Please adhere strictly to these guidelines
Final deadlines are imposed by the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences and the department
has very little, if any, flexibility
Thesis Specifications and FAQ’s
The thesis represents an original work of research based on primary materials. Students must find, on their own initiative, an adviser appropriate to the topic. The adviser should be a faculty member (Assistant, Associate or Full Professor) of the Council on East Asian Studies (CEAS). With permission of the DGS the adviser can be a visiting faculty member associated with CEAS. If a student can’t find an advisor, then the DGS may co-advise or help to find a suitable advisor.
Students should agree on the topic with the adviser, and then obtain the approval of the DGS for the topic and adviser. The adviser must confirm in writing with the DGS and CEAS Registrar that they will be serving as your adviser.
Students must enroll in EAST 900 Masters Thesis in the semester in which the thesis will be submitted. (EAST 900 may be counted among the 16 required courses for the degree.) Your thesis advisor will submit their grade directly to the DGS and CEAS Registrar utilizing the M.A. Thesis Reader’s Report Form. If you have two readers, only one of them can submit the grade.
The length should be no more than 8,000-12,000 words (about 35-40 double-spaced pages).
For Fall Term 2023
Submit your thesis topic and adviser’s name to the DGS and EAST Registrar by the end of Course Add/Drop period (September 5, 2023).
By Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 submit to the DGS (copy nicholas.disantis@yale.edu) a prospectus, signed by the advisor (prospectus cover sheet available here), which must include a statement of the thesis topic, an initial schedule for completion, and a preliminary bibliography. The CEAS Registrar will check with the thesis adviser by that date to confirm that “the candidate has made substantial progress and can be expected to submit satisfactory work by December 14.”
A draft of the MA Thesis is due to the DGS on Friday, November 17, 2023 by 5:00 PM.
The Final MA thesis is due on or before Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023 by 5:00 PM. Electronic copies (PDF) must be sent to the thesis advisor, EAST DGS and CEAS Registrar. The EAST M.A. Thesis cover page is available here.
For Spring Term 2024
Submit your thesis topic and adviser’s name to the DGS and EAST Registrar by October 31 of your second year.
By 5:00 PM, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024 submit to the DGS (copy nicholas.disantis@yale.edu) a prospectus, signed by the advisor (prospectus cover sheet available here), which must include a statement of the thesis topic, an initial schedule for completion, and a preliminary bibliography. The CEAS Registrar will check with the thesis adviser by that date to confirm that “the candidate has made substantial progress and can be expected to submit satisfactory work by May 2.” Without such a confirmation, no degree petition will be accepted.
Degree petition forms are due to Nick Disantis no later than Wednesday, February 15, 2024 by 5:00 PM for conferral of May degrees. PLEASE USE THE FORM ON THE GRAD SCHOOL WEBSITE here and DO NOT send forms directly to the Grad School.
A draft of the MA Thesis is due to the DGS on Friday, April 5, 2024 by 5:00 PM.
The MA thesis is due on or before Thursday, May 2, 2024 by 5:00 PM. Electronic copies (PDF) must be sent to the thesis advisor, EAST DGS and CEAS Registrar. The EAST M.A. Thesis cover page is available here.
Commencement is scheduled to take place on Monday, May 20, 2024. Information about Commencement is available on the Yale Commencement website. Follow all the links for the dates and deadlines for such items as cap & gown reservations, visas for international guests, etc. By TBD you must confirm whether OR NOT you will attend, by filling out the GSAS Diploma Ceremony Response Form. Academic regalia must also be ordered by TBD.
The Commencement Schedule is available here.