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South and Southeast Asian Studies

Students with disabilities

The university is committed to supporting and accommodating students with disabilities as stated in the university protocol. Students should contact Fenestra Disability Centre at least four weeks before the start of their courses to ensure that all necessary academic accomodations can be made in time conform the abovementioned protocol.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to be familiar with Leiden University policies on plagiarism and academic integrity. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. If you submit any work with your name affixed to it, it is assumed to be your own work with all sources used properly indicated and documented in the text (with quotations and/or citations).

First Year

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2

First Semester (Fall)

Premodern History of South and Southeast Asia 5
Kerncurriculum: Area Studies 5
Histories of Modern South and Southeast Asia 5
Academic Skills (South and Southeast Asian Studies)

Religion: Choose 1 out of 3

Introduction to Buddhism 5
Introduction to Hinduism 5
Introduction to the Study of Islam 5

Elective Languages (10 EC):

Choose 1 out of 4

Hindi 1 10
Indonesian 1 10
Sanskrit 1 10
Tibetan 1 10

Second Semester (Spring)

Classical Cultures of South and Southeast Asia: Seminar 1 5
Languages of South and Southeast Asia: History, Context and Structure 5
Nation, Community, Self: Questions of Culture in South and Southeast Asia 5
State, Politics and Economy in Modern South and Southeast Asia 5
Academic Skills (South and Southeast Asian Studies)

Elective Languages (10 EC):

Choose 1 out of 4:

Hindi 2 10
Indonesian 2 10
Sanskrit 2 10
Tibetan 2 10

Extracurricular Course

The History of the Buddhism in Thailand 5

Second Year

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2

First Semester (Fall)

Cultural Dynamics of South and South East Asia: Ramayana 5

Language

Choose one of the following languages in continuation of the first year (10 EC):

Hindi 3 10
Indonesian 3 10
Sanskrit 3 10
Tibetan 3 (cancelled in 2017-2018) 10

Tracks (10 EC): choose one of the following tracks:

A: Modern South and Modern Southeast Asia (10 EC, choose one or two courses)
B: Classical Cultures of South and Southeast Asia (10 EC, choose two courses)

Track A: Modern South and Modern Southeast Asia

Choose two of the following courses on offer:

Comparative Colonial History: Dutch and British Indies, 1750-1950 10
Culture of Tibet 5
Displacement and Development: Anthropological Perspectives on South Asia (5 EC) 5
Displacement and Development: Anthropological Perspectives on South Asia (10 EC) 10
Islam in Southeast Asia: The Basics 5
Modern Media in SSEA 5
Politics of Southeast Asia 5

Track B: Classical Cultures of South and Southeast Asia

Choose two of the following courses on offer:

Buddhist Art 5
Culture of Tibet 5
Iconography of South and Southeast Asia 5
Indian Buddhism 5

Elective SSEAS

Choose one course from track A or track B of 5 EC.

Second Semester (Spring)

Seminar II: Futures of South and Southeast Asia (1718) 5
Core: Philosophy of science 5

Language

Choose one of the following languages in continuation of the first year (10 EC):

Hindi 4 10
Indonesian 4 10
Sanskrit 4 10
Tibetan 4 (cancelled in 2017-2018) 10

Tracks (10 EC): continuation of the track chosen in the first semester (Fall):

A: Modern South and Modern Southeast Asia (10 EC, choose one or two courses)
B: Classical Cultures of South and Southeast Asia (10 EC, choose two courses)

Track A: Modern South and Modern Southeast Asia

Choose one or two of the following courses on offer up to a total of 10 EC:

Anthropology and Sociology of Modern Day South-East Asia 10
Economies of South and Southeast Asia 5
The Indian Ocean World: Sailors, Scholars, Slaves 5
Islam in the Modern World 5
Literatures of South and Southeast Asia 5
Oral Traditions of South and Southeast Asia 5
Tibet: State and Society 5

Track B: Classical Cultures of South and Southeast Asia

Choose two of the following courses on offer:

Architecture: The Temple and the Stupa 5
Hindu Myths in the Art of South and Southeast Asia 5
Literatures of South and Southeast Asia 5
Oral Traditions of South and Southeast Asia 5
Tibetan Buddhism 5
Tibet: State and Society 5
World Philosophies: India 5

Extracurricular Course

The History of the Buddhism in Thailand 5

Third Year

In het derde jaar is 30 EC gereserveerd voor keuzevakken: 15 EC in het eerste semester en 15 EC in het tweede semester. Er zijn verschillende mogelijkheden om deze keuzeruimte in te vullen: een standaard minor, een zelf samengesteld keuzevakkenpakket of een stage. Stel je zelf een pakket samen uit het aanbod aan keuzevakken, dan is het goed te weten dat zo’n pakket aan verschillende voorwaarden moet voldoen: zo moet het pakket een samenhangend geheel vormen. Het is daarom raadzaam vooraf contact op te nemen met de studiecoördinator en/of goedkeuring bij de examencommissie aan te vragen voor het samengestelde pakket. Je kunt hiervoor het standaardformulier gebruiken dat op de website staat.

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2

First Semester (Fall)

Study Abroad 30

Alternative programme in Leiden:

10 EC languages plus 5 EC from track A or B; or, in continuation of year 2, 10 EC from track A or B plus one 5 EC course from track A or B. Students staying in Leiden also need to do 15 EC of the total of 30 EC of their discretionary space.

Languages on offer:

Advanced Readings in Sanskrit Literature (1718) 10
Hindi Literature (1718) 10

Track A: Modern South and Modern Southeast Asia

Comparative Colonial History: Dutch and British Indies, 1750-1950 10
Culture of Tibet 5
Displacement and Development: Anthropological Perspectives on South Asia (5 EC) 5
Displacement and Development: Anthropological Perspectives on South Asia (10 EC) 10
Modern Media in SSEA 5
Politics of Southeast Asia 5

Track B: Classical Cultures of South and Southeast Asia

Buddhist Art 5
Culture of Tibet 5
Iconography of South and Southeast Asia 5
Indian Buddhism 5

Discretionary space (15 EC)

Second Semester (Spring)

Seminar III: Futures of South and Southeast Asia (1718) 5
BA Thesis (South and Southeast Asian Studies) 10

Discretionary space (15 EC)

Extracurricular Course

The History of the Buddhism in Thailand 5

Meer info

Attainment levels Description of the programme Related master programmes/ pre-master tracks Regulations Study guidance Parttime and fulltime

1. Attainment levels

An overview of the attainment levels of the BA programma South and Southeast Asian Studies can be found in the Teaching and Examination Regulations

2. Description of the programme

The three-years bachelor programme South and Southeast Asian Studies provides students with a thorough knowledge of a fascinating and dynamic region. The emphasis lies on India, Tibet and Indonesia, but other countries in South and Southeast Asia will also be discussed. The approach to this regional studies programme is multidisciplinary and offers students the possibility to acquire knowledge about e.g. the languages, religions, art, culture and current politics of the region. Students can specialize in specific countries of South and Southeast Asia and in the following languages: Indonesian, Hindi, Tibetan (not on offer in 2016-2017), and Sanskrit. Studying one of these languages will help extend the knowledge of the various cultures of South and Southeast Asia.

Programme curriculum

The first year: propaedeuse During the first year, the programme lays a foundation for studying various aspects of the region, e.g. the history, culture and modern society in South and Southeast Asia. Students also choose a number of courses themselves: they opt for one of the four languages and for one of the three major religions in the region. In addition, special attention will be devoted to the academic skills necessary for successfully completing the BA during the course “Seminar 1: Classical Cultures of South and Southeast Asia”. Furthermore, one course, “Area Studies”, will be taken together with other students of the Faculty of Humanities.

The second year In the second year, all students will take a course entitled “Cultural Dynamics of South and South East Asia: Ramayana” in the first semester and “Seminar 2: Heritage of South and Southeast Asia”, “Seminar 2: Futures of South and Southeast Asia” or “Seminar 2: Current Affairs of South and Southeast Asia” in the second semester, which elaborates on the first-year course “Seminar 1”. The students, furthermore, continue studying the language they have chosen in the first year. The programme, moreover, offers a choice between two specializations: “Modern South and Modern Southeast Asia” and “Classical Cultures of South and Southeast Asia”. For two semesters, students attend lectures belonging to the chosen specialization. They also attend an elective course South and Southeast Asia during the first semester of the second year. This elective course can be either a course from the “own” specialization or a course from the other specialization. In the second semester, all students will take the course “Philosophy of Science” together with other students of the Faculty of Humanities.

The third year During the first semester of the third year, students go abroad to gain more in-depth knowledge of the relevant language and region. There is an alternative programme in Leiden for students who are unable to go abroad. During the second semester, students attend “Seminar 3: Heritage of South and Southeast Asia”, “Seminar 3: Futures of South and Southeast Asia” or “Seminar 3: Current Affairs of South and Southeast Asia”, courses which elaborate on “Seminar 2: Heritage of South and Southeast Asia”, “Seminar 2: Futures of South and Southeast Asia” or “Seminar 2: Current Affairs of South and Southeast Asia.”. In addition, each student writes a BA Thesis

Discretionary space In addition, the students take electives to fill the discretionary space of 30 EC in total during the third year. Students can choose to take courses from a completely different field (“broadening”). Students can also choose to take courses from the South and Southeast Asia programme (“deepening”). It is also possible to obtain a part of the 30 EC with an internship. More information (in Dutch) on the different electives and options can be found on the relevant website.

3. Related master programmes/ pre-master tracks

The bachelor diploma South and Southeast Asia Studies (SSEAS) gives access to the masters Asian Studies (60 EC).

4. Regulations

Binding Study Advice (BSA) For students who first registered as doing a major at Leiden University after 1996, the “Leiden study system” with Binding Study Advice applies. This system sets out requirements regarding the academic achievements of the first-year student, but also offers better guidance by way of the mentorship and study progress sessions with the coordinator of studies. The aim of this system is finding out as quickly as possibly whether the student is fit for the newly chosen studies and whether the studies fit the student. To receive a positive advice, the student should obtain at least 45 EC of the propaedeuse programme during the first year INCLUDING the following component: Classical Cultures of South and Southeast Asia Seminar I. The board of examiners will provide two written recommendations during the first year. The board of examiners provides the first progress advice in January, which will be based on the achievements of the first semester. Students who end their enrolments before 1 February of the current academic year are no longer entitled to a study advice or a binding study advice. The second advice will follow no later than 15 August. Students who have obtained less than 45 EC will receive a binding negative advice. This means that the students in question are not allowed to continue the South and Southeast Asian Studies programme in Leiden. The limitation period for this rejection is four years. Naturally, personal circumstances will be taken into account, such as illness or serious family reasons. It is therefore important that students inform the coordinator of studies about personal problems in a timely fashion. The department keeps a file of every student with information that is relevant to the BSA. The student is entitled to examine this file (at the coordinator of studies’) and to add information to this file.

The programme imposes additional requirements regarding components that have to be completed for the first binding study advice being the following component: Classical Cultures of South and Southeast Asia: Seminar I.

5. Study guidance

During the first year, the students get intensive coaching by a mentor and a student mentor. The coordinator of studies co-ordinates the coaching and has more formal and individual conversations with the students if necessary. As of the second semester, the coordinator of studies and student mentor discuss the organization of the curriculum for the next semester with each student individually.

6. Parttime and fulltime

The BA programme South and Southeast Asian Studies is offered as a fulltime programme only.

Discretionary Space