REQUIRMENTS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE THESIS/DISSERTATION 

·        Style Manual 

A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, the most recent edition, by Kate L. Turabian, is the official University manual to be used in the writing of theses and dissertations.  Some academic units may specify a particular method of citation appropriate to the discipline, and the student may use the authoritative manual of style for that discipline. 

·        Consistency and Clarity 

Author’s Name

The name of the author of the thesis/dissertation must remain consistent on the title page, copyright page, abstract, thesis/dissertation completion form, and signed copy of the University Microfilms agreement form.  A full form of the author’s name is preferred; for example, a given name, a middle name or middle initial (not both), and a surname. 

Title

The thesis/dissertation title must remain consistent on the title page, abstract, thesis/dissertation completion form, and signed copy of the University Microfilms agreement form.  The thesis/dissertation title should clearly describe the content of the document.  Words should be substituted for any symbols or formulas. 

·        Copyright Compliance in the Thesis/Dissertation

The student certifies by signing a University Microfilms agreement form that s/he is not infringing or violating the rights of other authors.  Accordingly, the student must obtain written permission from the copyright owner if the student quotes repeatedly from the same work or quotes material that is relatively lengthy by comparison with the total work. 

Letters of permission are also required for:

            Poems

            Song lyrics

            Musical scores

            Surveys or portions of surveys

            Standardized tests

            Questionnaires

            Responses to questionnaires

            Interviews        

            Letters

            Speeches

            Previously published portions of the thesis/dissertation

            Trademarks or logos

            Materials already reproduced in another work

Letters or permission are strongly recommended for:

            Maps

            Tables

            Charts

            Cartoons

            Newspaper articles

            Illustrations 

Each letter of permission must give the thesis/dissertation author permission to use the materials and University Microfilms permission to sell copies of the thesis/dissertation containing those materials.  Copies of permission letters must be attached to the University Microfilms agreement form except when such letters must be retained to maintain confidentiality of survey or questionnaire respondents.  In the latter case a letter informing University Microfilms that the letters of permission are in the author’s possession is acceptable.  University Microfilms will not publish thesis/dissertation pages containing material for which permission is not available. 

The waiting period for obtaining requested letters of permission may be lengthy, and the thesis/dissertation author is advised to begin this process early.  Sending a letter that includes a form with signature and date lines to the copyright owner may expedite the process. 

See sample letter to copyright owner in Appendix A.