Southeast Asia Studies

Chair: Erik Harms, 10 Sachem St., 436-4276; program manager: Ei Khin; language program director: Dinny Aletheianicseas.yale.edu

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 iIndonesian 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 programSee the Southeast Asia Studies website for details.

Certificate of advanced language study

The Department of Southeast Asian Studies offers a Certificate of Advanced Language Study in Vietnamese. A certificate adviser, typically the director of undergraduate studies (DUS) or language program director, advises students on the certification process and certifies to the University Registrar's Office that students have completed the stated requirements before the end of eight terms of study. The Certificate of Advanced Language Study, once certified, is listed on the student's transcript. 

Requirements

Students seeking to earn the certificate are required to take four courses beyond the L4 level in their chosen language, at least two of which must be Yale courses designated as L5. All courses must be taken for a letter grade, and students must achieve a grade of B or above. With the approval of the adviser, one advanced non-L5 Yale course, conducted in the target language, such as an independent study course (graded Pass/Fail), a graduate seminar, or an advanced seminar may count toward certification requirements.

The certificate adviser may allow one “language across the curriculum” (LxC) course taught in English to count toward the certification requirements provided the course includes at minimum a weekly discussion section conducted entirely in the target language. The discussion section must enroll a minimum of three students and the course must be designated as LxC in the course description.

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.

Students are encouraged to complete and submit the Declaration of Candidacy for a Certificate Form found on the University Registrar's website. Once completed, the form sends notification emails to the certificate adviser(s) and to the Yale University Registrar’s Office so that the student's Degree Audit can be updated with the Certificate of Advanced Language Study. 

FACULTY ASSOCIATED WITH THE COUNCIL ON SOUTHEAST ASIA STUDIES

Professors Michael R. Dove (School of the Environment), J. Joseph Errington (Anthropology), Benedict Kiernan (History), James Scott (Political Science), Mimi Yiengpruksawan (History of Art)

Associate Professor Erik Harms (Anthropology)

Assistant Professor Alka Menon (Sociology)

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)