Theses & Dissertations
Locate the topic below that you want to review:
Authorship Expectations
- Approval for Research (IRB)
- Authorship Policy – Vice President for Research
- Availability to Public
- Academic Integrity for Graduate Students
Planning Tools and Resources
- Thesis/Dissertation Informational Videos
- Thesis/Dissertation Seminars
- Thesis/Dissertation Deadlines
- Planning Tool for Master's Students
- Planning Tool for Doctoral Students
Writing Tools and Resources
- Thesis/Dissertation Consultations
- Bootcamps and Writing Retreats
- Thesis/Dissertation Formatting Tutorials
- Templates
- Annotated Samples
Submission Tools and Resources
- Thesis/Dissertation Format Checks
- Thesis/Dissertation Checklist
- Submit Your Thesis/Dissertation to ProQuest
- Submit Creative Component to ISU Digital Repository
Embargos and Copyright
- Theses and Dissertations: Rights and Responsibilities
- ISU Office of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer (OIPTT)
- Withholding Thesis/Dissertation & Copyright
Editing Services
Other
Meeting Graduate College Requirements
- Check your Graduate Student Status page in AccessPlus.
- Submit your Program of Study/Committee form or submit modifications through AccessPlus. (NOTE: This can be submitted as early as the 2nd semester.)
- Check your Program Audit through AccessPlus; make sure the list of courses is accurate and work to remove any Incompletes.
- Submit an Application for Graduation by the deadlines of the semester you plan to graduate. If you have a change of mind, withdraw by the cancellation date. Summer graduates attending Spring/Fall ceremony need to follow special deadlines.
Planning Your Thesis/Dissertation Journey
- Attend a Thesis/Dissertation Seminar presented by the Graduate College soon after you have formed your Program of Study and Committee.
- Download the Thesis/Dissertation Deadlines and the Thesis Planning Tool or the Dissertation Planning Tool to map the Graduate College deadlines.
- Plan meetings with your Major Professor and Committee about your thesis/dissertationcontent and timeline for completion.
- Chart your personal deadlines using the tools.
- Add any additional program deadlines that are not included in the Graduate College deadlines.
- Review resources for Authorship Expectations.
Writing Your Thesis/Dissertation
- Work closely with your Major Professor and Committee as you develop ideas and content for your thesis/dissertation. They are there to guide you.
- Contact the Center for Communication Excellence to receive Thesis/Dissertation Consultations. Trained consultants can meet one-on-one to give helpful suggestions in the planning, composing, or revising stages of writing or assist with thesis/dissertation formatting. Make an appointment!
- Attend Boot Camps and Writing Retreats.
- Use the Templates to maintain formatting requirements.
- Review Thesis/Dissertation Checklist and watch the Video Tutorials for Formatting.
Planning Your Pre- and Post-Final Oral Exam Steps
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Pre-Final Oral Exam
- Plan final oral exam date with your Major Professor and Committee.
- Submit a Request for Final Oral form three weeks prior to the final oral exam.
- Reserve a room and inform your Major Professor and Committee.
- Make an appointment with the Center for Communication Excellence for a Thesis/Dissertation Format Check.
- Contact an editor if you need assistance formatting or editing your thesis/dissertation; see List of Local Editors / Typists.
- Submit copies of the manuscript to your Major Professor and Committee.
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Post-Final Oral Exam
- Complete required edits as requested by your Major Professor and Committee.
- Review your thesis/dissertation formatting again since formatting may change after any edits are made.
- Submit the edited manuscript to your Major Professor and Committee for approval.
- Open your thesis/dissertation account with ProQuest and input the title of your thesis/dissertation; this information will appear in the Commencement Program. Use the same format as your title page.
- Submit edited manuscript:
- Thesis/Dissertation students - Review the online Thesis/Dissertation Checklist and upload your thesis/dissertation to ProQuest/UMI
- Creative component students – Review the instructions here.
- Get your Major Professor and DOGE signatures for Graduate Student Approval Form and submit the completed form to the Graduate College. (NOTE: The Graduate College cannot review your uploaded thesis/dissertation without this completed form.)
Finishing Up for Graduation
- Monitor email from Graduate College staff about required edits or acceptance of thesis/dissertation.
- Complete required edits as requested by the Graduate College staff if applicable and resubmit; this process can be repeated if required edits are not completed.
- Once accepted, the Graduate College staff will lock the ProQuest submission. No further changes can be made after this.
- Get ready to graduate! Receiving an acceptance e-mail is typically the last communication before you graduate!