Honors Thesis Option

This is an open honors option. For the Asian Studies Major's regular thesis requirements, please click here.

Students with a 3.5 GPA in Asian Studies and 3.3 GPA overall may apply write the senior thesis on an honors basis. An Honors Thesis demonstrates original research and scholarship in the field of Asian Studies. It has the following expectations beyond the senior thesis or project:

  • Students must develop a detailed prospectus a full semester before they take ASIA 4830, in addition to filling out the ASIA 4830 form as above. This means identifying a topic in consultation with the Asian Studies Faculty Advisor, working out who the primary Thesis Advisor will be, and conducting a significant amount of preliminary research during the semester before the actual course credit is awarded.
  • Students must apply to pursue honors through the Honors Program. Consult the following webpage for information about expectations and deadlines: Application and Deadlines for Honors Thesis
  • The Honors Thesis is expected to be a more comprehensive study than the senior thesis, consisting of approximately 50 pages with a complete bibliography.
  • Students are required to defend their thesis in front of a committee of three Asian Studies faculty members: (1) the primary Thesis Advisor, (2) the Asian Studies Faculty Advisor, and (3) a third committee member in a discipline other than the primary Thesis Advisor. If their Thesis Advisor happens to be the Asian Studies Faculty Advisor then another faculty member must be added to the committee to make a total of three.
  • Students submit their final work after the defense in accordance with the specifications of the Honors Program.

As with the senior thesis, those writing an Honors Thesis will be expected to present their research at a faculty-student forum at the end of the semester in which they take ASIA 4830.