Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

The following sections are required unless otherwise noted and should be included in this order. Each section should begin on a new page.

1. Title Page
2. Approval Page (dissertations only)
3. Acknowledgments (optional)
4. Abstract
5. Table of Contents
6. Lists of Tables, Figures, Illustrations, Abbreviations, and/or Symbols (as needed, each starting on a new page)
7. Main Body
8. References
9. Appendices
10. Original Composition (Music Composition and Theory PhD students only)*

*A note for Music Composition and Theory dissertations: The title of your submission should include the name of the text of your work followed by “and an original composition, _________ for ________.” For example: “This Is the Title of My Dissertation; and an original composition, Composition for piano and violin” 

Since Music Composition and Theory MFA theses consist of a composition, you should include a title page, followed by the composition itself. You are welcome to use non-standard size or orientation for the composition pages; just be aware that this may mean you cannot get your thesis printed in a book from ProQuest.

The following formatting requirements are required of all theses and dissertations submitted to GSAS and may differ from the requirements of your program or discipline. For any formatting outside of the requirements listed here, please defer to the formatting guidelines for your program/discipline.

ProQuest ETD has their own guidelines for preparing your manuscript that you should review before submission. The ProQuest ETD FAQ page also provides helpful information. 

2. LaTeX for Brandeis Dissertations and Theses

For students who would like to use LaTeX to format their dissertation or thesis, the Brandeis Overleaf portal has the dissertation and thesis templates available, as well as other resources for LaTeX users.

3. Microsoft Word Formatting Templates and Formatting Example

Please follow the templates provided below for the title page, approval page (dissertations only), and abstract. The text and formatting included in the templates is standardized and should be included exactly as shown in the template. Where there are parentheses in the templates, insert the required information and delete the parentheses.

The formatting example provided below displays how formatted pages should look when completed.

4. Formatting Requirements

Use a consistent font throughout the document, including front matter, page numbers, and references. Times New Roman, Arial, Cambria, and Calibri are recommended fonts.

Use size 12 font throughout the document, including section titles. Long quotations, bibliographic references, and notes can be size 10 or size 11.

Bold font may be used for section titles if preferred. Do not use bold or italicized font for any of the standardized text found in the templates.

Follow the spacing used in the title page, approval page (dissertations only),  and abstract templates.

Single-space all long quotations, bibliographic references, legends, and notes.

Double-space all remaining text. 

Do not include any blank pages.

Use 1 inch margins on all sides of the page throughout the document.

Please refer to the table below to determine pagination; the manuscript sections are listed below in the order in which they should appear, along with the required pagination for each one. Lowercase Roman numeral page numbers are used for the front matter, and Arabic numerals are used for the main body of the manuscript. All page numbers should appear centered in the bottom margin, at least 3/4" from the bottom of the page.

Many students find pagination to be the most difficult part of the formatting. The different sections of pagination can be formatted entirely in Microsoft Word using section breaks. Microsoft's support page for starting page numbering on Page 3 will guide you through how to do this. 

Another option is to create three Word documents for each section of pagination (i.e., no printed page numbers, printed Roman numeral page numbers, and printed Arabic numeral page numbers) and then merge them into a single PDF. Please review the Adobe resource on creating merged PDFs for help with merging your documents.

All page numbers should be centered at the bottom of the page when the page is in portrait orientation. If you have any landscape pages in your thesis, the page number still needs to appear centered at the bottom of the page (i.e., it should be at what would be the bottom of the page in a book, regardless of which way the text is facing). Please review the GSAS Guide for Formatting Pagination for Landscape Pages in Word for help formatting these page numbers.

5. Standardized Language for Program/Department Name on the Title Page

When adding your program/department name to the title page, please refer to the table below to find the standardized phrasing for your program.

1. Digital Publication

Following degree conferral, theses and dissertations submitted to GSAS are published electronically in the ProQuest database and the Brandeis Library ScholarWorks database. Both ProQuest and the Brandeis Library will require you to sign a publishing agreement at the time of submission. 

2. Printed Copies of Dissertations and Theses

In addition to electronic publication, students have the option of ordering printed copies of theses or dissertations from ProQuest, either at the time of submission or after publication. ProQuest offers printing options for authors at a range of costs.

3. Copyright

Please note that the information provided here is intended as an informational resource for students and does not constitute legal advice. Students are encouraged to seek legal advice as needed. 

Copyright as it relates to master's theses and dissertations involves two issues: (1) use of copyrighted material in the thesis or dissertation, and (2) student's copyright of their published thesis or dissertation. The resource "Copyright and Your Dissertation: Ownership, Fair Use, and Your Rights and Responsibilities" by Kenneth Crews is a helpful resource for understanding some of the copyright issues involved in publishing your work.

Including Previously Published Work in Your Thesis or Dissertation

Part of preparing for publication is ensuring that you are not infringing on someone else's copyright by including material that is not your original work in your publication, including previously published works that you have authored. Examples of previously published works that may be included in a thesis or dissertation include photographs, music, figures from a published journal article, or inclusion of an entire journal article as a dissertation chapter.

Any material that is not your original work and that is included in your thesis or dissertation should either be: a) in the public domain, b) allowable under fair use, or c) permitted by the copyright holder. Please speak to your advisor if you are unsure about what is allowable in your field. If you need to seek permission for use of copyrighted work, it is important to allow enough time to do so before you are ready to submit your manuscript. By submitting your thesis or dissertation and signing the publishing agreements, you are agreeing that a) your thesis or dissertation does not knowingly infringe upon any copyright and b) you take sole responsibility for any claims of copyright infringement related to your published work.

Please review ProQuest's UMI Copyright Guide for more information about including copyrighted works in your thesis or dissertation. Please note that ProQuest requires that you include a copy of the permission letter allowing use of copyrighted work in your thesis or dissertation with your submission. The UMI Copyright Guide includes a sample permission letter that meets ProQuest's requirements, and we recommend including any permission letters for your thesis or dissertation as appendices.

Copyright of Your Thesis or Dissertation

Your published thesis or dissertation is automatically copyrighted, and ownership of that copyright is granted to you with no action required on your part. The publishing agreements that you sign at the time of submission permit publication, reproduction, and distribution of your thesis or dissertation but do not confer ownership of copyright in any way. 

You do have the option of registering for copyright at any time during the life of the copyright, including at the time of submission to ProQuest. Registration of copyright is not required to grant you copyright of your work or to provide the protections of copyright, but registration does have additional advantages. Registration is offered by the U.S. Copyright Office in the Library of Congress, which provides more information about registration. 

You have two options for registering copyright:

1. You can request that ProQuest register for copyright on your behalf as part of the submission process. ProQuest will charge a fee for this optional service ($75, cost subject to change).
2. You can file for copyright directly with the U.S. Copyright Office. There is a fee associated with this service ($45, cost subject to change).

Please see the Brandeis Library copyright guide for more information on copyright.

4. Open Access

Open Access publishing allows the public free access to published materials and encourages greater dissemination of your research. The submission process requires you to submit to ProQuest ETD, resulting in publication in the ProQuest database. Traditional Publishing in the ProQuest database is not Open Access and gives the author options of embargoing and restricting publication. For an additional fee, you also have the option of choosing Open Access publication in the ProQuest database; this option does not allow embargo or restriction of the published work.

As part of submission your dissertation or thesis will also be published in the Brandeis Scholar repository, which is Open Access. If you choose to embargo or restrict your submission in ProQuest, the embargo or restriction will be applied to publication in the Brandeis repository automatically. 

5. Embargo

While Open Access publishing provides unrestricted access to your publication, there are some reasons why students may wish to limit access to their published thesis or dissertation. At the time of publication, you have the option to embargo your dissertation or thesis, which delays its release. There are varying reasons why embargo may be advantageous. Most often, the reasons for embargo are:

• Your work is based on data generated through research that will support other publications from people on your research team.
• You plan to apply for a patent based on research that is discussed in your dissertation or thesis. 
• Your dissertation or thesis contains data or material that was generated pursuant to a grant or contract, and the dissertation or thesis is subject to review by the sponsor or grantor prior to publication.
• You are planning to publish all or part of your dissertation or thesis and know that publishers in your field consider open access electronic thesis/dissertations to be a prior publication. 
• You are concerned about the confidentiality of information or data contained in your manuscript.

If you would like to request an embargo, please discuss this option with your advisor and program. The embargo that you choose as part of your ProQuest submission will transfer to the Brandeis Library repository.

With an embargo, the title and abstract of your dissertation or thesis will still be published at the time of degree conferral, but the full text will remain restricted until the embargo is lifted. You have the option of choosing a 6 month, 1 year, or 2 year embargo of your work. Longer embargoes require permission from GSAS; please email Abigail Arnold at aarnold26@brandeis.edu with any questions.

To request an additional embargo of your metadata, you must contact ProQuest directly; GSAS has final approval of the embargo. If you would like to embargo only your abstract but have all other metadata visible (including your name, degree type, degree year, institution, committee, subject category, and keywords), you can request that option; if you need any of the other metadata embargoed as well, you should request to embargo all metadata. Please email Abigail Arnold at aarnold26@brandeis.edu and ProQuest ETD at disspub@proquest.com.

Please review this ProQuest resource on embargoes and restrictions as well for helpful information to support your decision-making.

6. ORCID

During the submission process, you are required to add an ORCID identifier on the “Contact Information” page. An ORCID ID (Open Researcher & Contributor ID) is an identifier that is unique to you, and allows any and all of your published scholarship to be linked regardless of changes in name, affiliation, language of publication, etc. If you have not already set up an ORCID ID, you will need to create one up at the time of submission. Your ORCID ID is free to create and will be displayed with your dissertation or thesis; you will then be able to use this ID to link to future publications as well.

To learn more, please visit the ORCID website.

7. Capstone Publication Policy

In general, GSAS should always do everything we can to ensure that all "capstone" scholarship (defined as original research in MA/MS/MFA theses and PhD dissertations) is published in ProQuest and the Institutional repository (ScholarWorks), because of our Carnegie classification as an R1 institution and the thresholds for research output.

GSAS does not allow post-deposit corrections of theses/dissertation texts. This policy preserves the integrity of the scholarship.

GSAS does not allow changing the dissertation or thesis because the author changed their mind and research trajectory. It is part of the nature of the research endeavor that one risks being wrong at one point, and then the task is to correct and recalibrate one's conclusions through additional scholarship, not changing what was already published.

Authors and research collaborators may have very legitimate reasons for delaying publication--hence the embargo process, which we now allow authors to choose on their own through the ProQuest options. GSAS approval is not required for embargos, but we encourage students to consult with their advisors before choosing to embargo.

A student can petition not to publish their capstone by sending the GSAS Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs, Alyssa Canelli (acanelli@brandeis.edu), a letter that explains the situation and asks permission from the School to waive the deposit requirement. The School leadership will review and grant the exception only in rare and extraordinary circumstances. This documentation is then appended to the student's official academic record in Workday. Given the fact that the deposit process is the official repository of the content of the dissertation, the School should ensure that the dissertation is retained in a permanent location that can be accessed by the program if there is ever a need to verify aspects of the student's credentials.

Step 1: Apply to Graduate By the Application Deadline

Submit your online Graduate Degree Application, which is available on the Registrar’s website. The online application form is generally available within the first few weeks of the semester. If the application is not available when you are ready to submit your dissertation, please proceed with submission and complete the application once it becomes available.

Step 2: Publicize Your Defense

At least 2 weeks before your defense date, complete the Dissertation Defense Calendar Submission form in order to publicize your defense on the GSAS calendar. Publicizing your defense is required.

Step 3: Bring Your Dissertation Defense Form to Your Defense

The PhD Dissertation Defense Form is available on the Registrar’s website. This form should be signed by your committee at the defense and returned to Taylor Seidel (tseidel@brandeis.edu) and to Abigail Arnold (aarnold26@brandeis.edu).

If revisions are required, you will need to complete an additional form, the Report on PhD Revisions Form, which is also available on the Registrar’s website. This form must be submitted to tseidel@brandeis.edu and to aarnold26@brandeis.edu by the doctoral candidate after the committee has accepted the revised dissertation. 

Step 4: Submit Your Dissertation

1. Go to the ProQuest site to start your submission. 

2. Choose among the PQ publishing options. 

• Select your preferred publication option; see the Publication and Distribution section of this guide for more information about options if you have questions. 
• If desired, choose to delay release (embargo) your submission and then indicate the length of the delay.  Read and agree to the ProQuest and Brandeis publishing agreements.

• Add your contact information here.
• When asked for your contact information, make sure to provide a current email address that you check often in order to prevent delays in the submission process. This is how you will be contacted about any formatting edits that need to be made and about the status of your publication. 
• Link to or create your ORCID ID here. 
• Under Future Services, we encourage you to select: “Yes, please let me know about ordering additional copies and other related services” in order to get updates about ordering printed copies of your submission. 

• This page will ask you to provide your abstract, department, degree, degree date, advisor’s name, other committee members, and subject categories and keywords for your publication. 
• Pay close attention to the title you enter on the Details page; the entered title needs to match your approved title exactly, including capitalization and punctuation.

5. Upload your dissertation file in PDF format.

• Upload your final, approved file to ProQuest. Be sure to review your manuscript carefully; while GSAS staff will review your dissertation for the required formatting, it is up to you to ensure that there are no content errors or typos.
• Make sure that your document file complies with ProQuest’s requirements before you upload the file and submit. 
  

6. Upload Supplemental files and add Notes if needed (optional).

7. Choose whether or not to Register U.S. Copyright.

• You have the option to register copyright of your submission through ProQuest; please see the Publication and Distribution section of this guide for more information if you have questions.

8. Order Copies (optional). 

• You will have the option to order printed copies of your thesis as part of this submission process.
• You can also order printed copies anytime after your submission is published, typically within 4 to 6 weeks of degree conferral.

9. Submit your dissertation.

• Your submission will now be available to GSAS staff for formatting review.

Step 5: Edit Formatting Through ProQuest

After you deposit your dissertation, you will receive a confirmation email from ProQuest. GSAS staff will confirm that all necessary forms have been submitted and then review your formatting.  You will then receive another email via ProQuest requesting that you make formatting edits if any are needed. The email will include a link to upload a revised version of your dissertation. Once all revisions are complete, you’ll receive an additional email via ProQuest letting you know that your dissertation has been accepted by GSAS. 

You should receive a response from GSAS within 1 to 3 business days of submission, or within 5 business days if you submit during the week of the deposit deadline. If you have not received a response within that timeframe, please email Abigail Arnold at aarnold26@brandeis.edu.

Step 6: Publication of Your Dissertation

Once degrees are conferred (on February 1st, Commencement Day, or August 31st), your dissertation will be released for publication in the ProQuest database and the ScholarWorks repository. You will receive emails notifying you that your dissertation was sent to ProQuest and at the time that it is published. 

Step 1: Apply to Graduate Before or By the Application Deadline

Submit the online Graduate Degree Application, which is available on the Registrar’s website. 

Step 2: Complete Your Master’s Thesis Acceptance Form

The master's thesis requirement will not be considered fulfilled, nor will the thesis be published, until the Certification of Master's Thesis Acceptance (PDF) form is submitted. Complete this form and submit it by email no later than one day before your thesis submission deadline. Electronic signatures are acceptable. Please email the completed form to tseidel@brandeis.edu and to aarnold26@brandeis.edu and copy your thesis advisor and departmental administrator on the message.

Step 3: Submit Your Thesis

1. Go to the ProQuest site to start your submission. 

2. Choose among the PQ publishing options. 

• Select your preferred publication option; see the Publication and Distribution section of this guide for more information about options if you have questions. 
• If desired, choose to delay release (embargo) your submission and then indicate the length of the delay.  Read and agree to the ProQuest and Brandeis publishing agreements.

• Add your contact information here.
• When asked for your contact information, make sure to provide a current email address that you check often in order to prevent delays in the submission process. This is how you will be contacted about any formatting edits that need to be made and about the status of your publication. 
• Link to or create your ORCID here. 
• Under Future Services, we encourage you to select: “Yes, please let me know about ordering additional copies and other related services” in order to get updates about ordering printed copies of your submission. 

• This page will ask you to provide your abstract, department, degree, degree date, advisor’s name, other committee members, and subject categories and keywords for your publication. 
• Pay close attention to the title you enter on the Details page; the entered title needs to match your approved title exactly, including capitalization and punctuation.

5. Upload your PDF. 

• Be sure to review your manuscript carefully; while GSAS will review your dissertation for formatting, it is up to you to ensure that there are no content errors or typos.
• Make sure that your document complies with ProQuest’s requirements before you upload the file and submit. 

6. Upload Supplemental files and add Notes if needed.

7. Choose whether or not to Register U.S. Copyright.

• You will have the option to register for copyright of your submission through ProQuest; please see the Publication and Distribution section of this guide for more information if you have questions.

8. Order Copies.

• You will have the option to order printed copies of your thesis as part of this submission process. You can also order printed copies anytime after your submission is published, typically within 4 to 6 weeks of degree conferral.

9. Submit your thesis.

• Your submission will now be available to GSAS staff for formatting review.

Step 4:  Edit Formatting Through ProQuest

After you submit your thesis, you will receive a confirmation email from ProQuest. You will then receive another email requesting that you make formatting edits if any are needed. The email will include a link for uploading a revised version of your thesis. Once all required revisions are complete, you’ll receive a final email from ProQuest letting you know that your thesis has been accepted by GSAS. 

You should receive a response from GSAS within 1 to 3 business days of submission, or within 5 business days if you submit during the week of the deposit deadline. If you have not received a response within that timeframe, please email Abigail Arnold at aarnold26@brandeis.edu.

Step 5: Publication of Your Thesis

Once degrees are conferred (on February 1st, Commencement Day, or August 31st), your thesis will be released for publication in the ProQuest database and the ScholarWorks repository. You will receive an email from ProQuest confirming publication. 

Students in the Biology, Biochemistry, and Neuroscience bachelor’s/master’s programs should follow the formatting guidelines outlined in this guide and submit their thesis as follows:

Step 1: Complete Your Master’s Thesis Acceptance Form

The master's thesis requirement will not be considered fulfilled, nor will the thesis be published, until the Certification of Master's Thesis Acceptance (PDF) form is submitted to GSAS. Complete this form and submit it by email no later than one day before your thesis submission deadline. Electronic signatures are acceptable. Please email the completed form to tseidel@brandeis.edu and to aarnold26@brandeis.edu and copy your thesis advisor and departmental administrator on the message.

Step 2: Submit Your Thesis — Don't wait until the last day!

1. Go to the ProQuest site to start your submission. 

2. Choose among the PQ publishing options. 

• Select your preferred publication option; see the Publication and Distribution section of this guide for more information about options if you have questions. 
• If desired, choose to delay release (embargo) your submission and then indicate the length of the delay.  Read and agree to the ProQuest and Brandeis publishing agreements.

3. Complete the Contact information page.

• Add your contact information here.
• When asked for your contact information, make sure to provide a current email address that you check often in order to prevent delays in the submission process. This is how you will be contacted about any formatting edits that need to be made and about the status of your publication. 
• Link to or create your ORCID here. 
• Under Future Services, we encourage you to select: “Yes, please let me know about ordering additional copies and other related services” in order to get updates about ordering printed copies of your submission. 

4. Add your Dissertation/Thesis details.

• This page will ask you to provide your abstract, department, degree, degree date, advisor’s name, other committee members, and subject categories and keywords for your publication. 
• Pay close attention to the title you enter on the Details page; the entered title needs to match your approved title exactly, including capitalization and punctuation.

5. Upload your PDF. 

• Be sure to review your manuscript carefully; while GSAS will review your dissertation for formatting, it is up to you to ensure that there are no content errors or typos.
• Make sure that your document complies with ProQuest’s requirements before you upload the file and submit. 

6. Upload Supplemental files and add Notes if needed.

7. Choose whether or not to Register U.S. Copyright.

• You will have the option to register for copyright of your submission through ProQuest; please see the Publication and Distribution section of this guide for more information if you have questions.

8. Order Copies.

• You will have the option to order printed copies of your thesis as part of this submission process. If can also order printed copies anytime after your submission is published, typically within 4 to 6 weeks of degree conferral.

9. Submit your thesis. Your submission will now be available to GSAS staff for formatting review.

Step 3:  Edit Formatting Through ProQuest

After you submit your thesis, you will receive a confirmation email from ProQuest. You will then receive another email requesting that you make formatting edits if any are needed. The email will include a link for uploading a revised version of your thesis. Once all required revisions are complete, you’ll receive a final email from ProQuest letting you know that your thesis has been accepted by GSAS. 

You should receive a response from GSAS within 1 to 3 business days of submission, or within 5 business days if you submit during the week of the deposit deadline. If you have not received a response within that timeframe, please email Abigail Arnold at aarnold26@brandeis.edu.

Step 4: Publication of Your Thesis

Once degrees are conferred (on February 1st, Commencement Day, or August 31st), your thesis will be released for publication in the ProQuest database and the ScholarWorks repository. You will receive an email from ProQuest confirming publication. 

Master's Thesis Forms and Templates:

1.  Certification of Master's Thesis Acceptance (PDF): Complete this form and submit it by email no later than one day before your thesis submission deadline. Electronic signatures are acceptable. Please email the completed form to tseidel@brandeis.edu and aarnold26@brandeis.edu and copy your thesis advisor and departmental administrator on the message.
2. LaTeX Master's Thesis Template
3. Microsoft Word Master's Thesis Template (Word)

PhD Dissertation Templates Forms and Templates:

1. Dissertation Defense Calendar Submission Form: Complete this form at least 2 weeks before your defense date in order to publicize your defense on the GSAS calendar. Publicizing your defense is required.
2. PhD Dissertation Defense Form (PDF): Available on the Registrar’s website, this form should be signed by your committee at the defense and returned to tseidel@brandeis.edu and aarnold26@brandeis.edu.
3. Report on PhD Revisions Form (PDF): If revisions are required, you will need to complete this additional form, which is also available on the Registrar’s website. This form must be submitted to tseidel@brandeis.edu and aarnold26@brandeis.edu by the doctoral candidate after the committee has accepted the revised dissertation. 
4. LaTeX Dissertation Template
5. Microsoft Word Dissertation Template (Word)