• Must be written in English.

• Must be standard letter size, 8.5 x 11 in.
• Must have 1.5 in. left , 1.15 in. top, and 1 in. right and bottom margins.

• Page numbers must be placed 0.75 in. down from the top of the page and aligned on the right margin.
• Preliminary pages must be numbered with lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, etc.).
• Beginning at the main body, pages must be numbered with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.).
• The following pages must not have a visible page number:
  • Front and back flyleaves (optional)
  • Title page
  • Copyright or blank page
  • First page of the main body (Introduction page)
  • Title pages of appendices

• Text must be left aligned or fully justified consistently throughout the document.
• Text must double-spaced except for the following which must be single spaced within:
  • Headings in the Table of Contents that exceed one line.
  • Figure and Table titles in the List of Illustrations and List of Tables that exceed one line.
  • 1st level and 2nd level headings in the main body that exceed one line.
  • Figure and Table titles in the main body that exceed one line.
  • Reference entries that exceed one line.
• All paragraphs must be indented 0.5 in.
• Font size must be 12 pt throughout the entire document.
• To ensure readability and compliance with ProQuest/UMI guidelines, acceptable typefaces are limited to Arial, Century, Courier New, Garamond, Georgia, Lucida Bright, Microsoft Sans Serif, Tahoma, Times New Roman, Trebuchet MS, and Verdana. Web fonts that allow for easier screen readability are Arial, Courier New, Georgia, Times New Roman, Trebuchet MS, and Verdana.
• Font size and style requirements apply to all text, including page numbers, figure/table titles, equations, appendices, and bibliography/references.

Traditional/Section Headings

• Main/1^stlevel headings (e.g., ABSTRACT, ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, 1., 2.)
  • All caps, bold, and centered at the top of a new page each time
  • Must have an extra blank line below, which must be consistent throughout the document
• 2^nd level subheadings (e.g., 1.1, 2.3.)
  • All caps, bold, and aligned on the left margin
  • Must have an extra blank line before
  • Paragraph must begin below the heading
• 3^rd level subheadings (e.g., 1.2.1, 2.3.4.)
  • Title case (first letter of each major word must be capitalized)
  • Bold, indented .5 in., and end with a period
  • Paragraph must begin immediately following the heading on the same line
• 4th level subheadings (e.g., 1.2.1.1, 2.3.4.1.)
  • Sentence case (first letter of the first word must be capitalized (as well as any proper nouns or acronyms)
  • Bold, indented .5 in., and end with a period
  • Paragraph must begin immediately following the heading on the same line
• Subheadings beyond 4th level should be avoided, use bullet points instead

Publication Option Headings

• The word "PAPER" must appear as a main heading at the top of the first page of Paper I only
• Paper titles must be numbered with uppercase Roman numerals (e.g., I, II, III)
  • All caps, bold, and centered at the top of a new page each time
• Main/1st level headings
  • All caps, bold (does not need to start at the top of a new page)
  • Must have an extra blank line below, which must be consistent throughout the document
• 2nd/3rd/4th level subheadings are formatted same as tradition/section headings
• The word "SECTION" must appear as the main heading at the top of the page where the section writing resumes, following the last paper

The copyright/blank page appears immediately after the title page and before the abstract and acknowledgments. This page contains copyright information, indicating the author's ownership of the work and any relevant legal notices. In some cases, this page may remain intentionally blank, serving as a placeholder or separation between sections of the document. It ensures that copyright details are formally acknowledged and provides a clear boundary before the academic content begins.

• Counted as page two (ii), with no visible page number.
• If not blank, text should be positioned at the bottom 1-inch margin and centered horizontally within the required margins.
  • Use either © or "Copyright," but not both.
  • Year listed must be the year the degree is awarded.
  • Include full legal name (as it appears on the title page).

Example of Copyright Page

The publication option page should list all journal and conference papers included in the thesis/dissertation, along with their corresponding page numbers. It should also indicate the current status of each paper in the publishing process (e.g., intended for publication, submitted for publication, published).

• Counted as page three (iii), first visible page number.
• Must not exceed one page.

Example of Publication Option Page

The abstract should provide a concise, clear summary of the key points of the thesis/dissertation. It should outline the research problems, methods used, and major findings. Organized to align with the thesis/dissertation outline, the abstract should be self-contained and understandable on its own, as it is often cited separately in secondary publications.

• If using the publication option, counted as page four (iv); otherwise counted as page three (iii).
• Must not exceed one page.
• Should provide a concise, clear summary of the key points addressed in the thesis/dissertation and summarize the research problems, methods used, and major findings.
• Should be self-contained for independent citation in secondary publications, requiring intelligibility without reference to the main document.

In the acknowledgments, it is customary to thank those who provided graduate fellowships, grants, travel funds, and any special assistance received outside your committee that contributed to the completion of your research.

• Must not exceed one page.

The table of contents provides a comprehensive outline of the document's structure and organization. It lists all major sections, subsections, and their corresponding page numbers. The table of contents ensures clarity and ease of access to the content, guiding readers through the document's logical progression from introduction to conclusion.

• Avoid using bold or italics.
• Position the word “Page” at the right margin above the column of page numbers.
• Align page numbers with the right margin.
• Ensure text does not encroach on the page number area; maintain a clear separation of page numbers.
• Do not include "TABLE OF CONTENTS" in the Table of Contents.
• Below front matter headings, list the word “SECTION” (without dot leaders or page numbers), aligned to the left.
• If using the publication option, list the word “PAPER” (without dot leaders or page numbers) above the first paper title, aligned to the left.
• Headings should be appropriately tiered, with each level indented below the previous level.
• Single-space headings exceeding one line, ensuring text alignment on each line.
• Ensure headings match those in the main body of the document, including punctuation and capitalization.
• Subsections should have at least two headings (e.g., 1.1 and 1.2).

The nomenclature section provides a list of symbols, abbreviations, acronyms, and their corresponding definitions or explanations used throughout the document. 

• Must include column headings
• Do not use dot leaders or page numbers

The main body of the technical thesis/dissertation must include at least the following major sections (alternative headings for these divisions may be chosen, but the content should be similar; consistency is key in choosing, placing, and naming subheadings):

1. Introduction: State the problem, emphasize the significance of the subject, and provide reasons for its selection.
2. Literature Review: Summarize previous work in the field and related areas.
3. Results and Discussion: Detail and analyze the actual work, including experimental procedures and findings, field work and results, criteria, and evidence. Use appropriate subdivisions with clear headings as necessary. Clarity is often improved by separating the method presentation, results, and their discussion.
4. Conclusions: Each conclusion should be a straightforward statement of fact derived from the results, devoid of discussion.

Page Numbering and Layout

• The first page is counted as page one (1), with no visible page number.
• Avoid widows and orphans (a page must not end or begin with a heading and/or single line of a paragraph; there must always be at least two lines together).  
• Content should extend as close to the bottom 1-inch margin as possible.
• If a page consists of text only, ensure there are at least three lines of text.
• Number equations sequentially and format them consistently.

Headings

• Be consistent with punctuation in heading numbers; use either 1.1. or 1.1, but don't go back and forth.
• Main/1st Level Headings (e.g., ABSTRACT, ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, 1. INTRODUCTION, 2., etc.)
  • Use all caps, bold
  • Center at the top of a new page each time (except in papers if using the publication option).
  • Include an extra blank line below each heading, ensuring consistency throughout the document.
• 2nd Level Subheadings (e.g., 1.1., 1.2., etc.)
  • Use all caps, bold,
  • Align at the left margin.
  • Include an extra blank line space above each subheading.
  • Begin the paragraph below the heading.
• 3rd Level Subheadings (e.g., 1.1.1., 1.1.2., etc.)
  • Use bold, capitalize the first letter of each major word and end with a period.
  • Indent 0.5 inches.
  • Begin the paragraph immediately following the heading on the same line.
• 4th Level Subheadings (e.g., 1.1.1.1., 1.1.1.2., etc.)
  • Use bold, indent 0.5 inches, and end with a period.
  • Capitalize only the first letter of the first word (as well as proper nouns and acronyms).
  • Begin the paragraph immediately following the heading on the same line.
• Avoid subheadings beyond the 4th level; use bullet points instead.

Figures and Tables

• Place figure titles below the figures and table titles above the tables.
• Titles that exceed one line must be single-spaced.
• Figures and tables must be mentioned by number in the text.
• Number figures and tables based on the section they appear in (e.g., the first figure/table in Section 1 is 1.1., the second figure/table in Section 2 is 2.2, etc.). For the Publication Option, number figures/tables as 1., 2., 3., etc.
• Ensure consistent formatting for figures/tables and their titles, including placement, capitalization, and punctuation.
• Maintain consistent spacing above and below all figures/tables (preferably 3–4 blank single-spaced lines).
• Avoid splitting a figure/table across multiple pages. If necessary, include the figure/table number and title on all pages with “(cont.)” at the end for subsequent pages. Use the initial page number in the List of Illustrations/Tables.
• For landscape figures and tables, ensure margins and page number placement are consistent with the rest of the document, as the pages will be rotated to portrait layout if printed.

Appendices, if included, should consist of material that is supplementary yet pertinent to the main text of the thesis/dissertation. Examples may include survey instruments, additional data sets, computer printouts, detailed procedures or analyses, or relevant papers authored by the student.

• For one appendix, the title (if applicable) must be listed below the heading "APPENDIX" with text following on the same page.
• For multiple appendices, each appendix must have a title page.
  • Appendices must be designated with a main heading of "APPENDIX A," "APPENDIX B," etc.
  • Each title page must include the main heading with the appendix title double-spaced below.
  • The title page(s) must not include a visible page number, and the text must be all caps and centered vertically on the page.

References should be cited appropriately throughout the document. Bibliographic citations should be listed consecutively. For other citation formats and guidelines, adhere to those endorsed by peer-reviewed journals in the candidate's field. The primary goals are accuracy, clarity, brevity, and consistency.

• References can be formatted with hanging indent or as a numbered list.
• References that exceed one line must be single spaced within and double spaced between each.
• A reference should never be split between two pages.
• Authors' names should be formatted consistently.

The vita should be written in the past tense and include the candidate's full legal name, a reasonably comprehensive biographical sketch, and details of their academic background and degree statements.

• Written in paragraph form.
• Include full legal name (as it appears on the title page).
• Date of birth is optional but not recommended.
• Past and current degree statements must be included.
• Must not exceed one page.