What information do I need to cite a dissertation?

Include the author name, year, dissertation title, degree type, university name, and DOI or URL if available.

Should I cite published versus unpublished dissertations differently?

Yes. Published dissertations include database information, while unpublished ones note the university and degree type.

How do I find the DOI or URL for a dissertation?

Check the dissertation database where it's stored, such as ProQuest Dissertations & Theses or your university's institutional repository.

How to Cite a Dissertation in APA Format

Understanding Dissertations and APA Citations

Dissertations and theses are important academic sources representing original research completed for degree requirements. A dissertation typically refers to doctoral research, while a thesis usually denotes master’s level work. Both require specific citation information to allow readers to locate the original document.

In APA format, dissertation citations include essential identifying information about the author, institution, and degree type. The format varies slightly depending on whether the dissertation was published or remains unpublished.

Format for Unpublished Dissertations

Author, A. A. (Year). Dissertation title. [Master’s thesis or Doctoral dissertation, University Name]. Database or Institutional Repository.

Example:

Chen, M. K. (2023). *Sustainable urban development strategies in emerging markets*. [Doctoral dissertation, Stanford University]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.

Format for Published Dissertations

When a dissertation is published through a database:

Author, A. A. (Year). Dissertation title [Doctoral dissertation, University Name]. https://doi.org/xxxxx

Example:

Williams, J. R. (2022). *Climate adaptation in vulnerable coastal communities*. [Doctoral dissertation, MIT]. https://doi.org/10.1234/example

Key Citation Elements

Author and Year

List the author’s name in the format: Last Name, First Initial, Middle Initial. Include the year the dissertation was completed.

Dissertation Title

The title appears in italics with sentence case capitalization. Only the first word and proper nouns are capitalized.

Degree Type

Specify whether it’s a master’s thesis, doctoral dissertation, or other degree. Use square brackets and include the university name.

University Information

Include the full name of the institution where the degree was awarded.

Database and DOI

For dissertations accessed through databases, provide the database name or DOI. Common databases include ProQuest, EBSCO, and institutional repositories.

Detailed Examples

Dissertation from ProQuest

Johnson, T. L. (2023). *Machine learning applications in cardiovascular disease prediction*. [Doctoral dissertation, University of California, Los Angeles]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (Accession No. 123456789)

Dissertation from University Repository

Martinez, S. R. (2022). *Linguistic patterns in multilingual education*. [Master's thesis, University of Toronto]. University of Toronto TSpace Repository. https://hdl.handle.net/1807/12345

Published Dissertation with DOI

Lee, K. W. (2021). *Advanced materials for sustainable energy storage*. [Doctoral dissertation, Carnegie Mellon University]. https://doi.org/10.1184/example

In-Text Citations

Use the standard author-date format for in-text citations:

(Chen, 2023)

For direct quotes, include page numbers:

(Chen, 2023, p. 45)

Special Cases in Dissertation Citations

Dissertations from Non-English Sources

Garcia, M. P. (2023). *Educación ambiental y sostenibilidad*. [Doctoral dissertation, Universidad de Madrid]. Repositorio Institucional Universidad de Madrid.

Unpublished Theses Available on File

Anderson, B. J. (2022). *Early childhood development interventions in rural communities*. [Master's thesis, Stanford University]. Unpublished manuscript.

Using GenText for Dissertation Citation Management

Citing dissertations as sources requires careful attention to detail and proper database tracking. GenText helps you manage dissertation citations effectively by:

Automatically formatting dissertation metadata in APA style
Tracking database accession numbers and URLs
Organizing dissertations by subject, author, or university
Converting citations between different academic styles
Generating properly formatted reference lists
Managing DOI and URL citations consistently

Common Mistakes with Dissertation Citations

Forgetting the degree type: Always specify [Master’s thesis] or [Doctoral dissertation].
Omitting the university name: The institution is crucial for locating the work.
Incorrect title capitalization: Use sentence case, not title case.
Missing database information: Include ProQuest accession numbers or repository URLs.
Confusing thesis and dissertation terminology: Verify which degree level applies.

Checklist for Dissertation Citations

Author name is correctly formatted
Year of completion is included
Title is in italics with sentence case
Degree type is specified in square brackets
University name is complete and accurate
Database name or DOI is provided
Accession number is included (if applicable)
URL follows proper formatting
In-text citation uses author-date format

Finding and Accessing Dissertations

Major databases for dissertations include:

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
EBSCO Dissertations & Theses
University institutional repositories
Google Scholar (scholar.google.com)
Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD)

Dissertations are valuable sources that demonstrate comprehensive research and original scholarship. Proper citation recognizes these contributions to academic knowledge.