Southeast Asia is known for its role as an economic hub, as well as its political and cultural diversity. Students in the Southeast Asian Studies minor at ANU have access to a wide range of scholars and courses on language, history, cultures, and politics in the region. By completing coursework as prescribed by the minor, students will gain a deeper understanding of regional issues, such as power, globalization, ethnicity and gender, as well as processes and issues specific to their country or area of interest. These can include religious systems, economic networks and cross-cultural contact. Current major strengths are in Burmese, Indonesian, Thai and Vietnamese studies, and some of our staff also support work relating to other ethnic nationality and trans-border issues. In addition to developing a critical, analytical understanding of Southeast Asia, past and present, students gain significant knowledge and skills which will boost their qualifications for finding employment, or alternatively, further study for a higher degree program.
The Southeast Asian studies minor is designed to complement the Indonesian, Thai and Vietnamese language majors, and the Burmese and Tetum language minors, though knowledge of these languages is not required for courses in the Southeast Asian studies major.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand and evaluate historical and current events and developments that have shaped Southeast Asia.
- Identify and critique the contemporary socio-cultural and political systems of Southeast Asia, with detailed understanding of differing trajectories across Mainland and Island Southeast Asia.
- Analyse current debates relating to regional cooperation and unity, including with supra-national groups, namely ASEAN, in the context of tensions in traditions.
- Analyse the global significance of events and developments in Southeast Asia.
- Understand the processes and disciplinary approaches through which current knowledge about Southeast Asia Studies has developed.
Other Information
Students with previous “language experience or exposure” are required to take a language proficiency assessment to ensure enrolment at the most appropriate level.
Relevant past experience includes:
- Previous study of the language (both formal and informal, for example but not limited to, at school, or, home, or through online activities, etc.)
- Being exposed to the language in childhood via a family member or friend
- Travel or living in a country where the language is spoken
- The language being spoken in your home (even if you do not speak it yourself)
Students who are not sure if they need to take a proficiency assessment should seek advice from the course or language convenor.
Students who intentionally misrepresent their language proficiency level may be investigated under the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 as having failed to comply with assessment directions and having sought unfair advantage. This may results in a penalty such as reduced grades or failure of the course.
Students are not permitted to enrol in a language course below one that they have already successfully completed, except with permission of the language and/or course convenor.
Areas of Interest
- Anthropology
- Asian Languages
- Cultural Studies
- History
- Asia Pacific Studies
- Asia-Pacific Studies
- Politics
- International Security
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
This minor requires the completion of 24 units, which must include:
6 units from the following compulsory course:
ASIA2041 Mainland Southeast Asia: Colonial and Postcolonial Predicaments
18 units selected from the following list of regional studies courses:
ARCH2050 Archaeology of Southeast Asia
ASIA2018 Maps and Mapping in Asia and the Pacific
ASIA2039 Burma/Myanmar - a Country in Crisis
ASIA2060 Southeast Asian Security
ASIA2088 Indonesia in the Malay World
ASIA2111 Indonesian Foreign and Security Policy
ASIA2120 Colonialism and the Rule of Law
ASIA2167 Borders and their Transgressions in Mainland Southeast Asia
ASIA2275 Pleasures and Powers of Stories in South and Southeast Asia
ASIA2516 Indonesia: Politics, Society and Development
ASIA2747 Airlines in Asia and the Pacific: Histories, Technologies, Cultures, and Geographies
ASIA3030 History of the State System in Southeast Asia
HUMN2004 Global Vietnam: Gender, Labour and Migration
STST2020 Study tour: Southeast Asia's Security Choices
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