South and Southeast Asian studies programs teach students about the cultures of people in India, Tibet, Indonesia, and several additional neighboring countries. Students use different angles to examine this region, including language, religion, and sociology. They also study South and Southeast Asian history and the role of South and Southeast Asia in international relations.

Did you know that if it weren't for India, we wouldn't have either the number system or grammar? It's true. And before Christopher Columbus stumbled upon America, he had wanted to go to India, in search of spices and silk and other fine goods.

Clearly, we have a lot for which to thank India since we all love math and grammar, right? For those of you who aren't big fans of math and grammar, studying India's political, cultural, and historical sides exposes us to a rich variety of knowledge beyond reading, 'riting, and 'rithmatic.

Moreover, for an even richer and wide-ranging understanding of a different culture, you can study the whole South and Southeast Asian subcontinent. South Asia includes not only India but also Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, and the Maldives. (Some academic programs also include Afghanistan in this list.) Southeast Asia includes Indonesia, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Religion and spirituality in these countries include Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam.

Home to well over a billion people, South and Southeast Asia offers us the opportunity to study any of a wide range of subjects. For example, if you're interested in linguistics, you could study one or more of its various languages such as Sanskrit, Urdu, Hindi, Tibetan, or Persian. If you're interested in ethnomusicology, you could study its musical arts. Because this large geographic region has been the site for many other engagements that cross country borders, it's a good place to study international issues such as globalization and ethnic tensions.

Other possible concentrations include comparative religion, media and communications, human rights, and economics. As you can imagine, the list could stretch on indefinitely.

Similarly, a background in South and Southeast Asian studies prepares you for a number of different careers. You could work in international journalism, hospitality and tourism, the arts, business, or law, to name just some of the possibilities. Because you also typically study a South or Southeast Asian language in this program, you could also be a translator.

A few colleges and universities offer bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in South and Southeast Asian studies. In many cases, you concentrate in South and Southeast Asian studies as part of an international or Asian studies program. You could also earn a graduate certificate together with a graduate degree in another program such as law or economics.

A bachelor's degree typically takes about four years of full-time study after high school. After a bachelor's degree, a master's degree usually takes about one to two additional years. A doctoral degree generally takes between three and five years after that.

Students in this program of study may be able to choose concentrations such as the following:

• Customs and Culture
• Linguistics
• Literature
• Music
• Religion
• Politics
• Women and Gender Studies