The Southeast Asian Studies Certificate — open to all master's and doctoral students — gives students a broad understanding of Southeast Asia's critical position in global politics and the world economy.
- As one of the world's fastest-growing regions, Southeast Asia is a key hub for manufacturing, trade and investment.
- Its burgeoning economic trade with the United States, important sea lanes connecting the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and extensive ethnic and religious diversity give Southeast Asia great strategic importance.
- Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world, shaping the region’s political influence, economic opportunities, and international relations.
- Southeast Asia's growing influence in tourism, cultural exchange, and environmental conservation are built on its rich cultural heritage, diverse ecosystems, and vibrant societies.
The Southeast Asian Studies Certificate examines these trends across the region, which includes Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The program offers three thematic areas of specialized studies.
Globalization, Conflict and Social Change
This theme examines social and cultural transformations in colonial and postcolonial periods of Southeast Asia, with an emphasis on the challenges of living in a global world. Topics include socioeconomic development, urbanization, ethnic conflict, state violence and genocide, and other forms of public action for social change.
Gender, Ethnicity and Religion
This theme focuses on the identity categories that form the basis of modern communities and nation-states of Southeast Asia. Topics include the construction of ethnic and national identities during colonial and post-colonial periods, the meanings and values associated with gender identities, and historical forces that change and shape religious traditions of the region.
Arts, Popular Culture and the Media
This theme explores Southeast Asia’s complex and widely varied cultures, unique regional art forms, and rich diversity of performance practices. These traditional artistic expressions have been extended and reformed in modern popular cultures and in media representations. Topics include art history, modern and traditional literature of the region, and comparative media systems.
