If you have any questions about the format of your dissertation, please contact the Dean's Office, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, McGuinn 221, (617) 552-3268. A dissertation which does not conform to the following minimum standards may be returned to the candidate, and the awarding of the degree delayed.
Payment
The fee for dissertations includes the mandatory cost of processing, scanning, and binding. The exact amount paid in cash or by check (payable to Boston College) must be presented when you submit your dissertation:
$125 - without copyright option
$170 - with copyright option
Signature Page
Type in the names of your advisor and readers as designated under the signature line; and print out two copies of this form. Both pages will be signed on the first line by the dissertation advisor and then by the designated readers, two readers (in addition to the advisor) are required for the doctoral dissertation. Both copies of your dissertation submitted to GSAS must include these two originals pages; photocopies are not acceptable.
Traditional Title Page
The Title Page must conform to this sample; if it does not, the Graduate School reserves the right to require this page be redone. Make sure that the title of your dissertation is concise and meaningful. Sample Title Page
Copyright Page
Regardless of which option you select with UMI, this page is required and must conform to this sample; if it does not, the Graduate School reserves the right to require this page to be redone. Sample Copyright Page
Abstract
The abstract must include the title of your dissertation, your name, and that of your dissertation advisor as the heading.
The abstract must be double-spaced in the same type font as the text of your dissertation.
Dissertation Form & Style
The Signature Page, Traditional Title Page, Copyright Page and the Abstract must not be numbered.
The Graduate School does not require use of one particular style manual. This decision is up to the student and advisor. Make sure that you consistently follow one method of reference and bibliographic notation throughout your dissertation.
The typing of all textual material must be letter-quality, clear, dark black, and double-spaced on one side of the page; notes, bibliographic references, and long quotations may be single-spaced. The font size must be at least 10 point. While the font size and style should be consistent throughout your text, the notes, bibliographic references, and long quotations may be in a size smaller than your text, but must still be at least 10 point. The use of correction fluids and tapes is not acceptable.
Margins & Page Numbers
Page Numbers must be 1 inch from paper edge on top or bottom of page. Left Margin & Margin with Page Numbers must be 1.5 inches. Right Margin & Remaining Top or Bottom Margin (whichever does not contain page numbers) must be 1 inch. These margins must be strictly maintained throughout your work.
Pagination
The signature page, the traditional title page, the copyright page and the abstract cannot be numbered and should be submitted in this order. Table of Contents, Acknowledgments, lists of tables, etc. are considered the introductory material of the manuscript (and are optional) and therefore the pages should be numbered in lower case Roman numerals (i, ii, etc.). Every page of the body of your dissertation, after the introductory material, must be sequentially numbered.
Charts, Graphs, Tables
Illustrative material should be produced in black ink. Colors should not be used for shading or in graphs, but should be replaced with labels or cross-hatching. Photographs should be high-contrast black and white, and be affixed with dry mounting tissue or high-quality glue. Over-sized material may be used if carefully folded to 8 1/2 x 11 inches.
Revised February 2008 |
