GENERAL APA & TEXAS STATE

DISSERTATION FORMAT REQUIREMENTS

Trae Stewart, Ph.D., Associate Professor & EDCL Program Coordinator

Zane Wubbena, M.A., Ph.D. Student – School Improvement

(Updated July 2014)

Overview

APA 6th Edition Ph.D. Education

– Timeline– Semester Deadlines

Dissertation– Completing &

Submitting Proposal– Submitting Dissertation– Arrangement

Helpful Resources

Ph.D. Education (Timeline)

Ph.D. Education (Semester Deadlines)

Source: http://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/Thes-Diss_Info/T-D_Deadlines.html

Dissertation(Completing & Submitting Proposal)

Complete dissertation proposal (Form C) Complete description of dissertation project

– Research/Inquiry Problem– Research questions/Hypothesis– Source(s) of data– Data Collection Technique and analysis

Complete Institutional Review Board (IRB) application if dissertation uses human subjects

Submit dissertation Form C, dissertation proposal, and IRB Certificate to graduate college

College Dean must approve dissertation proposal

*Note: Keep in mind that the dissertation must be successfully defended in front of the dissertation committee

Dissertation(Submitting Dissertation)

Submit dissertation manuscript as a PDF via Vireo on-line submission to the graduate college– Dissertations are not submitted as a hard copy

Graduate college transfers dissertation to library; library then creates both: – Print copy for circulating collection at Alkek Library– Microfilm for the University Archives

Electronic copy of student’s dissertation may be placed under embargo if planning to publish

Dissertations will be indexed in ProQuest– Dissertations & Theses database– Dissertation Abstracts International

Dissertation(Submitting Dissertation)

Ensure dissertation is formatted according to APA Manual (see previous modules) and according to the dissertation guide– The Graduate College Guide to Preparing and Su

bmitting a Thesis or Dissertation

Dissertations must be proofread and error free

Dissertations with any errors will be returned to the student to be resubmitted

*Note: The graduate college does not proofread, format, edit, or revise submitted documents for students

Dissertation(Arrangement)

Three Major Components1) Front matter includes:

Title page, copyright page, fair use and author’s permission statement page, dedication, acknowledgements, table of contents, list of table(s), list of figure(s), list of illustrations, list of abbreviations, abstract, and preface

2) The text includes: Chapters, however, the number will vary according to

dissertation, and table(s) and figure(s)

3) Back matter includes: Appendix section (optional) and references (also referred

to as literature cited)

Dissertation(Arrangement)

Typography– Font: Times New Roman– Size: 12 point font; Tables & Figures 10-12 point font

Margins

Front Matter

Text & Back

Matter

Dissertation(Arrangement)

Spacing – Double space all text of manuscript– Long quotes (>40 words) can be single or double spaced– Tables and figures can be single, 1.5, or double spaced

Text Alignment– Text should be aligned to the left margin, but different

sections have different alignments

Dot Leaders– Used for referencing page numbers (e.g., table of contents,

list of tables, list of figures; DO NOT USE PERIODS)

Pagination– Page numbers centered, .05” from bottom, in footer section– Font matter: Lowercase Roman numerals (except title page,

copyright page, fair use page, dedication page– Text and back matter: Arabic numeral pagination

Dissertation (Arrangement)

Arrangement of dissertation contents

Dissertation (Arrangement)

Arrangement of dissertation contents (cont.)

Helpful Resources

Stay up to Date Forms for Thesis & Dissertation The Graduate College Guide To Preparing A

nd Submitting A Thesis Or Dissertation Dissertation Deadlines

Bindery Manager: Shirley Lipinski (e-mail: sl34@txstate.edu)

Visit OtherAPA Style (6th ed.) Modules

In This Series