Non-Thesis Master s Project Approval Form – Use this web form to report the completion and final approval of a master s non-thesis capstone paper or project.
If space permits, the caption should appear on the same page as the figure. Font size must not be smaller than 9 point.
Thesis and Dissertation Formatting
The requirements listed in the Thesis and Dissertation Formatting Requirements apply to the formal master’s thesis and the doctoral dissertation.
The thesis or dissertation is a report of original research and scholarly work that is shared with the academic community and is made available to the public. The thesis or dissertation becomes part of the UWM Digital Commons and is also made available through ProQuest. Information about submission can be found on the Electronic Thesis & Dissertation Submission website.
These format standards have been developed to ensure a degree of consistency in the written presentation of this research across academic disciplines.
The Graduate School will not accept theses or dissertations that do not conform to these requirements. Have your formatting reviewed by the Graduate School by the formatting deadline.
General Instructions
Required Page Order
Preliminary Pages:
- Title page – required
- Abstract page – required
- Copyright page – optional
- Dedication – optional
- Table of Contents – required for all except creative works
- List of Figures – required if figures appear in thesis
- List of Tables – required if tables appear in the thesis
- List of Abbreviations – optional
- Acknowledgements – required if permission to reproduce copyright material is necessary
- Frontispiece (illustration) or Epigraph (quotation) – optional
Main Body:
Thesis and Dissertation Formatting Resources:
Spacing
Double space throughout, with the exception of the title page; captions; table or figure headings; extensive quotations; footnotes or endnotes; entries in the References section; entries in the Table of Contents; and appendices.
Any standard font is acceptable; however, the same font should be used throughout. Use a font size of approximately 12. The only exceptions to this font size are captions (not smaller than 9 point) and headings (not larger than 20 point).
Margins
Preliminary Pages
Preliminary pages are the required pages that appear at the beginning of the final document. There are also optional pages which can be placed in this section.
Page Numbering
All preliminary pages are numbered with lower case Roman numerals, centered at the bottom of the page, with the bottom of the number at least 1/2 inch from the edge of the page. The exception to this is the title page, which is counted but not numbered.
Pages appear in this order
Main Body
Page Numbering
Beginning with the text of the thesis, the page numbering changes to Arabic numerals, centered at the bottom of the page, with at least 1/2″ clearance from each edge. The first page of the main text is page 1, and should be displayed on the page. All subsequent pages are numbered throughout the text.
Tables and Figures
Margins
All illustrative materials must maintain the same margins as the rest of the thesis.
1″ top, bottom, left, and right margins
Legibility
All illustrative material must be large enough to be easily read. Minimum font size is 9.
Landscape format
In order to maintain the required page margins for tables or figures, it may be necessary to print them in landscape format. The top margin will now be the edge that is bound. However, the page number must be placed on the page as though the page was in portrait format. It needs to appear in the same location and have the same text direction as the other (portrait) pages. See Thesis and Dissertation Formatting (.pptx) for additional help and examples.
Figure Captions
If space permits, the caption should appear on the same page as the figure. Font size must not be smaller than 9 point.
References and Citations
Any of the standard style manuals may be used as a guide in formatting references to works cited in the thesis. References may be placed at the end of the main text, or at the end of each chapter. Endnotes and/or footnotes may also be used. Whatever format is chosen, it must be followed consistently throughout the thesis.
If you are not following a style manual, please single space within each entry and double space between the entries.
Page Numbering
Reference pages are numbered. Use the next consecutive page number of your document for your references.
Appendices
All material included in the appendices must meet minimum font and margin requirements.
Many theses will not need this section. Material that supports the research, but is not essential to an understanding of the text, is placed in the appendices. Examples include raw data, extensive quotations, and survey or test instruments.
If there is only one appendix, it is simply called Appendix, not Appendix A. If there are multiple, appendices should be designated A: Title B: Title C: Title etcetera. Each appendix and its title and page number are listed in the Table of Contents.
Page Numbering
Start the Appendix or Appendices with the next consecutive page number. The Appendix or Appendices should be listed in the Table of Contents.
The appendix title can be on its own page, or at the beginning of the actual material. See sample pages for examples.
Workshops
Attend the Thesis & Dissertation Formatting and Submission Workshop and/or hands-on computer help session (optional) held each Spring and Fall semester. Session dates are emailed at the beginning of each semester, and listed in the Graduate School Events calendar.
ICollege Instructions
Beginning with the text of the thesis, the page numbering changes to Arabic numerals, centered at the bottom of the page, with at least 1 2 clearance from each edge. Your master s thesis or doctoral dissertation should be formatted according to the College of Arts Sciences guidelines and submitted for review by the posted deadlines.
By the format review deadline, you must submit a single, complete draft of your manuscript within the mandatory template provided by our office. A complete draft includes the following:
Resources:
https://sites.rhodes.edu/educationalstudies/masters-thesis-formatting-standards
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