Learn Indonesian and unlock a world of adventure, culture, and exciting career possibilities!
Spoken by over 285 million people across more than 17,000 islands, Indonesian is the official language of one of the most linguistically diverse nations in the world. With over 700 local languages spoken throughout the archipelago, Indonesian serves as a national language, and is used in education, government, business, media, and daily life.
Indonesian is written in the Latin alphabet and enriched by centuries of global influence. Its vocabulary reflects a dynamic history of cultural exchange, with loanwords from Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, English, Portuguese, Sanskrit, and more.
In today’s interconnected world, learning Indonesian opens doors to immersive cultural experiences, meaningful personal connections, and unique professional opportunities across Southeast Asia and beyond.
Our courses are designed to develop your skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in an engaging, communicative environment—while also deepening your understanding of Indonesia’s diverse and vibrant culture.
Check out the course poster here.
To register as a non-matriculated student, please go to: https://www.nondegree.uw.edu/register
To check the class schedule, please see the Time Schedule and select the appropriate year/quarter.
Our Programs
The Department of Asian Languages and Literature offers classes open to both undergraduate and graduate students in Bahasa Indonesia.
Indonesian can also be an area of emphasis in the following programs:
