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THESIS GUIDE 2011-2012
Requirements and Guidelines for the Preparation of Master’s Theses and Doctoral Dissertations
Thesis Office 115 Kern Building University Park, PA 16802 phone: 814/865-5448 fax: 814/863-4627 e-mail: gradthesis@psu.edu http://www.gradsch.psu.edu/current/thesis.html
INTRODUCTION The primary purpose of a thesis or dissertation is to train the student in the processes of scholarly research and writing under the direction of members of the Graduate Faculty. After the student has graduated and the work is published, it serves as a contribution to human knowledge, useful to other scholars and perhaps even to a more general audience. Therefore, the Graduate School, the University Libraries, and the Graduate Faculty of Penn State have established format standards that theses and dissertations must meet before receiving final approval as fulfillment of graduate requirements. This publication sets forth those standards. Some of these requirements are purely technical; others have been established to ensure that certain vital information is presented in an orderly, uniform manner. The requirements in this publication apply to all Penn State theses and dissertations. (The general term “thesis” may be used in this text to represent both.) They are, however, designed to allow for maximum flexibility in minor matters, which vary among academic disciplines (e.g., reference forms). Thus, while you will need to comply with the specifications given here, you will probably also need to consult a specialized manual of scholarly style in your field or the style sheet of a leading journal. Be careful if using another thesis as a model for your own; remember that this guide is revised from time to time, and you must meet current requirements. You have a fair amount of discretion with regard to style, but you must be consistent in format throughout. The work should be written in clear, grammatically correct English, with words spelled and divided correctly
Requirements and Guidelines for the Preparation of Master’s Theses and Doctoral Dissertations
Thesis Office 115 Kern Building University Park, PA 16802 phone: 814/865-5448 fax: 814/863-4627 e-mail: gradthesis@psu.edu http://www.gradsch.psu.edu/current/thesis.html
INTRODUCTION The primary purpose of a thesis or dissertation is to train the student in the processes of scholarly research and writing under the direction of members of the Graduate Faculty. After the student has graduated and the work is published, it serves as a contribution to human knowledge, useful to other scholars and perhaps even to a more general audience. Therefore, the Graduate School, the University Libraries, and the Graduate Faculty of Penn State have established format standards that theses and dissertations must meet before receiving final approval as fulfillment of graduate requirements. This publication sets forth those standards. Some of these requirements are purely technical; others have been established to ensure that certain vital information is presented in an orderly, uniform manner. The requirements in this publication apply to all Penn State theses and dissertations. (The general term “thesis” may be used in this text to represent both.) They are, however, designed to allow for maximum flexibility in minor matters, which vary among academic disciplines (e.g., reference forms). Thus, while you will need to comply with the specifications given here, you will probably also need to consult a specialized manual of scholarly style in your field or the style sheet of a leading journal. Be careful if using another thesis as a model for your own; remember that this guide is revised from time to time, and you must meet current requirements. You have a fair amount of discretion with regard to style, but you must be consistent in format throughout. The work should be written in clear, grammatically correct English, with words spelled and divided correctly