Each quarter, UCLA offers a wide range of courses about Southeast Asia under different departments. View the Southeast Asian Studies courselist for a full listing.
UCLA Library Guide on Southeast Asia, resources guide curated by Southeast Asia Librarian, Jade Alburo.
To join student organizations, view the list of Southeast Asia-related student associations on campus.
Students interested in Southeast Asian Studies can major and minor in programs from various departments across campus.
Asian Studies major Asian American Studies major / minor Pilipino Studies minor Asian Languages and Linguistics major / minor Asian Humanities major / minor Asian Religions major International Development Studies major Global Studies major / minor Global Health minor International Migration Studies minor Southeast Asian Studies minor
Filipino, Indonesian, Thai and Vietnamese are taught at UCLA in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures. These courses are open to all UCLA students and to non-students with the permission of the instructor.
UCLA students must take a placement exam administered by the department at the beginning of the academic year to determine language proficiency in order to enroll in language courses. Placement exams for Southeast Asian languages are only offered once a year, during Fall Quarter Zero Week. Register for these exams through the Asian Languages and Cultures website.
UCLA Center for Southeast Asian Studies also offers Distance Learning Khmer at three levels and Distance Learning Introductory Burmese and Intermediate Burmese to UCLA students. Contact the instructor for a placement exam and enrollment.
UCLA students interested in Distance Learning Lao could enroll in a course during the academic year through the Northern Illinois University by applying for the SEALC-GETSEA tuition support to cover most of the costs of the language course.
Students can apply to the UC Education Abroad Program (UCEAP), which offers travel abroad programs in Thailand and Singapore to gain more language and culture experience.
UCLA Center for Southeast Asian Studies also offers a two-week cultural immersion and volunteer program in Bali, Indonesia sponsored by the Julia and Ken Gouw Centennial Scholarship for Study Abroad in Indonesia.
Our Program for Early Modern Southeast Asia will organize archeological field schools in Southeast Asia during the summer for undergraduate and graduate students. Check back later for more information.
2022: Philippines 2023: Cambodia 2024: Thailand 2025: Indonesia
Many universities in California also offer opportunities to study and learn about Southeast Asia. View the Southeast Asian Studies faculty list to see the range of expertise currently found at public and private institutions in the state.