Submitting a dissertation or thesis is the final step in completing your graduate degree at the University of Denver. These guidelines outline the required formatting standards your document must meet before it can be accepted. Every dissertation and thesis must have its formatting approved by the Office of Graduate Education by the published deadline for the graduating term. See the published deadlines on this webpage. Please review all information carefully to avoid delays in approval and graduation.
Overview & General Information
Dissertations and theses become part of the University of Denver’s permanent academic record and must meet the formatting and submission standards established by the Office of Graduate Education and ProQuest (UMI Dissertation and Thesis Publishing). While your academic department determines disciplinary writing conventions and content expectations, the Office of Graduate Education establishes the required formatting standards for all final submissions.
These guidelines reflect the minimum requirements for professional manuscript preparation. Documents that do not meet these standards will be returned for revision and must be resubmitted, which may delay graduation. Please do not use previously approved dissertations or theses as formatting models, as requirements may have changed and all submissions must adhere to the current standards provided on this website.
About the Formatting Process
Please be aware that the formatting review process typically involves at least 3–4 rounds of revisions. We appreciate your careful attention to detail and timely responses throughout this process, as they help ensure that your document is approved without unnecessary delays.
Once your dissertation or thesis is approved by your dissertation/thesis director, we strongly recommend submitting it to ProQuest as soon as possible. Early submission allows you to begin the formal formatting review with the Office of Graduate Education and helps ensure adequate time for revisions prior to graduation deadlines.
Working With Outside Editors
If you plan to hire an external editor, you must first obtain approval from your faculty advisor. Please note that the Office of Graduate Education works directly with students only and does not collaborate with outside editors.
Resources Available to You
This website provides several tools to support a successful submission, including:
Sample pages in the Specific Page Requirements section
A downloadable Word template
Guidance for Word users: Ensure your entire PDF is reviewed after conversion to confirm no formatting was lost. We recommend converting to PDF by selecting File > Print > Adobe PDF in Word.
Guidance for LaTeX users: Our office provides access to an Overleaf template.. Please note we cannot guarantee its accuracy if requirements change, and students are responsible for ensuring all formatting requirements are met. Note the template is not formatted for a multiple paper thesis or dissertation. Access the template here.
If you have questions after reviewing these materials, please contact the Office of Graduate Education at gradservices@du.edu.
Style Manual
Your department will guide you in choosing the appropriate style manual for your discipline. All dissertations and theses must follow:
A recognized style manual for scholarly writing, and
The formatting requirements outlined by the Office of Graduate Education
These two components work together. Your style manual governs how you:
Format citations and your bibliography
Style quotations
Use abbreviations, capitalization, punctuation, numbers, and symbols
Apply field‑specific writing conventions
However, the formatting requirements provided by the Office of Graduate Education always take precedence over the instructions in your chosen style manual.
Styles Accepted at the University of Denver include (but are not limited to):
Campbell/Ballou
MLA
Turabian
Chicago Manual of Style
APA (commonly used in Psychology, Education, and related fields)
If your committee has no preference, Turabian is highly recommended because it clearly demonstrates both note‑based and parenthetical citation systems.
You must use one style manual consistently throughout your manuscript. Styles may not be combined or interchanged.
Students, with support from their dissertation or thesis director, committee, and department, may complete a multiple paper dissertation/thesis as an alternative to the traditional format. At minimum, the document must include:
A synthesizing abstract
An introduction
The individual papers
A concluding synthesis
Page numbers must run continuously, the same style guide must be used throughout, and all standard formatting requirements still apply.
If papers include co-authors, students must list each co-author along with their role, order of authorship, and percentage of contribution. The dissertation committee must approve the proposed co-author plan. Any conflicts of interest—such as committee members serving as co-authors—must be discussed, resolved, and documented during the proposal stage.
If faculty data are used, a data use agreement is required. Any later changes to co-authors, roles, or contribution percentages must receive committee approval.
Front Matter
Required
Item
Details
Page Numbering
✓
Title Page
Individual paper titles should not be listed on the main title page. There should be 1 main title for the full dissertation/thesis and it should follow the same layout and format as for a traditional dissertation.
No page number
Copyright Page
Follow the same layout and format as for a traditional dissertation
No page number (not included in pagination)
✓
Abstract
The abstract should synthesize the papers and the work as a whole.
Small Roman numerals (start with page ii)
Acknowledgments
Follow the same layout and format as for a traditional dissertation.
Continue small Roman numerals
✓
Table of Contents
Each paper should be identified in the Table of Contents as a separate chapter or paper by giving the complete title as it appears on each manuscript. Do not list subheadings that occur within the individual manuscripts; do list subheadings from the introductory and conclusion sections.
Continue small Roman numerals
List of Tables (required if your document has 5 tables or more)
List all tables that appear within the entire document.
Continue small Roman numerals
List of Figures (required if your document has 5 figures or more)
List all figures that appear within the entire document
Continue small Roman numerals
Body of Text
Required
Item
Details
Page Numbering
✓
Introduction
Describes the topic of study and proposes methods of study, framing the dissertation work as a whole
Arabic numbers (start with page 1)
✓
Chapter/Paper 1
Continue Arabic numbers
✓
Chapter/Paper 1 References
Continue Arabic numbers
Chapter/Paper 1 Appendices
If applicable
Continue Arabic numbers
✓
Chapter/Paper 2
Continue Arabic numbers
✓
Chapter/Paper 2 References
Continue Arabic numbers
Chapter/Paper 2 Appendices
If applicable
Continue Arabic numbers
Chapter/Paper 3
If applicable
Continue Arabic numbers
Chapter/Paper 3 References
If applicable
Continue Arabic numbers
Chapter/Paper 3 Appendices
If applicable
Continue Arabic numbers
✓
Conclusion
The conclusion should briefly summarize the dissertation’s major findings, limitations, discussion, and recommendations. Present and discuss linkages (i.e., similarities and differences) between the separate papers that are included in the dissertation, demonstrating how the various manuscripts form a coherent body of work.
Continue Arabic numbers
Back Matter
Required
Item
Details
Page Numbering
✓
Bibliography
All general references from the introduction, overall conclusion, and any supplementary sections should be included here and should conform to the same style and format as the papers.
Arabic numbers continued from body of text
Appendix (Appendices)
Include here only any additional appendices that relate to the dissertation as a whole.
The font style and size must remain consistent throughout the dissertation or thesis. Exceptions are permitted for items such as tables reproduced from external sources, oversized tables or figures, and materials included in the appendix; however, all content must remain legible and meet margin guidelines.
All fonts must be embedded. Recommended fonts are 10 pt Arial or 12 pt Times New Roman. Decorative fonts are not allowed, and the use of bold or italics should be limited. Please note that color is considered decorative and should not be used, except within tables and figures—particularly those reproduced from other sources.
Your dissertation or thesis must include two numbering systems: one for the front matter and one for the main body of the document.
Front Matter: Pages are numbered using lowercase Roman numerals (ii, iii, iv). Not all page numbers appear on the page; however, all pages—including the title page—are counted in the sequence even if the number is not printed. The optional copyright page should have no page number and is not counted in the pagination.
Main Body and Back Matter: Chapters, the main text, endnotes (if used), the bibliography or references, and any appendices are numbered with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3). The first page of Chapter 1 is page 1 of the main body.
Page Number Placement: When a page number is required, it must appear centered at the bottom of the page, positioned one inch above the bottom edge. Page numbers cannot extend into the required 1‑inch margin.
All pages of the dissertation or thesis—including tables, figures, and any materials in the appendix—must meet the margin specifications listed below. No content may extend into these margins.
Top Margin: Minimum of 1 inch. Chapter headings must have a top 2 inch margin.
Left Margin: Minimum of 1.5 inches to allow space for binding.
Right Margin: Minimum of 1 inch. To avoid excessive hyphenation along the right margin, words should only be divided according to standard dictionary rules. Avoid dividing words with only two letters on either side (e.g., “de-sign”). If a word must be divided, use at least three letters before the hyphen (e.g., “con-vention”).
Bottom Margin: Minimum of 1 inch. This distance is measured from the bottom edge of the page to the bottom of the page number. Page numbers must stay fully within this margin.
All headings must follow a consistent format across the entire document, including capitalization, font, style, and alignment. This applies to headings in the front matter, body, and back matter. Subheadings within the body may differ from chapter or section headings, but all subheadings of the same level must use the same style for consistency.
Indentation: Begin each paragraph with an indented first line.
Standalone Lines: To maintain readability and proper formatting, paragraphs must not leave a single line stranded at the top or bottom of a page.
Your document must contain at least two lines of a paragraph at both the top and bottom of any page. Most versions of Microsoft Word include an automatic Widow/Orphan Control feature—ensure this setting is enabled to prevent these formatting issues.
All content in your dissertation or thesis must be double‑spaced. This includes quotations from interview participants or any other sources not formally cited in your bibliography or works cited, as well as spacing between chapters and between entries in the Table of Contents, List of Figures, and List of Tables. These rules take precedence over any style manual.
The following are the only exceptions to the double‑spacing requirement:
Long, Blocked Quotations (Formally Cited Sources): Quotations longer than three typed lines from sources listed in your bibliography/works cited should be blocked and single‑spaced. Note: Interview quotations or quotations from sources not formally cited must remain double‑spaced, regardless of length.
Footnotes/Endnotes: The text within each footnote or endnote may be single‑spaced, but you must double‑space between separate entries.
Tables and Figures: Titles for tables and figures may be single‑spaced. You may also single‑space content within tables and figures if desired.
Table of Contents, List of Figures, and List of Tables: Entries within each chapter section may be single‑spaced.
Bibliography/References: Entries may be single‑spaced if this is required by your chosen style manual.
You may use footnotes, endnotes, or parenthetical references for citations, but you must apply one citation format consistently throughout your entire document. Please consult your department or committee to confirm which citation style is required for your program.
Images, including photographs and illustrations, must be digitally inserted directly into your document. Color images are allowed and will appear in color when viewed electronically; however, please note that any bound copies ordered through UMI/ProQuest will print these images in black and white.
If your dissertation or thesis includes five or more figures, all images must be listed in a List of Figures, placed immediately after your Table of Contents. Please do not include a list of figures if you have less than 5 figures in your document.
Tables must be digitally inserted into your document and must remain fully within the required page margins. If your dissertation or thesis includes five or more tables, you must also provide a List of Tables, placed immediately after your Table of Contents.
Please do not include a list of tables if you have less than 5 tables in your document.
Specific Page Requirements
This section outlines the required formatting for specific pages in your dissertation or thesis, including the Title Page, Copyright Page, Abstract, Acknowledgements, Table of Contents, Lists of Tables and Figures, Landscape Pages, Bibliography or References and Appendices.
The title page should present a clear, concise, and accurate description of your dissertation or thesis. Spell out all symbols, formulas, and Greek letters in English.
Formatting Requirements:
Center all content between the established margins.
When entering your graduation date, be sure to list the month and year you will officially graduate—not the date of your oral defense. Please use the following graduation months for each quarter:
Fall Quarter: November
Winter Quarter: March
Spring Quarter: June
Summer Quarter: August
Ensure that the author name, degree name and faculty are listed accurately everywhere they appear.
The title page does not display a page number, but is counted in the page numbering sequence.
Do not list your major, concentration or department.
Required Faculty Wording (must appear exactly as written):
the Faculty of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
the Faculty of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
the Faculty of the Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science
the Faculty of the University of Denver and the Iliff School of Theology Joint PhD Program
the Faculty of the Graduate School of Social Work
the Faculty of the Morgridge College of Education
the Faculty of the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs
the Faculty of the Daniels College of Business
The title page must replicate the sample provided below exactly, including the capitalization and spacing.
The author’s full legal name as it appears on the title page
The year in which copyright is established
The phrase “All Rights Reserved”, which supports your rights under the Buenos Aires Convention
The copyright page:
Does not display a page number
Is not counted in pagination
Registering Your Copyright: UMI/ProQuest offers optional copyright registration when you submit your manuscript through the ETD Administrator. If selected, UMI will file the application with the Library of Congress on your behalf. Additional fees apply. If you choose this option, your dissertation or thesis must include a copyright notice within the manuscript.
The abstract is a concise summary of your research. It should clearly state the problem, outline your research method and design, summarize major findings, and present your conclusions.
Heading Requirements: The heading at the top of the page must be single‑spaced, positioned just below the top 1" margin, left‑aligned, and must include the following:
Author: Exactly as it appears on the title page.
Title: Exactly as it appears on the title page.
Advisor: Exactly as it appears on the title page.
Degree Date: (Month and year of graduation; update if graduation is delayed)
Other Requirements:
The body of the abstract must be double‑spaced.
Recommended length:
Up to 350 words for dissertations
Up to 150 words for theses (Not required but strongly encouraged.)
The abstract is part of the front matter and must use a Roman numeral page number (ii).
This page must comply with all minimum margin requirements, as demonstrated in sample templates.
Including an acknowledgments page is optional. If you choose to include one, it should recognize professional assistance or express gratitude for significant, non‑routine support received during your work. Because the dissertation or thesis is a formal, published document, the tone of the acknowledgments must remain professional, concise, and appropriate.
The acknowledgments page must be double‑spaced and should not exceed one page. Please note that dedication pages are not permitted.
If your dissertation or thesis contains five or more tables or five or more figures, you must include a corresponding List of Tables and/or List of Figures. Please do not include a list of tables or figures if you have less than 5 tables or figures in your document.
Formatting Requirements:
Place each list immediately after the Table of Contents.
Double‑space between chapter entries.
Single‑space subheadings within a chapter section if included.
Ensure all content fits within required margins.
Use Roman numeral pagination as part of the front matter.
The bibliography must follow the formatting guidelines of the style manual used for the rest of your dissertation or thesis. All entries and formatting elements should be applied consistently and accurately throughout the document.
Entries may be single‑spaced if this is required by your chosen style manual.
Use an appendix to include materials that support your dissertation or thesis but are not appropriate for placement within the main text. Examples include original data, summary tables, supplemental or lower‑priority data, lengthy quotations, questionnaires with cover letters, and verbatim respondent comments.
If your document contains multiple types of supplemental material, organize them into separate appendices. Each appendix must be labeled individually, using either numbers or letters (e.g., APPENDIX 1, APPENDIX 2 or APPENDIX A, APPENDIX B).
All materials included in the appendices must comply with the margin requirements outlined in the formatting guidelines.
Formatting Template
The formatting template is a helpful resource for aligning your thesis or dissertation with the University’s formatting requirements. It is not a style‑manual template. University formatting requirements take precedence over standards in departmental style manuals.
Use the template together with the University’s official formatting requirements. The template is not a substitute for the published requirements and should be used as a supplemental tool.
Please note: The template and the information it contains are provided by the Office of Graduate Education for general use. They are not tailored to the needs or content of individual theses or dissertations. While offered in good faith, the Office makes no guarantees—express or implied—regarding the template’s accuracy, adequacy, reliability, or completeness.
