Our M.A. Programs in International Studies

M.A. – Southeast Asian Studies

The M.A. program in Southeast Asian Studies offers students a framework within which to carry out the interdisciplinary study of the peoples and nations of insular and mainland Southeast Asia―Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Loro’sae and Viet Nam. The curriculum combines training in one or more Southeast Asian languages with study of various aspects of modern and classical Southeast Asian civilizations. The University has a distinguished faculty of scholars who provide instruction in diverse areas of Southeast Asian studies, offering a rich variety of courses on these topics.

Students in Southeast Asian Studies specialize in a diverse array of topics leading to their MA thesis or project. Southeast Asia faculty offer concentrations in the arts, literature, and museums (Prof.s Christina Sunardi, Raissa DeSmet, Third Andreson, Anida Ali, Bich-Ngoc Turner, and Nazry Bahrawi), archaeology (Prof.s Peter Lape and Ben Marwick), archival studies (Prof.s Jenna Grant, Raissa DeSmet and SEA Librarian Judith Henchy), Southeast Asian American studies (Prof.s Rick Bonus, Linh Nguyen, and Jenna Grant), colonialism and imperialist histories (Prof.s Christoph Giebel, Vicente Rafael, and many others), Islam and Buddhism (Prof.s Christina Sunardi, Jenna Grant, Cabieri Robinson, Celia Lowe), environmental studies (Prof.s Patrick Christie, Sara Curran, Rebakah Minarchek, and Celia Lowe), and science and technology studies (Celia Lowe and Jenna Grant). It is also possible to focus on the natural sciences in the MA program. The student may only take one course that does not have Southeast Asia content, and must take courses from at least two different departments during their course of study. Burmese, Indonesian, Khmer, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese are regularly taught on campus.

Southeast Asian Studies graduates have gone on to graduate programs in various academic disciplines, as well as careers in government service, journalism, teaching, research, marine affairs, community organizing, international trade, and international development.

– Jenna Grant, Graduate Program Coordinator

HOW TO APPLY

Applications must be submitted by January 31 for admittance to the autumn quarter cohort. We only accept students into the M.A. program during autumn quarter

You can find information about the application requirements and process on our website.

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Visit The Center for Southeast Asia and its Diasporas for the latest information, news and events on Southeast Asia in the Pacific Northwest.

Credit: Sara Van Fleet

2025-2026 HANDBOOK

Our handbook serves as a compilation of UW and Jackson School resources for students and a reference guide containing the school’s academic requirements, deadlines, policies, and procedures. You are responsible for knowing and adhering to the contents of this handbook. Any questions about this handbook can be directed to the appropriate adviser as listed in the general advising section.

We encourage you to seek out and take full advantage of the opportunities all over the UW campus as well.

Information about advising, M.A. degree requirements, curriculum requirements, language requirement, capstone research paper(s), and a timeline to finish the degree is included below.

  1. General Advising
  2. M.A. Degree Requirements
  3. Course of Study
  4. Capstone Research Paper(s) and Oral Exam
  5. Prerequisites and Language Proficiency
  6. Model Timeline for Completing the Degree

In addition, you will find more information about policies, procedures and other resources related to the program on the following webpages:

  1. Concurrent Degrees
  2. Graduate Certificates
  3. Tuition & Funding
  4. UW Academic Policies
  5. Graduation Processes
  6. Other Resources

GENERAL ADVISING

The Jackson School staff and faculty offer a variety of support and guidance to prospective and current students.

Professor Jenna Grant is the Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC) for our M.A. in Southeast Asian Studies. As the GPC, Dr. Grant serves as the academic adviser for the program. Please meet with him at least once per year to review your course of study and request any necessary approvals required. After you have formed your supervisory committee in your second year, your committee chair also advises you. Please see the section titled supervisory committee for more information on your committee’s role, duties, and your responsibility to it.

Jesús Hidalgo is the Graduate Program Adviser (GPA) for all our graduate programs. He will advise you regarding degree requirements, academic planning, policies and procedures, and graduation. Please meet with him at least once per year to ensure you are on track to graduate. >

The adviser-student relationship implies mutual responsibility. Faculty and staff advisers have office hours over Zoom and in person, where you can drop by to talk, and they may also be available by appointment at other times. Students are responsible for seeking out faculty and staff either during office hours or by making appointments. Please be proactive about your advising and ask early for the assistance that you need.

If you find yourself struggling academically, meet with the GPC or GPA to discuss your options.

Other advisers

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M.A. DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Students receive the M.A. degree when they have fulfilled the following requirements:

  1. Complete curriculum requirements, including thirty-eight (38) credits of graduate level work (400-level classes and above, of which eighteen credits must be 500-level and above), not including language classes or thesis credits;
  2. Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above;
  3. Achieve second-year proficiency in a Southeast Asian language;
  4. Take courses from at least two departments;
  5. Complete a thesis, or a creative project, or two article-length papers under faculty supervision;
  6. Pass the oral exam; and
  7. Comply with the rules and regulations of the UW Graduate School.

All degree requirements must be met within six years of the start of your program. This time limit includes leaves of absence. Under extraordinary circumstances, your GPC and GPA may agree to extend this limit.

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COURSE OF STUDY

A summary of the curriculum is provided below. A detailed description of the entire program curriculum, policies and procedures can be found in the Southeast Asia Studies handbook.

  • JSIS A 506 The Study of Southeast Asia (5 credits) Introduces problems in the study of the region.
  • JSIS A 580 Field Course in Southeast Asian History (5 credits) Advanced work in the history of Southeast Asia.
  • JSIS A 582 Seminar in Southeast Asian History (5 credits) Continuation of JSIS A 580 with an emphasis on proposal and thesis writing.

21 Credits Electives: 

You must take twenty-one additional credits at the 400-, 500-, or 600-level, including at least three credits at the 500-level or above, to fulfill your remaining required eighteen credits of 500-level work. Five of these credits can betaken in classes unrelated to Southeast Asia. Ideally, these courses will complement a student’s degree goals, either by fulfilling disciplinary or professional objectives. Students are advised to select courses in consultation with the GPC or adviser to ensure that both individual and program goals are met.

These classes must be taken at two or more different departments on campus to ensure students receive an interdisciplinary education. Students are welcome to find UW faculty members across campus teaching courses on Southeast Asia through the Southeast Asia Center website.

* If you decide to write a thesis, you must add nine (9) extra 700-level credits to the minimum 38 graduate credits you need to accumulate to finish the degree.

** If approved by the Graduate Program Coordinator, up to five (5) 400-level credits taken at the Jackson School as an undergraduate student can be counted towards the 38 graduate credits you have to accumulate for your M.A. degree.

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CAPSTONE RESEARCH PAPER(S) AND ORAL EXAM

Students can complete either a thesis or two separate research papers. Each student must form a supervisory committee to advise them during their work and assess their completed work. You should consult what option you would like to select with the GPC initially and then regularly with your supervisory committee members for guidance in research and writing.

Thesis

This option is designed for students who wish to undertake a major research project that involves extensive use of primary sources. The thesis can be an expanded version of a seminar paper or an Independent Study project.

A thesis is typically about 20,000 words long.

You must register for at least nine JSIS 700: Master’s Thesis credits to complete this option. Your supervisory committee chair generally supervises and submits grades for these credits. You can take them all in one quarter or spread out over several quarters.

Non-thesis options:

Alternatively, students may choose to write two research papers expanding on papers written for their seminar classes; or to create a documentary film, original theater production, or other original artistic creation.

Each research paper is typically about 8,000 words long.

No matter which option the student chooses, this requirement must be designed in consultation with, and agreed up on by, the GPC and the supervisory committee.

ORAL EXAM

The final oral exam is based on the thesis or two research papers, any implications of your topic(s), and its relevance to global trends. All exams are different and you should ask your committee about your exam specifically. Below is an example of how the exam may be structured.

At the start of the exam, students are asked to step out of the exam room, while the committee members deliberate about the student’s candidacy and the line of questioning they will pursue. Students are expected to prepare a brief, five to ten minute, presentation about their research projects. Following these deliberations, committee members will ask the student questions for about forty-five to sixty minutes. The student will then leave the room while the committee deliberates on the results of the oral exam. Following their second deliberation, the chair will invite the student back to the exam room to inform them of the results of their exam.

You will take your oral exam with your supervisory committee during the quarter you intend to graduate.

Committee members may award distinction to students with outstanding performance in their written work (essay or two papers) as well as in their oral exam. The following two categories of distinction will be awarded to students for their overall body of work and with unanimous consent of all committee members.

  • High Pass: A High Pass will be awarded to students who (1) showed overall mastery of material in their thesis or, whose two papers exhibit a close to publishable quality; and (2) delivered an impressive performance during their oral exam that showed substantial theoretical and empirical knowledge of their fields of study.
  • Honors: Honors will be awarded to students who (1) showed excellent mastery of material in their thesis or, whose two papers are of publishable quality; and (2) delivered an outstanding performance during their oral exam that showed excellent and broadly situated theoretical as well as empirical knowledge of their respective fields of study in the context of international affairs.

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PREREQUISITES & LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

Students do not have to be proficient prior to entering the program and can complete the requirement during the M.A. program.

Southeast Asian language study is an essential part of the program. The Department of Asian Languages and Literature offers instruction in Khmer, Indonesian and Vietnamese; the Department of American Ethnic Studies offers instruction in Tagalog; and the Jackson School offers Burmese, and Thai.

Summer language study opportunities are available at other institutions in the US, such as the University of Wisconsin, and in Southeast Asia. Please note, it is the student’s responsibility to apply for admission and funding in a timely manner for summer language study.

Students who enter the program with advanced proficiency in a Southeast Asian language (usually indicating fluent reading, writing, and speaking abilities) may contact the GPC about testing out of the language requirement. Do this early before you start your first quarter in the program; if your exam results do not show the required proficiency, you will need time to take the appropriate coursework. We encourage these students to study a second Southeast Asian language during their program. Students who are uncertain about what level of language to take should contact the various language departments for assistance.

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MODEL TIMELINE FOR COMPLETING IN TWO YEARS

This timeline is for students who have no prior training in a language. It is intended to be a guideline and model for courses taken as a full-time M.A. student, not a required path for all students. It is also different than the path concurrent students will take. This model includes JSIS 700 credits, required for students writing a thesis. If you are not writing a thesis, please fill these spots with other credits.

YEAR 1

  • Autumn (15 credits: 10 graduate cr + 5 language cr):
    • Language Year 101 (5 cr)
    • SEA Related Course (5 cr)
    • SEA Related Course (5 cr)
  • Winter (15 credits: 10 graduate cred + 5 language cred):
    • Language Year 102 (5 cr)
    • JSIS A 506 (5 cr)
    • SEA Related Course (5 cr)
  • Spring (15 credits: 10 graduate cr + 5 language cr):
    • Language Year 103 (5 cr)
    • SEA Related Course (5 cr)
    • Non SEA Related Course (5 cr)

YEAR 2:

  • Autumn (15 credits: 10 graduate cr + 5 language cr):
    • Language Year 201 (5 cr)
    • SEA Related Course (5 cr)
    • SEA Related Course (5 cr)
  • Winter (14 credits: 5 graduate cr + 5 language cr + 4 thesis cr):
    • Language Year 202 (5 cr)
    • JSIS A 580 (5 cr)
    • JSIS 700 (4 cr)
  • Spring (10 credits: 5 language cr + 5 thesis cr):
    • Language Year 203 (5 cr)
    • JSIS A 582 (5 cr)
    • JSIS 700 (5 cr)

* If approved by the Graduate Program Coordinator, up to five (5) 400-level credits taken at the Jackson School as an undergraduate student can be counted towards the 36 graduate credits you have to accumulate for your M.A. degree.

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HANDBOOKS

M.A. in Southeast Asian Studies Handbook 2023-24

M.A. in Southeast Asian Studies Handbook 2022-23

AFFILIATED CENTERS

The Jackson School houses 14 outreach centers. These centers provide opportunities for educators, students, and the community to learn about the world. Some of them have specific scholarship opportunities and other resources that may be useful. Here is one you might find particularly useful:

CENTER FOR SOUTHEAST ASIA & ITS DIASPORAS