MPP/MA in Southeast Asian Studies
Dual degree program

The Center for Southeast Asian Studies and the Ford School of Public Policy offer a three to three and one-half year MPP/MA dual degree program that prepares graduate students to be experts in the field of public policy and specialists on Southeast Asia.

Program requirements | Application | Contact information | Sample study plan

The Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) was established in 1961 as the Center for South and Southeast Asian Studies, separating from the Center for South Asian Studies in 1999. One of the oldest and largest programs devoted to the study of this region in the U.S., the Center is devoted to the study of Southeast Asian languages, peoples and cultures, including their histories, arts, contemporary societies, politics and development. Nearly forty Southeast Asia specialists teach, pursue research and supervise students in the University’s various departments and professional schools. The MA Program provides students with a broad interdisciplinary approach to the study of Southeast Asia while allowing the flexibility to pursue individual areas of interest. One feature of the MA Program is a required one semester interdisciplinary graduate course in Southeast Asian Studies, which provides a forum for interdisciplinary dialogue and intensive interaction among MA students and leading Southeast Asia faculty.

The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy was founded in 1914 as the Institute for Public Administration. Today the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy is one of the top ranked public policy programs in the United States. Drawing on the University of Michigan’s international reputation as a leading center for social science research, the Ford School offers graduate and professional education for those planning careers focused on public issues. The Ford School’s Master of Public Policy (MPP) is a program of study designed for students seeking a strong foundation of analytical skills in economic, organizational, political, and quantitative fields. The program is highly interdisciplinary and provides strong training in both United States and international foreign policy.

REQUIREMENTS

The Ford School of Public Policy 36 credit hour MPP degree program, including:

• FSPP CORE (23 credits)
• FSPP electives (13 credits)
• 10-week internship in the Southeast Asia region (completed during one of the summers.)

The Center for Southeast Asian Studies 24 credit hour MA degree program, including:

• The interdisciplinary course in Southeast Asian Studies: SEAS 501
• 18 credits of Southeast Asia area coursework, distributed over three fields, with at least 9 credits at the 500 level or above, including at least 3 credits at the 600 level or above.
• MA thesis (must register for SEAS 798)
• Second year level competency in a Southeast Asian language

Southeast Asia Language Requirement

• The following languages are offered by the program: Filipino, Indonesian, Thai, and Vietnamese.
• The language requirement can be fulfilled by taking the intermediate level course in a language from the student’s area of concentration or by demonstrating the equivalent language competence. The appropriate Center faculty associate in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures is responsible for assessing whether a student has the necessary language competence in instances where the student does not enroll in an intermediate level language course.
• Course credits earned in either elementary or intermediate level language courses are undergraduate credits, and hence these do not count toward meeting the area course work requirement. Course credits earned in advanced language courses (at least 400-level) are graduate credits, and these can be used to count for the area course work requirement.
• Students are encouraged to apply for summer language study fellowships which can assist students in fulfilling the language requirement.

The basic structure of the dual master’s degree program is as follows:

Minimum required credit hours to complete program: 60 credits. Scroll down for a sample plan of study.

APPLICATION

Applicants must complete two separate applications to the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies and pay two application fees, one per each program. Supplemental application materials must be sent to both FSPP and CSEAS. Consult the program web sites for details on required application materials. If a student is admitted to only one program, the student may choose to accept enrollment in that program. Applications must be received by January 15. This dual degree program is not open to students who have already earned either the MPP or MA in Southeast Asian Studies degree. Students registered in the first year of the MPP or first year of the MA may apply for the dual degree.

Students must satisfy the requirements of each degree program and should consult with advisors in each school for the precise requirements. At the beginning of their final year of study in the combined program, students should submit a Dual Degree Course Elections Form for approval from both the Ford School and the Center for Southeast Asian Studies.

For information on applying to the MA in Southeast Asian Studies, click here:

For information on applying to the Ford School of Public Policy Master of Public Policy program, click here:
This has general contact information. Then click on the side bar for Master’s level admissions.

For more information on this program, contact:

The following is a SAMPLE PLAN and represents only a guide for prospective students in the dual master’s degree program. Individual students may choose CSEAS-related humanities and social science courses offered through the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, or other units and schools as deemed appropriate. If the student already has language training or is able to complete the language requirement over the summers by attending SEASSI (for example), he or she may be able to take additional electives in Southeast Asian Studies or Public Policy, continue language study beyond the second year, or finish the program sooner.

YEAR 1

Fall Term (12 credits + Language)
    SEAS 501 - Introduction to Southeast Asian Studies (3)
    FSPP 513 - Calculus (3)
    FSPP 560 - Foreign Policy (3)
    FSPP 555 - Microeconomics A (3)
    ASIANLAN - 1st year Southeast Asia Language (5 non-graduate credit hours)

Winter Term (10 credits + Language)
    FSPP 529 - Statistics (3)
    FSPP 558 - Microeconomics B (3)
    FSPP 587 - Public Management or Elective (3)
    FSPP 638 - Integrated Policy Exercise (1)
    ASIANLAN - 1st year Southeast Asian Language (5 non-graduate credit hours)

Spring/Summer
    10-week internship, preferably in the Southeast Asian region

YEAR 2

Fall Term (9 credits+ Language)
    FSPP 580 - Values and Ethics (3)
    CSEAS Elective - (3)
    CSEAS Elective - (3)
    ASIANLAN - 2nd year Southeast Asian Language (4 non-graduate credit hours)

Winter Term (10 credit+ Language)
    FSPP 638 – Integrated Policy Exercise (1)
    FSPP Elective - (3) or FSPP 587 – Public Management, if not taken first year
    CSEAS Elective - (3)
    CSEAS Elective - (3)
    ASIANLAN – 2nd year Southeast Asian Language (4 non-graduate credit hours)

YEAR 3

Fall Term (12 credits)
    FSPP Elective - (3)
    FSPP Elective - (3)
    CSEAS Elective - (3)
    CSEAS Elective - (3)

Winter Term (7 credits)
    FSPP Elective - (3)
    FSPP Elective - (1)
    SEAS 798 - MA Essay (3)