How to Cite a Thesis or Dissertation in Chicago Style

Theses and dissertations represent original scholarly research, making them valuable primary sources. These works are often deposited in university repositories or database services like ProQuest. Chicago style provides specific guidance for citing both published and unpublished theses, distinguishing them from other types of books. This guide covers both Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date systems.

Essential Information for Theses and Dissertations

Gather these elements before creating your citation:

• Author’s full name (the student/researcher)
• Title of thesis or dissertation (in quotation marks)
• Degree type (Master’s thesis, PhD dissertation, etc.)
• Institution name (university)
• Year completed
• Database or access information (ProQuest, institutional repository, URL)
• Page numbers if citing specific pages

This information typically appears on the title page and in the front matter.

Notes-Bibliography System for Theses and Dissertations

The Notes-Bibliography system requires specific identification of the work as a thesis or dissertation.

Unpublished Thesis in Notes-Bibliography

Full note:

1. Author First Last, "Title of Thesis" (unpublished, degree type, Institution Name, Year), page.

Example:

1. Jennifer Adams, "Remote Work and Organizational Culture" (unpublished, Master's thesis, University of Massachusetts, 2023), 45.

Shortened note:

2. Adams, "Remote Work," 50.

Bibliography entry:

Adams, Jennifer. "Remote Work and Organizational Culture." Unpublished Master's thesis, University of Massachusetts, 2023.

Published Dissertation in Notes-Bibliography

When a dissertation has been published or deposited in a database:

1. Author First Last, "Title of Dissertation" (PhD dissertation, Institution Name, Year), published as Title of Published Version (Publisher, Year), page.

Or in a database:

1. Author First Last, "Title of Dissertation" (PhD dissertation, Institution Name, Year), accessed Date, URL.

Example:

1. Robert Chen, "Artificial Intelligence in Education" (PhD dissertation, Stanford University, 2023), ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global, accessed March 16, 2026, https://www.proquest.com/docview/dissertation123.

Author-Date System for Theses and Dissertations

Author-Date uses parenthetical citations with a reference list for thesis citations.

In-Text Citation

(Author Year, page)
(Adams 2023, 45)

Reference List Entry for Unpublished Thesis

Author Last, First. Year. "Title of Thesis." Unpublished, Degree type, Institution Name.

Example:

Adams, Jennifer. 2023. "Remote Work and Organizational Culture." Unpublished Master's thesis, University of Massachusetts.

Reference List Entry for Database Thesis

Author Last, First. Year. "Title of Dissertation." PhD dissertation, Institution Name. Accessed Date. URL or Database Name.

Example:

Chen, Robert. 2023. "Artificial Intelligence in Education." PhD dissertation, Stanford University. Accessed March 16, 2026. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. https://www.proquest.com/docview/dissertation123.

Theses in University Repositories

Many universities maintain digital repositories where theses are deposited and made publicly available.

Notes-Bibliography University Repository

1. Author First Last, "Title of Thesis" (Master's thesis, Institution Name, Year), University Repository Name, accessed Date, URL.

Example:

1. Sarah Mitchell, "Climate Change Policy in Urban Centers" (Master's thesis, University of California, Berkeley, 2024), UC Berkeley eScholarship, accessed March 16, 2026, https://escholarship.org/uc/item/thesis123.

Author-Date University Repository

Mitchell, Sarah. 2024. "Climate Change Policy in Urban Centers." Master's thesis, University of California, Berkeley. UC Berkeley eScholarship. Accessed March 16, 2026. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/thesis123.

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Database

ProQuest is the largest database of theses and dissertations. Citations to ProQuest sources include database identification.

Notes-Bibliography ProQuest Database

1. Author First Last, "Title" (Master's/PhD dissertation, Institution, Year), ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global, accessed Date, URL.

Example:

1. Michael Johnson, "Supply Chain Optimization in Global Manufacturing" (PhD dissertation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2024), ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global, accessed March 16, 2026, https://www.proquest.com/docview/dissertation456.

Bibliography:

Johnson, Michael. "Supply Chain Optimization in Global Manufacturing." PhD dissertation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2024. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. Accessed March 16, 2026. https://www.proquest.com/docview/dissertation456.

Theses with Multiple Authors

Occasionally, a thesis has multiple authors (particularly in science fields). Include all authors in the citation.

Notes-Bibliography Multiple Authors

1. Author One First Last and Author Two First Last, "Title" (Master's thesis, Institution, Year), page.

Author-Date Multiple Authors

Author One Last, First, and Author Two Last, First. Year. "Title." Master's thesis, Institution.

Theses Published as Books

Some theses are revised and published as books. If you’re using the published version, cite it as a book. If referencing the original thesis, cite it in thesis format.

Notes-Bibliography Published Thesis (as Book)

1. Author First Last, Title of Published Book (Publisher, Year), page.

This uses the book format, not the thesis format, since it’s been published and distributed commercially.

Theses with Limited or Restricted Access

Some theses have restricted access requiring institutional login or special permission.

Notes-Bibliography Restricted Access Thesis

1. Author First Last, "Title" (Master's thesis, Institution, Year), restricted access, accessed [with permission] Date, URL.

International Theses

Theses from institutions outside the United States are cited similarly but include the country.

Notes-Bibliography International Thesis

1. Author First Last, "Title" (Master's thesis, Institution Name, Country, Year), page.

Example:

1. Elena Garcia, "European Education Policy Reform" (Master's thesis, University of Oxford, United Kingdom, 2024), 78.

Step-by-Step Citation Process

Step 1: Locate the title page and identify the author.

Step 2: Note the complete thesis title.

Step 3: Determine the degree type (Master’s, PhD, etc.).

Step 4: Find the institution name and year completed.

Step 5: Determine if it’s published, in a database, or unpublished.

Step 6: Collect URL or database access information if applicable.

Step 7: Note page numbers for the specific section you’re citing.

Step 8: Apply the appropriate format for your system.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using quotation marks instead of treating it like a book (or vice versa)
2. Omitting the degree type (Master’s thesis, PhD dissertation)
3. Forgetting to include the institution name
4. Using publication date instead of year completed for unpublished theses
5. Inconsistent database identification for ProQuest and other repositories
6. Missing URLs or access information for online theses
7. Confusing thesis title with published book title if subsequently published

Using Citation Generators for Theses

Citation tools with thesis/dissertation support:

• Zotero: Excellent thesis and dissertation support with database integration
• EasyBib: Dedicated thesis/dissertation citation option
• Mendeley: Organize theses and dissertations by discipline
• CitationMachine: Thesis/dissertation option in source type menu

Always verify that the degree type, institution, and year are correctly represented.

Practice Examples

Example 1: Unpublished Master’s Thesis

Notes-Bibliography:

1. Jennifer Thompson, "Digital Marketing Strategy in Small Businesses" (unpublished, Master's thesis, University of Washington, 2023), 56.

Bibliography:
Thompson, Jennifer. "Digital Marketing Strategy in Small Businesses." Unpublished Master's thesis, University of Washington, 2023.

Author-Date:

(Thompson 2023, 56)

Thompson, Jennifer. 2023. "Digital Marketing Strategy in Small Businesses." Unpublished Master's thesis, University of Washington.

Example 2: Dissertation in ProQuest Database

Notes-Bibliography:

1. David Park, "Machine Learning Applications in Healthcare Diagnostics" (PhD dissertation, University of Pennsylvania, 2024), ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global, accessed March 16, 2026, https://www.proquest.com/docview/dissertation789.

Bibliography:
Park, David. "Machine Learning Applications in Healthcare Diagnostics." PhD dissertation, University of Pennsylvania, 2024. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. Accessed March 16, 2026. https://www.proquest.com/docview/dissertation789.

Author-Date:

(Park 2024)

Park, David. 2024. "Machine Learning Applications in Healthcare Diagnostics." PhD dissertation, University of Pennsylvania. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. Accessed March 16, 2026. https://www.proquest.com/docview/dissertation789.

Example 3: University Repository Thesis

Notes-Bibliography:

1. Maria Chen, "Urban Planning and Sustainable Development" (Master's thesis, University of California, Berkeley, 2024), UC Berkeley eScholarship, accessed March 16, 2026, https://escholarship.org/uc/item/thesis456.

Bibliography:
Chen, Maria. "Urban Planning and Sustainable Development." Master's thesis, University of California, Berkeley, 2024. UC Berkeley eScholarship. Accessed March 16, 2026. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/thesis456.

Citing Theses and Dissertations with Confidence

Theses and dissertations represent the culmination of academic research at the Master’s and doctoral levels. Citing them properly acknowledges original scholarly contribution while enabling readers to access and verify your sources. Whether unpublished or deposited in institutional repositories or ProQuest, these guidelines ensure your citations meet academic standards.

Use our citation generator to verify your thesis citations, especially for database sources. With these guidelines, you’ll cite theses and dissertations professionally while maintaining scholarly integrity and enabling source verification.