1. Thesis/Project/Dissertation Formatting Presentation
Graduate School Website:
Link to graduate services from the Library’s Website:
ts.htm

2. Preparation Guidelines
Master Thesis/Project/Doctoral Dissertation Preparation Guidelines
delinesforThesisDissertationFall2011Rev pdf
In the case of a conflict between the departmental style manual and the guidelines, the guidelines take precedence.

3. Templates Template D Template E
Formatting templates, Microsoft Word documents pre- formatted according to the preparation guidelines, are available at the Graduate School Website:
Template D
Template E
The only difference between these two templates is the format of the table of contents.

4. Organization of the Thesis/Project/Dissertation
Preliminary Pages
Title page
Certification of Approval
Copyright (optional)
Dedication (optional)
Acknowledgements (optional)
Table of Contents
List of Tables (if used)
List of Figures (if used)
Abstract
Body of the Text
Chapters or sections, tables (if used), and figures (if used)
Documentation
References or bibliography (determined by department’s style manual)
Appendix or Appendices
Elaborative material (if used)

5. PRELIMINARY PAGES: Title Page Format
ENTER YOUR TITLE HERE IN ALL CAPS, DOUBLE -SPACED,
INVERTED PYRAMID IF LONGER THAN
ONE 5-INCH LINE
A [Thesis] Presented to the Faculty of
California State University, Stanislaus
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
of [Master] of [Your Degree] By
[Name of Student Author]
[Month] [Year]

6. Title Page The title is in all capital letters and double-spaced
If the title is longer than 5”, use an inverted pyramid
All other content on the title page is single-spaced
Do not list a concentration with the degree (see next slide or page 12 of the Guidelines)
Do not put a comma between the month and year
The top and bottom page margins are approximately 1¾”; space evenly between entries
Count title page as page one of the preliminary pages, but do not put a number on the page

7. Title Page – Graduate Degrees
LIST YOUR GRADUATE DEGREE ON THE TITLE PAGE AS FOLLOWS (no concentration should be listed in the degree area):
Master of Business Administration
Master of Science in Business Administration
Master of Arts in Education
Master of Arts in Psychology
Master of Science in Psychology
Master of Science in Genetic Counseling
Master of Social Work
Master of Arts in Criminal Justice
Master of Arts in English
Master of Arts in History
Master of Public Administration
Master of Science in Marine Science
Master of Science in Ecology and Sustainability
Master of Science in Nursing
Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies
Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies
Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership

8. Certification of Approval Page
The title of your document on the Certification of Approval page must appear exactly as it does on your title page
Add your name – and the names and titles of your faculty committee
Leave the lines blank on this page for original signatures and dates
Count the approval page as page two of the preliminary pages, but do not put a number on the page
The top margin of this page is1¾” and the bottom margin must be at least 1”

9. Copyright Page The copyright page is optional
If you chose to use this page, it is page three of the preliminary pages, but does not have a number on the page
The only text on the page is 1” from the bottom - a sample is below (remove the brackets and add the year and your name)
© [Year Thesis Completed]
[Name of Student Author]
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

10. Dedication Page The dedication page is optional
If you choose to use this page, indent all paragraphs and double-space the text
Your dedication may be as brief or lengthy as you like
This page is numbered in Roman numeral 1” from the bottom in the center of the page; the page margins are as follows: top margin is 1¾”; bottom margin is 1¼”; left margin is 1¾”; right margin is 1”
See sample below of the page header and beginning text
DEDICATION
The dedication page is optional. If used, the title is typed in capital letters and the text should be double spaced, in paragraph form, like this example.

11. Acknowledgements Page
The acknowledgements page is optional
If you choose to use this page, indent all paragraphs and double-space the text
Your acknowledgements may be as brief or lengthy as you like
This page is numbered in Roman numeral 1” from the bottom in the center of the page; the page margins are as follows: top margin is 1¾”; bottom margin is 1¼”; left margin is 1¾”; right margin is 1”
See sample below of the page header and beginning text
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The acknowledgements page is optional. If used, the title is typed in capital letters and the text should be double spaced, in paragraph form, like this example.

12. Table of Contents – Template D Example

13. Table of Contents – Template E Example

14. Table of Contents Page
Table of Contents samples D and E illustrate possible formats for a table of contents. These samples correspond to the two formatting templates available on the Graduate School Website. The choice of format for the table of contents may depend on your discipline, style manual, or committee recommendation.
Chapter titles and headers in the table of contents must match the body of the text
The layout and spacing of the table of contents page are as follows:
Top margin is 1½”; bottom margin is 1¼”; left margin is 1¾”; right margin is 1”
Page number(s) are Roman numerals and centered 1” from the bottom of the page
The table of contents may be one or more pages
Use leader dots, not periods, to line up chapter or section headings with the page numbers

15. List of Tables Page
Do not use this page unless you have more than one table in your document
The page margins are as follows: top margin is 1¾”; bottom margin is 1¼”; left margin is 1¾”; right margin is 1”
List the tables in the order they appear in the text; tables in the body of the text should be placed after the discussion related to each
List each title exactly as in the body of the text, including capitalization of words
Format the titles according to the style manual used
Titles longer than one line are single-spaced with double spacing between entries
The page number for this page is a Roman numeral and centered 1” from the bottom of the page

16. List of Figures Page
Do not use this page unless you have more than one figure in your document
The page margins are as follows: top margin is 1¾”; bottom margin is 1¼”; left margin is 1¾”; right margin is 1”
List the figures in the order they appear in the text; figures in the body of the text should be placed after the discussion related to each
List each title exactly as in the body of the text, including capitalization of words
Format the titles in this list according to the style manual used
Titles longer than one line are single-spaced with double spacing between entries
The page number for this page is a Roman numeral and centered 1” from the bottom of the page

17. Abstract Page An abstract must be submitted as part of your document
An abstract must be submitted as part of your document
The abstract should be a single paragraph on a single page, double-spaced, without indentation and should normally not exceed 350 words (or one page)
The page margins are as follows: top margin is 1¾”; bottom margin is 1¼”; left margin is 1¾”; right margin is 1”
The page number for this page is a Roman numeral and centered 1” from the bottom of the page
The abstract is the last of the preliminary pages
ABSTRACT
An abstract must be submitted as part of the thesis. The abstract should report rather than comment or evaluate. Do not include mathematical formulae, diagrams, footnotes, illustrative material, or quotations in the abstract. Consult your program’s style guide for guidance.

18. BODY OF TEXT: Margins
Margins for all pages located in the body of the text are as follows:
1¾” – top margin on the first page of each chapter
1¼” – top margin on all pages with the exception of the first page of each chapter
1¾” – left margin on all pages
1” – right margin on all pages (text should not be right-justified)
1¼” – bottom margin of text
1” – bottom margin for the first page of each chapter’s centered page number
1” – top right margin for page numbers on all pages with the exception of the first page of each chapter
1” – right margin for page numbers in upper right corner

19. 1st Chapter Page/Body of the Text
Margins for the first page of each chapter are as follows: top margin is 1¾”; bottom margin is 1¼”; left margin is 1¾”; right margin is 1”
Double space the text and indent paragraphs
Chapter numbers, if used, are labeled in Roman numerals
A possible scheme for chapter organization is:
CHAPTER I - Introduction to the Study
CHAPTER II – Review of the Literature
CHAPTER III – Methodology
CHAPTER IV – Results
CHAPTER V – Discussion and Summary

20. Format of Headings Format
Level of Heading Level 0 (chapter number & title) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
Centered, Uppercase Centered, Boldface, Uppercase & Lowercase Flush left, Boldface, Uppercase & Lowercase Indented, boldface, lowercase paragraph ending with a period. [text follows] Indented, boldface, italicized lowercase paragraph heading ending with a period. [text follows]

21. Reference Title Page and Reference Pages
The references are preceded by a single title page with the word REFERENCES in all capital letters centered 5½” from the top of page; this title page is counted, but not numbered
Margins for the first of the reference pages:
top margin is 1¾”; bottom margin is 1¼”; left margin is 1¾”; right margin is 1”
Margins for the remaining reference pages:
top margin is 1¼”; bottom margin is 1¼”; left margin is 1¾”; right margin is 1”

22. Reference Pages
Reference citations are to be formatted according to your department’s style manual
References are listed with a hanging indent in alphabetical order
Reference pages are numbered in the upper right corner
URLs should not be underlined or appear in color (remove hyperlink)
Check that all references which were cited in the text are included in your reference list

23. Appendix (or Appendices) Title Page
The appendix (or appendices, if there is more than one appendix) is preceded by a single title page with the word APPENDIX (or APPENDICES) in all capital letters centered 5½” from the top of page
This title page is counted, but not numbered
Do not insert a title page for each appendix

24. Appendix (or Appendices)
Margins for the first page of each appendix:
top margin is 1¾”; bottom margin is 1¼”; left margin is 1¾”; right margin is 1”
Margins for the remaining pages of an appendix:
top margin is 1¼”; bottom margin is 1¼”; left margin is 1¾”; right margin is 1”
Place your appendices in the order which you refer to them in the text
If you have more than one appendix, label them as A, B, C, etc. (noted in the Table of Contents as such) – each appendix should have a title double-spaced below the appendix label on the first page of each appendix

25. Typesetting Your Thesis/Project/Dissertation
The entire thesis/dissertation is to be double-spaced and printed on one side of the page only. Single spacing is acceptable for longer block quotations (i.e., quotation comprising more than 40 words, displayed in a freestanding block of text without quotation marks). Judicious triple and quadruple spacing is acceptable where it improves readability (e.g., before and after headings). Use the tabs feature or the ruler in your word processing program to indent paragraphs uniformly.
The preferred font is Times New Roman or a similar serif font in 10 or 12 point. Typefaces larger than 12 point are not acceptable. The same font must be used throughout the document. Sans serif, cursive, or script fonts are not acceptable. Boldface is not acceptable except where specifically required by a style manual (e.g., boldface headings in APA style). Print in dark, black ink only. Color is acceptable within tables and figures only where it is absolutely necessary.
Use white 100% cotton paper for the two copies to be bound for the University Library. It is recommended that your personal copies be on the same type of paper because of its permanence. The most commonly used paper weights are 20 lb., 24 lb., and 32 lb. The final bindery–ready copy of your thesis/dissertation for the University Library must be laser print quality or equivalent. Dot matrix print or typewritten copy is not acceptable.
For formatting tips, and some general writing issues you may encounter with your thesis/project/dissertation, see “Tips for Formatting and Writing” via the following link:

26. Thesis/Project Submittal Process and Deadlines
Please review the Final Clearance Process via the link below for the submission process of your thesis or project:
ject-clearance-process_002.pdf
Bindery submission dates by semester are included on the following:

27. Dissertation Electronic Submittal Process and Deadlines
Please review the Final Clearance Process, via the link below, for electronic submission of your dissertation:
Submission dates by semester are included on the following:
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28. Thank you for your participation in this presentation.
Graduate School
University Library