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Dissertation Submission Requirements & Procedures

Widener University's formatting requirements and procedure for submitting your dissertation to ProQuest for inclusion in the Digital Dissertations Database

3/13/2020 -- EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY -- Students completing the dissertation and graduating from doctoral programs this
Spring & Summer 2020 will only be required
to submit the dissertation online to ProQuest ETD.

NO print copy is required nor will the Library
be binding personal copies.

Submit Your Dissertation to ProQuest ETD

Before you begin, have the following information with you:

  • A PDF copy of your dissertation/thesis. This must be a single file. If your manuscript is in Word or RTF format, ProQuest will convert it into a PDF during the upload
  • Your abstract
  • Optional supplementary files (images, data, etc.) that are an integral part of the dissertation/thesis, but not part of the full text
  • A copy of your signature page for the correct spelling of your advisor's and other committee members' names
  • 1 - 3 Subject categories that best describe your dissertation/thesis' subject area.
  • Widener ID card
  • Credit card

Access Widener's ProQuest/UMI ETD site here: http://www.etdadmin.com/widener

Set up an account and follow the steps for uploading a PDF of your dissertation.

Formatting Your Dissertation:

Your dissertation MUST conform to the following formatting:

Margins:

  • 1 1/2 inches top and left
  • 1 inch bottom and right

Spacing:

  • Text must be double spaced.
  • References must be double spaced.
  • References must conform to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (Check with your school for guidance on whether is it the 6th ed. or 7th ed.) and the dissertation guide from your school.

Font:

  • Courier, Times Roman, or similar font
  • 12 point font size

Pagination:

  • Running headers are not permitted.
  • All pages of the dissertation must be counted and assigned a number, including prefatory material, graphs, figures, tables, illustrations, references list, and appendixes.
  • Page numbers are located in the upper right-hand corner of the page 3/4 of an inch from the top of the page.
  • Pages preliminary to the text are paginated with lower case Roman numerals, except the title page, sign-off page, and copyright page. The location is in the middle of the page, 3/4 of an inch from the bottom.
  • How to get a page number on a page with landscape orientation

Page Sequence:

  • Title Page
  • Sign-off Page (This page is obtained from the secretary of the Dean for your School or Division after your defense. It is signed by the committee members. The library does not have this sheet. If you have any questions be sure to check with your advisor.)
  • Copyright Page
  • Dedication Page (Begin with Roman Numeral iv)
  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Table of Contents
  • List of Tables
  • List of Figures
  • List of Appendixes
  • Body of Text (Begin Chapter 1 with Page Number 1)
  • References
  • Appendixes

 

Binding Personal Copies of Dissertations/Theses

The Libraries does not offer printing or binding services for dissertations or theses.

You may order bound copies via the following services: