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2023 Southeast Asian & Pacific Languages Degree Guide

Southeast Asia is home to over 2,500 of different languages and a rich, diverse culture. This region includes mainland Southeast Asia, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian countries. Majoring in Southeast Asian and Pacific Languages will provide an education in the various dialects of these countries, as well as geography, economics, politics, and cultural aspects that shape the region.

Students typically choose a concentration focusing on one area or language. Some of the concentrations you can choose include Australian, Indonesian or Malay, Burmese, Filipino, Cambodian, Lao, Thai, and Vietnamese Languages. Because all the concentrations are all different, most of the classes will not be the same; however some general classes include Art of Southeast Asia, Asian History, Asian literature, Asian Thought and Cultures, and Asian Traditions.

A Recent Jump in Southeast Asian & Pacific Languages Degrees

#362 Most Popular Major
38.0 Degrees Awarded
68.4% Increase in Graduates

In 2020-2021, Celtic was the 362nd most popular major nationwide with 38 degrees awarded. This represents a 68.4% increase in Southeast Asian and Pacific degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 12.

This year's Best Southeast Asian & Pacific Languages Schools ranking compares 1 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom Southeast Asian and Pacific rankings further below.

2023 Best Colleges for Southeast Asian & Pacific Languages
2023 Overall Best Southeast Asian & Pacific Languages Colleges >

Best Southeast Asian & Pacific Languages Schools by Degree

Associate Degrees in Southeast Asian & Pacific Languages
Bachelor's Degrees in Southeast Asian & Pacific Languages
Master's Degrees in Southeast Asian & Pacific Languages
Doctorate Degrees in Southeast Asian & Pacific Languages

What Are The Requirements For a Degree in Southeast Asian & Pacific Languages

Students should have an interest in the Southeast Asian region, an ear for language and the patience to learn another language, master grammar, pronunciation and spelling. Much of your time will be spent studying the history, literature and culture of the region. This makes it an ideal major for students who loves art and storytelling.

You may be able to prepare for this major while still in high school by taking courses in Language, World History, World Religions, and English. There are opportunities for study abroad programs at some institutions. This would allow student to practice their lingual skills and experience the culture first hand.

Prior Education for a Southeast Asian & Pacific Program

New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific Southeast Asian and Pacific careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.

Southeast Asian & Pacific Languages Degree Types

Southeast Asian & Pacific degree levels vary. You can get anything from a in Celtic to the highest Southeast Asian and Pacific degree, a . How long it takes to complete some common Southeast Asian and Pacific degree levels is shown below.

Degree Credit Requirements Typical Program Length
Associate Degree 60-70 credits 2 years
Bachelor’s Degree 120 credits 4 years
Master’s Degree 50-70 credits 1-3 years
Doctorate Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation At least 4 years

A doctor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to Southeast Asian and Pacific, with approximately 36.7% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for Southeast Asian and Pacific workers below.

Level of Education Percentage of Workers
Doctoral Degree 37.8%
Bachelor’s Degree 30.1%
Master’s Degree 21.7%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) 5.6%
Post-Master’s Certificate 4.3%

62.8% of Southeast Asian and Pacific workers have at least a master's. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in Celtic have received.

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This of course varies depending on which Southeast Asian and Pacific career you choose.

Southeast Asian & Pacific Careers

Below Average Number of Jobs
67.2k Avg. Related Jobs Salary
16% Growth Job Outlook 2016-26

A degree in Southeast Asian & Pacific Languages can lead to many different career opportunities. If you are interested in teaching, there are for positions in Postsecondary and Adult Education. You would have the opportunity to teach Southeast Asian & Pacific dialect, along with culture and history. You also may be interested in becoming an ESL teacher.

Another option is to become a translator or interpreter. Translators and interpreters are in high demand because of growing business between nations. If you are interested in Foreign Service, you can become a Foreign Service Officer. These officers endorse American business and political interest and give information and aid about their countries to the U.S policymakers. They arrange cultural exchanges, and help Americans travel abroad.

High Growth Projected for Southeast Asian & Pacific Careers

Want a job when you graduate with your Southeast Asian and Pacific degree? Southeast Asian & Pacific Languages careers are expected to grow 15.7% between 2016 and 2026.

The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to Celtic.

Occupation Name Projected Jobs Expected Growth
Interpreters and Translators 80,300 17.7%
Foreign Language and Literature Professors 39,100 11.7%

How Much Money Do People With a Southeast Asian & Pacific Degree Make?

As you might expect, salaries for Southeast Asian and Pacific graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.

High Paying Careers for Southeast Asian & Pacific Majors

Salaries for Celtic graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers Southeast Asian and Pacific grads often go into.

Occupation Name Median Average Salary
Foreign Language and Literature Professors $79,160
Interpreters and Translators $55,230

Getting Your Southeast Asian & Pacific Languages Degree

With over 10 different Southeast Asian and Pacific degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased Southeast Asian and Pacific school rankings to help you with this.

Study Areas in Southeast Asian & Pacific Languages

One of 17 majors within the Foreign Languages & Linguistics area of study, Southeast Asian & Pacific Languages has other similar majors worth exploring.

Southeast Asian & Pacific Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Filipino/Tagalog Language & Literature 25
Australian/Oceanic/Pacific Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics 7
Vietnamese Language & Literature 2
Southeast Asian & Australasian/Pacific Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics, Other 2

View All Southeast Asian & Pacific Concentrations >

Majors Similar to Southeast Asian & Pacific

Related Major Annual Graduates
Romance Languages 15,009
Linguistics & Comparative Literature 8,539
American Sign Language 2,724
East Asian Languages 2,293
Classical Languages & Literature 1,428

View All Southeast Asian & Pacific Related Majors >

References

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