexible, interdisciplinary programs offering opportunities for both wide, comparative study of South and Southeast Asian cultures and greater concentration on a particular area of interest and geographical focus.

With the guidance of the faculty and staff advisers, students might choose to pursue, for example, intense study of a language and its literature or broader inquiries into such subjects as the religions of traditional and modern South and Southeast Asia. Students may include in their major programs suitable courses from other departments.

South and Southeast Asian Civilizations

Students pursuing this track must complete one lower-division sequence on either the civilization and culture of South Asia (SA 1A, 1B or SA 5A, 5B) or the civilization of Southeast Asia (SEA 10A, 10B).

Students must also complete a minimum of nine additional courses concerning South or Southeast Asia, at least eight of which must be upper-division and at least four of which must be taken in the department.

In consultation with the adviser, students will choose an area of interest (religion or art history or literature, for example). At least two courses of the nine described above should cover this area of interest. At least three courses in the area of interest are recommended.

South and Southeast Asian Languages and Literatures

Students choosing this track must complete one lower division sequence on either the civilization and culture of South Asia (SA 5A, 5B) or the civilization of Southeast Asia (SEA 10A, 10B) and four semesters of language work (in one of the following languages: Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Indonesian, Khmer, Panjabi, Sanskrit, Tagalog, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, and Vietnamese).

Students may establish first-year language proficiency through examinations administered by the department although passing an examination will not carry credit.

Students must also complete a minimum of four upper division courses concerning South or Southeast Asia, at least half of which must be taken in the department.

Note: Students who are considering graduate-level study of South or Southeast Asia are strongly advised to choose the Language and Literatures emphasis. This would provide the minimum level of language preparation required for most graduate programs.

For Both Tracks

The major consists of 42-44 units (normally between 10 and 12 courses).

The undergraduate staff adviser must approve all courses taken outside the department that students intend to use for credit, including courses taken in study abroad programs. The undergraduate faculty adviser must approve any proposed academic waivers or substitutions. Among the upper division courses, it is highly recommended that students include one seminar (SSEAS 190 or an equivalent) that requires significant research and writing on South or Southeast Asia.

Honors Program

To be eligible for admission to the honors program, students must attain a 3.5 grade point average (GPA) or higher in courses completed in the major, and a 3.3 GPA in all courses completed in the University. An honors thesis is required. Students who wish to participate must choose a thesis topic in consultation with their major adviser and apply for admission to the program through the departmental office no later than the first week of spring semester of the senior year.

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Minor Requirements

The minimum requirements for the completion of a minor program are five upper division courses, of which a minimum of three must be completed in the department. All courses in the minor program must be completed on a letter-graded basis. An overall GPA of 2.0 is required in courses used for the minor program.

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Graduate Programs

The MA/PhD Program

This program offers emphases in the following languages and literatures: Hindi, Indonesian, Khmer, Sanskrit, Tamil, and Urdu. Literature is understood in the widest sense to include not only creative writing and cultural expression in the various genres but also sources concerning religion, philosophy, history, and the fine and performing arts. The analysis of cultural expression is also understood to include attention to social, anthropological, economic, and political contexts.

Prerequisites

The prerequisites for admission to the MA/PhD Program are a minimum of two years of academic study in the language of emphasis or the equivalent, and eight undergraduate or graduate courses dealing with South or Southeast Asia or the equivalent. Candidates with insufficient preparation are advised to apply to the MA program (see below). At the conclusion of the MA degree, students will be informed as to whether they are eligible for admission to the PhD program.

Degree Requirements

The general requirements for the degree are a minimum of 10 courses undertaken in graduate status at Berkeley (including at least four graduate seminars in the language of emphasis and the methods seminar); a historical knowledge of the area of emphasis; completion of an MA thesis (also required of transfer students holding the MA who have not completed equivalent work); and competence in one or more appropriate secondary languages.

PhD candidates will complete an oral qualifying examination in three approved fields (the field of emphasis, a secondary field within the department, and a cognate field); submit a dissertation prospectus; advance to PhD candidacy; and complete the dissertation under Plan B (see Index for Graduate Education). The Sanskrit emphasis also requires completion of a written competency examination in Sanskrit and one course in linguistics. Students in the joint MA/PhD program will acquire the MA degree upon completion of 20 units of coursework in graduate status at Berkeley (including two graduate seminars in the language of emphasis and the methods seminar); demonstration of advanced competence in the language of emphasis; demonstration of historical knowledge; advancement to MA candidacy; and completion of thesis. They will acquire the PhD degree upon completion of the remaining requirements. A thesis topic should be identified during the second semester of the program or, at the latest, by the beginning of the third semester, under the University’s Plan I (see Graduate Education). The MA thesis in South and Southeast studies is expected to run between 25 and 50 double-spaced, typewritten pages, excluding footnotes and bibliography. Upon completion of the MA requirements, students will be reviewed by the faculty to determine whether they are making satisfactory progress and should continue in the program.

Students should carefully plan their courses so as to be ready, normally after six semesters, to concentrate on reading for their PhD oral qualifying examinations (which should be taken in the seventh or eighth semester). Students may enroll in courses beyond the 10-course minimum and may audit courses with the permission of instructors. Students may use a limited number of lower division and independent studies courses to satisfy the program requirements. The academic advisers must approve the choice of courses during the registration period each semester. Students must take required courses for letter grades and maintain an overall grade-point average of 3.0 (B).

Foreign Languages

Language requirements in the South and Southeast Asian studies program are based on the individual student’s fields of specialization and research needs. The program’s main requirement is advanced proficiency in the student’s language of emphasis. To develop command of a range of linguistic skills in support of the student’s research agenda, additional work is required in one or more secondary languages. The secondary language(s) may be South or Southeast Asian, European, or other, subject to the approval of the student’s academic adviser and the head graduate adviser. All students with an emphasis in Sanskrit are required to attain reading ability in a second South Asian or other related language (such as Latin, Greek, Old Iranian) and a reading knowledge of two languages of scholarship in the field, normally French and German. Sanskrit students are also strongly advised to complete a graduate course in each of the following: Vedic, Middle Indic, and Vyakarana. Old Iranian and a course in Indo-European linguistics are also highly recommended.

Qualifying Examination

Students are eligible to take the PhD oral qualifying examination after they have completed their coursework, foreign language(s) requirements, and MA thesis. The qualifying examination will take place after the completion of these requirements (which should normally take eight semesters). The PhD oral qualifying examination is based on prepared bibliographies in the chosen three fields of specialization. These bibliographies are to be designed by the student in consultation with one or more faculty members in each given area. The formation of the dissertation committee will take place as described in the University’s Plan B. The completed dissertation must be read and approved by all three members of the student’s dissertation committee. The committee may, at its discretion, require a final oral defense, to which other members of the faculty and students of the department may be invited.

The MA Program

This program is offered for students seeking a terminal MA degree or for students with limited backgrounds who are preparing for more advanced work. Emphases in the program include the languages and literatures of Hindi, Khmer, Indonesian, Sanskrit, Tamil, and Urdu. The prerequisites for admission to the MA program are two years of study in the language of emphasis or the equivalent and five undergraduate courses concerning South and Southeast Asia or the equivalent.

Requirements

The requirements for the master's degree are a minimum of 20 units of coursework in graduate status at Berkeley, including at least two graduate seminars in the language of emphasis, a historical knowledge of the area of emphasis, completion of a master's thesis, advanced competence in the language of emphasis, and advancement to MA candidacy. The Sanskrit emphasis also requires completion of a written competency examination in Sanskrit, one course in linguistics, and reading knowledge of one additional language of scholarship in the field, normally French or German. Reading ability in a second South Asian or other related foreign language (such as Latin, Greek, Old Iranian) is strongly recommended. Students are expected to complete the requirements within two years. For more detailed information about the PhD consult the department website .