Introduction
In addition to style guidelines recommended by the Department of Biomolecular Sciences, the Central Graduate School has certain guidelines that govern cover pages, margins, paper quality and the biographical note. These requirements will assure that your thesis is submitted in a format that is suitable for binding and retention by the department and the university library. In this section, the Departmental style regulations will be described in detail, and references will be made to specific sections of the Graduate School regulations. It is essential that you consult both sources as you plan and write your thesis.
There are a variety of online and print resources you may also consult: thesis-writer’s handbooks, general writing manuals, and model theses. However, these sources are not meant to supersede or replace guidance from and consultation with your thesis advisor.
General Requirements
Paper Quality
Standard white, 8.5 x 11 inch, 20 lb paper is satisfactory for your rough drafts, for the copies that you submit to your committee, and for copies of the final version (i.e., the version that has been finally approved by the thesis committee) of the thesis required by the Graduate School. Only a single “original” copy of the final version of the thesis and abstract must be printed on 20-lb bond paper with a 25 percent rag content.
Letter Size and Design, and Spacing
A Roman style typeface (e.g., Times New Roman) is preferred, in pica, or 12-point, size. Pica type produces 6 lines of copy per vertical inch, single-spaced. Text is to be double-spaced throughout, except where noted below (most notably in the References Cited, Table of Contents, List of Tables, List of Figures, and Biographical Note sections).
Margins
Margin requirements must be strictly followed throughout the thesis, for text sections as well as for Tables and Figures. Top, right and bottom margins must be 1 inch; left margin must be 1.5 inches.
Pagination
The Abstract Cover Page and Abstract do not receive numbers. The Thesis Cover Page does receive a number, but it does not appear on the page. Small Roman numerals (ii, iii, iv, etc.) are used to number pages of preliminary material (Acknowledgment Page, Table of Contents, List of Tables, List of Figures, etc.). Such numbers are to be centered from 1 to 1.25 inches from the bottom of the page, and double spaced below the last line of text on full pages.
Arabic numerals are used in the main body of the thesis. The first page of each chapter or major subdivision (including Literature Cited) of the thesis carries its number centered from 1 to 1.25 inches from the bottom of the page, and double spaced below the last line of text on full pages. All other page numbers are placed just within the top right margins. The first line of text on such pages should be located two spaces below the page number.