Punjabi

About the Punjabi Program

UC Davis currently offers two years of Punjabi (Elementary and Intermediate) at UC Davis and one year of Punjabi (Elementary) through UC Online. Students can find Punjabi classes in Schedule Builder using the PUN course code. For questions about courses and language placement, please contact ME/SA Advising.

Cameraman film interview with Punjabi Program student, Amandeep Dhaliwal.

Punjabi student, Amandeep Dhaliwal, represents the ME/SA Punjabi Program during a local news station interview at the Yuba City Nagar Kirtan 2023.

Students work on last minute decorations for the Punjabi language parade float.

Punjabi Club sets up Punjabi language float at Yuba City Nagar Kirtan Parade 2023.

Punjabi students hand out jalebis and offer activities while tabling at the Memorial Union.

The Punjabi Program hosts a kick-off event for its first-ever Punjabi Week at the Memorial Union.

Punjabi students pose with colorful umbrellas in front of their informational booth.

Punjabi Week student organizers pose after their kick-off event.

Why Learn Punjabi?

There are over 130 million Punjabi speakers in the world today. Punjabi is also an important language in California; it is the third most common language spoken in the Central Valley. Our campus is located in the heart of the historic Punjabi community, the first sizeable South Asian American community, that started in the 1890s.

Source: Gurmeet Kaur, Fascinating Folktales of Punjab.

Fourth Annual Punjabi Week (May 4-23, 2026)

Collage showcasing elements of Punjabi culture — History of Punjab (navjotshergill, 2017)

Schedule of Events

Kick-Off Event: Monday, May 4th | 11AM - 2PM | Memorial Union East Quad

Come learn about Punjabi culture! Live Bhangra performances, Punjabi food, and henna!

Graphic banner: three Punjabi dancers in colorful traditional dress with UC Davis logos

Arts & Crafts: Tuesday, May 5th | 8PM - 10PM | TLC 2010

Join us for this hands-on Phulkari workshop!

Poster with three women sewing bright red fabric, Arts & Crafts Punjabi Week header, UC Davis logos

Panel Discussion: Wednesday, May 6th | 7PM - 9PM | TLC 2215

Engage in a discussion with experts from Pakistan, India, and the US about the future of Punjabi studies in academia. *Dinner included

Poster: Panel Discussion — Future of Punjabi in Higher Education, map graphic, UC Davis logos

Sports Night: Thursday, 7th | 5:30PM - 8PM | Howard Field

Play outdoor Punjabi games...from Kabbadi to marbles!

Sports Night poster: blue-orange UC Davis banner with photos of outdoor games and logos

Community History Exhibit & Discussion: Saturday, May 23rd | 1PM - 4PM | ARC Ballroom

California's Punjabi community members share their precious archival films, photographs and stories in a digital exhibit and panel discussion. *Lunch will be served.

Community History Exhibit poster with vintage Punjabi family photos and UC Davis logos

Language Placement Exams

ME/SA Studies recommends that students who have not previously taken Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi, Persian, Punjabi or Urdu at UC Davis, but have prior experience or study elsewhere, take the relevant placement test at the UC Davis Language Center. Students who have no experience in the language or previous coursework do not need a placement test, and should simply enroll in course 001 in Fall.

Grading in Beginning Language Courses

To enforce Academic Senate Regulation 536 (ASR), a student who has completed a second or more advanced year of high-school-level course work in a foreign language in tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grade shall be awarded credit for course 001 (or its equivalent) in that language only if they take the course on a Passed or Not Passed basis. Enforcement of this regulation occurs in the sixth week of the quarter. For more information, contact the Office of the University Registrar.

Enroll as a Community Member

Interested in taking our classes as a community member? The Open Campus Program makes it easy to enroll! Reach out to Open Campus directly to get started and learn more about available courses and enrollment options. Open Campus students pay on a per-unit basis and are admitted with instructor approval and when space is available.

Elementary Punjabi

Elementary Punjabi (PUN 1, 2, and 3) is a three-course sequence taught in an in-person format where you will learn listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in Punjabi and to Punjabi culture.

In addition, virtual courses for Punjabi (PUN 1V, 2V, and 3V) are also available via UC Online. This course series is hosted by the UC Davis Middle East/South Asia Studies Program, but is open to all UC students. It was developed due to a generous UC Innovative Learning Teaching Initiative (ILTI) grant.

Intermediate Punjabi

Intermediate Punjabi (PUN 21, 22, and 23) is the next three-course sequence taught in an in-person format where you will learn integrated listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in formal and informal contexts.

Punjabi

About the Punjabi Program

Why Learn Punjabi?

Fourth Annual Punjabi Week (May 4-23, 2026)

Schedule of Events

Kuldeep Singh

Nirvair Singh Bhinder