The Senior Essay Requirement
During the senior year, all students must satisfy a senior requirement consisting of a major research project that uses Chinese, Japanese, or Korean-language materials, reflects an up-to-date understanding of the region, and demonstrates a strong command of written English. The faculty advisor should be a professor associated with the Council on East Asian Studies with a reading knowledge of the target language materials consulted for the essay.
Prior to enrolling in the course in which the senior requirement will be met, students must have completed the two seminars related to their concentration requirement.
The nature of the senior essay requirement makes it imperative that students begin thinking about and planning for their projects early. The senior essay requirement can be met in one of the following three ways:
In a senior-year seminar, culminating in a senior thesis.
You must inform your professor that you will be writing your senior essay in his/her course. It is your responsibility to inform both your professor and the DUS of this arrangement. Your professor will determine the length of the senior essay as well as the expected use of primary materials (whether in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or English) based on overall course requirements.
In EAST 480: One-term Senior Essay
An independent one-term research project, under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Students must receive the prior agreement of the DUS and of the faculty member who will serve as the senior essay advisor. Students must arrange to meet with their advisor on a regular basis throughout the term. A senior paper completed in EAST 480 will generally run 8,000 words (about thirty pages) in length.
In EAST 491 & EAST 492: Senior Research Project
The senior research project is a two-term independent research project undertaken with the consent and guidance of a faculty advisor that will count as one credit toward the thirteen required in the major for graduation. A senior research project will generally run 8,000 to 12,000 words (about thirty to fifty pages) in length.
Essays should be based on primary material, whether in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or English. Summary of secondary material is not acceptable.
CEAS does not provide more specific departmental guidelines for senior essays. You should follow the senior essay guidelines of your advisor. The DUS is also always available for consultation. Students can find assistance and specialized tutorial sessions for their senior essay through their residential colleges and at the Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning.
EAST Senior Essay Deadlines
The final senior thesis must be sent to both your senior essay advisor and the East Asian Studies Registrar by the deadline stated below.
Fall 2024
5:00 PM, December 6th, 2024
Spring 2025
5:00 PM, April 25th, 2025
Award Winning Senior Essays
A selection of Williams Prize award-winning senior essays is available on the CEAS EliScholar website.
A collection of interviews with Williams Prize award winners is available for download here.
Joint Senior Essay in East Asian Studies and Second Major
It is possible for a student to write a joint senior essay in East Asian Studies and a second major. Consultation with the DUSs of both majors is required before the joint senior essay can be pursued.
If the DUSs are agreeable to the proposed project the student must then present a written statement detailing how the project will meet the minimum requirements of both majors. To confirm DUS approval, this statement is then signed by both DUSs provided to the Registrars of both majors.
The joint senior essay must be completed as a year-long project. The student will enroll for one term each in EAST 480 and a comparable senior essay course in the second major. The final paper must be at least as long as the combined minimum suggested page length for the senior essays for both majors. Additional essay requirements will be determined by the DUSs and the student’s senior essay advisor(s).
IMPORTANT NOTE: Additional overlap in course credits between the two majors is not permitted.