South and Southeast Asian Studies

Professor G.G. Weix, Advisor

The Liberal Studies Program offers undergraduates at the University of Montana-Missoula an opportunity to study South and Southeast Asian peoples, cultures, histories, and societies, as well as their literary, artistic and religious traditions.  The region includes India, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia, East Timor, and the Philippines. 

The South Asianist faculty of Liberal Studies and the Dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences work closely with those faculty from other disciplines at the University of Montana who have research and teaching interests in the area, and competence in regional languages.

Students may choose to minor in South and Southeast Asia with a major in any discipline.  They must register with Professor G.G. Weix, the advisor, and are encouraged to plan their course sequence at least one semester in advance, in consultation with an assigned core faculty advisor from those listed below.

Undergraduate Degrees Available

Subject Type Option Track
South & Southeast Asian Stds Minor

Course Descriptions

South/Southeast Asian Studies

  • SSEA 102H - Intro to South & S. East Asia

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered spring. Same as ANTY 102H/LS 102H.  An introduction to South and Southeast Asian regions, cultures, societies, and histories, with particular emphasis on artistic, religious and literary traditions from prehistory to the present.  An overview approach with different materials and emphases.
    Course Attributes:
    • Historical & Cultural Course
    • Indigenous and Global

  • SSEA 195 - Special Topics

    Credits: 1 TO 6. Level: Undergraduate. (R-6) Offered intermittently.  Experimental offerings of visiting professors, offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
    Course Attributes:
    • Internships/Practicums

  • SSEA 202X - Introduction to India

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered autumn, even years. Same as LSH 202x. This course introduces students to the history, economy, political and legal system, society, culture, religions, and literary and artistic traditions of India, which is the world's largest secular democracy and the birthplace of four major world religions.
    Course Attributes:
    • Indigenous and Global

  • SSEA 212S - Southeast Asian Cult & Civ

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered intermittently. Introduction to the cultures, social organization, and contemporary events of Southeast Asia.
    Course Attributes:
    • Social Sciences Course
    • Indigenous and Global

  • SSEA 232H - Buddhism

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered autumn.  Same as RLST 232H.  A historical introduction to the development of Buddhist thought and practice in the cultures of Asia and the West.
    Course Attributes:
    • Historical & Cultural Course
    • Indigenous and Global

  • SSEA 234X - Hindu Religious Traditions

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered spring, odd-numbered years.  Same as RLST 234X.  Critical exploration of selected aspects of Hindu thought, narrative and practice, both in contemporary and historical perspective.  Focus primarily on India, but with consideration of Hinduism's transformation and impact beyond South Asia.
    Course Attributes:
    • Indigenous and Global

  • SSEA 295 - Special Topics

    Credits: 1 TO 12. Level: Undergraduate. (R-12) Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
    Course Attributes:
    • Internships/Practicums

  • SSEA 330X - Peoples and Cultures of World

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered intermittently. Same as ANTY 330X. Ethnographic survey of societies and cultures of Indonesia and the Philippines.

  • SSEA 342 - Topics Comparative Lit & Rel

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered intermittently.  Same as LSH 342.  These courses compare major traditions, texts and trends in two or more world civilizations or cultures.  Works of literature and/or philosophy are examined in their historical contexts, and in relation to each other.

  • SSEA 353 - Topics So. Asian Religions

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered intermittently.  No prerequisites.  This course will examine select topics of central importance with respect to the history of interaction between the major religions (Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism) of South Asia.

  • SSEA 366 - Tibetan Civilization

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered intermittently. No prerequisites.  An exploration of the history and culture of a unique civilization that has influenced greatly the cultures of Himalayan, East and South Asia.  Special attention will be given to Tibetan religions, modernity, and globalization as they have presented profound challenges to Buddhist traditions. 

  • SSEA 368 - Contemporary Buddhism in SSEA

    Credits: 3. Level: Undergraduate. Offered intermittently. No prerequisites.  Like other major religions, modernity and globalization have presented profound challenges to Buddhist traditions.  In this course we will explore various contemporary issues that have affected Theravada Buddhist societies-colonial and post-colonial revivalism, religious nationalism, women's rights and social reform-as case studies of some of the major ways religions have confronted modernity.

  • SSEA 395 - Special Topics

    Credits: 1 TO 12. Level: Undergraduate. (R-12) Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
    Course Attributes:
    • Internships/Practicums

  • SSEA 495 - Special Topics

    Credits: 1 TO 12. Level: Undergraduate. (R-12) Seminar designed for students with a minor in South and Southeast Asian Studies.  Regional or temporal focus may vary.
    Course Attributes:
    • Internships/Practicums