Uaf Thesis Format Handbook Sp2023
Uaf Thesis Format Handbook Sp2023
SUBMISSION HANDBOOK
Spring 2023
907-474-7464
[email protected]
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By
Doctor of Philosophy
in
Engineering
December 2023
If you are copyrighting
your thesis, then you will
need this © line.
This manual was created to help UAF graduate students properly format their thesis or
dissertation for submission to the Graduate School using ProQuest ETD. Outlined in the following pages
are guidelines for both the monograph and manuscript formats and examples to help the reader
understand what is needed to have a properly formatted paper. Students who use the Thesis Formatting
Handbook, and informational sessions have fewer formatting errors on their first dissertation/thesis
submission. You may also request a one-on-one review of your dissertation or thesis prior to submitting
it to ProQuest. Visit this link to request a meeting,
https://uaf.edu/gradschool/students/ready_to_graduate/thesis_dissertation_formatting/
Please contact the Graduate School for clarification of any information in this guide.
No citations are allowed in the abstract. Avoid using abbreviations or acronyms in the abstract. If
you must use abbreviations or acronyms they must be commonly known e.g., USA, DNA.
Typically, a good abstract will be no more than one page. There is no limit to the length of the
abstract, but we recommend that for ease of online discovery you limit the length of your abstract to no
more than 350 words or two pages.
Page
List of Tables
...................................................................................................................................................vii
v
2.2 Graduate School Thesis Submission Deadlines ..................................................................... 7
2.3 Request for an Extension to Thesis Deadline ......................................................................... 8
2.4 Submitting the Thesis to the Graduate School ....................................................................... 8
2.4.1 Payment of Thesis Binding ............................................................................................. 9
2.4.2 Copyrighting Thesis ........................................................................................................ 9
2.4.3 Delayed Publication (Embargo) ...................................................................................... 9
2.5 Delivery of Required Items to the Graduate School (all students) ......................................... 9
2.6 Additional Items Required from Ph.D. Candidates .............................................................. 10
2.7 Graduate School Review of Thesis ...................................................................................... 10
2.8 Thesis Grades ....................................................................................................................... 10
Common Errors.............................................................................................................................. 14
vi
Chapter 1 Guidelines for Preparation of Your Thesis or Dissertation
1.1.1 Monograph
The monograph style has chapters that addess specific areas of your research (e.g., Literature
Review, Methods and Materials, Results, etc.) and has one abstract, one introduction, one conclusion, and
one references section. This style is used by those who wish or need to prepare their thesis as a piece of
work unified by a single format and other characteristics. This includes stories, plays, poetry, etc., that are
not published in the standard journal format of the technical disciplines. This format does not preclude
chapters or sections having been submitted for publication or already published, but the choice is made
here to reformat materials to meet the requirements of monograph format. If you are intending to insert
papers into your thesis as a chapter or chapters that will be submitted for publication, have been submitted
for publication, or have already been published, you will want to format your thesis in the manuscript
style.
1.1.2 Manuscript
The manuscript style has individual chapters that are stand-alone documents. For example,
articles that you1 have written, submitted, or prepared for submission for journals are included in their
entirety as a single chapter (i.e., each chapter has its own abstract, introduction, conclusions, and
references). This style requires a General Introduction and a General Conclusion that ties the chapters
together.
1 You must be the first author or sole author on all articles that are to be included in your thesis. If you are a second or
contributing author on an article, then it can be included as an appendix to the thesis.
1
1.1.3 Single-chapter Manuscript
The single-chapter manuscript style is used when you have a single article prepared for
submission. Often journals have word or page count restrictions that don’t allow students to elaborate on
their work. Using the single-chapter manuscript format allows the student to add a general introduction
and general conclusion in addition to the article so they can include more information about their work or
research without adhearing to the previously mentioned restrictions.
1.2 Authorship
A thesis prepared in partial fulfillment of graduate degree requirements must be a student’s own
work, with co-authorship of work appearing within the thesis identified in references within the thesis.
The University recognizes that graduate research typically involves close working relationships with
others, particularly the major advisor. In such instances, you must be the primary contributor and senior
author for the writing of all materials included in the body of the thesis. A thesis based on the support of
others must include appropriate acknowledgment of that support. A thesis written partly in collaboration
with others must include a statement in the Introduction or Acknowledgments to the thesis clearly stating
who contributed to the research and the writing and the nature and degree of such contributions. If others
have contributed sufficiently to the research and writing so that they are or would be co-authors on any
manuscripts submitted for publication, "we" must be used within the thesis. In such instances, "we" must
be explicitly defined as in a footnote where first used or in the Acknowledgments.
1.4 Margins
All margins should be 1” on all sides. You must conform to these margins throughout the thesis
for text, figures, tables, and appendices. Margins may be made greater than the minimum but must be
consistent throughout the thesis.
2
Lower-case Roman numerals are usedto number preliminary pages from the Abstract (page iii) onward.
Arabic numerals are then usedbeginning with the first page of the text usually the Introduction on page 1.
Page numbers must becentered, ½” from the bottom, with text ending at 1”. This includes pages with a
landscape format (e.g.,figures and tables). Page numbers remain in these positions and retain the original
orientation even thougha page might be in landscape format. Blank pages are counted in the total.
3
websites are not copyrighted. However, the source of such non-copyrighted materials must be
acknowledged in the manner used for other references.
Please note that the date of the degree must be the month and year the degree will be awarded.
For example, May 2021. UAF degrees are awarded only in May, August, and December of each year, so
one of these three will be the month listed on the thesis. Your degree is from the University of Alaska
Fairbanks.
The Title Page now includes the names of your committee members, the department chair, the
dean of your school or college, and the director of the Graduate School.
4
1.10.3 Abstract
The abstract is the summary of your work and should contain the following:
• What topic and/or problem was addressed
• Why that is important
• What you did
• Most important results and their implications (what is the “take-home” message?)
The Table of Contents list all chapters and sections (at all levels) from the main body of the
thesis. Distinct sections must have section headings. Specifically, the list must contain all chapter and
section numbers (if used), their titles, and the page numbers on which they begin. Each title in the
Table of Contents must match the title in the text EXACTLY. The Table of Contents must be spaced
in the same manner as the text.
If there is only one Appendix, list it in the table of contents without its title. If there are multiple
Appendices, list only “Appendices” and their initial page number here. Individual Appendices and titles
are given in the “List of Appendices.”
The List of Figures must be on a new, separate page or pages following the Table of Contents and
must include all figure numbers, caption or titles, and their page numbers in order of appearance in the
thesis.
5
There are three ways to list the caption of a figure in the List of Figures. Choose one style and
remain consistent with it.
1. The first is to use a caption title (what you would call a summary title). This option
provides a short, comprehensive title. The objective is that this short title uses only one
line in the List of Figures, so a length of 8-10 words is recommended. Caption titles in
the text and in the List of Figures must match EXACTLY.
2. The second option is to use the first few words or first sentence of the caption. For this
option partial captions from the text must match EXACTLY what is listed in the List of
Figures.
3. The third option is to list the entire caption. This option is common for those students that
use the insert caption function in MS Word which will generate a List of Figures.
The List of Figures must be spaced in the same manner as the text. A single title, however, is
single-spaced if a second line is required. The first page number for the List of Figures must be listed in
the Table of Contents.
6
1.10.8 Preface, Acknowledgments, or Dedications
This is not a required part of the thesis, although it is traditionally included. This section may be
omitted at the discretion of the student and graduate advisory committee. The preface should include such
matters as reasons for undertaking the study, its scope and purpose, and acknowledgments (professional,
personal, and funding). When only acknowledgments are included, the heading "Acknowledgments"
should be used instead of "Preface." Those persons who are acknowledged should be referred to in a
consistent manner (names and affiliations are preferred).
If the deadline falls on a Saturday or Sunday, then the deadline becomes the next Monday. For
example, if the deadline is November 28 and that falls on a Saturday, then the actual deadline will be
Monday, November 30. Please note that departments and deans have their own deadline for thesis
review, several weeks to a month prior to the Graduate School’s deadline.
7
2.3 Request for an Extension to Thesis Deadline
Your advisory committee chair may submit the Request for Extension Form
(https://www.uaf/edu/gradsch/forms/) to request an extension on your behalf and outlining the
circumstances behind the necessity of the request. Please note that requests received directly from the
student will not be accepted. Your Department Chair and Dean must sign the memo showing that they
have acknowledged this request for an extension and that they will be available to review your
thesis/dissertation in a timely manner so you can meet the extension deadline.
No extensions will be granted beyond: April 21st for Spring, August 7th for Summer as this
does not leave enough time for the Graduate School staff to review your thesis/dissertation, time for you
to make any necessary corrections, and clear you to graduate by the deadline imposed by the Registrar’s
Office. No extensions are granted during the Fall semester.
Not all extension requests are approved as the Graduate School can only accommodate a small
amount of requests each semester. If an extension is granted and you do not make the deadline, you must
register (and pay) for one to three graduate credits the semester you do submit your thesis/dissertation to
the Graduate School and you will need to reapply for graduation.
8
2.4.1 Payment of Thesis Binding
Personal or departmental copies can be ordered from ProQuest at this time, or you can send them
to another business for printing/binding. Reprinting due to formatting errors are not the responsibility of
the Graduate School. A copy for the Rasmuson Library (archive copy) is not required.
If copyright registration is intended, the following notice (using your name and current year)
must appear as the last line of the title page of the thesis:
9
• The Thesis/Dissertation Approval form with all signatures except the Graduate School
Dean’s
• OPTIONAL: Embargo/Delayed Access Request Form
(http://www.uaf.edu/files/gradsch/Student_Forms/Revised-publishing-agreement-and-
thesisdissertation-form-June-10.pdf)
Submitting your final thesis or dissertation results in its publication; once you submit it, it is
no longer an educational record and the University may choose to share it with others or publish it.
10
Chapter 3 Thesis Preparation Guidelines in Brief
3.1 General
• Read the Thesis Formatting Handbook and contact the Graduate School if you have
questions.
• Give yourself plenty of time for corrections, even when you think you are finished with
the thesis.
• Verify that everything is spelled correctly; make use of a software spell-checker.
• Margins must be 1" all the way around.
• Preliminary pages must be numbered using lower case Roman numerals (iii, v, etc.).
The Title Page does not have a page number physically on the page but is counted in the
numbering.
• The thesis should be formatted for US Letter size paper (8.5"x11"). A4 size is not
acceptable.
11
3.4 References/Literature Cited
• Each reference cited in the text must be listed under References, and vice versa. Have
you spelled names the same way and used the same dates in both places?
• All references in References must be alphabetical order and listed consistently. (See a
style manual in your discipline or particular journals for guidelines as to format.)
After making final corrections requested by the Graduate School, the final, corrected copy of
your work must be submitted to the Graduate School via the ETD website before you receive final
clearance for graduation.
12
Appendix
You should consult with your graduate advisor regarding the specific style manual appropriate for
your thesis; for some theses, specific technical journals may be preferable as style models. You should
always use the latest edition of the appropriate style guide. Listed below are some preferred style
manuals.
Chicago Manual of Style, 2010, The University of Chicago Press, 16th Edition, 1026 pp.
Coghill, A.M., Garson, L.R., 2006, The ACS Style Guide: Effective Communication of Scientific
1
Information (An American Chemical Society Publication), American Chemical Society, Third Edition,
448 pp.
4
Hurth, E.J., 1994, Scientific Style and Format: The CBE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers
(CBE Style Manual), Cambridge University Press, Sixth Edition, 841 pp.
Modern Language Association, 2009, MLA Handbook For Writers of Research Papers, The Modern
Language Association of America, NY, Seventh Edition, 292 pp.
13
List of Common Errors
• References don't have corresponding in-text citations, and/or in-text citations don't have
corresponding reference entries in the References/Literature Cited section.
o The use of a references/citation management program is strongly recommended.
• In-text citations that have misspelled names or wrong year.
• Reference entries are split over two pages.
• Preliminary pages (e.g., Table of Contents, List of Figures, etc.) and/or chapters begin on even-
numbered pages (they should all start on odd-numbered pages).
• Page numbers are in a different font type and size than the rest of the thesis.
• There are widowed or orphaned lines at the top and bottom of pages.
• Landscaped tables or figures have the page number in the wrong location.
• More than one appendix but no List of Appendices.
• "Page" is not written above the page numbers in the Table of Contents, List of Figures, List of
Tables and List of Appendices and/or page numbers are not right-aligned.
• Periods instead of leader dots are used in the Table of Contents, List of Figures, List of Tables,
etc.
• Table of Contents is missing sections and/or subsections (or sub-subsections).
• Titles in the Table of Contents and captions for figures and tables in their corresponding lists
don't match word-for-word and capitalization-for-capitalization.
• Locations are incorrectly identified (e.g., Figure 1.1 is on page 30 but the List of Figures says it’s
on page 31).
14