Why dissertations?
Two (2) hard bound copies of a student's complete thesis/disseration/terminal project will be submitted to the UST Libraries upon its final correction and approval by the originating department/program. The Libraries will accept only those projects which meet these requirements.
Other requirements of style may be required by a given department/program. Students should check with their department chair or program director for further information.
How should my manuscript be printed
In what order should the pages of my thesis appear?
How should the pages of my manuscript be numbered?
What should my title page look like?
How many copies of my thesis should be bound?
Where should I have my thesis bound?
What color buckram/printing should be used to bind my thesis?
What information should be printed on the cover/spine of my thesis?
Where should I send the copies of my bound thesis?
How do I submit my completed dissertation to ProQuest/University Microfilms International (UMI)?
Twenty to twenty-four pound (20 - 24# weight) standard white copy or printer paper is required. Your thesis may be submitted on archival paper (100% cotton, acid-free 20-24# weight) if you prefer. The text of the thesis should be printed:
◦on single-sided pages
◦with margins of 1 1/2" on the left side of the page and 1" on the right, top and bottom of the page
◦with the text of the body of the manuscript double-spaced
◦using 10 - 12 point type font
The pages of the manuscript (if used) should be assembled in the following order:
◦Title Page (no page number appears on this page) REQUIRED
◦Signature Page (includes name/s of committee member/s)
◦Dedication
◦Abstract (350 words or three paragraph summary of manuscript)
◦Table of Contents
◦Lists of Tables and Figures
◦Acknowledgements
◦Copyright notice (if needed)
◦Body of the work REQUIRED
◦Appendixes
◦Bibliography / References REQUIRED
All pages which precede the body of the work are numbered with Roman numerals, beginning with the title page (although it has no number on it). All other pages, including illustrations, appendices, and the bibliography/references are numbered continuously to the last page.
The title page elements will vary according to degree/program. The following elements should be centered on the page left to right and top to bottom (sample title page):
Title : can be either in case or in all capitals as the writer prefers.
(If there is a subtitle, there should be a colon (:) after the title. Avoid the use of symbols, formulas, superscripts, and subscripts because they hinder computerized searching. )
Full name of the author.
(Use the name as it appears on your permanent record in natural language
order: Mary Jane Smith, Jack Michael Elliot Doe.)
A [official name of paper] submitted to the faculty of the
[program or department name] in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the [degree name]
University of St. Thomas
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Month Year (of graduation)
The Library requires two hard bound copies (see above). Many departments also require their own bound copies. Please consult the graduate coordinator associated with your department for specific information for your own program. You may also wish to bind your own personal copy.
You should have your thesis bound through Kinko's (58 Snelling Ave South, St. Paul or 80 S. 8th Street, Minneapolis locations), as the bindery they use conforms to library binding standards. The cost should be approximately $30 per individual volume.
The theses for each degree program are hard bound in a specific color buckram (library book cloth) and use a specific color to print information on the text and spine. See this list for information applicable to your department/program [department list].
The last name of the author, abbreviated degree, and year should appear on the spine of the thesis. (eg. Smith Ed.D 2004). The bindery will determine whether the spine information will be printed vertically or horizontally. Printing the title of the thesis on the front cover is optional.
If the content of your thesis is too large to bind into one volume, the following should appear on the spine of each volume: the last name of the author, abbreviated degree, year and the volume number. (eg. Smith Ed.D 2004 Vol. 2 ).
Many departments gather all of the theses completed in given year together and send them as a group to the Library for further processing. Consult the graduate coordinator associated with your department for specific information for your program.
Please consult the graduate coordinator associated with your department for information regarding the procedures for submitting completed and approved dissertations to UMI.
