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OFFICE OF

GRADUATE STUDIES

GUIDELINES FOR PREAPARING

THESES

AND

DISSERTATIONS

Updated October 2019

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
Section I: Purpose of Theses and Dissertations ....................................................................... 2 
Section II: Roles and Responsibility ........................................................................................ 3 
Student ......................................................................................................................... 3 
Thesis or Committee Chairperson - Advisor ................................................................. 4 
Committee Members .....................................................................................................6 
Authorship..................................................................................................................... 7 
Academic Integrity ........................................................................................................ 8 
Section III: Preparing the Master’s Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation ...................................... 8 
Procedural Steps .......................................................................................................... 8 
Publishing with ProQuest ........................................................................................... 12 
Section IV: Formatting the Manuscript and Arrangement of Pages ..................................... 12 
Manuscript Preparation ............................................................................................... 12 
Arrangement of Pages ..................................................................................................... 15 
Section V: Discipline Styles ........................................................................................................... 19 
Student Formatting Review Checklist ........................................................................ 20 
Section VI: Electronic Dissemination ................................................................................... 24 
About ETDs ................................................................................................................24 
Library Workflow ....................................................................................................... 24 
Intellectual Property and Copyright ............................................................................25 
Open Access ............................................................................................................... 25 
Embargoes.................................................................................................................. 26 
Appendix A: Forms ................................................................................................................27 
Thesis Committee Approval Form ............................................................................. 28 
Dissertation Committee Approval Form ................................................................... 29 
Thesis/Dissertation Announcement Form ................................................................. 30 
Thesis/Dissertation Format Review Form ................................................................. 31 
Thesis Approval Page .................................................................................................... 32 
Dissertation Approval Page ........................................................................................... 33 
Internet Release Form ................................................................................................ 34 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ii 

Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines

Appendix B: Sample Pages .................................................................................................... 3.5

Thesis Title Page ........................................................................................................ 36

Dissertation Title Page ................................................................................................... 37

Copyright Page ............................................................................................................... 38

Curriculum Vitae ....................................................................................................... 39

Appendix C: Administrative Procedures ............................................................................... 40

Projects ....................................................................................................................... 40

Theses and Dissertations ............................................................................................ 40

Thesis and Dissertation Grading................................................................................ 41

Appendix D: Timetable of Deadlines .................................................................................... 43

Appendix E: End of Program Checklist ................................................................................ 44

Master’s Degree Students .......................................................................................... 44

Doctoral Students....................................................................................................... 45

Commencement Ceremony ........................................................................................ 46

iii

Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines

Overview of the Thesis and Dissertation Manual

This manual provides guidelines for the processes and procedures graduate students are to follow

to complete their master’s thesis or doctoral thesis or dissertation. The manual includes Towson

University requirements related to:

 Section I ‐ The Purpose of Theses and Dissertations

 Section II ‐ Roles and Responsibilities of The Student, and Thesis/Dissertation Chairperson

and Committee Members

 Section III ‐ Thesis and Dissertation Preparation

 Section IV ‐ Manuscript Formatting, Typing, Printing and Organization Requirements

 Section V ‐ Disciplinary Style

 Section VI ‐ Electronic Dissemination.

These guidelines are consistent with the policies of Towson University. Students also are to

confer with their thesis or dissertation chairperson for the requirements of their graduate program

and academic discipline that are in addition to those described in this manual.

Some graduate programs require students to complete other written projects for which portions

of these guidelines may apply. Students are to confer with their project advisor regarding project

requirements. Other programs may not require a major written project, but rather additional

coursework, internships, recitals, performances and exhibitions for completion of the graduate

degree.

Although it is helpful to review published theses or dissertations for content, graduate students

should not use the published works as a guide for their manuscript preparation. Professional

association guidelines for thesis and dissertation manuscript preparation such as those published

by the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Modern Language Association

(MLA) are modified periodically. Therefore, it is imperative that students be very familiar with

and adhere to current rules and requirements as stipulated in this manual and those required by

their specific discipline.

Students should read this manual and discipline specific guidelines thoroughly and completely,

follow directions, and ask questions if they are in doubt about specific procedures, rules and

manuscript requirements. Students are to seek guidance from their committee chairperson and

committee members regarding manuscript requirements. Students also may contact the Office of

Graduate Studies for additional guidance.

SECTION I

Purpose of Theses and Dissertations

Typically, the research work for a master’s degree is referred to as a thesis and the work for a

doctorate is referred to as a dissertation in this manual. Because the Doctor of Audiology is a

clinical doctorate, the research work associated with it is considered a thesis, as determined by

the Department of Audiology, Speech, Language Pathology, and Deaf Studies.

Master’s and doctoral theses contribute to the field of knowledge of the student’s discipline even

if the basic idea for the research is an expansion of existing research. In the thesis, the student

must demonstrate the ability to clearly define a worthwhile problem, conduct thorough

investigation, organize and logically present data, and draw defensible conclusions. In the visual

and performing arts, the thesis may take the form of recitals, performances, concerts, art

exhibitions, compositions, or other creative endeavors.

Originality is expected, though replication studies or follow‐up research studies are acceptable at

the master's level. The doctoral dissertation represents a more substantial and scholarly project

than the thesis. In addition to satisfying the criteria for the thesis, the dissertation also is to reflect

original research, adhere to scholarly rigor of the doctoral student’s discipline, and provide a

positive contribution to society or the discipline.

The Towson University guidelines for theses and dissertations described in the following sections

are minimum expectations. Individual departments and graduate programs may specify additional

policies and guidelines that are more rigorous as to the scope and level of work necessary to

complete the thesis or dissertation.

Eligibility to Initiate the Dissertation

Prior to initiating the dissertation, students are to (a) satisfy all of their doctoral program’s

prerequisite requirements, (b) demonstrate knowledge of research methods commensurate with

common research practices of their discipline and the research focus of their dissertation, (c)

demonstrate the ability to write in a scholarly manner consistent with the expectations of their

discipline, and (d) fulfill their program’s requirements for advancement to candidacy.

Examples of program prerequisites include the completion of designated courses and projects,

currency in discipline’s licensure and certification requirements, and presentation of scholarly

work at conference or in a professional journal. Demonstration of knowledge of research

methods includes successful completion of graduate coursework related to research and active

participation in research projects. All students are expected to have completed at least two

research courses or actively participated in two research projects prior to initiating the

dissertation. Demonstration of scholarly writing may be accomplished through submission of

written course assignments, comprehensive assessments, journal articles, or other forms of

program approved written work. Characteristics of scholarly writing include adherence to

English rules of grammar, sentence, paragraph structure; logical and integrated organization of

ideas; critical analysis and synthesis of theories, concepts, and data; and substantiation of

conclusions with evidence. Students who struggle with scholarly writing are to seek professional

assistance with writing, and demonstrate competency to the program’s graduate committee to

advance to candidacy. Examples of requirements for advancement to candidacy include

successful completion of oral and written examinations and assessments, completion of a project

and scholarly report, and submission of an article(s) to a juried journal.

The purpose of the candidacy is for the student to demonstrate broad scholarly knowledge of the

discipline and specific scholarly knowledge related to the dissertation. The student is permitted a

maximum of three attempts to satisfy candidacy requirements. After three unsuccessful attempts,

the student will be terminated from the doctoral program.

Program Responsibilities Related to the Dissertation Process

Programs are to have established procedures for evaluating the student’s eligibility for candidacy

that include a review by a committee and an appeal process. The review committee is to be

comprised of at least two faculty members who hold graduate faculty status and who have

current expertise related to the candidacy requirements. One member may be the student’s

potential dissertation chairperson. The student appeal process is to include steps consistent with

the academic appeal procedures for course assignments, program dismissal, and academic

integrity outlined in the Towson University Graduate Catalog.

Doctoral programs and departments may have policies and procedures regarding advancement to

candidacy and eligibility to initiate the dissertation that are more rigorous than those of the

University. In such situations, students are to abide by both sets of policies and procedures.

Printed or electronic copies of these policies and procedures are to be available to the doctoral

students.

SECTION II

Roles and Responsibilities

Student

Graduate students bear primary responsibility for their thesis or dissertation from the inception of

the idea through to the preparation of the final document. They are to maintain ongoing contact

with their thesis/dissertation chairperson and committee members, and adhere to established

expectations and guidelines throughout each step of the process.

Students are exclusively responsible for the substantive content of their thesis or dissertation.

Although they may seek guidance from their committee chairperson and committee members

for assistance with requirements established for any sponsored research, students are primarily

responsible for completing the required IRB training, and understanding and abiding by

requirements for ethical research. If in doubt, students also should consult with the Office of

Sponsored Programs and Research 410‐704‐2236; ospr@towson.edu;

https://www.towson.edu/academics/research/sponsored/ index.html.

Students also are responsible for thoroughly proofreading all submitted copies and for correcting all

content and writing errors, including typographic, formatting, spelling, grammar, and syntax errors.

Some academic programs allow students to procure the services of an editor to assist with writing

and correcting writing errors. Students are to submit a copy of their final thesis or dissertation to the

committee chairperson and committee members for approval. The committee chairperson and

committee members are responsible for determining whether the finished version meets required

standards of the discipline for research methods, content, and writing style. Once approved, the

student is to submit the thesis or dissertation to the Office of Graduate Studies for final approval of

formatting

Thesis or Dissertation Committee Chairperson –Advisor

In most graduate programs at Towson University, one faculty member assumes the joint

responsibilities of the thesis or dissertation committee chairperson and advisor. In some

programs, two faculty members share the responsibilities. In such situations, one faculty member

may serve as the committee chairperson and assume primary responsibility for administrative

aspects of the thesis or dissertation process. The other faculty member may serve as the

thesis/dissertation advisor and assume primary responsibility for advising the scholarly aspects

of the thesis or dissertation process. In this document, the phrase chairperson- advisor is used to

denote the overall responsibilities either assumed by one faculty member or shared by two

faculty members. Program specific delineation of chairperson and advisor responsibilities are to

be outlined in the program’s thesis or dissertation guidelines.

The thesis or dissertation chairperson – advisor assumes major responsibility for working

directly with the student throughout all phases of the thesis or dissertation. The chairperson –

advisor must hold appointment as a full graduate faculty member, have earned a doctoral or

terminal degree that is equivalent to or higher than the degree the student is seeking, and

demonstrate current expertise related to the student’s thesis or dissertation topic. Appointment as

full graduate faculty requires approval by the Graduate Studies Committee, based on evidence of

the faculty member’s continued active research and professional productivity and designation as

a full time tenured or tenure track assistant, associate or full professor at Towson University.

Though the student may request a particular faculty member to serve as thesis or dissertation

chairperson – advisor, the program director, department chair and Dean of Graduate Studies

must approve the appointment.

Other teaching, advising, scholarship and service responsibilities limit the number of theses or

dissertations a faculty member can chair or advise in an academic year; the number requires the

approval by the department chair and dean of the academic college as part of the faculty

member’s annual workload agreement. Approval of and changes to the chairperson-advisor

position must be granted by the program director, department chairperson, and the Dean of

Graduate Studies. Students who request a change in their chairperson-advisor must do so in

writing and provide a rationale and documentation to substantiate the request. The

documentation is to include evidence of addressing issues of concern with the thesis or

chairperson-advisor that led to the request, if relevant. Approval first must be obtained by the

program director, then the department chairperson, then the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Programs also may require approval by or consultation with their Doctoral Committee. Any

request for change in chairperson-advisor may impact the timeline and delay completing the

comprehensive assessment, thesis or dissertation.

Chairpersons- advisors who retire from Towson University prior to the student’s completion of

the thesis/dissertation may continue to serve in that role for a maximum of three years, if they:

 Hold full graduate faculty status at the time of retirement

 Demonstrate continued active research/professional productivity during retirement

 Are requested by the student to continue to serve in that role

 Receive approval from the program director, department chairperson, and dean of

Graduate Studies.

Alternatively, chairpersons-advisors who retire or resign from Towson University prior to the

student’s completion of the thesis/dissertation may serve as a thesis/ dissertation committee

members if they:

 Meet the criteria for committee membership as stated below

 Are requested by the student to serve in that role

 Receive approval from the program director/department chairperson and dean of

Graduate Studies.

The chairperson- advisor is the student's main consultant, advisor and advocate, and is to hold

regularly scheduled meetings with the student throughout the thesis/dissertation process. The

chairperson counsels the student regarding the potential membership of the thesis/dissertation

committee with the goal of maximizing available faculty expertise related to the research

question. It is incumbent on the student and the chairperson- advisor to assure that all content

and methodological expertise needed for the research is present among the thesis/dissertation

committee members.

The chairperson-advisor challenges the student to anticipate theoretical, practical and

methodological complications that are likely to be encountered. The chairperson-advisor guides

the student through the analysis of the research topic and research questions to determine ways

of addressing theoretical and methodological problems. The student is expected to submit drafts

of the research proposal and the developing manuscript on a regular basis to the chairperson-

advisor for feedback and approval. The chairperson- advisor is expected to provide timely and

specific feedback on the drafts. Students and chairpersons- advisors are to discuss and agree

upon expectations for timely submission of and feedback on drafts. The quality of the research is

a direct reflection of standards established by the discipline and enforced by the chairperson-

advisor. When meeting with another member of the thesis/dissertation committee, the student is

to include the chairperson- advisor, or is to discuss the results of the meeting with the

chairperson- advisor soon afterwards. This procedure will protect the student from inconsistent

guidance and incompatible recommendations. If the student receives contradictory information,

the chairperson- advisor is to take steps to resolve the inconsistencies, and assumes responsibility

for the final decision.

The chairperson-advisor conducts the proposal and defense meetings. The chairperson- advisor

may identify a thesis/dissertation committee member or other designated faculty member to

oversee the defense process to assure it is consistent with Department/ College/University

requirements. The chairperson- advisor is to check the departments/ program’s expectations and

procedures for the defense of thesis and dissertation, and make sure all procedures are followed

by the committee members and the student.

General expectations and procedures are to be discussed with the student prior to a defense

meeting. Typically, the student is asked to present the contents of the written proposal, thesis, or

dissertation to the committee, followed by questions from committee members. Although

defense meetings typically are open to the campus community, the committee chairperson-

advisor or other designated faculty member should make it clear at the outset of the meeting if

and when questions to the candidate will be accepted from the audience. The student is to obtain

special permission from the committee chairperson-advisor, the program director or department

chairperson, and the Dean of Graduate Studies for a closed proposal or thesis/dissertation

defense.

In some cases, a graduate student's research work may contain information that may be

identified as proprietary in nature or relevant to patent applications. This information will be

made available to committee members only and discussed in the defense meeting as part of a

closed session between the candidate and the committee. When the discussion moves to other

aspects of the project, the meeting will be re-opened to the campus community. The committee

chairperson-advisor, in consultation with relevant committee members and the student are

responsible for determining if some portion of the defense discussion should be closed. The

chairperson-advisor also is responsible for overseeing this process during the defense meeting.

Proposal defense and thesis/dissertation defense meetings are to exemplify the highest level of

professional and ethical conduct at all times. For doctoral students completion of the dissertation

reflects the highest scholarly achievement. Thus, as a symbol of Towson University’s

commitment to scholarly excellence, the Dean of Graduate Studies or a faculty member of the

Graduate Studies Committee is to be invited by the doctoral student and the dissertation

chairperson to attend the dissertation defense.

Thesis and Dissertation Committee Members

Thesis/Dissertation Committee members are responsible for thorough review of the research

document. At least two committee members in addition to the chairperson are required for the

thesis committee. At least three committee members in addition to the chairperson are required

for the dissertation committee. At least one dissertation committee member is to be external to

the student’s program of study. Up to two members of a thesis committee may be external to the

student's program of study.

This committee member can be a faculty member in another department of the University or can

be an expert who is external to the University. Other committee members may be added by the

student and the chairperson for their content or methodological assistance. Usually, a committee

will have no more than six members.

All members of the committee must hold appointment as full or associate graduate faculty, and

possess expertise related to an aspect of the thesis/dissertation topic, or research methodology.

Appointment as a full graduate faculty requires approval by the Graduate Studies Committee,

based on evidence of the faculty member’s continued active research and professional

productivity and designation as assistant, associate or full professor at Towson University.

Appointment as Associate Graduate Faculty requires approval by the Graduate Studies Committee

based on evidence of: (a) 5 years or more work experience in the related field; (b) a master’s degree

or higher in a related field; (c) and research, artistry, expertise or productivity at the local, national

or international level. In addition to Towson faculty, thesis and dissertation committee members

may include retired faculty, faculty who resign from Towson University, or experts in the field

from off campus. In determining committee membership, faculty from other departments may be

considered, especially for interdisciplinary breadth or special expertise or experience.

Approval of and changes to the committee membership must be granted by the program

director, department chairperson, and the dean of Graduate Studies. A committee member who

retires or resigns from Towson University prior to the completion of the thesis or dissertation

may continue to serve on the committee if

 requested by the student to do so and

 receives approval from the program director, the department chairperson, and the dean

of the Graduate Studies Office

If the program requires that at least one committee member in addition to the chairperson be a

member of the program or the University, then another faculty member needs to be appointed to

replace the faculty member who retired or resigned.

Each committee member is to be fully familiar with the content of the proposal, thesis, or

dissertation prior to the defense meeting and be prepared to discuss the research and any related

concerns during the defense. When asked to be a member of a student's thesis or dissertation

committee, the faculty member should inquire into the student's and the chairperson’s

expectations. The committee member should be willing to provide the student with the necessary

time and support. Committee members are to resolve conflicts of values and professional

opinions, theoretical and methodological differences directly with one another prior to the

proposal or thesis/dissertation defense so that the student has clear guidelines as to what is

expected. If the committee members cannot do so, the committee chairperson is to intercede. The

chairperson also may seek approval from the program director and department chair to have the

committee member step down from the committee.

Authorship

Students are the sole authors of the theses or dissertations that they submit to Towson University

in partial fulfillment of the criteria of their degree requirements. As owners of the copyright of

their thesis or dissertation, students may place a temporary or permanent embargo on electronic

access to their work through ProQuest. Thesis and dissertation chairs, advisors, or committee

members also may place a temporary embargo, if the content of the thesis or dissertation

contains their potentially patented work. See section on Electronic Theses and Dissertations

(ETD) in the Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines for additional details. Ownership of the data

gathered as part of the thesis or dissertation is to abide by Towson University Policy on

Intellectual Property and the standards of the student’s discipline.

Thesis and dissertation chairs, advisors, and committee members are not to be included as

authors of the thesis or dissertation. Their roles are to guide the thesis or dissertation process and

to provide formative and summative feedback to the students regarding their demonstrated

ability to fulfill the requirements of the thesis or dissertation.

Students are encouraged to meet with their thesis or dissertation chair, advisor and committee

members early in the thesis or dissertation process to discuss authorship of potential publications

resulting from their thesis or dissertation. Students may bring concerns regarding authorship

guidelines and expectations to the Graduate Studies Committee. Authorship on publications that

result from the student’s thesis or dissertation are to abide by the standards of the student’s

discipline and the publisher guidelines. Authorship on such publications implies substantive

contribution to the scholarship and writing of the final product. Serving as a thesis or dissertation

chair, advisor, or committee member does not automatically qualify for authorship on such

publications.

The order of authors on publications resulting from the thesis or dissertation is to abide by the

standards of the discipline. In some disciplines, the primary author is listed first. In other

disciplines, authors are listed alphabetically. Some publishers limit the number of authors.

Academic Integrity

Students are to abide by the Academic Integrity Policy of Towson University and the code of

conduct of their discipline throughout the thesis or dissertation process. Students whose thesis or

dissertation contains plagiarized, falsified, or fabricated work are subject to the policies,

procedures, and sanctions outlined in the Academic Integrity Policy, including potential

expulsion from the University, if still a student. The University reserves the right to revoke the

awarded master’s or doctoral degree of those students who, after graduating, are found to have

violated the Academic Integrity Policy during the thesis or dissertation process.

SECTION III

Preparing the Thesis or Dissertation

Procedural Steps

The process begins with the student requesting a faculty member to serve as thesis/dissertation

chairperson. The student is to abide by the academic program or department policies regarding

procedures for determining which faculty member will serve as a thesis or dissertation

chairperson. (See Section II: Roles and Responsibilities in this manual for more information on

determining the thesis/dissertation chairperson).

The chairperson and the student then meet to discuss the focus of the research and identify

additional committee expertise needed to assist the student in completing the thesis/dissertation.

The student is to abide by the academic program or department policies regarding procedures for

determining the thesis or dissertation committee members. (See Section II: Roles and

Responsibilities in this manual for more information on determining the composition of the

Thesis or Dissertation Committee.)

The student next obtains a copy of the Thesis/Dissertation Committee Approval Form, acquires

the necessary signatures, and submits the completed form to the Office of Graduate Studies for

approval before formally initiating the thesis/dissertation [See Appendix A for forms]. The dean

of the Office of Graduate Studies verifies that all committee members hold graduate faculty

status and meet the qualifications for serving on a thesis/dissertation committee, then signs and

forwards a copy of the form to the program director and committee chairperson.

The student then obtains a special permit form from the graduate program director or

department chairperson to register for the thesis or dissertation course. The student is to abide by

the academic program and department policies and procedures for the number of thesis or

dissertation units to register in each fall, spring, minimester, and/or summer term. Usually

students completing a master’s thesis register for a six‐unit 897 course or a three‐unit 898

course spread over two academic terms. Students working on a doctoral dissertation usually

programs. In some programs, it is possible for students to register for all thesis or dissertation

units in one term, though this usually is not advisable. Those students who attempt to complete

all required units in one term must be very attentive to the various deadlines for completion and

submission of the thesis project. Students always should consult with their thesis/dissertation

chairperson regarding which academic term(s) to register for thesis/dissertation units and the

number of units to take.

The student next develops the thesis/dissertation proposal. The student is to maintain ongoing

contact with the thesis/dissertation chairperson and the committee members during the

development of the proposal and to abide by the academic program or department guidelines for

its content and scope. Some programs and departments require a formal oral defense of a thesis

proposal, though this is not a requirement of the Office of Graduate Studies. Doctoral

dissertation proposals require a formal oral defense. Approval of the thesis or dissertation

proposal by the chairperson and committee members is necessary for the student to proceed with

the thesis or dissertation research. The student is to confer with and receive approval from the

chairperson and the committee members for a proposed timeframe for completing the thesis or

dissertation. The dean of the Office of Graduate Studies does not need to approve the thesis or

dissertation proposal.

The student must seek and obtain written approval from the Towson University Institutional

Review Board (IRB) for the Protection of Human Subjects prior to conducting research that

involves the use of human subjects. Students must seek and obtain approval from Towson

University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) prior to conducting research

that involves the use of animals. Students can contact the Office of Sponsored Programs and

Research at (410)704‐2236 or at ospr@towson.edu.

Guidelines and applications for approval of research involving human subjects and animals are

available at https://www.towson.edu/academics/research/sponsored/ index.html. Students are to

allow ample time for submission to and review by IRB or IACUC of their research proposal.

Depending on the type of research, the IRB or IACUC review process may take from one to

many months. IRB and IACUC approval also may be required by external institutions for those

research projects involving other agencies and institutions. Students are to include a copy of the

Towson and external IRB or IACUC approval form as an appendix to their thesis/dissertation.

Once granted approval to implement the thesis or dissertation research, the student is to

meet regularly with the committee chairperson. During these meetings, the student and

chairperson are to discuss the progress of and findings from the research, review

written drafts of the thesis/dissertation, and assess the progress toward completion of

all thesis/ dissertation requirements.

The chairperson may direct the student to discuss the research findings and to submit drafts of

the thesis/ dissertation to the other committee members for their feedback during this time

period. The student typically need to submit multiple drafts of the thesis/dissertation to the

chairperson and the committee members for review and feedback prior to the final draft.

Students are to abide by all deadlines established by the Office of Graduate Studies for review

and submission of the final thesis/dissertation and by the Towson University Graduation Office

for formal submission of an intention to graduate [See Appendix D]. Students are to abide by

department and program deadlines for review and submission of the thesis/dissertation, if these

deadlines are earlier than those stated by the Office of Graduate Studies.

 Once it is approved by the committee chairperson, the student is to distribute the final draft

of the thesis or dissertation to the committee members for review at least seven weeks

prior to the official end of the academic term (final exam week) in which the student

intends to graduate. The committee chairperson may decide if this is to be a paper or an

electronic version. At the time of distribution, the student is to meet with the committee

chairperson to establish a date and time for the oral defense of the thesis/dissertation.

The oral defense is to occur at least four weeks before the end of the academic term.

 The student is to complete and submit a copy of the Thesis/Dissertation Defense

Announcement form to the Office of Graduate Studies at least 10 working days prior to

the defense date. [See Appendix A]. The Office of Graduate Studies or the administrative

assistant to the dean of the student’s academic college will post defense announcements

on the T3 (Towson Tigers Today). Thesis and dissertation defenses are open to all

members of the Towson University academic community, and to guests invited by the

student. The student is to obtain special permission from the committee chairperson and

the program director or department chairperson for a closed thesis and dissertation

defense.

 Prior to the oral defense, the student is to prepare one copy of the Thesis/Dissertation

Approval page [See Appendix A]. The Thesis/Dissertation Approval page is to conform

to the thesis/dissertation guidelines in terms of font, margins, location of page number,

and type of paper. If the manuscript requires little or no revision, the committee

chairperson and the committee members sign the Thesis/Dissertation Approval page at

the end of the defense, signifying their approval. If the manuscript requires revisions, the

student is to make them prior to obtaining the signature of the chairperson and the

committee members on the Thesis/Dissertation approval page [see below]. The student is

take special care to make sure the signature page is in the correct format. If it is

discovered to be wrong, it will be necessary to obtain the committee members signatures once

again on the correct form. The student is to submit the signed approval page to the Office of

Graduate Studies. A copy will later be inserted into the electronic copy of the thesis or

dissertation once the dean of Graduate Studies signs it.

 Within two days following a successful defense, the student should meet with the

committee chairperson to discuss necessary modifications specified by the committee

during the oral defense.

 The student is to make necessary modifications to the thesis/dissertation and submit it to

the committee chairperson for final review. When submitting the modified document, the

student also is to provide the committee chairperson with a copy of the Office of

Graduate Studies Thesis/Dissertation Format Review for review and signature [See

Appendix A]. The student is to submit the revised thesis/dissertation to the committee

chairperson and committee members at least 15 working days before the last day of the

term. This will allow the chairperson and committee members 5 working days for final

check of content, formatting, typing and page numbering prior to last possible day the

student has to submit all materials to the Office of Graduate Studies. A student who

exceeds these deadlines or whose work continues to require additional revisions may

need to postpone graduation to the following academic term.

 The student is to submit the final approved thesis/dissertation, signed Thesis/Dissertation

Approval Page, signed Thesis/Dissertation Format Review Page and the Internet Release

Page in electronic form to the Office of Graduate Studies at gradstudies@towson.edu at

least 10 working days prior to the official end of the term in which the student intends to

graduate. The electronic copy of the thesis/dissertation is to be in a version compatible

with Microsoft Word; the electronic copy should not be a PDF at this time. The Office of

Graduate Studies evaluates an electronic copy of thesis/dissertation, after it has been

approved by the committee, to ensure compliance with the procedural and formatting

requirements stipulated in this manual. Theses or dissertations that do not follow the

guidelines will need to be corrected by the student before receiving final approval from

the Office of Graduate Studies.

 Once the thesis/dissertation is approved, the student is to send an electronic Word

version, PDF version, the approval forms, the IRB approval forms, the consent and assent

forms, the internet release form, and the research and CV questions to the Office of

Graduate Studies. Scanned versions of pages that contain signatures are acceptable. The

Office of Graduate Studies will forward the electronic copy to Cook Library [See Section

VI for more details]. Students are welcome to produce paper copies and have them bound

for themselves, their committee chairperson, committee members and others. Neither the

Office of Graduate Studies nor Cook Library requires a hard bound copy. Students may

request binding of personal copies on a paper of their choice through Cook Library for a

nominal fee. Students may also request printing and binding of personal copies through

the UStore with the Espresso Book Machine (EBM) for a nominal fee. The process takes

10 minutes and costs five cents per page with a two-dollar print fee. Even though paper

copies are not being submitted, the formatting requirements of a paper copy must be

followed. Doctoral students also may contact ProQuest to have their dissertations submitted to

University Microfilm Incorporated, a database of nearly all dissertations from American

universities.

Students are expected to maintain continuous registration in a thesis/dissertation course (or

continuum) each academic term until they successfully complete all of the requirements of the

thesis/dissertation. This also includes summer and minimester for those students who are

working with their chairperson or committee members on their thesis/dissertation during these

terms.

If the thesis or dissertation is not completed in the term(s) for which all required units have been

earned, the student must register and pay for one unit of 899 Thesis Continuum or 999

Dissertation Continuum each proceeding term until it is completed. A grade of in- progress (IP)

is entered until the thesis or dissertation is completed. Students are to consult with their

committee chairperson to determine if and when they should register for Continuum units.

Continuum courses do not count towards credits needed for graduation. Continuum courses are

graded as Satisfactory (S) or unsatisfactory (U).

In‐ progress (IP) grades are not given for continuum courses. Once the student has completed all

requirements for the thesis or dissertation, the thesis or dissertation chair submits a grade of

satisfactory (S) for the thesis or dissertation.

Students also must abide by the time limit for degree completion of their graduate program. This

time limit includes all coursework, transfer courses, and thesis/dissertation completion (defense

inclusive). Terminal master’s degrees (MFA) and doctoral programs have a ten year time limit.

All other graduate programs have a seven year time limit.

Students should review their Graduate Program Handbook and consult with their committee

chairperson to identify which time limit applies to their program.

Publishing with ProQuest

Towson University supports doctoral students publishing their thesis/ dissertation through

ProQuest UMI as it allows international dissemination. This is in addition to the dissemination of

the thesis/dissertation that occurs through Cook Library. Towson has an account that students

can use to submit dissertations for free. Students also can pay additional fees for such options as

ProQuest/UMI Dissertation Publishing is the world's only comprehensive service for publishing,

archiving, and disseminating graduate research. Publishing with ProQuest/UMI, ensure that the

dissertation or thesis gains the widest possible audience.

The UMI ETD Administrator system helps manage the electronic submission of dissertations and

theses that the university plans to publish with ProQuest. It simplifies the submission process for

students and graduate administrators alike by moving all steps online and eliminating the need to

box and ship paper copies of each dissertation or thesis.

To access Towson’s account to ProQuest UMI, please click on the link below. It provides

information as to how to submit your dissertation through Towson University. The word or pdf

version you submitted to Graduate Studies and to Cook Library should contain all of the

information you need to submit your document to ProQuest UMI.

https://secure.etdadmin.com/cgi-bin/main/resources

SECTION IV

Formatting the Manuscript and Arrangement of Pages

The general format requirements presented in this manual supersede all other requirements

stipulated in previous editions of Towson University manuals. Students are to refer to the style

manual preferred by the academic department or program for matters not specified in this

manual. Some programs/departments may prefer that students follow a format and style required

by the journal, monograph, book or other type of publication where they will submit their thesis

or dissertation for publication.

Students are to consult with their committee chairperson regarding the appropriate format and

style to follow and are to use it consistently throughout the manuscript. Students are to inform

the Office of Graduate Studies of any changes from the standard format and the reasons for such

changes.

Type and Fonts

Because it is possible that the manuscripts will be reduced to microfilm or other small versions,

type and fonts must be large enough and clear enough to retain their integrity during the

reduction process. Typeface and font size should be uniform throughout the document. Students

should use a serif type face and 12 point font. Times Roman typeface size is preferred in APA

publications. A sans serif typeface may be used for figures. Compressed typeface should not be

used.

As much as possible, students are to use word processing techniques for any special symbols,

lines, boxes, or other printing. If there are any lines or symbols that cannot be produced using

word processing symbols, students are to insert them on a hard‐copy page with black ink that has

adequate photographic reproduction quality. Students are to use a ruler for any drawn lines and a

fine‐point pen for symbols inserted in the printed text. The size of the written symbols is to be

proportional to the printed characters. If any of these manual methods are used, the page must be

scanned and added to the electronic document. Students are required to use black colored font

unless there is a particular justification for using colored font.

All paragraphs must contain at least two sentences. There also must be at least two sentences of

text between each heading level.

Margins

Students are to use consistent margins throughout the manuscript. The left margin is to be at

least 1‐½ inches to allow for any possible future binding. There is to be one inch above the top of

the letters in the first line of type, and at least three‐quarters of an inch above the top of the page

number. The right and bottom margins are to be at least one inch.

Students are to adjust the text so as not to leave less than two isolated lines at the top of a new

page or above the bottom margin except for the final page of a chapter, a table, or an illustration.

All headings must be followed by at least two lines of text at the bottom of the page.

Page Numbers and Numbering

Preliminary pages

(See Arrangement of the Thesis and Dissertation below). Preliminary pages should be arranged in

the following sequence using lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv, etc.) centered above the

bottom margin. Count the title page as page one but do not print a page number.

 Title page

 Approval page

 Acknowledgement page (optional)

 Abstract page

 Table of Contents

 List of Tables and number and the title of the tables (if two or more tables are included)

 List of Figures and the numbers and titles of the figures (if two or more figures are

included)

Text. Beginning with the first page of the text and continuing to the end of the manuscript

number pages in sequence with Arabic numerals, starting with 1. Count all pages and number

them. Do not insert numbers such as "106a" or leave uncounted pages.

Position page numbers uniformly at the top of the page, flush with the right margin. Some style

manuals also require students to use a running head. Students are to consult with their

thesis/dissertation chairperson regarding the use of a running head.

Even if a page has text/table/graph/diagram filling the page and printed sideways (for landscape

orientation), the page number should still be in the same position and alignment as on a regular

page. This may require manually typing or positioning the page number. It may be necessary to

scan any unusual page to insert it into the electronic text.

Line Spacing. Double‐space the heading and main body of the text. Double‐space, not

quadruple‐ space, between main headings and subheadings and between headings or

subheadings and text. Single‐space within footnotes and endnotes.

Headings and Subheadings

 Format headings and subheadings consistently throughout the manuscript

 Arrange headings that are over 3 1/2 inches long in inverted pyramids with the longest

line at the top

 Do not hyphenate words at the ends of lines

 Use the same font size for headings as used in the body of the text

 Place chapter titles below chapter numbers

 Double space, not quadruple space, after the last line of the title before beginning the text

 Double space between all heading and subheading levels

 Some style manuals give specific instructions for headings; others give none. In the latter

case, useful guidelines can be found in Turabian's A Manual for Writers of Term Papers,

Theses, and Dissertations.

Tables and Figures

 Number all tables and figures with Arabic numerals in the order in which they are first

mentioned in text, regardless of whether a more detailed discussion of the table or figure

occurs later in the paper.

 Use double spacing as appropriate for tables and figures.

 Place each table and figure on a separate page within or at the end of the text. Label each

table and figure by its number and title.

References Cited in the Text

 Arrange notes or other methods of reference citation in a definite and consistent order and

style according to the discipline style approved by the academic program/department. If

unsure, consult the thesis/dissertation chairperson.

 Place footnotes at the bottom of the page within the designated margins. Footnotes should

be separated from the text with a horizontal line 2 inches long. Allow sufficient space

during typing so that an entire footnote can be placed on the page on which it begins.

Word processing programs, like Microsoft Word automatically perform this function.

 Endnotes should be placed at the end of each chapter, not at the end of the manuscript.

They may be labeled endnotes, chapter notes or simply notes. Begin them at the top

margin of a new page with a heading typed in the same manner as other subheadings in

the manuscript.

 Whether using footnotes or endnotes, single‐space the notes themselves and double‐space

between them.

Arrangement of the Thesis/Dissertation

Every manuscript is composed of three parts: a). Preliminary Pages, b). Text Pages, and c).

Supplemental Pages.

Preliminary Pages. The preliminary pages are arranged in the following order and include the title

page, approval page, acknowledgement page (optional), abstract, and table of contents. The preliminary

pages also include the list of tables, list of figures, and list of symbols, if applicable. These pages are

numbered using lower case Roman Numerals (ii, iii, etc.) that are placed at the bottom center of the page.

Title page. The title page includes the following information. The information is centered

and spaced evenly. The title page is not numbered, but is considered page i. A sample of a title

page is provided in Appendix B of this manual.

 Title of the study

 Name of the author

 The phrase "A thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER

OF ARTS" (or "OF SCIENCE," "OF EDUCATION," as appropriate, or “A dissertation

in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of DOCTOR of ” as

appropriate),

 Full name of the department to which it is submitted

 Name and address of Towson University

 Date of expected graduation (month and year), not the date of the defense

Approval page. The approval page contains the signature of the committee chairperson and

the committee member, and indicates that the thesis/dissertation meets the standards of the

academic program, the department, and the discipline. [See Appendix B for a sample of the

Thesis/Dissertation Approval page].

Acknowledgement page. The acknowledgement page contains a brief statement of

appreciation for or recognition of special assistance, guidance, or support provided to the

students during the thesis/dissertation process. The word Acknowledgments is centered without

punctuation two inches from the top of the page. Text begins two lines below this heading and is

double‐spaced.

Abstract. The abstract should provide the reader with an overview of the problem,

methodology, and conclusion in concise, specific, and informative language. The abstract text for

a master’s thesis must adhere to a strict 150‐word and a one page limit.

Abstracts for doctoral work may be up to 350 words in length and may extend beyond one page.

The heading Abstract is centered without punctuation two inches from the top of the page. Two

lines below this heading the title appears as written on the title page.

The author's name is centered and placed two lines below the title. The text of the abstract begins

two lines below the author's name and is double‐spaced.

Table of contents. Tables of contents may be brief and include only chapter headings, or

may be detailed and include one or more levels of subheadings. The wordings of headings in the

table of contents must correspond exactly to the wording of those headings in the text. No

preceding material is listed, but any preliminary pages that follow the Table of Contents should

be listed. All items of the main text and supplementary end material should be listed. Each main

heading should be left justified. Sub‐headings may be indented. Corresponding page numbers

should align with the headings and be right justified. The heading Table of Contents is centered

without punctuation two inches from the top of the page.

List of tables. This section is required if there are two or more tables in the manuscript. The

heading List of Tables is centered without punctuation two inches from the top of the page. The

list of tables uses either the captions exactly as they appear above the tables in the text or the first

sentence of lengthy, multi‐sentence captions. If the first sentence is used, it must be an

informative statement about the subject matter contained in the table. The List of Tables should

give a page number on the right side of the page for each item.

List of figures. This section is required if there are two or more figures in the manuscript.

The heading List of Figures is centered without punctuation two inches from the top of the page.

The list of figures uses the captions exactly as they appear below the figures or the first sentence

of lengthy, multi‐sentence captions. If the first sentence is used, it must be an informative

statement about the subject matter contained in the figure. The List of Figures should give a

page number on the right side of the page for each item.

Keys to symbols, abbreviations, or nomenclature. If used, the layout is up to the

discretion of the student in consultation with the thesis/dissertation chairperson. The symbols,

abbreviations, and nomenclature are to be consistent with those specified by the academic

discipline and style manual.

Text Pages. Page numbering restarts on the first page of texts. Arabic numerals (1, 2, and 3) are

used and placed in the upper right corner of the page. Some style manuals require a running head on each

page to the left of the page number.

Headings. Theses/dissertations need to be carefully organized to reflect a logical

development of the research project. Many, but not all, theses and dissertations are organized

into five distinct chapters. Often the major sections of the work are:

 Introduction

 Literature Review

 Methods and Materials

 Results

 Discussion

Also, each chapter or major section may be divided into second, third, fourth, and fifth level sub‐

headings to emphasize specific aspects of the research. Chapters or major sections are to begin

on a new page.

Spacing and indentation of text, series, and block quotations. The text is double‐ spaced

and a new paragraph begins five spaces from the left margin. Use only left‐only justified

margins. Numbered, lettered, or bulleted series are indented from the left margin. Block

quotations also are indented from the left margin.

Footnotes and endnotes. The format and style of documentation of sources varies among

disciplines. The format/style used also may be one that is required by the journal, monograph,

book or other type of publication to which the dissertation/thesis is submitted. Students are to use

the chosen format consistently throughout the thesis/dissertation. Even if references are inserted

as endnotes, they still must be included in the bibliography at the end of the work. Students

should consult with their committee chairperson to identify a style appropriate to be used

consistently throughout the manuscript.

SUPPLEMENTAL PAGES

Arabic numerals are used to number supplemental pages. The numbering continues from the

main text pages. The page number and running head, if applicable, are placed in the upper right

corner of the page.

Appendices. Appendices are used for supplementary illustrative materials such as research

or survey instruments, original data, extended tables or charts, mathematical derivations,

computer programs, or quotations too lengthy for inclusion in the text or not immediately

essential to an understanding of the text. IRB or IACUC approval letters to use human or animal

subjects, Informed Consent forms, Informed Assent forms, and survey forms used in the research

process also are placed in the appendices. Students must include the signed IRB or IACUC,

copies of the informed consent/informed assent forms, copies of research questions, surveys and

other research forms in the appendices if they were a part of the thesis/dissertation. Student is

also to include a curriculum vitae.

Appendices follow the last page of the text. Introduce the appendix with a consecutively

numbered page on which the word Appendix (or Appendices) is centered without punctuation.

Each appendix should be labeled, either at the top or on a proceeding blank page, as Appendix A,

Appendix B, etc. The sequence of the appendices follows the order where they were first

introduced in the main body of the text. Each appendix needs to be labeled and named in the

main body of the text for it to be included in the appendix section.

In the main Table of Contents, include Appendix or Appendices, with the page number of the

first page of the appendix section. If there are several appendices, each should be listed and

labeled in the Table of Contents, indented, under the listing of Appendices, with its appropriate

page number.

Bibliography (List of References, or Citations, or List of Sources). The last section of the

thesis or dissertation is the bibliography. Since nearly all theses and dissertations make use of

other works, either in direct quotation or by reference, this section typically is required. The

format/style used is to conform to the requirements of the student’s academic discipline or the

journal, monograph, book or other type of publication where the student intends to publish the

work. Each citation listed in the text must be included in the bibliography. The minimum

requirements usually are that the referencing system and bibliography be consistent throughout

the manuscript, that they are clear, and that they fully agree with each other. All work cited in the

text must be included in the bibliography. Some word processing systems provide features that

assist with formatting of citations and references.

Curriculum vitae. This page is to be one to two pages, single‐spaced, and contain a brief

account of the author’s academic credentials, work experience, professional memberships and

contributions to the discipline, in the form of professional presentations and published

manuscripts [See sample in Appendix B].

Need help drafting a CV?

http://www.towson.edu/careercenter/medialibrary/documents/curriculum_vitae.pdf

Blank white page. At the end of the thesis/dissertation, there should be one blank white page.

This page should not be numbered.

SECTION V

Discipline Styles

A significant aspect of the educational development of many graduate students is to become

knowledgeable about the writing style appropriate to their discipline or form of research selected.

Therefore, the appropriate writing style and format for the thesis or dissertation is determined by

the discipline standards to which the profession subscribes. The organization of the content of a

thesis or dissertation should conform to the publication manual or guide most commonly used in

the discipline, one that best accommodates the nature of the research and/or the format/style

required by the journal, monograph, book or other type of publication to which the student will

submit the thesis or dissertation. The chosen format is to be used consistently throughout the

document. If a department/program does not stipulate any specific style manual, the students

should abide by APA guidelines and use Times New Roman 12. The current edition of any style

manual must be used in all cases. The student should consult with the committee chairperson to

confirm the writing style to be used. If the style manual differs from these Guidelines, the style

of the manual may be followed, but a note to this effect should alert the staff member who will

check the format.

Student Formatting Review Checklist

Before submitting your final document to the Graduate Studies for formatting review, check that it abides by

all of the following format requirements. Review with your thesis or dissertation chairperson.

Indicate the style manual or publisher guidelines used_________________________________

Guidelines- General Layout

Yes

Type and Font

Consistent with a specific style format or publisher

guidelines

12 point serif type font throughout document including

headings

Word processing techniques for all symbols, lines, boxes,

and other printing, if applicable

Margins and

paragraphs

Left margin = 1.5 inches

Right margin = 1 inch

Top margin = 1 inch ( see exception for front matter pages)

Bottom margin = 1 inch

At least two sentences in each paragraph

At least two sentences between each heading level

Minimum of two complete sentences of text following a

heading at the bottom of a page

Page numbers

and

numbering

Preliminary pages numbered using lower case Roman

numerals (ii, iii, iv) at center bottom of page; title page

counts as page i but is not numbered

Text and supplemental pages numbered using Arabic

numbers (1, 2, 3) at top right hand corner of page; may

include running head, justified left

Line spacing

Double spaced headings and text, including references

Double spaced between heading and subheadings and

between headings and text

Single spaced footnotes and end notes; double spaced

between each footnote and each endnote

Heading and

subheading

and chapter

titles

Formatted consistently throughout text according to style

manual or publisher guidelines

Headings and titles over 3.5 inches in length arranged in

inverted pyramid

Same font style and size as body of text

Chapter title placed two lines below chapter number

Tables and

Figures

Tables and figures numbered with Arabic numbers in the

order in which they are first mentioned in the text

Each table and figure labeled by its number and title

Content double spaced as appropriate

Each table and figure fits completely on one page

(Exception- tables that are longer than one page begin on a

separate page)

All tables and figures imbedded in the text OR placed at the

end of the text

All text citations included in bibliography or list of

references

Text citations,

footnotes and

endnotes

Citation style consistent across citations and with style

manual or publisher guidelines

Footnotes placed at bottom of page, within designated

margins

Footnotes separated from text by 2 inch horizontal line

Entire footnote on same page where begun

Endnotes on separate pages at end of each chapter. Page

labeled with a heading (e.g. Endnotes, Chapter Notes) in

same format as other headings in text

Each footnote and endnote single spaced, with double

spacing between footnotes and endnotes

Guidelines – Arrangement of Preliminary Pages

Yes

Preliminary

page

arrangement

Pages arranged as follows: title page, signed

dissertation/thesis approval page, acknowledgement page

(optional), abstract, table of contents, list of tables, list of

figures, list of symbols (if applicable)

Title page

Includes title of study (double spaced; all letters capitalized),

name of author, phrase “A thesis (or dissertation) in partial

fulfillment…,” department name, name and address of TU,

date of expected graduation

Considered page i, but no number appears on page

Approval

page

Numbered as page ii at bottom center

Signed by all committee members prior to format review

Signed by graduate dean post format review

Acknowledge-

ment page

Optional; numbered page iii; brief statement; double- spaced

Heading = Acknowledgement which is centered two inches

below top of page; text begins 2 lines below heading

Abstract

Thesis- maximum 150 words; dissertation- maximum 350

words

Heading = Abstract which is centered two inches below top

of page

Thesis/dissertation title- centered and placed two inches

below Abstract heading

Author’s name - centered and placed 2 inches below title

Text- left margin justified; begins 2 lines below author’s

name

Table of

contents

Heading = Table of Contents which is centered two inches

below top of page; text begins 2 lines below

Contains

1. chapter headings and sub headings (optional),

2. the following headings: list of tables, list of figures,

list of symbols ( if applicable)

3. appendices- ( indent each appendix and include title)

4. bibliography

5. curriculum vitae

Table of content headings-left margin justified;

corresponding page numbers- right margin justified

Heading = List of Tables centered two inches below top of

page; table list begins 2 lines below heading

Table titles listed in order in which they appear in text; left

margin justified; corresponding page numbers- right margin

justified; lengthy table title names can be shortened

List of figures

(Include in the

Table of

Contents)

Required if document contains 2 or more figures

Heading = List of Figures centered two inches below top of

page; figure list begins 2 lines below heading

Figure titles listed in order in which they appear in text; left

margin justified; corresponding page numbers- right margin

justified; lengthy figure title names can be shortened

Keys to

symbols,

abbreviations,

nomenclature

Layout specific to academic discipline and style manual

Guidelines- Text Pages

Yes

Numbering

Numbered using Arabic numbers starting with 1. Numbered

at top right corner, justified right

Running head- optional; determined by discipline; left

margin justified

Sections or

Chapters

Determined by discipline. Frequently divided into the

following: Introduction, Literature Review, Methods and

Materials, Results, Discussion

Sections or chapters divided into subheadings – optional;

formatting of subheadings consistent throughout document

Each chapter or major section begins on a new page; heading

one inch from top of page

Spacing,

indentation,

block quotes

Text double spaced; left margin justified

New paragraph indented 5 spaces

Numbered, bulleted, or lettered series and block quotations

indented from left margin

Guidelines- Supplemental Pages

Numbering

Numbered using Arabic numbers starting with the next

number following last page of text. Numbered at top right

corner, justified right

Running head- optional; determined by discipline; left

margin justified

Appendices

Follow last page of text: List of Appendices or list each

appendix with title in Table of Contents

Heading = Appendices; centered one inch from top of page

or on separate page. If more than one appendix, each

appendix begins on a separate page and labeled Appendix A

and title, Appendix B and title, etc.

Appendices in same order as introduced in the main body of

text

Bibliography/

References

Each citation on text included in bibliography and each

reference in bibliography cited in text

Formatting including capitalization, italics, punctuation, and

content consistent throughout references

Formatting consistent with style manual or publication

guidelines

Curriculum

vitae

One –several pages; single spaced

Brief account of author’s credentials, academic record, work

experience, professional membership, contributions to

professions, professional presentations and publications

Blank white

page

To follow CV; not numbered

I verify that I have used this template to review the formatting of my thesis or dissertation. To the best of my

ability, I have abided by all formatting requirements.

Student signature_____________________________________ Date _________________

Section VI Electronic Dissemination

Purpose of this Document

This document describes the Library’s role in receiving, storing, and providing access to

electronic versions of theses and dissertations (ETDs) as part of its digital collections program. It

is not intended as a replacement for Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) guidelines for the

preparation of theses and dissertations. Students who are preparing a thesis or dissertation should

follow the guidelines set forth by the OGS document Guidelines for preparing theses and

dissertations. Students should not use password protection when submitting PDF versions of

their dissertation. Password protection may prevent us from being able to view the document

with some future version of the Acrobat PDF reader.

About ETDs

Honors theses, master’s theses, and doctoral theses or dissertations prepared by students at

Towson University are enduring records of a student’s research and findings conducted in partial

fulfillment toward an academic degree. Electronic format of theses and dissertations supports the

Library’s continued efforts to preserve these works while providing authors with ready access to

their scholarly work. Through the Library’s digital collection of ETDs authors will be able to

share stable and perpetually accessible URLs pointing to their work with current or future

employees or colleagues, or include them in such documents as resumes, curriculum vitae, or

future applications for additional continued education. ETDs are administered through the

Library’s Special Collections and Archives department (SCA).

Students may request binding of personal copies of their dissertation or thesis on a paper of

their choice through the Library for a nominal fee. Requests for binding of personal print copies

of theses and dissertations may be directed to the Albert S. Cook Library Technical Services

department.

Library Workflow for Receipt and Processing of ETDs

The following is an outline detailing the Library workflow for receipt and processing of ETDs

following the conclusion of fall, spring, and summer semesters during which theses and

dissertations are completed by students at Towson University.

 SCA receives PDF versions of ETDs, signed Thesis/Dissertation Committee Approval

Forms, and Internet Release Forms from OGS.

 SCA imports each ETD and its corresponding Committee Approval Form into the

 Library’s digital collection. At this time the full text of the ETD is freely available on the

web*.

 SCA notifies the Library’s Technical Services department that ETDs are ready for

cataloging.

 Technical Services collects descriptive data about each ETD to create a unique catalog

record for inclusion in the Library’s online catalog. Each record includes the URL

pointing to the ETD in the library’s digital collection.

 Technical Services notifies SCA that cataloging is complete.

 SCA creates a duplicate data record to accompany the ETD within the library’s digital

collections.

*Note: If SCA has not received a signed Internet Release Form from the ETD author the Library

will still create a catalog record with a URL that points to the ETD but access to the full text will

be restricted to the author or to Library staff for administrative purposes only. The ETD can be

made available to the public at any time provided that the author indicates the desire to do so by

submitting a signed Internet Release Form to OGS or SCA.

Intellectual Property and Copyright

John H. Jones) are not required to appear on copies of the work and the copyright does not need

to be registered with the U.S. Copyright Office for the work to be protected, although there are

practical advantages to both notice and registration (for more information, see

https://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/index.html).

Under the Towson University Policy on Intellectual Property, students retain copyright of their

own original work, such as term papers, theses, and dissertations, subject to certain exceptions.

The Library must receive from the OGS an Internet release form signed by the student. The

release form grants Towson University a non‐exclusive right to reproduce and distribute the

thesis or dissertation and abstract in electronic format; it does not transfer any copyright rights in

the work, except for the permission described in the release form.

Students who have incorporated the copyrighted work of others into their thesis or dissertation

are responsible for ensuring that their use of this material is lawful, whether the material was

included under a written grant of permission by the copyright owner or whether the student’s use

of the work was covered by one of the statutory limitations on copyright, such as fair use (for

more information, see the Towson University Guidelines for Use of Materials Protected by

Open Access

Although copyright law is intended to protect copyrightable works, so that authors can profit

from their creativity, academic works are generally measured less by the profit they generate and

more by the scholarly impact they have within their field of study. Authors of academic works

may benefit more by widespread dissemination of their works without regard to monetary profit.

The Open Access thesis/dissertation submission option provides students with a stable and

perpetually accessible means of disseminating their original scholarship. As part of the Library’s

digital collections, the thesis or dissertation is assigned a persistent URL, which students can

then include on their CV or resume. Further, since the library’s digital collections are indexed by

the major search engines and since they include additional descriptors, like assigned subject

headings, for each thesis or dissertation, they are more discoverable than works posted to an

author’s personal Web page. Finally, most academic journal and book publishers are now well‐

accustomed to prior deposit of theses and dissertations in online institutional repositories or

digital collections and do not consider this a disqualification to subsequent publication. Note,

however, that students who anticipate submitting their work to commercial trade publishers, or

those whose thesis consists of creative/expressive work like fiction, poetry, or drama, may

instead want to consider the Temporary Embargo option. For more information about the

benefits of open access to scholarly research, see www.arl.org/sparc/greaterreach/index.shtml.

Embargoes

Although there are many benefits to open access, students may wish to place a temporary

embargo on their ETD, thereby restricting access to its content in order to avoid future problems

that may arise if they wish to publish their research in a journal or as a book with a publisher. If a

student has placed an embargo on their ETD, the Library will make the catalog records available

in the catalog and the digital collection while restricting access to the PDF until the embargo has

expired.

When submitting ETDs to SCA it is recommended that the Internet Release Form used by OGS

make provisions for students to indicate whether or not they desire a temporary embargo which

limits access to the ETD for a specific period of time. At the time that a temporary embargo has

expired SCA will make the ETD freely available unless an extension is requested in writing by

the student.

In keeping with standard practices SCA proposes the following options in relation to embargoes

on access to ETDs:

 Open Access. No embargo is requested, catalog data and electronic thesis or dissertation is

freely available. The student grants to Towson University the non‐exclusive right to

reproduce and distribute their thesis or dissertation, in whole or in part, and its abstract, in

whole or in part, in electronic format over the World Wide Web. In granting this limited

permission, the student does not surrender intellectual property rights, except for the non‐

exclusive limited permission.

 Temporary Embargo with Limited Access. An embargo for a specific period of time (such as

1 to 5 years) that allows limited access under certain conditions. Catalog data will be freely

available but access to the electronic version is restricted to Cook Library staff members for

the purpose of administering or maintaining electronic ETD files, to fulfilling requests for

Interlibrary Loan (ILL), or to in‐person use within the Special Collections department in the

Towson University Albert S. Cook Library.

 Temporary Embargo. An embargo for a specific period of time (such as 1 or 5 years), or an

embargo set to expire on a specific date. A temporary embargo can be extended at the written

request of the author. Catalog records will be freely available but access to the PDF will be

prohibited to anyone other than Cook Library staff members for the purpose of administering

or maintaining electronic ETD files or catalog records until the temporary embargo expires.

The PDF will not be made available in response to ILL requests unless permission is granted

by the author.

 Permanent Embargo. An embargo which restricts access to an ETD permanently and

indefinitely unless the author requests that the embargo be removed. Catalog records will be

freely available but access to the PDF will be prohibited permanently and indefinitely unless

the author releases the embargo. The PDF will not be made available in response to ILL

requests unless written permission is granted by the author.

APPENDIX A: Forms

Thesis Committee Approval Form

Dissertation Committee Approval Form

Thesis/Dissertation Defense Announcement Form

Thesis/Dissertation Format Review Form

Thesis Approval Form

Dissertation Approval Form

Internet Release Form

TOWSON UNIVERSITY

OFFICE OF GRADUATE STUDIES

THESIS COMMITTEE APPROVAL FORM

Student's Name:

Chairperson, Thesis Committee Signature

Printed name

Thesis Advisor, if other than Chairperson

Signature

Printed name

Committee Member Signature

Printed name

Committee Member Signature

Printed name

Committee Member Signature

Printed name

*Note: Please attach a description of the affiliation and credentials of any non-Towson University members of the

Committee, and the members’ curriculum vitae.

Approved by:

Graduate Program Director:

Signature Date

Department Chairperson:

Signature Date

Dean of Graduate Studies:

Signature Date

*Note: It is the responsibility of the student to obtain all signatures before beginning the proposal

TOWSON UNIVERSITY

OFFICE OF GRADUATE STUDIES

DISSERTATION COMMITTEE APPROVAL FORM

Student's Name:

Chairperson, Dissertation Committee Signature

Printed name

Dissertation Advisor,

If Other Than Chairperson, Signature

Printed name

Committee Member Signature

Printed name

Committee Member Signature

Printed name

*Note: Please attach a description of the affiliation and credentials of any non-Towson University members of the

Committee, and the members’ curriculum vitae.

Approved by:

Graduate Program Director:

Signature

Date

Department Chairperson:

Signature

Date

Dean of Graduate Studies:

Signature

Date

*Note: It is the responsibility of the student to obtain all signatures before beginning the proposal

TOWSON UNIVERSITY

OFFICE OF GRADUATE STUDIES

THESIS/DISSERTATION DEFENSE ANNOUNCEMENT FORM

Student’s Name

Department/Program:

Chairperson, Thesis/Dissertation Committee

Check One: Thesis Dissertation

Committee Chairperson’s phone:

Committee Chairperson’s Email:

Title of Thesis/Dissertation:

Date of Defense:

Time of Defense:

Location:

Submit electronically to executive administrative assistant in your college or to the Office

of Graduate Studies (gradstudies@towson.edu) for publication on

TU Today.

TOWSON UNIVERSITY

OFFICE OF GRADUATE STUDIES

THESIS/DISSERTATION FORMAT REVIEW

To: Dean of Graduate Studies

From :( Student Name)

Phone:

E-mail:

Enclosed is a draft of my thesis/dissertation. This work was defended successfully on (Date)

. The format of this draft has been approved by my Committee

Chairperson. I am now asking for final approval of the format from the Office of Graduate

Studies. After making any corrections the Office of Graduate Studies requires:

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

Areas to be reviewed by the Office of Graduate Studies

Correct ordering of the preliminary pages, text,

and appendices Yes: No:

Appropriate margin spacing in text Yes: No:

Correct positioning of page numbers Yes: No:

Correct page numbering in Table of Contents Yes: No:

Correct font style and size Yes: No:

Correct line spacing in text Yes: No:

Areas Reviewed by the Committee Chairperson

Accuracy of content, research methods, and findings

Adherence to professional standards and English

rules of grammar for writing

Yes:

No:

Correct figure formatting and labeling Yes: No:

Correct reference style in bibliography Yes: No:

Committee

I confirm that I have thoroughly reviewed and approve the student’s work for accuracy and

completeness of content and formatting.

Thesis/Dissertation Chairperson

Or Advisor Signature Date:

Phone number: E-Mail Address:

Appropriate reference style used in text

Accuracy and completeness of appendices,

Yes:

No:

references, and citations

5. Correct table formatting and labeling

Yes:

No:

8. Correct headers and chapter titles

Yes:

No:

TOWSON UNIVERSITY

OFFICE OF GRADUATE STUDIES

THESIS APPROVAL PAGE

This is to certify that the Thesis is prepared by:

Entitled:

Has been approved by the thesis committee as satisfactory completing the thesis requirements for

the degree: (i.e., Master of Science)

Chairperson, Thesis Committee Signature Type Name Date

Thesis Advisor,

Type Name

Date

If other than Chairperson Signature

Committee Member Signature Type Name Date

Dean of Graduate Studies Type Name Date

TOWSON UNIVERSITY

OFFICE OF GRADUATE STUDIES

DISSERTATION APPROVAL PAGE

This is to certify that the dissertation is prepared by:

Entitled:

Has been approved by the thesis committee as satisfactory completing the dissertation

requirements for the degree: (i.e., Doctor of Science)

Chairperson, Dissertation Committee

Signature

Type Name

Date

Dissertation Advisor,

If other than Chairperson Signature

Type Name Date

Committee Member Signature Type Name Date

Committee Member Signature

Type Name

Date

Dean of Graduate Studies

Type Name

Date

Internet Release Form for Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Student Name: TU ID

Address:

Phone: E‐mail

Program:

Title of Thesis/Dissertation/Project

Advisor:

In consideration of the mutual promises and considerations herein, and of Towson University’s

digitizing and disseminating the Work, I hereby grant to Towson University the perpetual, non‐

exclusive right to reproduce and distribute the Work, in whole or in part, and my abstract, in

whole or in part, in electronic format over the World Wide Web, subject the access restrictions

indicated below. I represent and warrant to Towson University that the Work and the abstract are

my original work, do not infringe or violate any rights of others, and that I make these grants as

the sole owner of the rights to the Work and abstract. The copyright in the Work, and in the

digitized version of the Work prepared by the University, are and shall be owned by me, subject

to the access restrictions indicated below.

Access restrictions (indicate one):

Open Access. No embargo is requested, catalog data and electronic thesis or dissertation is

freely available.

Temporary Embargo with Limited Access. Expires on (MM‐DD‐YYYY): . Catalog

data will be freely available but access to the electronic thesis or dissertation is restricted to Cook

Library staff members for the purpose of administering or maintaining electronic ETD files, to

fulfilling requests for Interlibrary Loan (ILL), or to in‐person use within the Special Collections

department in the Towson University Albert S. Cook Library.

Temporary Embargo. Expires on (MM‐DD‐YYYY): . Catalog data will be

freely available but access to the electronic thesis or dissertation is limited to Cook Library staff

members for the purpose of administering or maintaining electronic ETD files only. The PDF

will not be made available in response to ILL requests unless permission is granted by the

author. Reasonable written requests to extend the embargo expiration date will be granted.

Permanent Embargo. Catalog data will be freely available but access to the electronic thesis

or dissertation is permanently and indefinitely restricted until or unless I submit a written request

to Special Collections and Archives to change the access restrictions and/or make it freely

available. Only Cook Library staff members may access the electronic thesis or dissertation for

administrative purposes.

Student Signature Date

This work does not relate to potential patented work

This work relates to potential patented work. Access to the electronic thesis or dissertation is

permanently and indefinitely restricted until or unless a written request is submitted to Special

Collections and Archives to change the access restrictions and/or make it freely available.

Dissertation/Thesis Advisor

or Committee Chairperson

Signature Date

Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines I 35

APPENDIX B: Sample Pages

Thesis Title Page

Dissertation Title Page

Curriculum Vitae

click to sign

signature

click to edit

Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines I 36

TOWSON UNIVERSITY

OFFICE OF GRADUATE STUDIES

(TITLE OF THESIS TYPED IN CAPITAL LETTERS) (LINE 11)

(DOUBLE SPACED AND CENTERED)

by (LINE 24)

(Student’s

Name) A thesis

Presented to the faculty

of Towson University

in partial fulfillment

of the requirements for the degree

Master of (Arts) (Science) (Education)

Department of

Towson University

Towson, Maryland

21252

(Month, Year of Graduation)

Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines I 37

TOWSON UNIVERSITY

OFFICE OF GRADUATE STUDIES

(TITLE OF DISSERTATION TYPED IN CAPITAL LETTERS) (LINE 11)

(DOUBLE SPACED AND CENTERED)

by (LINE 24)

(Student’s

Name) A

Dissertation

Presented to the faculty

of Towson University

in partial fulfillment

of the requirements for the degree

Doctor of (Audiology) (Science) (Education)

Department of

Towson University

Towson, Maryland

21252

(Month, Year of Graduation)

Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines I 38

NOTE: This page should only be included in a thesis or dissertation that is to be copyrighted.

CURRICULUM VITAE

NAME:

PERMANENT ADDRESS:

PROGRAM OF STUDY:

DEGREE AND DATE TO BE CONFERRED: e.g., Master of Arts., 2009

Secondary education: (name of school, city, state, and graduation date:

Collegiate institutions attended Dates Degree Date of Degree

(NOTE: Include Towson University degree for which thesis/dissertation is submitted.)

Major:

Minor(s), if applicable:

Professional publications: (list publications chronologically in proper style)

Professional positions held: (include present or immediately prospective position; include

addresses)

Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines I 40

APPENDIX C: Administrative Procedures

Projects

In all Departments, the course number 880 (and, if necessary, 881 and 882) is the number for

projects. If a student cannot finish the project work in one term, he/she should register for

Project Continuum, one credit, with course number 885 in the next term. Usually 885 should be

repeated only with special permission. Setting up courses for projects and project continua is

entirely within the department, with course term files like any other courses.

If a project is not completed at the end of the project course, the grade of "IP" (In Progress) will

be given. Do not give "I" (Incomplete) since that will automatically change to "F" after one term.

At the end of the project work a letter grade is given for the project course and S (satisfactory)

for the project continuum.

Theses and Dissertations

Thesis course numbers are the same in all departments. 897 is a six‐credit course for thesis. It is

used if the entire thesis work is expected to be done in one term. If the work is to be spread over

two terms, the student should take 898 for three units and then take 898/998 again in the next

term (normally the two terms of 898/998 should be consecutive; if that is not the case, the

program director should inform the Office of Graduate Studies of the gap with an explanation.

Dissertations are numbered 997/998. The number of units for a dissertation varies among

doctoral programs and usually ranges between 12 and 24 units.

Students who do not complete their thesis or dissertation within the stated timeframe and units

must register for 899 Thesis Continuum or Dissertation continuum (999). The thesis or

dissertation chairperson enters a grade of IP (in progress) for the thesis or dissertation course.

Continuum courses are one unit per term. This registration can be repeated as many terms as

necessary within the limits stated by the program. The student must have continuous registration

until the work is approved. Students also must register for summer if the seeking guidance from

the thesis chairperson or committee members during that timeframe. In particular, the student

must be registered in the term of graduation

The student’s thesis and dissertation committees should be setup and approved before the student

registers for thesis/dissertation course. The thesis or dissertation committee approval form must

be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies for the Dean's approval and signature before the

student registers for a thesis/dissertation or thesis/dissertation continuum course. After thesis or

dissertation committee is approved, the department, in consultation with the thesis/dissertation

chairperson sets up the courses. Departments should prepare separate course term files, with

different section numbers, for each thesis and dissertation student. On the Course Term File,

thesis or dissertation chairperson is listed as the primary instructor. The course term file should

be submitted to the Office of the Registrar, as occurs for other courses. If the thesis or

dissertation course has been set up correctly, only the thesis or dissertation chairperson will have

access to the grade roster and be able to submit grades.

Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines I 41

At the end of the thesis or dissertation work, the student will present an oral defense to the

committee. Oral defenses are open to the university community. The committee may require the

student to make corrections or additions to the thesis or dissertation. Once the committee has

approved the thesis/dissertation, the student will submit an electronic draft to

gradstudies@towson.edu in the Office of Graduate Studies, the approval form signed by the

members of the thesis committee, and the Format Review and Internet release forms. The student

should make sure that the format of the signature pages is correct before getting signatures. The

Office of Graduate Studies then will check the thesis/dissertation for technical details (margins,

page numbering, etc.).

The student will need to make corrections to technical details identified by the Office of

Graduate Studies. After making the corrections, the student will submit an electronic version of

the final version to gradstudies@towson.edu as an attachment in Word or PDF format. The

Graduate Studies dean then will sign the approval page. The Office of Graduate Studies will

notify the thesis/dissertation chairperson and the Graduation Office when the Graduate Studies

dean signs the approval form. The thesis/dissertation will be forwarded to the Library for

archival and access, with the students permission via the Internet Release form. After approval of

the thesis/dissertation, the grade for all thesis and thesis continuum courses is given by the thesis

advisor.

Thesis and Dissertation Grading

It is the responsibility of the instructor to post the grade on PeopleSoft when the students

complete their thesis or dissertation.

Students who successfully complete thesis or dissertation courses (usually 897, 898,

997, or 998) will receive a grade of S (Satisfactory)

Students who are making progress towards completing the thesis or dissertation, but

have remaining work to complete will receive a grade of IP (In Progress).

Once a student receives a grade of IP, the student has two options: register for thesis

or dissertation continuum course (usually an 899/999) or register for additional thesis

or dissertation units (usually 897 or 997).

Students who have fulfilled all of their thesis/dissertation course unit

requirements but have not completed their thesis/dissertation register for thesis

or dissertation continuum courses. These students will receive a grade of S, if

they demonstrate satisfactory work for the continuum, but do not complete all of

the work required for the thesis or dissertation.

Students who register for

thesis or dissertation continuum courses

will receive

grade of U, if they demonstrate unsatisfactory work and do not complete all

of the work required for the thesis or dissertation.

Students have not fulfilled all of the course unit requirements for the

thesis/dissertation will continue to register for thesis or dissertation courses

until they do so. They will continue to receive a grade of IP, if they are making

satisfactory progress, but do not complete all of the work required for the

thesis or dissertation.

For any student who has received a grade of IP, the faculty member will submit one change of

grade form or send an email on via Towson University email account to the Registrar’s Office

when the student has successfully completed the thesis or dissertation. The change of grade

form/email will indicate a grade of S for the thesis or dissertation course (897, 898, 997 or 998)

Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines I 41

The Office of Graduate Studies will monitor the thesis/dissertation format and will be the final

office notifying the Graduation Office that a student is eligible to graduate. That is, students will

be eligible to graduate only after they complete 1) the course requirements for the thesis or

dissertation as indicated by the grade posted by the instructor and 2) the thesis/dissertation

formatting and submission requirements for the Office of Graduate Studies as outlined in the

Towson University Graduate Thesis Guidelines.

Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines I 43

APPENDIX D: Office of Graduate Studies Timetable of Deadlines for Finishing

Thesis/Dissertation Work 1,2,3

Fall term

Spring term

Summer term

(tentative)

Thesis draft to advisor

Oct 31

April 2

June 19

Announcement Form to

Grad Studies

Office

Nov 6

April 9

June 26

Oral defense

Nov 20

April 22

July 10

Post Oral defense

meeting

Nov 26

April 24

July 10

Final Corrections to

Committee Members

Nov 26

April 30

July 17

Final Committee

Approval

Dec 4

May 6

July 22

Committee

signatures

Dec 4

May 6

July 22

Approved draft to

Grad Studies Office

Dec 5

May 7

July 24

Format corrections

Dec 5‐12

May 7‐14

July 25‐29

Final submission to

Grad Studies Office

Dec 12

May 14

July 31

Submission of grade by

Committee

Chairperson

Dec 18

May 20

August 7

Students are encouraged to submit their work earlier, as these dates reflect the latest

deadlines for submission.

Students are to abide by program or department guidelines if they are earlier than those

required by the Office of Graduate Studies.

All thesis/dissertation submissions to the Office of Graduate Studies must be submitted

electronically as an attachment in either Microsoft Word or PDF format. The

Thesis/Dissertation Approval page with signatures of all committee members, Internet

Release and Format Review forms must have the original signatures. The student should

make sure the forms are formatted correctly; otherwise the signatures might have to be

obtained again. The approval page and forms with original signatures can be scanned and

emailed to gradstudies@towson.edu or faxed to 410.704.3129. Electronic signatures are

not accepted by USM. The Office of Graduate Studies staff will notify the student of any

necessary format corrections via email. The corrections should be made before sending

the final version—again, electronically.

Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines I 44

APPENDIX E: End of Program Checklist

Master’s Degree Students

Submit an application for Graduation at the start of the term in which you expect to graduate.

If you do not graduate in that term, you must reapply for graduation in the following

term). The application can be done online at

https://www.towson.edu/academics/commencement/graduates/doctoralmasters.html.

Check your program sheet to confirm that you have completed all the required courses

successfully (without any Incompletes, no more than two C grades, and no more than three

500‐ level courses) as well as any special assignments such as internships, clinical, etc.

Satisfy requirements within your Department/Program for writing and defending.

Follow the Thesis/Dissertation Guidelines carefully, and submit an electronic draft to Office

of Graduate Studies review of the format and the clearance of the thesis.

After clearance of the draft copy, submit to the Office of Graduate Studies:

A final electronic copy 1 of your thesis and all supporting documentation.

(optional) If you wish to have bound copies of your thesis, contact the Albert S. Cook

Library’s Technical Services Department at 410.704.2461. Inform the Library of the number

of copies you want bound. The Library will charge a nominal fee for these services.

Sign Internet Release form (page 32) if you wish to allow your work to be published on the

Internet. Print, sign and submit this form to the Office of Graduate Studies.

*Keep in mind that Microsoft Word for Mac checks and formats pages differently than the

Windows version.

Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines I 45

Doctoral Students

Submit an application for Graduation at the start of the term in which you expect to graduate.

(If you do not graduate in that term, you must reapply for graduation in the following term).

The application can be done by using the online at

https://www.towson.edu/academics/commencement/graduates/ doctoralmasters.html

Satisfy requirements within your Department/Program for writing and defending.

Follow the Dissertation Guidelines carefully, and submit an electronic draft to Office of

Graduate Studies for review of the format and the clearance of the dissertation/project.

After clearance of the draft copy, submit to the Office of Graduate Studies:

A final electronic copy 1 of your thesis/dissertation and all supporting documentation

(optional) If you wish to have bound copies of your dissertation, contact the Albert S. Cook

Library’s Technical Services Department at 410.704.2461. Inform the Library of the number

of copies you want bound. The Library will charge a nominal fee for these services.

Sign Internet Release form (page 32) if you wish to allow your work to be published on the

Internet. Print, sign and submit this form to the Office of Graduate Studies.

Complete Survey of Earned Doctorates at, https://sed.norc.org/survey.

Keep in mind that Microsoft Word for Mac checks and formats pages differently than the

Windows version.

Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines I 46

Commencement Ceremony

Order your gown and hood from the University Store. For more information about preparation

for commencement, check the University’s commencement website:

https://www.towson.edu/academics/commencement/graduates/doctoralmasters.html

Doctoral Students Graduation Information

Attend the rehearsal of the hooding ceremony, to be announced by the Graduate Dean.

Wear your cap and gown, but carry your hood, to the Commencement ceremony. (The hood will

be placed over your head as part of the ceremony).

Celebrate! Congratulations! (and get used to being called “Doctor”)

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