BAKS — Korean Studies
BA
The BA thesis in Korean Studies (Koreastudies) is a 10,000-word research paper that serves as the capstone of your undergraduate studies. The thesis should demonstrate knowledge and skills relevant to the discipline, including Korean-language ability; knowledge of history, politics, or culture; theory and methodology; and academic writing.
BAKS students take the Thesis Seminar. For all seminar materials, assignments, the weekly schedule, and the style guide, visit the BAKS Thesis Seminar website.
Key Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Word count | 10,000 words (±10%) |
| Citation style | Chicago Notes-Bibliography |
| Language | English |
| Korean sources | At least 10% of sources should be in Korean |
| Romanization | McCune-Reischauer (MCR) system |
| Final deadline | June 1, 2026 |
Key Deadlines (2025–2026)
| Assignment | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Assignment #1: Revised Research Proposal | March 13, 2026 |
| Assignment #2: Preliminary Draft | April 3, 2026 |
| Assignment #3: Empirical Draft | May 6, 2026 |
| Final Manuscript | June 1, 2026 |
All assignments are submitted via Brightspace by 23:59 on the due date.
Assessment
Seminar Evaluation
| Component | Weight |
|---|---|
| Participation (including peer review) | 10% |
| Assignment #1: Revised Research Proposal | 20% |
| Assignment #2: Preliminary Draft | 35% |
| Assignment #3: Empirical Draft | 35% |
Thesis Assessment
The final thesis is graded separately by a thesis committee (first and second reader) using the faculty’s shared criteria:
- Knowledge and Insight — Research question, motivation, and literature review
- Application of Knowledge — Data, methods, and analysis
- Reaching Conclusions — Synthesis, contribution, and limitations
- Communication — Writing, structure, and citations
See the Assessment Standards page for detailed criteria and grade descriptors.
What’s Expected at BA Level
A strong BA thesis demonstrates that you can:
- Identify a clear research question and a gap in the existing literature
- Engage meaningfully with relevant scholarship, including Korean-language sources
- Apply a suitable methodology and present your findings clearly
- Write in competent academic English with proper citations
See BA vs MA Expectations for a detailed comparison.
Documents
- BAKS Thesis Seminar Website — Seminar materials, assignments, schedule, and style guide
- BA Final Paper Koreastudies — Prospectus
University Links
- Getting Started Guide — Step-by-step research guide
- Writing a Thesis — Library resources
- Writing Lab — Thesis support and events
- Student Thesis Repository — Browse past theses