Boston University Libraries

Mugar Memorial Library

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Boston, Massachusetts 02215
(617) 353-9387
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GUIDE FOR WRITERS OF THESES AND DISSERTATIONS

INTRODUCTION

Boston University students completing a master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation as a

requirement for their degree must submit a PDF copy of their manuscript to Boston
University Libraries so as to preserve a record of their scholarly achievement and to
share the benefits of their research with other scholars. The thesis / dissertation will be
deposited into both ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global™ and OpenBU
(https://open.bu.edu/) Boston University’s open-access database.

Steps to depositing Boston University Libraries thesis/dissertation copy:

• Prepare the manuscript for library submission following the guidelines in this
Research Guide.

• Review the final draft of your thesis/dissertation with the person responsible for
your school or college as early as possible.

• Meet the deadlines for submission; complete all degree requirements before
formal library submission.

• Submit your thesis/dissertation electronically via the ProQuest ETD

Administrator (https://www.etdadmin.com/bu)
 Table of Contents

Prepare the Manuscript.........................................................................................................4

1.1 General formatting requirements......................................................................................... 4
1.1.1 Double space..................................................................................................................... 4
1.1.2 Typeface size and style.................................................................................................... 4
1.1.3 Margins.............................................................................................................................. 5
1.1.4 Pagination ......................................................................................................................... 5
1.1.5 Page numbering, page number placement and required sections............................ 6
1.1.6 Order of pagination ......................................................................................................... 7
1.1.7 Table of Contents, List of Tables, Figures, Abbreviations.......................................... 8
1.1.8 Numbering of Tables and Figures ................................................................................. 8
1.2 Title page ................................................................................................................................... 8
Brief and descriptive title ................................................................................................ 8
Sample titles ...................................................................................................................... 9
Formatting title page ....................................................................................................... 9
1.3 Copyright page ......................................................................................................................... 9
Formatting the copyright page ...................................................................................... 9
Previously published work in the thesis/dissertation ................................................ 9
Options to register copyright ......................................................................................... 9
1.4 Readers’ approval page......................................................................................................... 10
Submit approval page with signatures ....................................................................... 10
Original signatures only................................................................................................ 10
Readers’ titles and affiliation ........................................................................................ 10
1.5 Abstract page .......................................................................................................................... 10
Purpose in writing the abstract .................................................................................... 10
Write abstract in English ............................................................................................... 11
Formatting abstract page .............................................................................................. 11
Formatting for MD/PhD candidates............................................................................ 11
1.6 Table of contents.................................................................................................................... 11
1.7 Appendices ............................................................................................................................. 11
1.8 Bibliography ........................................................................................................................... 12
Formatting the bibliography ........................................................................................ 12
Abbreviated titles in citations ...................................................................................... 12
Determining full titles of abbreviations ...................................................................... 13
1.9 Vita ........................................................................................................................................... 13
1.10 Multiple volume works ........................................................................................................ 13
1.11 Charts, graphs, tables, and audio/visual materials.......................................................... 13
Visibility .......................................................................................................................... 13
Readability ...................................................................................................................... 13
1.12 Photographs ............................................................................................................................ 13
1.13 Include Videos or Audio Files Only as Separate Files ................................................... 14
1.14 Permission to use copyrighted material ............................................................................ 14

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 Policy on use of copyrighted textual material ........................................................... 14
Policy on use of figures ................................................................................................. 14
Guidelines on what is copyrighted material .............................................................. 14
Seek copyright permissions early ................................................................................ 15
Review the final draft with the person responsible for your school or college ......15
2.1 Contacts for submitting your dissertation/thesis to the library ................................... 15
2.2 Final version ........................................................................................................................... 16
Meet the deadlines for submission; complete all other degree requirements before
formal library submission. .................................................................................................16
Submit your thesis/dissertation library copy electronically .......................................16
4.1 ETD Administrator Submission ......................................................................................... 16
4.2 Fees for Processing Dissertations and Theses .................................................................. 17
4.3 Include ORCID iD................................................................................................................. 17
4.4 ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global™ (PQD&T)................................................... 17
4.5 Deposit to OpenBU ............................................................................................................... 18
4.6 Embargoes ............................................................................................................................... 18
4.6.1 Availability of Submission............................................................................................ 18
4.6.2 Length of Initial Embargo ............................................................................................. 18
4.6.3 Embargo request letter required .................................................................................. 19
4.6.4 Reasons for an embargo ................................................................................................ 19
4.7 Bound personal copies.......................................................................................................... 20

SOURCES AVAILABLE FOR WRITERS OF DISSERTATIONS AND THESES................20

SAMPLES OF THE PRELIMINARY PAGES……………………………………………….. 21

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 Prepare the Manuscript

This guide does not provide directions on how to research or write a thesis or
dissertation. Nor does this guide set major stylistic or bibliographic rules for the author.
Your advisor(s) or department may suggest or require you to follow a specific journal
or other style for your work. Consult the bibliography at the end of this guide for
sources about thesis/dissertation styles. This guide takes precedence should there be
any conflict in formatting or standard requirements.

In addition to reading this guide, take the time to view these helpful Thesis &
Dissertation Prep instructional videos:
• Introduction
http://www.bu.edu/buniverse/view/?v=DE2741Lq
• Open Access
http://www.bu.edu/buniverse/view/?v=17FmMT1Lr
• ETD Administrator Walkthrough I
http://www.bu.edu/buniverse/view/?v=DF9y71Ls
• ETD Administrator Walkthrough II
http://www.bu.edu/buniverse/view/?v=uvTcT1Lt
• Pagination in MS Word
http://www.bu.edu/buniverse/view/?v=1MUcM21Lu
• Creating a Table of Contents in MS Word
http://www.bu.edu/buniverse/view/?v=DIjMX1Lv

1.1 General formatting requirements

Double space

Double space all textual material and preliminary pages, including table of contents.
Footnotes, figure and table captions, and long quotations may be single spaced. The
bibliography may be single-spaced, with one extra space between each citation.

Typeface size and style

Use 12-point font for the text, all headings, and subheadings. Titles or major headings
may be in all upper case letters, bold, italics, or underlined, but they cannot be larger
than 12-point. Font of 11-point or 10-point may be used for footnotes, long quotations,
and tables that do not fit comfortably within required margins. Do not use smaller than
10-point font.

ProQuest requires students to 1). Embed all fonts and 2). Use only TrueType fonts.
Otherwise, your text may not reproduce correctly or at all. MS Word users on a PC
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must save the document through the “File” pull-down menu and check the box next to
“Embed fonts.” MS Word 2008 or later users on a Mac OS X computer will have their
fonts embedded automatically when converting your document to a PDF. For students
using LaTeX, embedding directions can be found here
https://www.karlrupp.net/2016/01/embed-all-fonts-in-pdfs-latex-pdflatex/

Use font type and sizes consistently throughout the work. Use standard font types such
as Arial, Cambria, Garamond, Palatino Linotype, Times New Roman, Verdana etc.
Avoid using Times New Roman at sizes smaller than 11-point as it prints out illegibly.
Avoid Calibri, a default typeface for MS-Word. All print must be dark, unbroken, and
legible, including any material copied from other sources.

Margins

Compose the thesis or dissertation so that it can be printed single sided and facing in
one direction only on 8.5” X 11” paper. Do not arrange a caption placed on a separate
page so that it is facing the figure page.

 Top margin: 1.5 inches to first line of text or heading

 Left margin: 1.5 inches
 Right margin: 1 inch. You may choose to justify the right margin.
 Bottom margin: at least 1 inch from the bottom of the page

Use these margins at all times. Do not exceed the right hand 1-inch margin. Extra wide
margins are not allowed. Only the page number lies outside these margins (see below).

Reset charts, graphs, tables, footnotes, illustrations, or figures to fit within these
margins. Tables or figures that do not fit well with the margins may be rotated 90
degrees (using landscape format). Note: neither the margins nor the page number
rotate, but remain the same as in regular portrait view. Legal size, 8.5” X 14,” or 11” X
17” formatting may be used in rare cases if necessary. Larger sizes should be approved
prior to final submission.

Pagination

Every page in a dissertation or thesis must be assigned a number, starting with the title
page and ending with the last page of the vita. In addition to reading the following it is
recommended that you watch the video Thesis & Dissertation Prep 5: Pagination in MS
Word at http://www.bu.edu/buniverse/view/?v=1MUcM21Lu for guidance.

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Numbering must be sequential. Suffix pages are not allowed (e.g., no 10a). Appendices
continue sequential numbering from the last page of the last chapter and cannot be
paginated separately (e.g., cannot be A-1, A-2, etc.).

Check the document for pagination carefully before submitting the final copy. It will be
necessary to revise and resubmit the document if a page is omitted from the count or if
the same number is assigned to two or more different pages. Do not use blank
enumerated pages between chapters. They will need to be removed and the remaining
pages repaginated. Errors can occur, for example, when using section breaks in the
document instead of simple page breaks.

Page numbering, page number placement and required sections

The title page, copyright page, and approval page will have page numbers assigned to
them, but the numbers should not be on those pages themselves.

Other preliminary pages must have lower case Roman numerals (e.g., iv, viii, xii),
placed at the bottom center of the page.

The main text will have Arabic numerals with the first page starting at page 1. Select
one of the following page number placement options for those pages with Arabic
numerals: top center, top right, bottom center or bottom right. No page number should
be placed on the left-hand side of any page.

Page numbers should be placed one inch (1”) from the top of the page or three-quarters
of an inch (0.75”) from the bottom of the page.

Note on using MS-Word for page number margin settings: The default header and
footer margin settings in MS-Word for Mac and PC are both half an inch (0.5”).
Changing settings in MS-Word can vary depending upon the version of MS-Word or
operating system in use. The following instructions for one situation are provided to be
helpful and not as specific instructions: To change the default setting, look for Page
Layout in the pulldown menus and then look for Margins. Go to Custom Margins and
click on the tab for Layout. Look for boxes that contain the settings for the Header and
the Footer that can then be reset to one inch (1”) and three-quarters of an inch (0.75”),
respectively. One can also double click on the top or bottom of a page to activate/open
the Header and Footer. Then when you select Header and Footer work tab look in the
toolbar for the Header and Footer margin settings. You can set the margin to one inch
(1”) and three-quarters of an inch (0.75”) there. After resetting the Header and Footer,
check to be certain an extra line has not been added to either of them, pushing the page

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number further down or up on the page than desired. Check to be sure the Header and
Footer are set to single spacing, too.

Order of pagination

Preliminary Pages Page Number

Title page (required) i (counted, does not appear on page)
Copyright page (required) ii (counted, does not appear on page)
Readers’ Approval page (required) iii (counted, does not appear on page;
unsigned – without signatures)
Dedication page (optional) iv
Acknowledgments (optional) v
Abstract (required) vi
Preface (optional) vii
Table of Contents (required) viii
List of Tables (required, if any) ix
List of Figures (required, if any) x
List of Illustrations or Schemes xi
(required, if any)
List of Abbreviations xii
(in alphabetical order)
Glossary (if applicable) xiii
First page of text 1
Second page of text 2, etc.

Starting with the Acknowledgments, each preliminary section can be more than one
page in length, if necessary. Pagination is continuous. Do not skip a page number if
you do not include one of the options listed above. Simply continue the pagination.

Following the preliminary pages is the text of the dissertation or thesis, which begins, as
illustrated above, with Arabic numeral 1. At the conclusion of the dissertation text
place these sections in this order:

Appendices (if applicable) continues Arabic numeral pagination

Bibliography (required) continues Arabic numeral pagination
Vita (required) (the last numbered page(s)) continues Arabic numeral pagination

Note on using MS-Word section breaks for page numbering purposes: One can use
section breaks to separate those sections that need different page numbering. The first
section includes those pages with no numbers on them (but counted), the second set

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those with Roman numerals, and the third set those with Arabic numerals. It is
important to make the changes in this order for this method to work: first set the
section breaks, then change the numbering. In the Arabic numerals section then specify
that the numbering starts with 1, instead of continuing pagination from the previous
section. The video Thesis & Dissertation Prep 5: Pagination in MS Word at
http://www.bu.edu/buniverse/view/?v=1MUcM21Lu describes this.

Table of Contents, List of Tables, Figures, Abbreviations

The Table of Contents must include the page number for each major heading.
Committees often require subheadings to be included as well. The List of Tables,
Figures, etc. must include the page number of each respective table, figure, etc. If you
include a List of Abbreviations, it must be arranged alphabetically, not by order of
appearance of the abbreviation in the text.

Watch the video Thesis & Dissertation Prep 6: Creating a Table of Contents in MS
Word at http://www.bu.edu/buniverse/view/?v=DIjMX1Lv for one approach to
preparing the Table of Contents.

Numbering of Tables and Figures

Number Tables and Figures sequentially (e.g., 1, 2 or 3) or by chapter or appendix (e.g.,

3.1, 3.2, 3.3; A.1, A.2). Numbering needs to be unique. Do not repeat the same numbers
with each new chapter (i.e., each chapter should not begin anew with figure 1 or table
1).

1.2 Title page

Brief and descriptive title

A descriptive title that is a brief, meaningful description of the contents works best.
Title words are searchable as keywords in online databases, including ProQuest
Dissertations & Theses Global™, a comprehensive database that helps scholars locate
relevant resources.

Avoid oblique or obscure references in the title. ProQuest cannot reproduce many
characters such as mathematical formulae, non-alphabetical symbols, superscripts,
subscripts, or non-Roman scripts if they are used in the title. The use of acronyms is
discouraged, but not prohibited. Any of these elements used in the title must include
an English equivalent. Diacritics or accent marks are acceptable.

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 Sample titles

Example titles cited by ProQuest as being acceptable:

• Surface and colloid chemical studies of gamma ferric oxide dispersions

• Neutral kaon and lambda production in electron-positron annihilation at
29 GeV and the Z boson resonance
• Chromosomal localization of the alpha- and beta-globulin of the chicken,
Gallus domesticus

Formatting title page

Consult the sample title page at the end of this document for proper formatting or use
the Mugar MS Word template (http://www.bu.edu/library/guide/theses/).

Include the year in which you are graduating officially. Do not include the month.
Include the degree you are being awarded. Do not include the discipline. For example,
use Doctor of Philosophy, not Doctor of Philosophy in Biology; use Master of Arts, not
Master of Arts in Chemistry.

1.3 Copyright page

Include a copyright statement page.

Formatting the copyright page

Consult the sample copyright page at the end of this document for proper formatting,
or use the Mugar MS Word template (http://www.bu.edu/library/guide/theses/).

Previously published work in the thesis/dissertation

If you have published one or more chapters of your work previously, and the copyright
is registered for that publisher, you must indicate that in the copyright notice. For
example: ©2019 by Joan Q. Public. All rights reserved except for chapters 2 and 3,
which are ©2017 Journal of Academic Studies.

Options to register copyright

You may choose to register your copyright. You can authorize ProQuest to register
copyright with the United States Copyright Office on your behalf for a $75.00 fee.
Alternatively, you may register copyright on your own with the Unites States
Copyright Office at http://www.copyright.gov/. The direct copyright registration fee at
this site is $45.00.

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1.4 Readers’ approval page

Submit approval page with signatures

[For Fall 2021: As a temporary provision, until January 31, 2022, the Libraries will accept
electronic signatures, including scanned signatures, on thesis and dissertation readers’
approval pages.] Submit a copy of the approval page with original signatures of the
candidate’s committee members or readers who are required to sign it. This will
usually be submitted to the thesis or dissertation coordinator at your school or college.
Consult the sample approval page at the end of this document for proper formatting, or
use the BU Libraries MS Word template (http://www.bu.edu/library/guide/theses/).

Be certain to include a copy of this readers’ approval page without signatures in the
thesis or dissertation submitted electronically. See 1.1.6 in this guide for placement of
the approval page.

Original signatures only

Administrative assistants or other committee members cannot sign and initial on behalf
of others. Signatures divided among multiple pages will not be accepted.

Readers’ titles and affiliation

Place a reader’s official title after the name (e.g., Professor of History, or Adjunct
Associate Professor of Psychology, etc.). It is assumed your readers are Boston
University faculty. If a reader is not a Boston University faculty member, add the name
of the institution after the official title. If you are on the Charles River Campus and a
reader is from the University’s School of Medicine or School of Public Health, the name
of the school may be included. Conversely, if you are on the Medical Campus, and a
reader is from a school on the Charles River Campus, the name of that school or college
can be included.

1.5 Abstract page

Only master’s candidates in the Creative Writing and Playwriting programs of the
Department of English are exempt from this requirement.

Purpose in writing the abstract

The abstract should contain a clear and brief statement of the problem, the procedure(s)
and/or method(s) followed, the result(s), and the conclusion(s). The purpose of an
abstract is to help a reader decide if they want to consult the complete work.

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As with the title, the abstract is searchable in many databases, including ProQuest
Dissertations & Theses Global™. Include relevant place names, full personal names,
and other proper nouns, which can be very useful keywords for scholars locating
resources.

Write abstract in English

The abstract must be written in English. Please be clear and concise.

Formatting abstract page

Consult the sample abstract pages at the end of this document for proper formatting,
including placement of the title, author, and other information at the head of the
abstract. The dissertation abstract is also used in the Mugar MS Word template
(http://www.bu.edu/library/guide/theses/).

Do not include graphs, charts, tables, or illustrations in the abstract. Include all accents
and/or diacritic marks.

Formatting for MD/PhD candidates

Students who are working towards dual M.D./Ph.D. degrees must include in the
heading of their abstract the following lines exactly as they appear below:

Ph.D. degree requirements completed in 202x

(the date is the year of the next graduation date after submission of the manuscript)
Dual M.D./Ph.D. degrees expected in 202x
(the date is the year in which the degrees are expected to be awarded officially)

1.6 Table of contents

The Table of Contents must include the page number for each major heading.
Committees often require subheadings to be included as well.

1.7 Appendices

Appendices should precede the bibliography. Rare exceptions are allowed at the
discretion of your major advisor. If you are using materials copied from another source,
make sure the print is clear, dark, and legible. Seek permission to use copyrighted
material, if necessary. See the section on Permission to Use Copyrighted Material.

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1.8 Bibliography

Formatting the bibliography

Include a complete bibliography at the end of the work. Arrange the bibliography
alphabetically by the last name of the primary author. You may single-space citations,
but leave one line of space between citations. If you use an article style format, where
each chapter has its own separate bibliography, you must also include a cumulative
bibliography at the end of the work.
Students in the medical or science fields frequently number their sources and can then
use them in one of two different ways. The bibliography can be arranged by the order in
which the sources are cited in the text (i.e., numerically, not alphabetically by the
surname of the primary author). Conversely, you can arrange all of your sources
alphabetically by author surname, then number them, and embed those numbers in the
main text non-sequentially (e.g., 5, 63, 48, 100, 16). Please do not intermix those two
citation methods.

Verify any other requirements for formatting the bibliography at the end of the work.
Certain disciplines, departments, or your first reader may require an alternate
arrangement to the bibliography, for example, separating primary and secondary
sources and then arranging each alphabetically by last name of author.

Abbreviated titles in citations

If you use abbreviated journal or conference titles in your references, then you must
include a list of all those abbreviations, in alphabetical order, with the corresponding
full titles. Place the List of Abbreviated Titles at the start of the bibliography.

Some journal abbreviations are the accepted title (e.g., EMBO Journal, not European
Molecular Biology Organization Journal). Below is an example List, illustrating some
commonly used journal abbreviations with the corresponding full titles.

List of Abbreviated Journal Titles

BMJ BMJ: British Medical Journal

EMBO J. EMBO Journal
FASEB J. FASEB Journal
FEBS Lett. FEBS Letters
IEEE J. Oceanic Eng. IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering
JAMA JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association
Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the
United States of America
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 Determining full titles of abbreviations

Do not convert abbreviations to full titles without first verifying them. Consult
databases in your field or ask a reference librarian for assistance in determining the full
and complete title of a journal or publication. Many online databases now include a
function that can provide you with the full title of a journal if you enter an abbreviation.
For example, in Medline/PubMed this is called “Journals in NCBI Databases,” link
located on the right side of the top page or via this direct link
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nlmcatalog/journals

1.9 Vita

Both doctoral and master’s degree candidates must include a vita in their work. The
vita is a short description of your professional life up to the point of being awarded
your degree. The vita may be written in CV, résumé, or narrative format. Include the
following basic information: your full name, and a contact address (e.g., your
department) where you expect you can be reached for at least the next 1–2 years. A vita
may also include (but is not limited to) prior education, degrees, awards or honors,
professional positions held, and publications. Please try to limit the vita to three or four
pages.

1.10 Multiple volume works

With electronic submission of theses and dissertations, there is no longer any

requirement for splitting lengthy manuscripts into two or more volumes.

1.11 Charts, graphs, tables, and audio/visual materials

Visibility

Please consider visibility when creating illustrations. Black text against dark blue or
other dark backgrounds may not be legible. Yellow or other pastels may be too light to
read against white/light backgrounds.

Readability

Take care that each figure, table, etc. is large enough to be readable. Do not place
multiple illustrations onto a single page if that renders them unreadable. It is
acceptable to use more than one page for a specific figure, table, etc. if it will not fit
legibly onto one page.

1.12 Photographs

When using scanning or other methods of reproduction ensure the quality of the image
you are using is not diminished from the original. Scan images at no less than 300 dpi,
13
and preferably at higher resolution, such as 600 dpi or higher, if possible.

1.13 Include Videos or Audio Files Only as Separate Files

Please do not embed an MPEG or other type of audio/visual material within a Word file
as it will not transfer to a PDF. If you must include such materials as part of your thesis
or dissertation submission, please upload them as separate, supplementary files to your
ProQuest ETD Administrator record. The formats acceptable to ProQuest can be found
here
https://media2.proquest.com/documents/Preparing+Your+Manuscript+for+Submission+
Revised+31jul2015.pdf

1.14 Permission to use copyrighted material

If you reproduce material directly from a copyrighted source in the manuscript you
may need to obtain written permission for its use and indicate that permission in a
footnote or caption with the material. Such material may include graphs, charts,
figures, photographs, artworks, musical passages, psychological scales, standardized
tests, computer programs, databases, et al.

ProQuest Information and Learning policies for fair use of text and figures (not
requiring explicit permission) of copyrighted material are as follows:

Policy on use of copyrighted textual material

The use of up to 1.5 pages of single-spaced text from one source is considered
acceptable fair use. If the text from a single source is distributed throughout the text,
the author needs to determine if the total text used is under this acceptable threshold.
Quotations of several lines of text from a source in the body of the manuscript do not
require written permission. Simply footnote the source.

Policy on use of figures

Copying up to three figures from any one source is considered fair use. When using
more than three figures, ProQuest Information and Learning will require permission
from the copyright owner.

Guidelines on what is copyrighted material

Carefully determine if materials you use are copyrighted and keep detailed records of
your findings. Consult the guide Copyright and Your Dissertation or Thesis supplied
by ProQuest at

14
https://media2.proquest.com/documents/copyright_dissthesis_ownership.pdf

ProQuest maintains extensive records of publishers’ copyright policies. They

encourage you to call their Publishing Unit at 800-521-0600, ext. 77020 as it may spare
you time and energy.

Seek copyright permissions early

Seek any necessary permission as soon as possible. Use of copyrighted material

without permission delays circulation of the work and could bring about legal action by
the copyright holder. Obtaining permissions may take months. Letters of permission
may or may not be included as part of the manuscript, but you must submit them along
with the final draft of your work so that the library can see that you are allowed to
reproduce the material in question. A sample permission letter is provided in the file of
Sample pages.

Review the final draft with the person responsible for your school or college

Review the final draft, either in electronic or paper form, with the person responsible in
your school or college for library submission. Do not submit the manuscript pdf to the
ETD Administrator until the final draft has been reviewed.

2.1 Contacts for submitting your dissertation/thesis to the library

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GRS)

Tyler Wasson, [email protected], (617) 353-2696

Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM)

A’Llyn Ettien, [email protected], (617) 358-4488

Medical School/Division of Graduate Medical Sciences (MED)

Millie Agosto, [email protected], (617) 358-9512

School of Theology (STH) Stacey Duran, [email protected], (617) 353-5357

All other college and schools

Brendan McDermott, [email protected], (617) 353-9387
Mugar Memorial Library, Room 306
http://www.bu.edu/library/profile/mcdermott-brendan

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2.2 Final version

The manuscript should be error free when submitted. A thesis or dissertation remains
exactly the same as when a student submits it, with the possible exception of
copyrighted materials the author may have included in the manuscript.

Meet the deadlines for submission; complete all other degree requirements
before formal library submission.

Complete all requirements for your master thesis or doctoral dissertation by your
school or college deadline (check with the administrator in your school or college for
those dates). Submitting your thesis or dissertation to Boston University Libraries is the
last step to fulfill at the University before you graduate and are awarded your degree.

Submit your thesis/dissertation library copy electronically

Boston University Libraries use the services of ProQuest to manage electronic

submission of dissertations and theses through ProQuest’s ETD Administrator.

4.1 ETD Administrator Submission

Go to http://www.etdadmin.com/bu to submit your thesis/dissertation.

Click on “Submit my dissertation/thesis” and then on “Create an Account.” You must

use your BU email address when creating your account. The University will not accept
your submission otherwise. The dissertation/thesis is submitted in PDF format. You
can also click on a link within the ETD Administrator to upload an MS Word file and
have it converted to PDF for you.

Take the time to view these helpful Thesis & Dissertation Prep instructional videos:
• Introduction
http://www.bu.edu/buniverse/view/?v=DE2741Lq
• Open Access
http://www.bu.edu/buniverse/view/?v=17FmMT1Lr
• ETD Administrator Walkthrough I at
http://www.bu.edu/buniverse/view/?v=DF9y71Ls
• ETD Administrator Walkthrough II at
http://www.bu.edu/buniverse/view/?v=uvTcT1Lt

ProQuest provides an ETD FAQ page at

https://support.proquest.com/articledetail?id=kA11W000000PEa5SAG

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You may be notified that you need to review and resubmit the electronic copy with any
necessary corrections before final acceptance, even though you have reviewed your
final draft on campus as described above.

4.2 Fees for Processing Dissertations and Theses

Dissertation $115.00, payable to Boston University

Thesis $25.00, payable to Boston University
Submit your processing by credit card at:
http://www.bu.edu/phpbin/telegraph/login/display.php?url=http://www.bu.edu/library
/dissertationthesis-processing-fee-payment-form/

Optional Fees:
Copyright fee $75.00, payable to ProQuest (credit card)
Printed/bound copies varies, payable to ProQuest (credit card)

These optional fees must be credited the FIRST TIME you submit your draft through the
ETD Administrator. The services will be applied only to the final, accepted version
(which may or may not be the first draft that you submit), but the first submission is the
only point at which payment will be processed.

4.3 Include ORCID iD

We recommend that you include an ORCID iD when you submit your thesis or
dissertation to ProQuest. The Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID) registry
provides persistent, non-proprietary identifiers that uniquely identify scientific and
other academic authors and contributors. Graduate students and those who anticipate
pursuing publication in their future careers should consider getting an ORCID now and
using it often. Sign up here: https://orcid.org/register

4.4 ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global™ (PQD&T)

http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.bu.edu/pqdtft/index?accountid=9676
ProQuest Dissertations & Theses is “the official digital dissertations archive for the
Library of Congress” and describes itself as “the database of record for graduate
research.” Hundreds of thousands of full text dissertations and theses submitted since
1997 by many institutions are made available to Boston University students via the
library’s ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global™ database. This includes nearly all
Boston University dissertations since 1997 and with incomplete full text coverage from
1960-1996. This database also includes millions of additional citations without the full
text. Make use of this extensive and powerful database when conducting your own
research.

17
4.5 Deposit to OpenBU

Your dissertation/thesis will be deposited into OpenBU, http://open.bu.edu/, the digital

repository for Boston University. The University is scanning all historical theses and
dissertations in the library collection from 1851 through 2011 and adding them to
OpenBU, with the eventual goal of making all such works freely available online.
Dissertation records found through Boston University Libraries Search,
http://www.bu.edu/library/, will include a link to the OpenBU record and digital copy.
If you have questions about this please view the video about Open Access at
http://www.bu.edu/buniverse/view/?v=17FmMT1Lr and contact the OpenBU & ETD
Program Librarian, Eleni Castro, at [email protected].

4.6 Embargoes

A graduate student’s final work is a significant contribution to their field of study. A

chief purpose of disseminating theses and dissertations is to share the benefits of
research among scholars. However, in some cases an embargo may be necessary.
Students may request an embargo on a thesis or dissertation restricting its availability
by following the procedures described below.

4.6.1 Availability of Submission

Theses/dissertations will be available from two sources: ProQuest (PQ), the official
Library of Congress archive of U.S. theses and dissertations, and OpenBU (IR), the
University’s open access institutional repository. The full work will not be accessible
from either source until the embargo expires. Descriptive information, including
citation and abstract, will be publicly available in OpenBU and in search engines. If you
have any questions about this, please contact the OpenBU and ETD Program Librarian,
Eleni Castro, at [email protected].

During the embargo period any requests to read the work will require the author’s
written permission. Requests to read the manuscript will be forwarded to the author at
their BU email address. It is the author’s responsibility to respond to such requests.

4.6.2 Length of Initial Embargo

Embargo length is indicated in two locations in the ETD Administrator: PQ publishing

options and IR publishing options. The ETD Administrator default options for the
initial embargo are six months, one year, or two years. Students who are recommended
to request a longer embargo (e.g., by the American Historical Association) should first
select the two-year option in the ETD Administrator. The embargo request letter (see
section 4.6.3) should then specify the longer term required. The initial embargo may
extend for up to seven years. However long the embargo requested, if you want to
18
renew it before it expires, then you must contact the Mugar thesis/dissertation
coordinator. You may renew for up to five more years. If you do not contact the
coordinator, your embargo will lapse.

Students from Theology or the Goldman School of Dental Medicine do not contact the
coordinator to renew their embargoes. They contact the responsible person in either the
Theology or Alumni Medical libraries.

4.6.3 Embargo request letter required

When an embargo is needed, an embargo request letter must be submitted via the ETD
Administrator along with the manuscript. The letter must include:
• your name,
• the title of the thesis or dissertation,
• the reason for the delay,
• the embargo length requested,
• contact information, and
• signatures of both the student and the major advisor/first reader,
• and, if necessary, any other required signature.

Individual schools or colleges may require additional review of embargo request letters.
Please check with your school or college. As of December, 2018:
• GMS embargo request letters must also include the signed permission of the
Associate Provost, Graduate Medical Sciences.
• GRS embargo request letters must also include the signed permission of the
Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.

The embargo request letter is uploaded by the thesis/dissertation coordinator to the

Administrative Documents section of your ProQuest online form later in the submission
process. The embargo/restriction starts the day the Thesis/Dissertation Coordinator
delivers the submitted thesis or dissertation PDF to ProQuest.

4.6.4 Reasons for an embargo

Embargoes may be requested for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to:
• sensitive material that cannot be published safely or appropriately at the time;
• plans to publish with a publisher who will not consider openly accessible works
for publication;
• material under a third party’s copyright for which permissions have not been
obtained, and which cannot be easily included in a supplemental file submitted
with the main work;
• patentable material.
19
4.7 Bound personal copies

As noted above, ProQuest offers hardcover or softcover copies at full size or reduced
size at varying prices, and offers an “Author’s Discount” both at the time of submission
and in the future. Note, however, that print copies can be ordered via the ETD
Administrator only the first time you log in. Discounts apply if you order 3-4 or more
copies. If you wish to print personal copies yourself and have them bound, the
following company has informed us that they can provide binding services:

Acme Binding (617) 242-1100

80 Cambridge Street (800) 242-1821
Charlestown, MA 02129-0212 http://acmebinding.com/

SOURCES AVAILABLE FOR WRITERS OF DISSERTATIONS AND THESES

Questions? Please contact: Brendan McDermott

Thesis/Dissertation Coordinator
Mugar Memorial Library, Room 306 [email protected] / (617) 353-9387
http://www.bu.edu/library/profile/mcdermott-brendan/

The staff of the IT Help Center, http://www.bu.edu/tech/about/help-center/, may be able

to assist you with computer, software, or word processing questions.
Visit IT Help Center, locations at: 1st Floor, Mugar Memorial Library or
179 Amory Street, West Campus
Or contact them: Online at http://www.bu.edu/tech/contact
By email at [email protected]
By phone at 617-353-HELP (353-4357)

LaTeX users may find useful “MS Thesis & PhD Dissertation Latex Template”,
provided by Professor Janusz Konrad of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Dept.
Located at: http://www.bu.edu/eng/departments/ece/resourcesforcurrentstudent/ece-
ms-and-phd-thesis-prep/ms-thesis-phd-dissertation/

Consult the Boston University Libraries Research Guide Theses & Dissertations:
Resources for information regarding locating dissertations and theses and for guidance
about writing a dissertation or thesis.
Found at: http://library.bu.edu/friendly.php?s=dissertations

Boston University Libraries Research Guides may be useful for research guidance.
Found at: http://www.bu.edu/library/research/guides/research-guides/

Updated: November 7, 2019

20
 SAMPLES OF THE PRELIMINARY PAGES

Title page for Doctoral dissertation

Title page for Master's thesis

List of official school names to be used on title page

Copyright page

Approval page

Abstract Heading for Doctoral dissertation

Abstract Heading for Master's thesis

Sample letter requesting permission to use copyrighted material

 BOSTON UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF CANDIDATE
[Use official school
name from attached list]

Dissertation

THE TITLE OF THE DOCTORAL DISSERTATION IN ALL

CAPITAL LETTERS BOLD AND CENTERED

by

YOUR NAME IN ALL CAPITALS BOLD AND CENTERED

[Your name should be in
order of first middle last] B.A., University of Jupiter, 2007 [Enter YOUR degree(s). These
A.M., Andromeda University, 2012 degrees are just for example]

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the

requirements for the degree of

[Year degree officially conferred, Doctor of __________

not when you defended or submitted
the dissertation] 202_ [A Roman numeral does not
appear at the bottom center of
this page, although the page
counts as page i]
 BOSTON UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF CANDIDATE
[Use official school
name from attached list]

Thesis

THE TITLE OF THE MASTER’S THESIS IN ALL

CAPITAL LETTERS BOLD AND CENTERED

by

YOUR NAME IN ALL CAPITALS BOLD AND CENTERED

[Your name should be in
order of first middle last] A.A., University of Jupiter, 2007 [Enter YOUR degree(s). These
B.A., Andromeda University, 2012 degrees are just for example]

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the

requirements for the degree of

[Year degree officially conferred, Master of _________

not when you defended or submitted [A Roman numeral does not
the thesis] 202_ appear at the bottom center of
this page, although the page
counts as page i]
 LIST OF OFFICIAL SCHOOL NAMES

COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
HENRY M. GOLDMAN SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDICINE
METROPOLITAN COLLEGE
QUESTROM SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
SARGENT COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATION SCIENCES
(Note: This is the name to use for Sargent College. Do NOT use “College of
Health and Rehabilitation Sciences – Sargent College)
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY
WHEELOCK COLLEGE OF EDUCATION & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
[A Roman numeral does not © 202_ by
appear at the bottom center of Your full name
this page, although the page
counts as page ii]
All rights reserved
 Approved by

First Reader
[Do not put ‘Dr.’ before any
Name of First Reader, Ph.D.
reader’s name. The doctoral Professor of …………………
degree initials after the name
already indicate that.]

Second Reader
Name of Second Reader, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of ………………

Third Reader
Name of Third Reader, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of ………………
Harvard University

Fourth Reader
Name of Fourth Reader, Ph.D.
Lecturer in ………………
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

[NOTE: It is assumed that any reader is B.U. faculty unless you indicate she or he is from
another university or college.]
[NOTE: The formatting, reader names, and titles on this page must be reviewed before you have
your readers sign it.]

[A Roman numeral does not appear at the bottom center of

this page, although the page counts as page iii]
[The first page on which a number appears is page iv, which
is usually either the Dedication or Acknowledgments. If you
have neither, then the Abstract is the first numbered page.]
 THE TITLE OF THE DOCTORAL DISSERTATION

IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, BOLD

AND CENTERED

YOUR FULL NAME (FIRST LAST) IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, BOLD AND
CENTERED

Boston University School of Author, 202_

Major Professor: Enter the name of your first reader, Professor of ……… (wrap around
to this point if name and title are too long for one line)

ABSTRACT

The body of the abstract begins here and is typed double spaced. There is no

longer a word limit on the length of the abstract, but please be concise.

[Insert a lower case Roman numeral at the bottom center

of this page. Set the Footer to .75”. Check to see if there
are any blank lines or extra spacing in the Footer that
might push the page number up higher than .75”]
 THE TITLE OF THE MASTER’S THESIS IN ALL

CAPITAL LETTERS, BOLD AND CENTERED

YOUR FULL NAME (FIRST LAST) IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, BOLD AND
CENTERED

ABSTRACT

The body of the abstract begins here and is typed double spaced. There is no

longer a word limit on the length of the abstract, but please be concise.

[Insert a lower case Roman numeral at the bottom center

of this page. Set the Footer to .75”. Check to see if there
are any blank lines or extra spacing in the Footer that
might push the page number up higher than .75”]
 SAMPLE LETTER REQUESTING PERMISSION TO USE
COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL IN A THESIS OR DISSERTATION

[Use letterhead stationery or return address]

[Date]

[Name and address of addressee]

Dear _____:

[Optional beginning sentence: This letter will confirm our recent telephone
conversation.] I am completing a doctoral dissertation/master’s thesis at Boston
University entitled “_____.” I would like your permission to reprint in my
dissertation/thesis excerpts from the following:

[Insert full citation and description of the original work.]

The excerpts to be reproduced are: [insert detailed explanation or attach copy].

The requested permission extends to any future revisions and editions of my

dissertation/thesis, including non-exclusive world rights in all languages, and to the
prospective publication of my dissertation/thesis by ProQuest LLC. These rights will in
no way restrict republication of the material in any other form by you or by others
authorized by you. Your signing of this letter will also confirm that you own (or your
company owns) the copyright to the above-described material.

If these arrangements meet with your approval, please sign this letter where
indicated below and return it to me in the enclosed return envelope. Thank you very
much.

Sincerely,

[Your name and signature]

PERMISSION GRANTED FOR THE

USE REQUESTED ABOVE:

______________________________
[Type name of addressee
below signature line]

Date: _________________________