How To Cite A Dissertation

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How to Cite a Dissertation in Different Citation Styles

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On This Page

1. Citing a Dissertation in Different Styles
2. How to Cite a Dissertation in APA 7th?
3. How to Cite a Dissertation in MLA 9th edition
4. How to Cite a Dissertation in Chicago Style
5. How to Cite a Dissertation in Harvard Format
6. How to Cite a Dissertation in AMA Format

Proper citation of sources is a vital part of academic writing. There are different rules for citing different kinds of sources, and it’s important for students to know them for correct citation.

A dissertation, also known as a thesis, is a research-based document that serves as the final project at the master's or doctoral level. These comprehensive papers often make good sources for further research.

So how do you cite a dissertation as a source in your own research?

This guide will show you how to cite dissertations in common citation styles. By the end, you'll be well-equipped to navigate the citation process with ease.

Let's begin!

On This Page

1. Citing a Dissertation in Different Styles
2. How to Cite a Dissertation in APA 7th?
3. How to Cite a Dissertation in MLA 9th edition
4. How to Cite a Dissertation in Chicago Style
5. How to Cite a Dissertation in Harvard Format
6. How to Cite a Dissertation in AMA Format

Citing a Dissertation in Different Styles

One of the first and most crucial steps in citing a dissertation is knowing the right citation style. Different academic disciplines and institutions have specific preferences for citation styles, so it's essential to align your formatting with these requirements.

Here are some of the most common citation styles.

APA (American Psychological Association): Widely used in the social sciences.
MLA (Modern Language Association): Commonly used in the humanities, such as literature, philosophy, art.
Chicago Manual of Style: The Chicago style offers two different citation formats: notes and bibliography or author-date. Used in social sciences, humanities, and also sometimes in STEM fields.
AMA (American Medical Association): Ideal for health and medical fields.
Harvard Style: Used in various fields and specifically recommended and used by some institutions and journals.
Other Styles: Depending on your field, you might encounter other citation styles like IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) for engineering or ACS (American Chemical Society) for chemistry. Always check your institution's guidelines or your field's standards.

Let’s see how to cite a dissertation in-text and references for each of these styles.

How to Cite a Dissertation in APA 7th?

Citing a dissertation in APA format involves specific formats for both in-text citations and reference list entries, depending on whether the dissertation is published or unpublished.

Here's a breakdown of how to cite dissertations in APA 7th edition:

Citing a Published Dissertation in APA 7th

Reference Format	Author last name, Initials. (Year). Dissertation title [Type of dissertation/thesis, University Name]. Archive Name. URL
Reference Entry Example	MCNiel, D.S. (2005). The impact of cloud computing on IT companies [Master’s thesis, University of California]. CurateND. https://curate.nd.edu/show/7k69op88w2w
In-text Citation	(MCNiel, 2005)

Citing an Unpublished Dissertation in APA 7th

Reference Format	Author last name, Initials. (Year). Dissertation title [Unpublished type of dissertation/thesis]. University Name.
Reference Entry Example	MCNiel, D.S. (2010). Effects of global warming [Unpublished master’s thesis]. The University of California.
In-text Citation	(MCNiel, 2010)

How to Cite a Dissertation in MLA 9th edition

MLA format is a common citation style that is mostly used to cite sources about arts, cultural studies, and humanities.

Here is the dissertation citation format in MLA 9th edition.

Citing a Published Dissertation in MLA

Reference Format

Author's Last-name, First-name. Title of Dissertation. Diss. Place of Study, Year. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Format.

Reference Entry Example

Smith, Alexa. How to reuse the software components. Diss. West Virginia University, 2010. New York. 2012. Print.

In-text Citation

(Author’s Last Name Page #)

E.g. (Smith 24)

Citing an Unpublished Dissertation in MLA

Reference Format

Last-name, First-name. “Title of Dissertation.” Diss. Place of Study, Year. Title of Database. Web. Date Month Year of Access.

Reference Entry Example

Harry, John. “How to take care of diabetic patients.” Diss. Miskatonic University, 2009. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. Web. 13 May 2020.

In-text Citation

(Author’s Last Name, Page #)

E.g. (Harry 3)

How to Cite a Dissertation in Chicago Style

The Chicago style, also known as the Turabian, is also commonly used throughout institutions across the US. Chicago format allows in-text citations but also uses endnotes.

Here is how to cite a dissertation in Turabian or Chicago.

Citing a Published Dissertation in Chicago Style

Footnote Format	First-name Last-name, "Title of Thesis: Subtitle," (Publisher, Year).
Bibliography Entry	Last-name, First-name. "Title of Thesis: Subtitle." Year.

Citing an Unpublished Dissertation in Chicago

Footnote Format	Note #. First-name Last-name, "Title of Thesis: Subtitle," Unpublished thesis type, University. Year.
Bibliography Entry	Last-name, First-name. "Title of Thesis: Subtitle." Unpublished thesis type. University. Year.

How to Cite a Dissertation in Harvard Format

Citing a dissertation in Harvard citation format is relatively straightforward, emphasizing the author-date citation style for in-text references.

Here's how to cite dissertations in Harvard format:

Citing a Published Dissertation in Harvard Style

Reference Format	Author's Last-name, First-name. (Year). Title of Dissertation. Type of Dissertation, Name of University. URL or DOI.
Reference Entry Example	Smith, John A. (2020). Exploring the Impact of Climate Change on Coastal Ecosystems. Doctoral dissertation, University of XYZ. https://doi.org/xxxxxx
In-text Citation	(Smith, 2020)

Citing an Unpublished Dissertation in Harvard Style

Format	Author's Last-name, First-name. (Year). Title of Dissertation. Unpublished Dissertation, Name of University.
Reference Entry	Johnson, Rachel L. (2019). The Role of Leadership in Organizational Change. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of ABC.
In-text Citation	(Johnson, 2019)

How to Cite a Dissertation in AMA Format

The AMA style, developed by the American Medical Association (AMA) format is essential for those in the medical and health sciences fields.

Here's how to cite dissertations in AMA format:

Citing a Published Dissertation in AMA

Reference List Entry	[1] Author's Last-name First-initial. Title of Dissertation. Location: Publisher; Year.
Reference Entry Example	[1] Smith JA. Exploring the Impact of Climate Change on Coastal Ecosystems. Chicago, IL: University of XYZ Press; 2020.
In-Text Citation	Use numeric citations in square brackets for in-text references. Place the citation at the end of the sentence or clause where the source is used. E.g [1].

Citing an Unpublished Dissertation in AMA

Reference List Entry	[2] Author's Last-name First-initial. Title of Dissertation. Location: University; Year.
Reference Entry Example	[2] Johnson RL. The Role of Leadership in Organizational Change. Los Angeles, CA: University of ABC; 2019.
In-Text Citation	Use numeric citations in square brackets for in-text references. Place the citation at the end of the sentence or clause where the source is used. E.g [1].

In Conclusion,

Now that you know how to cite a dissertation or thesis in various academic styles, you can write your paper with ease.

Remember, proper citation ensures the integrity and credibility of your work. So make sure you reference information such as author, name, thesis publication number, and other points according to your assigned citation format.

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