Master's Plan A Thesis/Design Project

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Preparing the Thesis/Design Project

Thesis Submission Options

•  Option 1: Graduate School Thesis Submission (Electronic) Now Available!
•  Option 2: Graduate School Thesis Submission (Paper)
•  Option 3: ProQuest Thesis Submission (Electronic) Now Available!

Thesis Writing Support

Templates

Page Numbering Instructions

Common Formatting Mistakes to Avoid

Thesis Submission Options

Master's students have three options in which to submit their completed thesis documents which are outlined briefly below. Complete information is available in Preparing the Thesis/Design Project. Students may elect to do only one of the following options.

Option 1: Graduate School Thesis Submission (Electronic) Now Available!

Electronic submission is the Graduate School's preferred submission option. Students submit a PDF of their thesis (properly formatted and include lastname_firstname_monthyear of graduation in subject line) to a designated email account: mastetd@umn.edu; a paper copy of the theis is no longer needed. There is no cost associated with this option as students are not required to pay a binding fee. Students submitting electronically are required to participate in the University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy which allows the thesis to be viewed freely by the public.

Option 2: Graduate School Thesis Submission (Paper)

Students who elect not to participate in the University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy, or who cannot submit electronically, must submit 2 unbound paper copies of the thesis to 316 Johnston Hall. Students are also required to pay a $10 binding fee. Students submitting paper copies are not eligible to participate in the University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy.

Option 3: ProQuest Thesis Submission (Electronic) Now Available!

Students electing to formally publish their thesis through ProQuest submit a PDF of their thesis electronically to ProQuest's website. Students submitting electronically to ProQuest are required to participate in the University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy which allows the thesis to be viewed freely by the public. Students are also required to pay a $55 publishing fee online at the time of submission.

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Thesis Submission Comparison Guide

This guide outlines the materials needed for completion for each submission option.

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Thesis Writing Support

The Graduate School Writer’s Nexus (http://www.grad.umn.edu/gradwriting/) is a valuable one-stop connection to a multitude of resources and support for graduate students’ dissertation and thesis/project writing.  Through the Writer’s Nexus, students can quickly link to resources to use the libraries, handle statistics, and write their dissertation or thesis/project.  The Writer’s Nexus also links students to support groups and other useful information to help them stay on track during the writing stage.  A section devoted to unique issues for international students is also included.

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Templates

For the convenience of our thesis/project writers, the Graduate School is pleased to provide thesis/project "templates" for master’s students working in either Microsoft Word or LaTex. Students using the templates remain responsible for ensuring that their thesis/project meet the Graduate School formatting guidelines as well as the requirements of their graduate programs and field-specific guidelines.

For MS Word

Templates Instructions
Template Instructions Multivolume

Template with page number in header
Template with page number in footer

For La Tex

Template Instructions

La Tex Zip Files

Signature Pages

Signature Page Instructions

Single Advisor Template
Two Advisors Template

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Page Numbering Instructions

Page Numbering Using Microsoft Word (PC)
The following instructions are compatible with Office suites 2003 or earlier.

• Formatting page numbers within margins
1. Go to “File”.
2. Choose “Page Setup”.
3. Click on the “Layout” tab.
4. If page numbers are placed at the top of the page, change the “Header” field to at least 1 inch (2.6cm). If page numbers are placed at the bottom of the page, change the “Footer” field to at least 1 inch (2.6cm).

• Formatting using both Roman and Arabic Numerals
1. Keep both the introductory material and the body in one document.
2. Click on the first page of the document and go to: Insert>Page Numbers>Format. Change number format to "i, ii, iii...”. This will number your entire thesis/project with lower case Roman numerals.
3. Click on the first page of the body of the thesis/project, before the first letter on that page and go to: Insert>Break>Section Break Types. Click on "Continuous" and “Okay”.
4. Keeping your cursor on the same page, go back to Insert>Page Numbers>Format. Change number format to "1, 2, 3..." and click on "Start at 1". This will keep the introductory pages numbered with lower case Roman numerals and the rest of the thesis/project numbered with Arabic numerals.

Page Numbering Using a Mac

• Formatting page numbers within margins
1. Go to “File”.
2. Choose “Page Setup”.
3. In the “Page Settings” list select Microsoft Word.
4. Then click on “Margins”.
5. If page numbers are placed at the top of the page, change the “Header” field to at least 1 inch (2.6cm). If the page numbers are placed at the bottom of the page, change the “Footer” field to at least 1 inch (2.6cm).

• Formatting using both Roman and Arabic numerals
1. Keep both the introductory materials and body in one document.
2. Click on the first page of the document and go to: Insert>Page Numbers>Format. Change number format to "i, ii, iii...”. This will number your entire thesis/project with lower case Roman numerals.
3. Click on the first page of the body of the thesis/project, before the first letter on that page and go to: Insert>Break>Section Break (continuous).
4. Keeping your cursor on the same page, go back to Insert > Page Numbers > Format. Change number format to “1, 2, 3…” and click on “Start at 1”. This will keep the introductory pages numbered with lower case Roman numerals and the rest of the thesis/project numbered with Arabic numerals.

The Graduate School cannot provide technical support. Should technical questions arise, please contact the University’s technology helpline at 612-301-4357 (1-HELP) and select option 1 or 2.

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Common Formatting Mistakes to Avoid

Please read all of this information carefully.  Students submitting electronically are expected to review the document Preparing the Thesis/Design Project as well, for information about formatting and submission requirements.

Margins:

• Every page of the thesis/project, including all appendices, notes, and the bibliography, must have a left margin of at least 1.5 inches (3.9cm) and, top, right, and bottom margins of at least 1 inch (2.6cm).
• Nothing can appear in the margins, which means that no page numbers, text, tables, graphs, charts, parts of illustrations, etc., can appear in the margin area.

Pagination:

• Students are responsible for correctly numbering and organizing sections in their thesis/project. Page numbers cannot be placed on the left hand side of the thesis/project. The title page and copyright page must not be numbered or counted. Page numbering for the rest of the introductory material is required, and expressed in lower case Roman numerals, beginning with page “i”.
• The main text, illustrations, bibliography, and appendices are considered the body of the manuscript.
• Every page in the body of the text, through the bibliography and appendices, must be numbered in Arabic numerals starting with page 1.

Tables, charts, and graphs:

• Color may be used in tables, charts or graphs.
• Identification of lines and figures on graphs and charts must be made clear by the use of line symbols rather than variation in color.
• Captions may be single-spaced.

List of figures/list of tables pages:

• A list of figures page is required if you include figures and a list of tables is required if tables are included in the thesis/project.
• Each list must contain the page number of where each figure or table can be found in the thesis/project.
• The list of figures/tables must be represented on the table of contents.

Bibliography:

• The bibliography must be cumulative.
• It is not acceptable to include separate references after each chapter in lieu of a single cumulative bibliography at the end of the thesis/project.
• The bibliography may be single-spaced and should appear before the appendix (if applicable).
• The bibliography must be represented on the table of contents.

Formatting:

• Students are required to adhere to all formatting guidelines set by the Graduate School.
• Please do not use theses/projects found in your department or in the Library to format your thesis/project as they may not meet current formatting guidelines.

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