1	Formatting Rules Thesis must be printed on 20# white copy paper and submitted in a thesis box with lid (available at the University Bookstore) Use only Times Roman, Times New Roman, Courier, or Courier New Font in 12 Point Keep margins at 1 inch on top, bottom, and right; 1 ½ inches on left – except where use of a 2 inch top margin is required by the University Style and Format Guidelines for Master's Theses and Project Reports (“Guidelines”)
2	Using University Style and Format Guidelines Your thesis should be formatted (spacing, dot leaders, spatial arrangement on preliminary pages) according to the Guidelines The Abstract, Title Page, Approval Page, and Table of Contents must be formatted exactly (format your thesis title in an inverted pyramid) Check over the preliminary pages of your thesis very carefully Take time in formatting before you begin your thesis
3	APA Manual http://www.csulb.edu/library/eref/vref/style.html The Social Work Department uses the APA Manual (published by the American Psychological Association) other departments may have selected different manuals or journal formats. Contact your department for any clarification! The University Manual takes precedence over departmental style manuals. The APA Manual provides rules on formatting your numbers and references There are rules for the number of authors used in the body of the thesis itself
4	Order of Elements Abstract – If only one page, do not number, otherwise use Arabic numbers Guard Sheet Title Page – Counted in sequence Approval Page Table of Contents List of Tables and Figures Chapters in order Appendices (as applicable) each on their own half-title sheet Bibliography on half-title sheet Guard Sheet (see Guidelines, pp. 20-21)
5	Basic Formatting TABLE of CONTENTS First page has a 2 inch top margin Table of Contents is double spaced (single space within subhead titles) Always use CHAPTER and Page headers Page numbers must be right aligned Half-title page (numbered) is required for Appendices and References No bold typeset or bullets No contractions No colored typeset
6	Basic Formatting, continued 2 spaces after periods & colons (a few exceptions) Align all table numbers on an invisible decimal Keep page numbers above the 1 inch bottom margin (format centered and set footer to 1 inch) Theses and project reports are prepared using a left only margin justification with a ragged right margin. Exceptions are chapter titles and level one subheadings – these require center justification Strictly double spaced throughout text unless indicated otherwise (e.g., See Tables & Figures, pp. 21-22)
7	Subhead Titles (Guidelines, p. 17) First level subhead titles are centered and underlined with the beginning of each word capitalized (except prepositions & articles); text begins two lines below heading; subhead titles of 2 or more lines are single spaced Second level subheading is formatted flush left, underlined in headline style capitalization. Text is indented and begins two lines under title
8	Tables and Figures (Guidelines, p. 21) TABLES – format as TABLE 1. (2 spaces) with the title in headline style capitalization; titles are placed above the table Table title may be left justified or centered There must always be 3 to 4 lines between table and text FIGURES – format as FIGURE 1. (2 spaces) with caption in sentence style capitalization; captions are placed below the figure
9	Appendices Half-title pages are used to introduce each individual Appendix Example: APPENDIX A would be centered in the middle of a numbered page with the TITLE placed two lines below Appendices have page numbers There are no other requirements for the Appendices except for the 1 inch top, bottom, right margin and 1 ½ inch left margin
10	Citations and References The citations in the text and in the References/Bibliography must meet the requirements of your department’s manual Before doing your research, you must verify with your department the appropriate manual and follow it!
11	Role of the Thesis Office verifies that your thesis meets University formatting requirements as described in the University Style and Format Guidelines for Master's Theses and Project Reports and in your department’s recommended style manual verifies that your thesis meets the format criteria for microfilming issues clearance letter clearance letter can not be issued until payments are made and receipt number returned to the Thesis Office
12	Take Time to do your Thesis Know your department manual and use it in conjunction with University Style and Format Guidelines for Master's Theses and Project Reports Start your thesis early so you are not rushed at the end Make time if you have employment or other time pressing issues Try working on your thesis a little at a time Refer to other similar theses in the Library Choose a topic that interests you
13	How much time? The Thesis Office’s goal is to complete the initial review within 4 weeks after the date of your submission (or 4 weeks from the 1st day of the submission period if you submit early). You will have 2 weeks after you pick up your corrections from the Thesis Office to return your corrected thesis. The review of your corrected thesis will take approximately 1 week. If you do not have further corrections, you will be contacted to pick up your thesis and to begin the clearance process. Go to the Copy Center, Bookstore, make payments, get receipt number. Return receipt number to Thesis Office. Thesis Office issues the clearance letter, usually with 1 day. If you have specific timelines (e.g., employment, doctoral program admissions, relocation, vacation), you should submit your thesis at the beginning of the submission period to assure that you have enough time for the review and corrections process. If you are out of town or out of state at any point in this process, you must have a reliable proxy who can do all of the above in your behalf!
14	Contact/Information Sources Thesis Office, Room 205, Library (562) 985-4013 lib-thesis@csulb.edu Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm Appointments are recommended! Thesis Website http://www.csulb.edu/library/guide/serv/