Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines
Formatting of your dissertation or thesis is one of the key steps to completing your degree.
Navigating the Thesis and Dissertation Process
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Complete the Thesis & Dissertation Guide and Quiz
All graduate students who intend to complete a thesis or dissertation must watch the online Thesis & Dissertation Guide and complete the quiz.
To view the Thesis & Dissertation Guide, log in to the Graduate Student Round-up site at http://planofstudy.okstate.edu/ and select “Thesis & Dissertation Guide” from the menu.
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Prepare your documents
Students should format their thesis or dissertation according to the requirements outlined in the Thesis & Dissertation Guide. Use of the provided template is optional and may be helpful for students when preparing their document.
Regardless of the software or document type used, the final thesis or dissertation must follow the Graduate College's formatting requirements.
The following components must be formatted according to the Document Format Guide:
- Title Page
- Committee Page
- Acknowledgements
- Abstract
- Table of Contents
- List of Tables
- List of Figures
- Chapters
- Top Margins
- Pagination, including Roman and Arabic numerals
- References
- Appendices
- Vita
All theses and dissertations must meet these formatting requirements regardless of the program used to create the document, including Microsoft Word, LaTeX, Apple Pages, Google Docs or other document-creation software.
- Templates for MS Word
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Templates for LaTeX
Thank you to the Math department for sharing this LaTeX template. The components are in the zip file, be sure to read the INSTRUCTIONS .txt file first.
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Submit your documents for review
When you are ready to submit your documents, complete the Oral Defense and Document Approval Forms.
You will get the link to deposit your thesis or dissertation after we receive the thesis/dissertation Document Approval form. If you are a Doctoral student, you will be asked to complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates after the Oral Defense form has been completed.
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Make any necessary adjustments
The Graduate College must approve your document before your file is sent to the Registrar for a graduation check. You will receive an email if you need to make corrections or if your document has been accepted. If you have not received an email within two weeks, please contact us.
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What is the deadline to submit my documents?
All deadlines are listed on the Graduate College Academic Calendar.
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Is there a template available?
Yes, MS Word and LaTeX templates are available for download.
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Do I have to include a Vita? Where should I put it?
Yes, you need to include a vita. It should be only 1 page and placed right after the appendices. The Vita will not have a page number.
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Which completion date should I use on the title page and in the abstract?
Use the month and year your degree will be conferred. For example, December 2026 for Fall graduation, May 2026 for Spring graduation, and July 2026 for Summer graduation.
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Do I have to include my IRB approval letter?
Yes, this information must be included. It should be included as an appendix.
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Can I have an acknowledgment page?
Yes, but the mandatory disclaimer must be included in the footer.
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How do I convert my document to a PDF?
As part of the submission process, UMI will convert your document to a PDF for you to upload. If you have any issues with the conversion or with the UMI site, you can always contact the UMI support staff.
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Do I need to submit a paper copy to the Graduate College?
No.
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Is there a fee to submit online?
There are no fees to submit online.