Thesis/Project:
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Review Checklist


There are several basic steps you can take to help speed the process of reviewing your thesis/project. Keep in mind the following:
  • Our office will receive close to 90 theses/projects to review the week of the first review deadline (most coming in the day before or day of) for spring quarter graduation - which means a three to five day turnaround. Try to turn in your thesis/project as soon as possible to avoid the rush of the deadline week.

  • Our office will go through more than 300 reviews in spring quarter. Try to make the corrections and get another review back to our office quickly to avoid complications in meeting the final review deadline.

  • Theses/Projects are reviewed in the order they are received - no exceptions

  • The information above is for a typical spring quarter; whereas, the fall, winter and summer quarters are typically about half as busy. However, due to low volume, our office may be at half staff for reviews so timing will still be important.
Listed below are several items a thesis reviewer will check for accuracy in following the formatting requirements. These are fairly basic to all theses/projects. If you take the time to correct any errors you find after using this list, it should help to minimize the number of reviews it takes to approve your thesis/project for binding.

Order of thesis/project pages
Your thesis/project should be arranged in the following order:
  1. Blank Page

  2. Title Page

  3. Signature Page

  4. Copyright Page (optional)

  5. Abstract

  6. Acknowledgements Page (optional)

  7. Dedication Page (optional)

  8. Table of Contents

  9. List of Tables (if more than one is included in the text)

  10. List of Illustrations (for items that you want to be in the body of the thesis/project as opposed to the end. If they are at the end they should be appendices)
    1. List of Figures

    2. List of Graphs

    3. List of Maps

    4. List of Plates
  11. Main Text

  12. Appendix/Appendices

  13. Endnotes (if footnotes are not included in the text)

  14. Bibliography/References

  15. Assigned Responsibilities Page (MSW ONLY)

  16. Blank Page

General
  1. Entire thesis/project should be in courier 12pt (with exception to the Appendices contents)

  2. All text (except for specific title and heading spacing) should be double spaced, including the pre-text (roman numeral) pages

  3. You cannot use the ampersand sign (&) - the word "and" must be spelled out in all headings and titles

  4. Margins should be:
    • Top Margin - 1 1/4" / one and one-quarter inches

    • Left Margin - 1 1/2" / one and one-half inches

    • Right Margin - 1" / one inch

    • Bottom Margin - 1 1/4" / one and one-quarter inches

    • Page Number Margin - 3/4" / three-quarter inches
      • Page numbers are measured from the bottom of the number to the bottom of the page
  5. All page numbers are centered and in courier 12pt font

  6. If you are in Social Work - do you have an assigned responsibilities page?

Title Page
  1. The title should appear in the exact same place on the title page as it does on the signature page
    • This can be checked by holding the two pages up to a light with one on top of the other and the titles should appear flush
  2. The "Project" or "Thesis" should be identified according to what you are completing for your program

  3. The separation lines should be solid (not dashed) and two inches (2") in length

  4. Degree title is stated correctly according to the Bulletin
    • The word "option" is NOT to appear in any degree title
  5. Your entire name (including your middle name) is to be spelled out (No initials)

  6. Your graduation date should reflect the quarter you intend to finish all degree requirements. It should read one of the following four months:
    • Fall Graduation would read "December 2007"

    • Winter Graduation would read "March 2008"

    • Spring Graduation would read "June 2008"

    • Summer Graduation would read "September 2008"
  7. No page number should appear at the bottom of this page

  8. Compare placement of words and capitalization with sample on-line or in the handbook

Signature Page
  1. The title should appear in the exact same place on the signature page as it does on the title page
    • This can be checked by holding the two pages up to a light with one on top of the other and the titles should appear flush
  2. The "Project" or "Thesis" should be identified according to what you are completing for your program

  3. The separation lines should be solid (not dashed) and two inches (2") in length

  4. Your entire name (including your middle name) is to be spelled out (No initials)

  5. Your graduation date should reflect the quarter you intend to finish all degree requirements. It should read one of the following four months:
    • Fall Graduation would read "December 2007"
    • Winter Graduation would read "March 2008"
    • Spring Graduation would read "June 2008"
    • Summer Graduation would read "September 2008"
  6. The "Approved by:" should be centered on the page

  7. The reader's names and titles should be spelled out

  8. The signature line should extend to cover the length of their name and title
    • Each line should be the same in length
  9. The "Date" is left aligned under its line

  10. No page number should appear at the bottom of this page

  11. Compare placement of words and capitalization with sample on-line or in the handbook

  12. Math, Interdisciplinary Studies and Social Work have a different format - follow the specific format guidelines for those degrees

Abstract
  1. "ABSTRACT" is in all capital letters and centered on the page within the margins
    • The text should begin on the next double spaced line below
  2. The page number should begin with "iii" and be centered at the bottom of the page within the margins

Dedication/Copyright/Acknowledgements Pages
  1. "To" or "Dedicated" should appear on a Dedication Page

  2. See thesis/project handbook for proper wording of a Copyright page
    • The top margin is four inches (4") from the top of the page
    • The copyright notice is centered between the left and right margins
  3. "ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS" is in all capital letters and centered on the page within the margins
    • Page number should be in roman numerals and centered at the bottom of the page
  4. No page number should appear on the Dedication or Copyright pages

Table of Contents
  1. "TABLE OF CONTENTS" is in all capital letters and centered on the top of the page
    • Text should begin on the next double spaced line below
  2. Dot leaders are evenly spaced from the last word to the page number

  3. Dots line up vertically down the page with each entry

  4. ALL titles appear in the "exact" same wording, spelling and capitalization as they do in the text

  5. Format of all heading and subheadings are consistent with those in the text

  6. There is no use of acronyms or abbreviations in titles

  7. Each entries page number is right justified

  8. Title Page, Signature Page, Table of Contents and any un-numbered pages are not listed in the Table of Contents

  9. Titles and subheadings do not extend over the numbers column

  10. Page numbers should be in roman numerals and centered at the bottom of the page

List of Tables/Figures/Graphs/etc.
  1. "LIST OF TABLES" or FIGURES/GRAPHS/etc. is in all capital letters and centered at the top of the page
    • Text should begin on the next double spaced line below
  2. Dot leaders are evenly spaced from the last word to the page number

  3. Dots line up vertically down the page with each entry

  4. ALL titles appear in the "exact" same wording, spelling and capitalization as they do in the text

  5. There is no use of acronyms or abbreviations in titles

  6. Each entries page number is right justified

  7. Make sure all tables/figures/graphs/etc. are listed
    • Only those that appear in the text should be listed. If they appear in the Appendix - you do not need this list
  8. Titles and subheadings do not extend over the numbers column

  9. Page numbers should be in roman numerals and centered at the bottom of the page


Text
  1. Chapters start at the top of a new page

  2. "CHAPTER" with the number "ONE/TWO/etc." is in all capital letters with the title on the next double spaced line below

  3. First level headings are centered and with two double spaces preceding it

  4. Second level headings are left justified and underlined with the text beginning on the next double spaced line below

  5. Third level headings are left justified and underlined followed by a period with the text beginning on the same line

  6. There is NO bolding in the text

  7. Titles and headings should be no longer than five inches (5") in length

  8. All tables/figures/graphs/etc. that appear in the text must be in courier 12 pt font

  9. Page numbers should centered at the bottom of the page
    • Chapter One starts on page 1


Appendix
  1. "APPENDIX" is in all capital letters and centered four inches (4") from the top of the page

  2. The title should appear on the next double spaced line below

  3. If there is more than one Appendix - each should be labeled with a letter after the "Appendix"

  4. Information in the Appendix does not need to be in courier 12 pt font, but does need to remain within the margins

  5. Page numbers through the Appendix must be in courier 12 pt font


References
  1. This should be the last section of the document
    • Unless you are an MSW student - your Assigned Responsibilities Page would follow (if required)
  2. Your references should be formatted according to your program's specified style manual

  3. "REFERENCES" is in all capital letters and centered at the top of the page
    • Text should begin on the next double spaced line below
  4. Enteries should be listed in alphabetical order