Southeast Asia Studies
Chair: Erik Harms, 10 Sachem St., 436-4276; program manager: Ei Khin; language program director: Dinny Aletheiani; macmillan.yale.edu/southeast-asia
The Council on Southeast Asia Studies offers an interdisciplinary program that brings together faculty and students sharing an interest in Southeast Asia and contributes to the curriculum with language courses, a weekly seminar series, periodic conferences, cultural events, and special lectures. Yale maintains extensive library and research collections on Southeast Asia, including online archives of periodicals and newspapers from all parts of the region.
Yale does not offer a degree in Southeast Asia studies, but majors in any department may consult with Council faculty regarding a senior essay on a Southeast Asian topic, and in certain circumstances students who have a special interest in the region may consider a Special Divisional Major. Students interested in pursuing field research or language study in Southeast Asia may apply to the Council for summer fellowship support.
Courses featuring Southeast Asian content are offered each year within a variety of departments and programs, including Anthropology, Ethnicity, Race, and Migration (ER&M), Environmental Studies, History, History of Art, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, and Sociology. A list of courses for the current year can be obtained through the Council office or the Southeast Asia Studies website.
Language instruction at all levels is offered in two Southeast Asian languages, Indonesian and Vietnamese. Other Southeast Asian languages may be available in any given year via video conference through the Yale Shared Course Initiative. Check the Southeast Asia Studies language studies web page for updated information. The Council on Southeast Asia Studies supports language tables and independent study in other Southeast Asian languages through the Directed Independent Language Study program.
The Council on Southeast Asia Studies offers an interdisciplinary program that contributes to the curriculum with language studies, an annual seminar series, periodic conferences, cultural events, and special lectures. Current Council faculty members are affiliated with a wide range of disciplines in the humanities and social sciences, as well as professional schools such as the School of the Environment. Yale holds one of the most extensive Southeast Asia library collections in the United States.
Although Yale does not offer a degree in Southeast Asia Studies, majors in any department may consult with Council faculty regarding a senior essay on a Southeast Asian topic. In certain circumstances, students who have a special interest in the region may explore the possibility of a Special Divisional Major. Students interested in pursuing summer research projects or language study in Southeast Asia may apply to the Council for summer fellowship support.
Courses featuring Southeast Asian content are offered by several departments and professional schools. A course list for each academic year is available on the Southeast Asia Studies website. Yale offers language instruction in Indonesian and Vietnamese. Courses in Burmese and Khmer may be available in any given year via video conference through the Yale Shared Course Initiative. The Council on Southeast Asia Studies also supports independent study in other Southeast Asian languages through the Directed Independent Language Study program. See the Southeast Asia Studies website for details.
Certificate of advanced language study
The Department of Southeast Asian Studies offers Certificates of Advanced Language Study in Vietnamese and Indonesian, which once certified, are listed on student transcripts.
Requirements for the Vietnamese certificate
Students seeking to earn the certificate are required to take four courses beyond the L4 level (VIET 1420), at least two of which must be Yale courses designated as L5 (VIET 1500, 1600, 4600). All courses must be taken for a letter grade, and students must achieve a grade of B or above. With the approval of the certificate adviser, up to two advanced non-L5 Yale course, conducted in the target language, such as an independent study course (VIET 4700 or 4710) (graded Pass/Fail) or an advanced seminar may count toward certification requirements. Only one independent study course with Pass/Fail will be counted toward the certificate requirement.
The certificate adviser may also approve the substitution of up to two credits earned during study abroad and taught in the target language to count toward the certificate requirements. If the adviser approves courses taken outside of Yale for inclusion in the certificate requirements, students must take the necessary steps to ensure that those courses appear on their transcripts.
requirements for the Indonesian certificate
Students seeking to earn the certificate are required to take four courses beyond the L4 level. At least two of the four courses must be Yale advanced language courses, such as INDN 1500, INDN 1600, INDN 1700, or INDN 1800. All courses must be taken for a letter grade, and students must achieve a grade of B or above. With the approval of the certificate adviser, up to one course, conducted in the target language, at the appropriate advanced level, such as an independent study course (INDN 4700 or INDN 4710), graded Pass/Fail or a graduate seminar (INDN 5700) may count toward certification requirements.
The certificate adviser may also approve the substitution of up to two credits earned during study abroad and taught in the target language to count toward the certificate requirements. If the adviser approves courses taken outside of Yale for inclusion in the certificate requirements, students must take the necessary steps to ensure that those courses appear on their transcripts.
Credit/D/Fail No courses taken Credit/D/Fail may be counted toward the requirements of the certificate.
Declaration of Candidacy
Students must declare their intention to earn a Certificate on the Declare Major, Concentration within the Major, Certificate page on Yale Hub, as early as possible, but at the very latest, by the 15th of January or September in their last semester at Yale. Once declared, Degree Audit tracks students' progress toward completion of the certificate.
For more information, email the Southeast Asia Language Director at dinny.aletheiani@yale.edu
FACULTY ASSOCIATED WITH THE COUNCIL ON SOUTHEAST ASIA STUDIES
Professors Sunil Amrith (History), Michael R. Dove (School of the Environment), Erik Harms (Anthropology), Mimi Yiengpruksawan (History of Art)
Assistant Professors Alka Menon (Sociology), Nurfadzilah Yahaya (History)
Senior Lecturers Carol Carpenter (School of the Environment, Anthropology), Amity Doolittle (School of the Environment)
Lecturer Quan T. Tran (American Studies)
Curator Ruth Barnes (Art Gallery)
Senior Lector II Quang Phu Van (Vietnamese)
Senior Lectors Dinny Risri Aletheiani (Indonesian), Indriyo Sukmono (Indonesian)