Carnegie Mellon University Thesis Formatting Guide

Carnegie Mellon University requires all doctoral dissertations and master’s theses to follow specific formatting standards that ensure consistency, professionalism, and proper presentation of scholarly research across all colleges and academic programs.

Understanding Carnegie Mellon’s Formatting Standards

The Graduate School at Carnegie Mellon provides detailed formatting specifications designed to create professional, readable theses. These standards apply uniformly across engineering, sciences, computer science, business, and arts programs. Proper formatting demonstrates your commitment to academic excellence and Carnegie Mellon’s reputation for innovation and rigor.

Carnegie Mellon’s formatting guidelines emphasize clarity and professionalism while allowing flexibility for discipline-specific conventions. Whether you’re completing a dissertation in artificial intelligence or a thesis in business administration, these principles provide the foundation for appropriate thesis formatting.

Margin Requirements and Page Setup

Carnegie Mellon requires these margins:

• Top margin: 1.25 inches
• Bottom margin: 1.25 inches
• Left margin: 1.5 inches
• Right margin: 1 inch

These margins provide adequate space for binding and annotations. Apply margins consistently throughout your document, including all preliminary pages, body chapters, and appendices. Use your word processor’s margin settings to ensure accuracy across all pages.

Font and Typeface Specifications

Professional fonts are required for all Carnegie Mellon theses:

• Body text fonts: Times New Roman, Calibri, Garamond, or Arial
• Font size: 12 point for body text
• Headings: 12-14 point, bold
• Footnotes and endnotes: 10 point minimum
• Figure captions: 10 point minimum

Maintain consistent font usage throughout your entire thesis. Avoid mixing fonts in body text, which creates visual inconsistency. Ensure all special characters and mathematical symbols display correctly in your chosen font.

Line Spacing Requirements

Appropriate spacing enhances readability and professionalism:

• Body text: Double-spaced (2.0 line spacing)
• Block quotations: Single-spaced, indented 0.5 inches
• Tables and figures: Single-spaced internally
• Bibliography: Single-spaced internally, double-spaced between entries
• Footnotes: Single-spaced internally, double-spaced between entries

Maintain consistent spacing throughout all chapters and sections. Justified or left-aligned text is acceptable according to your preference.

Page Numbering System

Implement Carnegie Mellon’s pagination approach:

• Front matter: Lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv)
• Body chapters: Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.)
• Appendices: Continue Arabic numeral sequence
• Position: Top right or bottom center, minimum 0.75 inches from edge

Don’t number the title page, though include it in your page count as page i. Begin visible numbering on the abstract or acknowledgments page. This system provides clear navigation through your thesis.

Title Page and Front Matter

Your title page must include:

• Complete thesis title (centered, bold, 14-16 point)
• Your name
• Graduation date (month and year)
• Degree type (PhD, Master of Science, Master of Business Administration, etc.)
• College and program name
• Carnegie Mellon University and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Follow the official Carnegie Mellon template for title page formatting. Include an approval page with committee member names and signatures. The abstract and acknowledgments pages follow standard formatting conventions.

Chapter Headings and Organizational Structure

Create clear document hierarchy:

• Chapter titles: 14 point, bold, centered, begin new page
• Level 1 subheadings: 12 point, bold, left-aligned
• Level 2 subheadings: 12 point, bold italic, left-aligned
• Level 3 subheadings: 12 point, underlined, left-aligned

Consistent heading hierarchy improves readability and aids in creating accurate table of contents. Avoid excessive heading levels that could confuse document structure or navigation.

Citation and Bibliography Formatting

Carnegie Mellon accepts discipline-specific citation styles:

• Engineering and sciences: IEEE or ACS citation styles
• Computer science: Often uses numbered or author-year citations
• Business: APA or Chicago Manual of Style
• Other fields: MLA or Chicago style

Consult your advisor about your discipline’s preferred citation style. Apply the selected style consistently throughout your thesis, including all footnotes, endnotes, references, and bibliography entries.

Tables, Figures, and Visual Elements

Format visual content professionally:

• Table titles: Above table, numbered consecutively
• Figure captions: Below figure, numbered consecutively
• Sizing: Ensure tables and figures fit within text margins
• Resolution: High quality appropriate for print or digital viewing
• References: All visual elements must be referenced in text

Include a list of tables and figures after your table of contents. Number these lists separately from body chapter elements. Ensure all visual elements effectively support your research.

Appendices and Supplementary Materials

Structure appendices appropriately:

• Labeling: Appendix A, B, C, with descriptive titles
• Pagination: Continue numbering from body chapters
• Formatting: Maintain body text formatting standards
• Organization: Arrange logically by relevance to chapters
• References: Reference appendices clearly in main text

Begin each appendix on a new page. Include an appendices list in your front matter if you have multiple appendices.

Using GenText for Thesis Formatting Support

GenText helps manage complex thesis formatting by automatically checking margin consistency, verifying spacing throughout your document, and validating pagination systems. The platform identifies formatting inconsistencies across chapters and ensures all preliminary pages comply with Carnegie Mellon’s requirements.

GenText’s verification tools review heading hierarchy, check citation formatting consistency, and validate table and figure numbering. This support proves invaluable when managing lengthy theses with multiple chapters, helping you maintain professional presentation and institutional compliance without manually verifying every element.

Common Formatting Mistakes to Avoid

Prevent these frequent mistakes:

• Inconsistent margins across pages or sections
• Mixed spacing styles or line spacing variations
• Incorrect page numbering sequences
• Improper heading level hierarchy
• Font size variations in body text
• Misaligned or improperly formatted tables
• Inconsistent citation or bibliography formatting
• Missing figure captions or table titles

Systematically review your thesis for each formatting element to catch errors before submission.

Pre-Submission Formatting Checklist

Complete this checklist before submission:

1. Verify all margins meet Carnegie Mellon specifications
2. Check page numbering on all pages
3. Confirm consistent font usage throughout
4. Review all citations and bibliography entries
5. Inspect all figures and tables for proper formatting
6. Verify heading hierarchy consistency
7. Check that table of contents page numbers match actual pages
8. Review front matter ordering and formatting

Submit your thesis with confidence that it meets all Carnegie Mellon University formatting requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I include code listings and technical appendices in my thesis? A: Yes, code and technical materials are appropriate for computer science and engineering theses. Use monospaced fonts for code and consider formatting with syntax highlighting for clarity.

Q: What if my dissertation contains previously published papers? A: You may include previously published material within your thesis, provided it follows your thesis’s formatting standards and includes appropriate copyright permissions.

Q: Are there specific formatting requirements for digital PDF submission? A: Carnegie Mellon accepts PDF submission provided it maintains all margin, spacing, and font specifications from your original file. Verify PDF formatting before final submission.

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By following these comprehensive Carnegie Mellon University thesis formatting guidelines, you’ll create a professionally formatted document that meets all institutional requirements and effectively presents your research.