The regional geography of Southeast Asia; its physical structure, climate and natural vegetation; human settlement; population; traditional, colonial, and modern economies; urbanization; political geography; the environment. ICSA 202 Ecology of Southeast Asia
An overview of the ecological systems of the region; selected issues, problems and areas are studied in greater detail. ICSA 203 The History of Southeast Asia up to 1800
rchaeology in Southeast Asia; the earliest human presence; the emergence of the historic states and their development up to c. 1800; the impact of early Western colonialism. ICSA 204 Modern History of Southeast Asia, c. 1800-Present
An overall history of the region from the beginning of the modern colonial period through to independence; independence, liberalism, nationalism, communism, democratization and globalization. ICSA 205 Religion in Southeast Asia
Animism and popular religion; the different cultural traditions; Theravadan Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity in Southeast Asia; the traditional Vietnamese religious synthesis; religion and the impact of colonialism, nationalism, secularizing ideologies, and economic modernization; contemporary religious developments. ICSA 206 Political Systems of Southeast Asia
Southeast Asian nations and their political systems; constitutional concepts; government and administrative functioning; law making and enforcement. ICSA 211 Economics of Southeast Asia
Study of the national and regional economies of Southeast Asia; agriculture; Industry, finance and the service sector; the role of government; development and economic change in the post-war period; regional and international economic relation; present economic trends. ICSA 212 Peasant Societies in Southeast Asia
Peasant communities in the different countries of the region, their social structures and patterns of life; contemporary problems and future prospects; their role in the wider society. ICSA 213 Poverty and Rural Development in Southeast Asia
The problems of poverty, especially in the agrarian sector; the successes and challenges of rural development and the consequences of change; comparison of the solutions and policies adopted in the various countries of the region. ICSA 214 Women in Southeast Asia
The traditionally ascribed roles of women in the various societies of the region; social problems that pertain to women, such as divorce, abandonment, abuse, prostitution and legal and political access; global perceptions of Southeast Asian women; discussion of outstanding contemporary women in the region (Corizon Aquino, Aung San Su Kyy, etc.). ICSA 231 Southeast Asian Arts I
A survey of the arts and music of the various societies of the region and their development; architecture, the fine arts, and folk traditions. ICSA 232 Southeast Asian Literature I
A survey of the literary tradition of the region with particular reference to specific works of literature; comparative studies of literary works from the various nations and localities. ICSA 233 Dance and Theater in Southeast Asia
An introduction to the traditions of dance, theater and puppet theater in Southeast Asia; their characteristic features, historical background and contemporary expressions. ICSA 251 Thai Arts (SAS Majors)
A survey of the history, features, and cultural context of the major forms of Thai arts, specifically painting, sculpture, and architecture. ICSA 252 Thai Music (SAS Majors)
An introduction to the study of Thai music; instruments; the musical tradition; Thai classical, folk, and modern music. ICSA 253 Thai Society and Culture
Traditional Thai culture, social structure and hierarchy; interpersonal relations; kreng jai; family; the role of Buddhism and animism; folk traditions (birth, life, marriage, death, etc.); the modern period; the impact of Chinese, Western and Japanese culture; business culture; the rural-urban divide. ICSA 254 Introduction to Thai History
An overview of Thai history from the Neolithic period to the present day. ICSA 255 Thai Economic History
The early economic structures of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya in a regional context; economic developments up to the 1850s; agriculture and trade; control of manpower; landownership; immigration; taxfarming; rural and urban economies; the impact of the Bowring Treaty; developments in the Thai economy since the 1850s; different economic theories; the military and the economy; the black economy; boom, crash, and recovery; development strategies; emphasis on the modern period. ICSA 311 International Politics in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia in the context of global politics in the period since World War II; the impact of the Cold War and its ending; the international relations of the Southeast Asian states, ASEAN. ICSA 312 Ethnicity and Nationalism in Southeast Asia
Ethnicity in relationship to language, religion, “race” and culture; ethnic groups in Southeast Asia; minorities and majorities in the various Southeast Asian states; political and cultural issues; the development of national identity. ICSA 314 Economic Problems in Southeast Asia
Prerequisite: ICSA 211
A seminar-based study of contemporary economic problems in Southeast Asia. ICSA 331 Southeast Asian Arts II
Prerequisite: ICSA 231
The traditional arts of the region in more depth; the contemporary state of the arts in Southeast Asia, and the impact of modern and Western influences. ICSA 332 Southeast Asian Literature II
Prerequisite: ICSA 232
The literature of the region in more depth; discussion of some literary classics from the countries of the region; the contemporary state of literature in Southeast Asia, and the impact of modern and Western influences.