The Center for Southeast Asian Studies at NIU is dedicated to increasing the world’s knowledge and understanding of the eleven countries of Southeast Asia through academic endeavor and public outreach: Brunei, Burma/Myanmar, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Located 65 miles west of Chicago, NIU is a comprehensive undergraduate and graduate university with approximately 25,000 students. For those pursuing an undergraduate minor in Southeast Asian studies or a graduate specialty with a Southeast Asian focus, NIU and CSEAS offer:

• Fellowships and scholarship opportunities
• Language training in Burmese, Indonesian, Khmer, Lao (on demand), Malay, Tagalog, and Thai
• Research opportunities in a variety of disciplines
• Cultural and networking activities
• Extensive study abroad options

The center was established in 1963, an outgrowth of the country’s first Peace Corps training program for Southeast Asia volunteers at NIU. Since 1997, the center has been a federally funded National Resource Center  for Southeast Asian studies. CSEAS is guided by center staff and an interdisciplinary council of more than thirty faculty associates.

In addition to coordinating Southeast Asian studies on campus, CSEAS also supports community outreach projects and K–16 teacher training on Southeast Asian topics throughout northern Illinois.

Federally funded National Resource Center

The Center for Southeast Asian Studies has been awarded a
U.S. Department of Education
Title-VI grant (pdf) since 1997.

NIU Associates

Study at NIU’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies is strengthened by our linkages to several university resources.

• Center for Burma Studies
• Hart SEA Library Collection
• International Training
  Office
• SEAsite, Interactive Learning Resources for Southeast Asia

CSEAS Office

• Staff
• Directions & NIU Maps

Please view a Power Point presentation about CSEAS