Khmer is a language in the Austroasiatic language family, one of the six major language families found in Southeast Asia. Khmer is the national language of Cambodia and groups of Khmer speakers could be found also in neighboring countries such as Thailand and Vietnam. Khmer culture is one of the oldest and best known cultures of Asia. The Angkorean Empire marks the height of Khmer culture where the kings built exquisite monumental stone temples considered one of the major wonders of the world (source).

Khmer is taught by Professor Hannah Phan at Cornell and comes to Columbia through the Shared Course Initiative. Please contact Christopher Kaiser, the Program Manager of the Shared Course Initiative, for more information.

Taking courses in Khmer will allow you to fulfill the language requirement at Columbia.