University-Wide Requirements for the Ph.D. Dissertation: Dissertation Format

Dissertation Format

Additional information regarding formatting may be found in The Chicago Manual of Style or another style manual recommended by your department.

Font Style and Size

• Script, italic, or ornamental fonts are not acceptable, however italicized font may be used when appropriate (genus and species names, non-English words, etc.).
• Body of the text is 12-point. (ProQuest suggests less for some fonts, however the University requires 12-point.)
• Text in tables and footnote text is at least 10-point.
• Super- and subscript characters, type in formulas, and so forth are at least 9-point.

Line Spacing

• Double-spaced: abstract, dedication, acknowledgements, table of contents (if preferred), body of the manuscript except for captions, quotations as paragraphs, and items in tables, lists, graphs, or charts.
• Single-spaced when appropriate: footnotes, table of contents or bibliographic entries (with a line space between each title or entry), lists in appendices, etc.

Margins

• Margins are: Left: 1 1/2 inches; Right: 1 inch; Top: 1 inch; Bottom: 1 inch
  (ProQuest accepts 1 inch on the left, but the University requires 1.5 on the left.)
• Nothing is printed outside these margins, including page numbers, text, tables, figures, footnotes, and the outer edges of full-page images.

Page numbers

• All pages are numbered consecutively, and no page is missing. If a number is skipped, the manuscript will have to be reprinted.
• Preliminary pages of each volume are in lowercase Roman numerals. The title page of each volume counts as "i" although the page number is not printed on it.
• The first text page of the first volume is Arabic numeral "1." Arabic page numbers are consecutive from volume to volume. They do not start anew in successive volumes.
• Each page has a page number printed on it with the exception of the title, spacing, copyright, dedication, part-opening, and epigraph pages. Although these pages do not have page numbers printed on them, the page number is implied. Every sheet is counted for purposes of numbering pages. All page numbers are printed inside the margins.
• Page numbers should appear top right, that is, one inch from both the right edge and top edge. (Page numbers on the first page of all major sections may be centered at one inch from the bottom of the page, but this is not required.)

Paper

• Only University of Chicago Dissertation Bond (with University of Chicago watermark) or Permalife Bond (with Permalife watermark) are permitted.
• Each copy of the dissertation is printed on either one or the other of the approved papers, not both.
• Paper is 8 1/2 x 11 inches.

Printing

• Material is printed on one side of the paper.
• All material is printed and appears dark, crisp, and legible.
• All material appears within the margins of the manuscript.

Volume Size

• No volume contains more than 300 sheets of paper. If your dissertation comprises 301 or more sheets of paper, it must be in two or more volumes.
• Multiple volumes require separate title pages indicating the volume number for each volume.
• The division into volumes is indicated in the table of contents when there are multiple volumes.

Title Page

• The layout and style of the title page follow exactly the model provided by the Dissertation Office.
• The month noted is that of your convocation--December, March, August, or June.
• Multiple volumes require separate title pages indicating the volume number for each volume. (No volume may contain more than 300 sheets of paper.)

Table of Contents

• All major sections are listed in the table of contents-front matter (acknowledgements, abstract, preface, lists of tables, figures, maps, abbreviations, etc.), body (opening pages for parts, chapter titles), end matter (appendices, reference lists or bibliographies).
• Title, copyright, dedication, table of contents, and epigraph pages are not listed in the table of contents.
• Subheadings may appear in the table of contents. Note: if any subheadings are included then all other subheadings of the same level must be included.
• For multiple volumes, the division into volumes is indicated in the table of contents.
• Titles and page numbers appearing in the table of contents match the contents of the manuscript exactly.

List of Tables and/or List of Figures

• All dissertations with tables or figures include a list of tables and/or a list of figures immediately following the table of contents, even if there is just one table or figure. If both lists are included, each list must begin on a separate page.
• The lists include the number and title of each table or figure and the page number on which it begins. Tables or figures appearing in appendices must be included on the lists.
• The title of the table or figure may be an abbreviated version of its caption.
• If a table or figure is longer than a page, only the first page is referenced.

Tables and Figures

• Each table and figure has a unique number assigned to it, along with a title or description of the figure or table.
• Captions, legends, tables, figures, and the outer edges of full page images are printed inside the margins.
• Captions and legends are single spaced. If captions or legends they will not fit on the same page as a figure, they may be placed on a facing page. Check with Dissertation Office staff for instructions regarding facing pages.
• If a table or figure continues to a second page, the continuation is labeled.
• If a table or figure is printed in a broadside (or landscape) orientation, the top of the item must be adjacent to the binding edge (this margin should measure 1 1/2"). The page number must be placed in the same place and with the same orientation as the page numbers on portrait pages.
• Tables and figures are interleaved with the text on the same page. When appropriate, they may be gathered in an appendix, but they must not simply appear at the end of a chapter or bibliography.
• Notes in tables are not numbered sequentially with other footnotes but use either symbols or superscript lowercase letters in a sequence that begins anew for each table.
• Notes in tables appear at the bottom of the table, not the bottom of the page.
• Sources for tables do not require footnotes. SOURCE, followed by the source, appears under the line rule at the bottom of the table.
• Black and white images are preferred. Color or grayscale images may not reproduce well.
• After processing by ProQuest/UMI, color images will appear in shades of gray and may compromise legibility of figures, illustrations, photographs, and graphics. Data and information that is color-coded or based on color shading may not be interpretable.

References and footnotes

• The use of endnotes is discouraged. Internal references and footnotes are preferred.
• Footnote numbering is not continuous throughout the text. Each chapter or appendix begins with footnote 1.
• Numbered footnotes begin on the same page as the footnote indicator.
• A short line rule called a separator divides the footnote area from the main text.
• Footnote text is single-spaced, and footnotes are printed inside the margins.

Appendices

• Separate appendix opening pages may be used when appropriate.
• If there is more than one appendix, each has a number or letter in addition to the title.
• The title and page number of each appendix appears in the table of contents, as does the appendix number or letter when there is more than one appendix.

Bibliography

• Individual entries are single-spaced with a line space between each entry.