Georgetown University Thesis Formatting Guide

Georgetown University maintains rigorous formatting standards for all doctoral dissertations and master’s theses. These requirements ensure consistency and professional presentation across all schools and academic disciplines while maintaining institutional excellence standards.

Understanding Georgetown’s Formatting Standards

The Graduate School at Georgetown provides detailed formatting specifications applicable across all academic programs. These standards apply uniformly to business, sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities theses. Proper formatting demonstrates your commitment to academic integrity and Georgetown’s high scholarly standards.

Georgetown’s formatting guidelines emphasize clarity, professionalism, and readability. Whether you’re completing a dissertation in political science or an engineering thesis, these principles provide the foundation for proper thesis formatting.

Margin Requirements and Page Setup

Georgetown University specifies these margins:

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

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

Font and Typeface Specifications

Professional fonts are required for all Georgetown 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. All special characters and mathematical symbols must display clearly 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 Georgetown’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 extensive thesis materials.

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 Arts, etc.)
• School or faculty name
• Georgetown University and Washington, D.C.

Follow the official Georgetown 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

Georgetown accepts discipline-specific citation styles:

• Sciences: ACS or IEEE citation formats
• Social sciences: APA (American Psychological Association)
• Humanities: MLA or Chicago Manual of Style
• Business and policy: Chicago or APA styles

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 Assistance

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

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

Common Formatting Errors 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 Georgetown 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 Georgetown University formatting requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use different citation styles for different chapters? A: No, Georgetown requires consistent citation style throughout your entire thesis. Choose one discipline-appropriate style and maintain it throughout all chapters.

Q: What should I do if my thesis contains sensitive information or data? A: Consult with your advisor and the Graduate School about how to present sensitive information while maintaining scholarly integrity and any necessary confidentiality requirements.

Q: Are there specific formatting requirements for digital versus printed submission? A: Georgetown accepts both formats with the same formatting standards. Verify that PDF conversion maintains all margins, spacing, and font specifications from your original document.

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