Pursuing Honors in Asian Studies
The Honors Program in Asian Studies provides advanced undergraduate students with an opportunity to engage in focused and in-depth research on an issue of deep scholarly interest.
Requirements
- To graduate with honors in Asian studies, students need to complete a two-semester independent honors thesis project on a topic of relevance in the field.
- Majors who have maintained at least a 3.5 grade point average in Asian studies courses and a 3.3 overall grade point average are eligible to apply for an honors thesis.
- Students need to submit to the director of Asian studies a detailed research proposal by April 1 of the spring semester of their junior year and request a reference letter from their potential honor thesis adviser in support of the application. In consultation with the thesis adviser, the student will invite a second reader to read the honors thesis and to participate in a one-hour thesis defense with the student and the thesis adviser. The two faculty readers will then determine whether the thesis has met the requirements for honors, and whether the student will graduate with honors, high honors, or highest honors.
- Students will present their work at the Academic Spree Day either as a poster session or as a panel presentation.
Annual Awards
The Dr. Lee Gurel ’48 Asian Studies Award is presented to an outstanding graduating senior for academic excellence in Asian studies.
2020 Recipients: Claire Sullivan
2019 Recipients: Aubrey McGrath Cornwell and Cypress Ellen