MA in South and Southeast Asian Studies in Berkeley United States | University of California, Berkeley

This program features specialized tracks in these languages and cultural traditions: Hindi, Urdu, Indonesian, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Tamil, and Khmer. Literature is broadly defined to encompass not just creative works and cultural expressions across genres, but also religious texts, philosophical writings, historical documents, and artistic forms including visual and performing arts. Cultural analysis extends to examining social structures, anthropological perspectives, economic factors, and political environments.

Students can investigate the vibrant cultural, social, and religious heritage of South and Southeast Asia, along with their modern-day cultural practices. Coursework spans cultural evolution, classical literary works, sacred texts, folk traditions, oral histories, performance arts (such as poetry recitation, music, theater, dance, and cinema), and contemporary literature from colonial and post-colonial eras.

Achieving advanced fluency in the chosen language is a primary objective, alongside developing expertise in analyzing diverse literary texts within that linguistic tradition.