Tibetan Minor Requirement

The minor in Tibetan Language provides an enriching framework for students to engage deeply with the profound literary, religious, and cultural heritage of the Himalayan region. This track is uniquely valuable for students whose academic interests intersect with Buddhist Studies, Asian history, or philosophy, unlocking the vital skills required to read classical Tibetan Buddhist texts and contemporary writings in their original language. By training students in advanced textual analysis and translation, this minor serves as an excellent foundation for those aiming for graduate-level scholarship and research in the humanities.

⚑ Minor Self-Service Portal

You do not need an advising appointment to declare or manage this minor. Use the quick links below to handle your requests online:

⚠️ Critical Deadline

You must submit your online minor declaration prior to the first day of classes of your Expected Graduation Term (EGT). For Summer graduates, minors must be declared prior to the first day of Summer Session A. Late declarations will not be accepted by the college.

Prerequisite Coursework

Before advancing into upper-division coursework, students must complete or demonstrate equivalence for the completion of the intermediate level:

  • Required Course: TIBETAN 10B (Intermediate Tibetan)
  • Grading Options: May be taken for a letter grade (C or higher) or as Passed/Not Passed (P).
  • Transfer Credit: This course may be taken at another college or university. If the course is not automatically articulated on Assist.org, you can submit an online substitution request for departmental review.

Minor Requirements

To complete the minor, students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 within the minor coursework and complete five letter-graded courses (minimum of 20 units) consisting of:

1. Tibetan Advanced Core Courses (3 Courses)

  • Take three upper-division TIBETAN courses.

2. Departmental Electives (2 Courses)

  • Take two upper-division elective courses offered by the Department of East Asian Languages & Cultures (EALC).
  • Eligible electives include any upper-division courses with the following prefixes: CHINESE, EALANG, JAPAN, KOREAN, MONGOLN, or TIBETAN.

Important Minor Policies

  • Letter Grades Only: All five courses used to satisfy the minor requirements must be taken for a letter grade. (Only the prerequisite TIBETAN10B allows P/NP).
  • Major Overlap Rule: Only one required course may be used to simultaneously satisfy both your major and minor requirements.
  • Outside Coursework & Study Abroad: You may count one related course taken in another UC Berkeley department or through an approved study abroad program toward your Tibetan minor, subject to departmental approval. You must submit an Online Course Substitution / Outside Coursework Request before this course can apply to your minor tracking.

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