All RSEA degree candidates must complete a thesis under the guidance of and in close consultation with the student’s thesis adviser. The minimum thesis standards for the RSEA A.M. degree are:

 • The thesis should demonstrate original research and fresh interpretation of a subject.

 •The thesis should demonstrate significant use of original sources in one or more East Asian languages.

 • The thesis should demonstrate the candidate's familiarity with previous scholarship related to the subject matter. 

• The thesis should follow the appropriate scholarly format and include proper scholarly apparatus, including footnotes and bibliography.

 • The body of the text (i.e., excluding bibliography and other supplementary material) is expected to be 60-80 pages in length (approx. 25,000-35,000 words), or of a length deemed appropriate by the student’s thesis advisor.

Current students should refer to the RSEA Student Guide for additional details and specific policies.