Dr. Laurie Sears

Professor

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Biography

Laurie Sears is a social intellectual historian specializing in Southeast Asia, focusing on the colonial and postcolonial periods in Indonesia and Java. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 1986. Her career began with significant time spent in Indonesia, including visits to Java and Bali in 1972-1973, where she studied the connections between Javanese performing arts and mystical traditions. Having lived in India for years and traveled through India and Greece, she carries extensive research experience in central Java, Bali, and Jakarta. Her expertise includes oral and written literary traditions in Javanese, Indonesian, and Dutch. She has published work on the transnational discourse of psychoanalysis that has influenced the understanding of the 20th century globally. Sears runs general courses on the histories of 19th and 20th century Southeast Asia, alongside specialized courses on Javanese performing arts, Indonesian Islam, colonialism, and the complexities of imperial formations.

Research Interests

Requirements for University of Washington

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:80
IELTS
Overall
Required:6.5
Duolingo
Overall Score
Required:105
Overall
Required:105
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Transcripts
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Resume/CV
  • English proficiency scores (for international students)
Specialization Notes

Standard Graduate School requirements for University of Washington apply to most departments listed unless specified otherwise by the program.