Graduate College's requirements for document formatting, plus tutorial videos and annotated samples

    Formatting Requirements

    Starting Spring 2024, the Graduate College will release a new set of Thesis/Dissertation templates and requirement checklists. The requirements have been carefully reviewed and discussed with interdisciplinary consultants to optimize Iowa State University theses and dissertations for accessibility, usability, readability, and consistency. Definitions of these priorities are provided in the glossary, below. The updated requirements also take into account basic academic norms and variation across disciplines. This page lays out the requirements that will be put into place. 

    One aim of releasing these format requirement updates at this time is to ensure that the Graduate College is in compliance with Iowa State University's Digital Accessibility policy, which will go into full effect in July 2026.

    Requirements

    Iowa State University thesis/dissertation reviewers will check all theses and dissertations submitted to ProQuest after the student passes their Final Oral Exam. Where the submitted mansucript fails to meet one or more requirements, the reviewer will issue a request for revisions. Students must implement these revisions and resubmit their manuscript within one week of the submission deadline for that semester. If the requirements still are not met, the reviewer will issue another request for revisions. The thesis/dissertation will not be accepted until all requirements are met, even if this results in a delay to the student's graduation.

    Recommendations

    Students are strongly encouraged to implement these recommendations, which enhance usability, readability, and consistency in theses/dissertations. Iowa State University thesis/dissertation reviewers will check all theses and dissertations submitted to ProQuest after the student passes their Final Oral Exam. Where the submitted mansucript fails to meet one or more recommendations, the reviewer will issue a single request for students to revise. If the thesis/dissertation is resubmitted without the recommendations implemented, it will be acceptable. It is important to note that theses and dissertations cannot be revised after they are accepted. Students who resubmit theses and dissertations that do not follow the recommendations will not have another chance to improve the appearance of their manuscript. 

    Grace Period (Gradual Implementation)

    To accommodate students who are currently close to completing their thesis/dissertation, and who started their writing process with the old templates, there will be a 12-month grace period from January 2024-December 2024. During this grace period:

    • The New Format Requirements and the Discontinued Format Requirements will be treated as recommendations.
    • Only the Continuing Format Requirements will be treated as requirements.
    • Starting in January 2025, the New Format Requirements will be treated as requirements.

    The following section delineates the differences between recommendations and requirements.

    Prior to January 2024, these requirements have not been listed in the checklist or enforced by Iowa State University thesis/dissertation reviewers. Graduate students and faculty are advised to carefully review the new requirements. Tutorials and support will be available to students to ensure they have the skills to incorporate these requirements into their thesis/dissertation manuscripts. 

    Feature New Requirement Explanation of Change Rationale
    Page Numbers Page numbers must be located only in the center of the page header Page numbers are required to be in the document header. Accessibility
    Page Numbers The page number for landscape pages is located on the center of the right-hand side, rotated 90° clockwise. The page number must be in a text box anchored in the page header. Page numbers are required to be in the document header. Accessibility
    Headings Chapter numbering must be consistent throughout the manuscript (Arabic numerals are recommended; spelled-out or Roman numerals are acceptable). Arabic numerals are no longer required. Deference to variation across disciplines
    Headings Numbering, including decimal outlining, is an acceptable way to differentiate heading levels. Numbering for headings is explicitly acceptable. Deference to variation across disciplines
    Headings Discernible sections must be separated by headings, e.g., "Tables and Figures" section. Content must be identified with meaningful headings.

    Accessibility

    Usability
    Headings Headings must be formatted as tagged bookmarks (H1+ in PDF); PDF must contain a hierarchical outline that provides an overview of the document. Headings must be formatted using Heading styles. Format attributes (e.g., bold, centered) are not sufficient for headings, since they are not perceivable to some assistive devices, such as screen readers. Accessibility
    Preliminary Pages In place of a Dedication, authors may include a Preface, About the Author, or other front matter. Subject to approval by the Graduate College, some preliminary pages not included in the templates are acceptable. Deference to variation across disciplines
    Title Page Title must match what is specified in the Document Information Dictionary. File properties must include the full title of the thesis/dissertation. Accessibility
    Table of Contents Table of Contents items must be linked to the respective heading location in the manuscript. Users must be able to locate content using bookmarks in long documents. Accessibility
    Acknowledgments Acknowledgments paragraphs must be formatted using Body style. Consistent use of global format requirements is now explicity required for preliminary pages. Consistency
    Abstract Abstract paragraphs must be formatted using Body style. Consistent use of global format requirements is now explicity required for preliminary pages. Consistency
    Journal Article Format: Chapters

    Preliminary details are required for every manuscript chapter:

    • Author name(s)
    • Author affiliation(s)
    		 'Modified from...' statement is no longer included in the preliminary details.

    Consistency

    Usability

    Deference to variation across disciplines
    Journal Article Format: Chapters Manuscript chapters published, or under review, in academic journals may include this publishing status in a footnote on the first page of the chapter. Authors are responsible for providing information about other places of publication, publishers' required disclaimers, etc. for their manuscript chapters.

    Compliance with copyright laws and institutional authorship policies

    Adherence to basic academic norms
    Journal Article Format: Chapters

    If the manuscript chapter contains an abstract:

    • Abstract must begin on the same page as the chapter/article title
    • Abstract must be preceded by an 'Abstract' heading, formatted as Heading 2
    		 Manuscript chapters are explicitly not required to include an abstract. Usability
    Journal Article Format: Chapters Journal articles authored by multiple Iowa State University graduate students must include Shared Consent form at the end of the co-authored chapter. The Graduate College has developed forms to use to ensure oversight and permission for the use of co-authored papers in ISU theses and dissertations.

    Usability

    Compliance with copyright laws and institutional authorship policies
    Tables and Figures Table and figure captions must be consistently positioned throughout chapters (for Journal Article format) or manuscript (for Traditional format) Figure captions are no longer required to be below the figure. Deference to variation across disciplines
    Tables and Figures

    Table content must be tagged:

    • Column headers (first+ row)
    • First column
    • Data cells
    		 Accessible tables need markup that indicates header cells and data cells and defines their relationship. Assistive technologies use this information to provide context to users. Accessibility
    Tables and Figures Alt-text must be provided for figures. Text alternatives are a primary way for making information accessible because they can be rendered through any sensory modality (for example, visual, auditory or tactile) to match the needs of the user. Accessibility
    Tables and Figures Proper attribution must be provided for copyrighted figures reproduced in the ETD manuscript. Proper attribution is now an explicit requirement. Compliance with copyright laws and institutional authorship policies
    References/ Bibliography Paragraph spacing must be consistent within each reference list. Double-spacing is not longer required for references. Consistency
           
           

     

    These requirements have been listed in the checklist and enforced by Iowa State University thesis/dissertation reviewers since the last template update. Tutorials and support will continue to be available to students to ensure they have the skills to incorporate these requirements into their thesis/dissertation manuscripts.

    Feature Requirement Rationale
    Margins 1” margins all around throughout entire thesis/dissertation Readability
    Font Same standard proportional font, e.g., those identified by the APA, throughout, including:
    • Page numbers
    • Body text
    • Journal article preliminary details
    • References
    • Headings 

    Consistency

    Readability

    Accessibility
    Font Font size must beconsistent throughout document. Font size is legible (≈12 pt. in Word; 11 pt. in LaTeX) for:
    • Page numbers
    • Body text
    • Journal article preliminary details
    • References
    • Headings 

    Consistency

    Accessibility
    Font Font size must belegible (8 pt. or larger) for:
    • Text in tables and figures
    • Table and figure captions
    Figure/table caption font size must be consistent throughout the manuscript (for Traditional ETDs) or the chapter (for Journal Article ETDs)
     

    Consistency

    Accessibility
    Page Numbers

    Every page must be numbered sequentially, except:

    • No page number appears on the title page (implied page i)
    • Numbering re-starts on the first page of Chapter 1 with Arabic numerals

    Consistency

    Usability

    Accessibility
    Page Numbers Page numbers for preliminary pages must use lowercase Roman numerals Consistency
    Page Numbers Following the title page, page number must start at ii. Consistency
    Headings Headings must have at least two lines of body paragraph on the same page (no headings at the bottom of a page). Readability
    Headings All preliminary pages must be identified with a Heading 0, including LIST OF TABLES and LIST OF FIGURES.

    Accessibility

    Consistency
    Headings All chapter and major section headings must bebold, centered, uppercase letters. Consistency
    Headings Chapter titles must include the word, 'CHAPTER,' and a number.

    Usability

    Consistency
    Headings

    Level 2+ headings are consistent, including case/capitalization, throughout

    • Each chapter (Journal Article format)
    • The entire manuscript (Traditional format)

    Readability

    Usability

    Accessibility

    Consistency
    Headings Differentiation must be perceivable between heading levels.

    Readability

    Usability

    Accessibility

    Consistency
    Preliminary Pages

    Pages must appear in the following order, if included:

    1. Title page (required)
    2. Dedication, Preface, About the Author, etc. (optional)
    3. Table of Contents (required)
    4. List of Tables (optional)
    5. List of Figures (optional)
    6. Nomenclature (optional)
    7. Acknowledgments (optional)
    8. Abstract (required)

    Consistency

    Usability
    Preliminary Pages Abstract must be the last preliminary page, located immediately before Chapter 1. Consistency
    Preliminary Pages: Title Page No page number appears on the title page. Consistency
    Preliminary Pages: Title Page No period is used at the end of the title. Consistency
    Preliminary Pages: Title Page The title that appears on the title page must be sentence case. Consistency
    Preliminary Pages: Title Page The title that appears on the title page must be single-spaced. Consistency
    Preliminary Pages: Title Page Title and author name must be bold. Consistency
    Preliminary Pages: Title Page The word 'by' must be lowercase. Consistency
    Preliminary Pages: Title Page The title page must correctly identify the manuscript as a thesis (for master's degrees) or a dissertation (for doctoral degrees). Usability
    Preliminary Pages: Title Page The title page must correctly identify the earned degree. Usability
    Preliminary Pages: Title Page The major must be identified, preceded by 'Major:'. Co-majors must be identified, preceded by 'Co-majors:'. Usability
    Preliminary Pages: Title Page Specializations must be identified in parentheses, following the major. Usability
    Preliminary Pages: Title Page Minors must not be identified. Consistency
    Preliminary Pages: Title Page List of committee members must be single-spaced. Consistency
    Preliminary Pages: Title Page Major Professor must be first in the committee member list, designated as 'Major Professor'. Both co-major professors must be first in the committee member list, both/all designated as 'Co-major Professor,' lowercase 'm'. Consistency
    Preliminary Pages: Title Page Committee member names must not include 'Dr.,' 'Professor,' 'Ph.D.' before/after their names. Consistency
    Preliminary Pages: Title Page Non-supervisory committee member names must not have any designation, e.g., 'Committee Member.' Consistency
    Preliminary Pages: Title Page

    Title page must include a ‘Responsibility of Content’ statement, as follows:

    The student author, whose presentation of the scholarship herein was approved by the program of study committee, is solely responsible for the content of this thesis/dissertation [choose thesis or dissertation]. The Graduate College will ensure this thesis/dissertation [choose thesis or dissertation] is globally accessible and will not permit alterations after a degree is conferred.    		 Consistency
    Preliminary Pages: Title Page The manuscript type must be correctly designated as either a thesis or dissertation (2 places) in the Responsibility of Content statement.

    Consistency

    Usability
    Preliminary Pages: Title Page Iowa State University must be correctly designated as the institution. Usability
    Preliminary Pages: Title Page Ames, Iowa must be identified as the place of publication. Usability
    Preliminary Pages: Title Page The graduation year must be identified as the date of publication. Usability
    Preliminary Pages: Title Page Copyright must be claimed in the graduation year. Usability
    Preliminary Pages: Title Page Copyright holder name must exactly match the author name at the top of the title page and in the university record. Usability
    Preliminary Pages: Title Page Copyright statement must state, 'All rights reserved.' Usability
    Preliminary Pages: Dedication Dedication must be no more than one page. Consistency
    Preliminary Pages: Table of Contents Page number columns must be right-justified. Consistency
    Preliminary Pages: Table of Contents The word 'CHAPTER' and chapter number must appear before each chapter title, except for single-article journal theses and MFA theses. Consistency
    Preliminary Pages: List of Figures/List of Tables If one of these lists is provided, then both must be provided, unless the manuscript contains no figures or no tables.

    Consistency

    Usability
    Preliminary Pages: Nomeclature Nomenclature must follow a two-column format with the abbreviation/term in the left column and the non-abbreviated form/definition in the right column.

    Consistency

    Usability
    Body of Thesis: Paragraphs First lines of paragraphs must be indented 1/2".

    Consistency

    Readability
    Body of Thesis: Paragraphs Body text must be double-spaced, left-aligned, not justified.

    Consistency

    Readability

    Accessibility
    Body of Thesis: Pages The manuscript must not contain any blank pages. Usability
    Body of Thesis: Chapters Sections must be continuous within each chapter. Only the chapter begins on a new page. Level 2 headings do not begin on new pages. Readability
    Journal Article Format: Chapters First chapter must be titled 'CHAPTER 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION.'

    Consistency

    Usability
    Journal Article Format: Chapters Final chapter must be titled 'CHAPTER #. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS.'

    Consistency

    Usability
    Journal Article Format: Chapters Manuscript chapters must be titled with the title of the manuscript.

    Consistency

    Usability
    Journal Article Format: Chapters The text of the chapter must be continuous (no page break after the chapter title or abstract).

    Consistency

    Usabililty
    Journal Article Format: Paragraphs

    Keywords, if included, must be formatted in Body style.

    		 Consistency
    Journal Article Format: Chapters Footnote numbering restarts at 1 for each chapter, if applicable.

    Consistency

    Usability
    Journal Article Format: References/ Bibliography Citation styles are not required to be consistent across manuscript chapters. Deference to variation across academic journals.
    Journal Article Format: References/ Bibliography Citation style is required to be consistent across the GENERAL INTRODUCTION and GENERAL CONCLUSIONS. Consistency
    Journal Article Format: Chapters Each manuscript must have its own Abstract, References/Bibliography, Appendices, etc. (they cannot be combined for the entire thesis/dissertation). Usability
    Tables and Figures

    Caption styles must be consistent within chapters (for Journal Article format) or manuscript (Traditional format)

    • Font size and attributes
    • Alignment and indentation
    • Spacing
    		 Consistency
    Tables and Figures

    Tables and figures that do not fit on one page:

    • 'Table/Figure #. Continued' must appear on each subsequent page. The caption must not be repeated.
    • Column headers must repeat on each subsequent page.
    		 Usability
    Journal Article Format: Tables and Figures Figure/table numbering must restart for each chapter. Usability
    References/ Bibliography

    References must be provided:

    • At the end of each chapter (Journal Article format). The heading, 'References,' 'Bibliography,' or 'Works Cited' must be formatted as Heading 2.
    • After the final chapter (Traditional format). The heading, 'References,' 'Bibliography,' or 'Works Cited' must be formatted as Heading 0 (included in TOC).

    Consistency

    Usability

    Accessibility
    Appendices

    Appendices must be located:

    • At the end of each chapter (Journal Article format). Nothing is included after CHAPTER #. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS.
    • After the final chapter (Traditional format). Chapters do not contain appendices

    Consistency

    Usability
    Appendices Page numbering in appendices must be continuous and formatted consistently with numbering for pages in the Body of Manuscript.

    Consistency

    Usability
    Appendices Appendix titles must be preceded by the label, 'Appendix.' If there are more than one appendices, then each must be labeled sequentially as 'A,' 'B,' or '1,' '2,' etc.

    Consistency

    Usability
    Appendices

    Appendix titles must be formatted as:

    • Heading 2 (Journal Article format)
    • Heading 0 (included in TOC) (Traditional format)

    Consistency

    Usability

    Accessibility
    Appendices IRB approval letters must be provided as appendices, where approval was required for the study. Aderence to based academic norms
    Appendices Letters and Documents must not contain signatures or personal information.

    Consistency

    Adherence to basic academic norms

     

    Some requirements listed in the checklist prior to January 2024 will now be designated as recommendations.

    Feature Recommendation Explanation of Change Enhancement
    Table of Contents 'Page' should be written above the page numbers column (only on the first page of the TOC), right-justified. No longer a rejectable requirement Usability
    Table of Contents Long headings should not overlap the page number column. No longer a rejectable requirement Readability
    List of Tables / List of Figures 'Page is written above the page numbers column (only on the first page of the LOF/LOT), right-justified. No longer a rejectable requirement Usability
    List of Tables / List of Figures The word 'Table' or 'Figure' should come before the table or figure number. No longer a rejectable requirement Readability
    List of Tables / List of Figures List entries should be single-spaced. No longer a rejectable requirement Readability
    List of Tables / List of Figures There should be 12 pt. blank space between each list entry. No longer a rejectable requirement Readability
    List of Tables / List of Figures If table/figure captions are longer than one line, there should be a hanging indent the width of the table/figure label and number. No longer a rejectable requirement Readability
    List of Tables / List of Figures Table and figure captions, page number, and dots should be roman (not italic, not bold). No longer a rejectable requirement Consistency
    List of Tables / List of Figures Only the first sentence of the table/figure caption should be included in the List of Tables / List of Figures. No longer a rejectable requirement Usability
    Pages

    The manuscript should not contain more that /1/4 page blank, except:

    • the last page of a chapter, or the last page of a chapter containing text
    • Figure/table sections at the end of a chapter (Journal Article format) or manuscript (Traditional format)
    • Landscape pages
    		 No longer a rejectable requirement Usability
    Paragraphs At least two lines of each body paragraph should appear on a page No longer a rejectable requirement Consistency
    Journal Article Format: Preliminary Details If an address for the corresponding author is provided, it should be a long-term address. New recommendation for co-authored articles Adherence to basic academic norms
    Content Use discretion regarding personal information in the thesis/dissertation. Consider the purpose and longevity of the information. Removed the requirement to exclude all personal information from thesis/dissertation Deference to variation across disciplines
    Tables and Figures Figure and table captions may be located either above or below the graphic. Placement must be consistent for all figures/tables throughout the chapter (Journal Article format) or manuscript (Traditional format) Removed the requirement to place captions below figures/above tables Deference to variation across disciplines
    References/ Bibliography References should not be split across pages. No longer a rejectable requirement Usability
    References/ Bibliography References should be single-spaced with 12 pt. of blank space between each item in the references list. No longer a rejectable requirement Readability

     

    Definitions of major priorities for updated thesis/dissertation format requirements

    Priority Definition
    Accessibility The quality of being able to be used by everyone, regardless of how they approach it
    Usability The ease with which a product or system can be used to achieve goals effectively and efficiently
    Readability The quality of being legible or decipherable, or easy or enjoyable to read
    Consistency The achievement of a level of performance that does not vary greatly over time

     

    Format Tutorial Videos

    Techniques for formatting theses/dissertations according to the Graduate College's requirements are demonstrated in a series of step-by-step videos.

    View Annotated Samples

    LaTeX Frequently Asked Questions

    This section contains frequently asked questions and proposed solutions about the ISU LaTeX template for theses and dissertations. Please note that the proposed solutions are not definite. However, they will likely fix your formatting issues if your original deviations from the standard instructions, commands, and packages in the given template are minimal.

    If your settings have diverted extensively from the given template, these proposed solutions may not work. If that is the case, you may need to contact Overleaf. Email support@overleaf.com from your ISU email with your project URL or use the Contact Us links within Overleaf projects.