Overview
Course: BA3 Korean Studies, Leiden University
Instructor: Dr. Steven Denney (s.c.denney@hum.leidenuniv.nl)
Time: Fridays, 09:15-11:00
Location: Lipsius 2.05, Workgroup 103
Duration: February 06 - June 01, 2026
Course Description
This seminar supports students through the senior year thesis writing and research process. It provides the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to plan and write an original, well-researched thesis on a topic of your own choosing. The seminar consists of lectures and workshop-style classes, as well as individual supervision meetings, all designed to assist you in completing your thesis.
The final thesis should demonstrate knowledge and skills relevant to the discipline of Koreastudies, including language ability; knowledge of history, politics, or culture; theory and methodology; and academic writing skills.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Identify a sufficiently interesting research question that can be answered given the time constraints and data restrictions of the BA thesis project
- Use a range of sources in Korean, English, and other languages as necessary to situate the thesis within a relevant literature review that informs the significance of the research and motivates an appropriate research design
- Develop an appropriate analytical framework that integrates suitable data sources and methods, demonstrating understanding of data collection and analysis procedures
- Produce original academic writing that adheres to appropriate stylistic conventions and academic standards
Key Deadlines
| Assignment | Due Date |
|---|---|
| Assignment #1: Revised Research Proposal | March 13, 2026 |
| Assignment #2: Preliminary Draft | April 03, 2026 |
| Assignment #3: Empirical Draft | May 06, 2026 |
| Final Manuscript | June 01, 2026 |
Evaluation
| Component | Weight |
|---|---|
| Participation | 10% |
| Assignment #1: Revised Research Proposal | 20% |
| Assignment #2: Preliminary Draft | 35% |
| Assignment #3: Empirical Draft | 35% |
The final thesis is graded separately by a first and second reader.
Weekly Schedule
| Week | Date | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Feb. 06 | Developing a Research Question and Identifying the Research Problem |
| 2 | Feb. 13 | Data and Sources – Generation, Collection, and FAIR Principles |
| 3 | Feb. 20 | Conducting a Literature Review |
| 4 | Feb. 27 | Analysis and Reporting – Empirical Strategies for Data Interpretation |
| 5 | Mar. 06 | No class – plan meeting with supervisor |
| — | Mar. 13 | Assignment #1 Due |
| 6 | Mar. 20 | Pre-recorded lecture: Review of weeks 1-4 |
| — | Mar. 27 | Spring break |
| — | Apr. 03 | Assignment #2 Due |
| 7 | Apr. 10 | Peer review of preliminary drafts |
| 8 | Apr. 17 | Ethical concerns (AI, plagiarism) and review of KS Protocol |
| 9 | Apr. 24 | No class – free research time |
| 10 | May 01 | No class – free research time |
| — | May 06 | Assignment #3 Due |
| 11 | May 08 | Incorporating feedback; in-class review and consultations |
| — | Jun. 01 | Final Manuscript Due |
See the Syllabus for detailed weekly content and policies.
Resources
- Download Syllabus (PDF) - Complete course syllabus
- Style Guide - Formatting and citation requirements
- Thesis Protocol - Assessment criteria and expectations
- BA Final Paper Koreastudies Prospectus (e-guide)
This course is part of the Korean Studies program in the Humanities Faculty at Leiden University.