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UNDERGRADUATE / GRADUATE COURSES
ANTHRCUL 652.001 - Ethnographic Writing
This course considers the history, politics, and possibilities of ethnographic writing with some attention to ethnographic filmmaking. We will discuss a variety of ethnographic genres, including literary journalism, experimental ethnography, feminist ethnography, travel accounts, memoir, the poetry of witness, investigative reporting, documentary image-texts, ethnographic novel, and autobiographical criticism.
Instructor: Ruth Behar
ASIAN 328.001 - Introduction to Theravada BuddhismThis course offers an introduction to the key elements of Theravada doctrine and practice by placing the earliest complete collection of Buddhist scriptures, the Pali Tipitaka, in conversation with later ritual, literary, and artistic developments in Theravada cultures from the fifth century to the present.
Instructor: Trent Walker
ASIAN 480.002 - Topics in Asian Studies: Buddhist Magic
This course explores the relationship between Buddhism and magic through the lens of an unstudied Southeast Asian manuscript. Working together as a class, we’ll discover how to decipher the words, decode the numerological diagrams, and interpret the vivid illuminations of this unique document in light of the wider world of Buddhist witchcraft and wizardry.
Instructor: Trent Walker
INTLSTD 401.015 - International Studies Advanced Seminar: Topics in Southeast Asian Studies
Through weekly readings and discussion of assigned texts, students will be introduced to and deepen their understanding of key themes in Southeast Asian Studies. Our course aims to approach Southeast Asia in comparative perspective, while remaining attentive to and learning from specific places within the region.
Instructor: Michael Hawkins
INTLSTD 470.005 - International Studies Advanced Seminar: Globalization and Uneven Development
This course introduces students to the contested histories of international development and globalization. We will interrogate these processes as economic, technocratic, and political projects.
Instructor: Michael Hawkins
FTVM 441.001 - National Screens: Global Media
In this course, we will critically examine the role that film, television, video games, and other media play in shaping our sense of global, national, and local cultures and identities. We will focus on the role of global media institutions in society and also examine how diverse audiences use global media to negotiate with issues of cultural identity in everyday life.
Instructor: Swapnil Rai
HISTART 497.003 / HISTART 689.003 - Cultural Heritage and Post-Genocide Memory in Cambodia
Participants in this curatorial seminar will have the unique opportunity of participating in the conceptualization and organization of a special exhibition on cultural heritage and post-genocide memory in Cambodia scheduled to open at the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) in Winter 2024.
Instructor: Nachiket Chanchani
POLISCI 389.006 - Topics in Contemporary Political Science: Governments and Politics of Southeast Asia
An analysis of political developments in the countries of Southeast Asia defined in terms of Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Burma, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Instructor: Allen Hicken
POLISCI 688.003 - Selected Topics in Political Science: Governments and Politics of Southeast Asia
An analysis of political developments in the countries of Southeast Asia defined in terms of Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Burma, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
The course serves as one of the core modules comprising the Comparative Politics Proseminar and is primarily intended for PhD students in Political Science. Students from other graduate programs are also welcome.
Instructor: Allen Hicken
PUBPOL 475.002 - US Diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific | PUBPOL 750.002 - US Diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific
The course will examine the past, present, and future of diplomatic interactions between the United States and the other nations of the Indo-Pacific region, starting with the 1951 signing of the Treaty of San Francisco that ended the state of war in the Pacific after World War II.
Instructor: Daniel Shields
RCHUMS 319.001 /AMAS 301.002 /FTVM366.012 / ISLAM 392.001 - Topics in Film: Contemporary Film of the Islamic World
This course will look at contemporary films from throughout the Islamic World including the Arab World, Iran, Turkey, and South and Southeast Asia, as well as those that address the Muslim experience in America. We will examine not only how these films challenge those conceptions of Muslims portrayed by Hollywood and mass media, but also how they respond to their particular socio-cultural contexts.
Instructor: Sascha Crasnow
SEAS 455.001 Topics in Southeast Asian Studies: Introduction to Southeast Asian Studies / SEAS 501.001 Introduction to Southeast Asian Studies: Introduction to Southeast Asian Studies
Through weekly readings and discussion of assigned texts, students will be introduced to and deepen their understanding of key themes in Southeast Asian Studies. Our course aims to approach Southeast Asia in comparative perspective, while remaining attentive to and learning from specific places within the region.
Instructor: Michael Hawkins
SEAS 698.001 - Independent Study of Southeast Asia
An independent research or special project on Southeast Asia, designed to meet student needs not currently available through regularly scheduled courses. Projects must be designed by the student in consultation with the sponsoring faculty member, and should result in a significant piece of writing or final project.
STDABRD 352.001 - CGIS: University Study in Singapore - National University of Singapore
Students enroll in classes at the National University of Singapore (NUS). A full range of classes is available.
STDABRD 358.001 - CGIS: Conservation and Development Studies in Siem Reap, Cambodia
Students travel across various regions of Cambodia to explore development and conservation challenges throughout the country, in addition to brief exploration of these themes in nearby communities in Vietnam. Summer students will also study conservation challenges and ethics while they focus on the ecology and conservation of the Asian elephant.
STDABRD 370.001 - CGIS: Sustainable Development Studies in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Students focus on sustainable development throughout Thailand. Collaboration with locals enhances this field-based learning. Students explore farming practices and resource management and take four courses (18 credits). The program involves trekking and camping in remote regions and snorkeling and sea kayaking in coastal areas. Students live with local host families.
STDABRD 375.001 - CGIS: International Development in Chiang Mai, Thailand
During this semester-long, 16-credit program in northern Thailand, students study international development and Thai language and have the opportunity to do a six-week internship or research project with a grassroots organization focused on entrepreneurship, health, human rights, or sustainability. Students stay with host families in Chiang Mai.
STDABRD 439.001 - CGIS: Health and Community in Argentina, South Africa, Vietnam, and the U.S.
Students take classes at the SIT Study Aboard centers in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Cape Town, South Africa; Hanoi, Vietnam; Washington D.C., United States. On this multi country program, students learn how communities around the world understand what it is to achieve and maintain health and well-being.
SOUTHEAST ASIAN LANGUAGES
FILIPINO LANGUAGE COURSE OFFERINGS
ASIANLAN 111.001 - First Year Filipino I
The course is designed to develop basic competencies in the Filipino language. Grammar serves as the backbone of the course content, while lessons also put emphasis on the practical use of each topic. We put these grammatical patterns into context by exploring Filipino cultural dynamics and patterns that parallel the topics learned.
ASIANLAN 211.001 - Second year Filipino
This course is designed to develop students' communicative competence in Filipino. A combination of social and linguistic rules serves as the backbone of the instructional content. The course uses the functional-situational approach and content-based instruction to teach the language.
ASIANLAN 411.001 - Advance Filipino I
This course teaches advanced speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills in Filipino. These skills will be taught through formal class sessions in which students learn to use new grammatical structures to discuss various topics in Filipino culture and literature.
Instructor: Irene Gonzaga
INDONESIAN LANGUAGE COURSE OFFERINGS
ASIANLAN 121.001 - First Year Indonesian I
This course will focus on training students in basic Indonesian communicative skills, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
ASIANLAN 221.001 - Second Year Indonesian I
This course is a continuation of ASIANLAN 122. It will focus on improving the students’ communicative skills, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
ASIANLAN 419.001 - Advanced Indonesian I
This course is to advance students’ communicative skills, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing, through the discussion of reading materials from textbooks and other authentic materials like newspapers, magazines, and audiovisual materials.
Instructor: Agustini
Thai Language Course Offerings
ASIANLAN 161.001 - First Year Thai I
This course aims to provide a foundation in conversational Thai for students who have little or no knowledge of the Thai language. In this course, a large focus is placed on the development of general communicative competence at both colloquial and formal levels.
ASIANLAN 261.001 - Second Year Thai I
This course aims to provide deeper knowledge of the Thai language and culture, focusing on developing students’ listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Emphasis is placed on developing a strong intermediate-level understanding of the language through longer dialogues and written paragraphs using Thai script.
ASIANLAN 461.001 - Advanced Thai I
This course aims to emphasize the Thai language in all communicative realms to give students a better understanding of the Thai language and comparative culture as students learn to use the language in discussions with native speakers. These communicative skills will be utilized through the examination of short and long stories on various topics: Thai daily life, people, traditions, arts, beliefs, and values of different regions and reigns.
Instructor: Aimkamon Bunmee
Vietnamese Language Course Offerings
ASIANLAN 175.001 - First Year Vietnamese I
This course is designed as an introduction to the Vietnamese language. The language skills include listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and the medium of instruction will be Vietnamese with minimum use of English.
ASIANLAN 275.001- Second Year Vietnamese I
The course is aimed at improving students' speaking, listening, reading and writing competence. These skills will be emphasized through dialogues, reading passages, and authentic materials as well as listening comprehension and communicative exercises, video clips about various aspects of life in Vietnam.
ASIANLAN 475.001 - Advanced Vietnamese I
This course is designed for students who have completed second year Vietnamese or have an equivalent background in intermediate Vietnamese. The course is aimed at enhancing students' competency in reading and listening comprehension, as well as knowledge of the language and various aspects of Vietnamese culture.
Instructor: ThuyAnh Nguyen
