Table of Contents > Parts of the Manuscript

A thesis or dissertation consists of three main parts: the preliminary pages, the text, and the reference matter. Each part contains several sections. Some sections may be omitted, but the order of the following outlines must be observed.

Parts of a Thesis

    Preliminary Pages | View sample with formatting details

• Title page includes Committee Chair and list of committee members (required; see Appendix A. Do not number this page.)
• Copyright page (required; see Appendix A. Do not number this page)
• Abstract (required; number this page ii) - must not exceed 350 words
• Dedication page (optional)
• List of abbreviations or symbols (required when symbols used are not self-explanatory)
• Acknowledgments (required)
• Table of contents (required; titles of each section listed must concur exactly with body of the paper. Do not list this page among the contents.)
• List of tables (required when tables are used)
• List of figures (required when figures are used)
• List of illustrations (required when illustrations are used)

    Main Manuscript

• Body of paper
• Bibliography
• Appendices
• IRB Certificate (where applicable)

Parts of a Dissertation

    Preliminary Pages | View sample with formatting details

• Title page includes Committee Chair and list of committee members (required; see Appendix A. Do not number this page)
• Copyright page (required; see Appendix A. Do not number this page)
• Abstract (required; number this page ii) - must not exceed 350 words
• Dedication page (Optional)
• List of abbreviations or symbols (required when symbols used are not self-explanatory)
• Acknowledgments (required)
• Table of contents (required; titles of each section listed must concur exactly with body of the paper. Do not list this page among the contents)
• List of tables (required when tables are used)
• List of figures (required when figures are used)
• List of illustrations (required when illustrations are used)

    Main Manuscript

• Body of paper
• References
• Appendices
• IRB Certificate (where applicable)

Illustrative Materials

Drawings, graphs and colored images may be included only if they are of high quality. All materials must conform to the margin requirements outlined in this manual.

Photographs, charts, maps, drawings, and similar items can be included.

Supplementary Files

Supplementary materials e.g. audio, video, and Spreadsheet, may be included as supplementary files as part of your electronic submission, however you MUST follow the formatting and submission requirements set out in ProQuest's instructions for supplementary files.

IRB Certification

Where a thesis or dissertation involves human subjects, a copy of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) certification must be included in the appendix.