http://www.ohio.edu/seas/

Established in 1967, the Southeast Asian Studies Center at Ohio University has been recognized as one of the leading programs of its kind in the U.S. The rich cultures, traditions and opportunities of Southeast Asia are the focus of an interdisciplinary program that offers a master’s degree and supports doctoral studies in disciplines that include an emphasis on Southeast Asia. Courses in professional fields such as development studies, communication, education, international business and management enrich the options. Dual degrees are available in some areas, including the MBA. The graduate program benefits from a faculty having expertise in anthropology, communications, economics, geography, history, linguistics, management, political science, sociology, music, and world religions. The Southeast Asian Collection offers extensive library holdings and houses the Overseas Chinese Documentation and Research Center. The library has special strengths in the insular nations of Southeast Asia.

Students entering the program often plan careers in Foreign Service, government, non-governmental organizations, business, and international development agencies, as well as scholarly careers in teaching and research.

Degree Requirements

The Southeast Asian Studies Program has a flexible curriculum which allows students to enroll in courses offered by schools and departments across the  University. The curriculum is divided into concentrations such as anthropology, business, geography, history, international studies, literature, philosophy, political science, and telecommunications.

The Master’s Program consists of a minimum of seventy credit hours in at least three disciplines. Forty-five credit hours come from core Southeast Asian courses, the remainder from such disciplines as education, journalism, plant biology, and TOEFL.

An important element of the Southeast  Asian Studies program is proficiency in one or more Southeast Asian languages. Two years of coursework or its equivalent in a vernacular language is required. Presently, Ohio University offers classroom instruction in Indonesian, Thai, and Vietnamese. A number of  additional language courses are available through Ohio University’s participation in the Southeast Asian Studies Summer Institute (SEASSI), a nine-week intensive summer language program.

The course work may be completed in as little as fifteen months. The course of study concludes with a comprehensive written examination given during the last term of the student’s program. Thesis and project options are available in lieu of the comprehensive examination.