Master of Arts/ PhD in South and Southeast Asian Studies in Berkeley United States | University of California, Berkeley

Our graduate program equips students for academic careers in teaching and research across diverse fields including South and Southeast Asian Studies, comparative literature, religious studies, history, Asian studies, and cultural studies. Students gain exposure to the vibrant cultural, social, and religious heritage of South and Southeast Asia, along with contemporary regional cultures. The curriculum encompasses classical literature, religious texts, folk traditions, oral performances (such as recitation, music, theater, dance, and film), and modern writings from colonial and post-colonial eras. We adopt an expansive view of literature, embracing creative works across genres as well as sources related to religion, philosophy, history, and the arts. Cultural analysis also incorporates social, anthropological, economic, and political dimensions.
A key objective is developing advanced language skills and the capacity for nuanced textual analysis in the chosen language of study. The program provides intensive instruction in numerous regional languages, such as Bengali, Burmese, Hindi, Khmer, Indonesian (Bahasa), Malay, Pali, Persian, Prakrit, Punjabi, Sanskrit (including Buddhist Sanskrit), Filipino (Tagalog), Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Tibetan, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
We strongly recommend that students explore interdisciplinary opportunities through courses taught by South and Southeast Asia faculty in other UC Berkeley departments. Additionally, students should consider coursework and independent study to gain familiarity with relevant methodologies (like literary theory, ethnography, historiography, and cultural studies). Comparative studies involving both Asian and non-Asian cultures are also highly encouraged.