Honours

Entry Requirements and Program Structure
Assessment
Seminars
Thesis
Thesis Supervision
Enrolment
Contacts

Overview

‘Honours’ is an intensive year-long program of advanced study with research at its centre. The Honours year enables students to engage with the subject of their major in depth by undertaking research of their own, under the supervision of an expert in the their field. For some students, Honours is the culmination of their formal education while for other students, Honours is the first step on the path to careers as professional researchers and academics. Many staff in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences find Honours teaching the most rewarding part of their job.

Entry Requirements and Program Structure

Students need to have results at Credit (65%) level or better in eight Senior units of study (48 credit points) in Asian Studies if they wish to take Honours. Department permission is required for enrolment in honours.

Students whose bachelor's degree was undertaken at another university, or students who completed their bachelor's degrees at the University of Sydney more than two years ago should contact the Honours Coordinator to discuss whether the classes they have taken are equivalent to these prerequisites.

Assessment

Honours in Asian Studies consists of a thesis of 18000-20000 words and 6000-8000 words of written work, or its equivalent, for each seminar. Each of the two seminars meets weekly for 2 hours, for one semester. The thesis is worth 60% of the final mark, and each seminar is worth 20%. While you will receive marks for all pieces of assessment, your academic transcripts will record only your final, overall Honours mark.

As with the undergraduate Asian Studies major, all units and the thesis will be in English. However, we encourage students with Asian language proficiency to utilise sources in that language for their thesis research and to seek permission to substitute Asian-language honours-level coursework in their coursework component.

Seminars

The following seminars are on offer in 2011:

• Semester 1: Theory and Method in Asian Studies (Dr Olivier Ansart)
• Semester 2: Engaging Asia (Prof Michele Ford)

Go to the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Units of Study webpage for a complete listing of these units.

With departmental permission, students may cross-list one of the seminars from units of study offered in other departments and faculties.

Thesis

The honours thesis constitutes an original piece of research and writing in a field that can be supervised by a member of staff. It amounts to 18000-20000 words of writing in English and must demonstrate both a command of a wide range of secondary source material in Asian studies, as well as a command of a particular disciplinary or interdisciplinary approach to the topic of the research.

Thesis Supervision

In the first instance, students should contact the Honours Coordinator to discuss their preferred field of Honours study. The Program Director will then be able to suggest the most appropriate member of staff within the Asian Studies program to supervise the Thesis.

Enrolment

In the first instance you should discuss your intention to apply for Honours with the Honours Coordinator. Students will enrol in ASNS4011, 4012, 4013 and 4014. These, however, are merely generic or ‘shell’ units for your coursework component.

Enrolments are completed online. Go to the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Honours webpage for further information on Honours and on the online enrolment application procedure.

Contacts

The Honours Coordinator can answer any queries relating to the Honours program.