South and Southeast Asian Studies Major
The Bachelor of Arts in South and Southeast Asian Studies offers a flexible, interdisciplinary curriculum designed for deep, comparative exploration of the languages, literatures, histories, religions, and cultures of South and Southeast Asia. The program pairs foundational language study with flexible electives, preparing graduates for global career pathways, public service, and advanced graduate research.
Prerequisites to Declare
Before declaring the major, students must complete the following foundational requirements:
- Language Prerequisite: Complete at least one semester of an SSEAS language course at UC Berkeley with a grade of C or higher.
- Gateway Prerequisite: Complete one Gateway course with a grade of C (2.0) or higher.
Major Requirements
The SSEAS major requires a combination of regional core courses, language study, and upper-division departmental electives:
Gateway Courses
Select at least two of the following foundational regional survey courses (including the one taken as a prerequisite):
- South Asia 100A (Ancient South Asia)
- South Asia 100B (Medieval-Modern South Asia)
- Southeast Asia 101A (Mainland Southeast Asia)
- Southeast Asia 101B (Insular Southeast Asia).
Language
A minimum of two semesters and six units in any language offered by the department. The total number of units varies depending on the language and the course level in which the student enrolls.
| Bengali | Burmese | Filipino |
| Hindi | Indonesian | Khmer |
| Malaysian | Punjabi | Sanskrit |
| Tamil | Telugu | Thai |
| Urdu | Vietnamese |
Upper Division Electives
Three upper-division courses offered by the department are required to complete the major.
Note: Independent study courses (numbered 195, 198, and 199) cannot be used to satisfy major elective requirements.
Major Policies & Unit Requirement
- Letter Grades Only: All courses applied toward major requirements must be taken for a letter grade.
- Unit Requirement: Students must complete at least 24 upper-division units. This includes Gateway, upper-division language, and elective courses.
- Outside Coursework: Only one upper-division course related to South and Southeast Asia may be completed outside of the department to meet major requirements. This course can be taken in another UCB department, through study abroad, or at another college or university. This course must be approved by the department. Requests for approval can be submitted online.
πΊοΈ Want a visual guide? Check out our South & Southeast Asian Studies major map to explore year-by-year timelines, academic planning, and career opportunities. [Can you make this link open in a new tab instead of leaving the site?]
π Next Steps: How to Declare
Need help developing a program plan or ready to declare? Schedule a major declaration appointment with our Undergraduate Major Advisor.
π Book with Cassandra via Calendly
Honors & Independent Study
π SSEAS Honors Program
The SSEAS Honors Program offers high-achieving majors the opportunity to undertake independent, advanced research and write an honors thesis under the guidance of a faculty supervisor.
Pathways to an Honors Thesis
Students typically begin their thesis research in one of two ways:
- Expanding Class Work: Developing a major research paper from a previous course into an in-depth thesis.
- Independent Exploration: Investigating a unique topic or region within South & Southeast Asia for which formal courses are not currently offered.
Eligibility Requirements
To apply for admission to the Honors Program, students must meet the following academic criteria:
- Major GPA: Minimum 3.5 GPA in all upper-division SSEAS coursework.
- Overall GPA: Minimum 3.3 GPA across all UC Berkeley coursework.
Thesis Timeline & Coursework
Writing an honors thesis is typically a two-semester process:
- Semester 1 (Recommended): Independent Study
- While not strictly required, enrolling in an Independent Study course (1β4 units, Pass/Not Pass) with your faculty advisor is strongly recommended to carve out dedicated research time in your schedule.
- π Submit Independent Study (199) Approval Form
- Semester 2 (Required): H195 Honors Thesis Course
- Students complete and finalize their thesis while officially enrolled in H195.
- π Submit H195 Honors Thesis Enrollment Form
Requirements to Enroll in H195
To enroll in the H195 Honors Thesis course, students must submit a formal thesis plan that includes:
- Faculty Advisor: A confirmed SSEAS faculty member supervising the thesis.
- Grading Committee: Two committee members who will read and grade the final thesis.
- Topic Description: A brief written summary of the proposed thesis topic.
- Timeline: A proposed schedule outlining advising meetings and draft deadlines.
- Due Date Confirmation: Acknowledgment of the thesis deadline (Monday of the 13th week of classes).
Independent Study
Students may take independent study courses upon arrangement with department faculty (excluding lecturers). Once a faculty member agrees & approves, the independent study students can sign up online to enroll in the course.
Major Advising
Students interested in the major who want to learn more can contact our undergraduate advisor, Cassandra Dunn. When ready to begin planning for declaration, students should meet with the undergraduate advisor to write a program plan and declare their major. Students may also meet with our Faculty Undergraduate Advisor, Alex von Rospatt, for academic support and subject matter advising. The Faculty Advisor can also share information about graduate programs and the graduate school experience.
We welcome and encourage students to connect with our faculty for information and guidance. Office hours and contact information can be found on our faculty page.