Thesis Guidelines

  • Biology, Master of Science
  • Chemistry, Master of Science
  • Communication Disorders, Master of Arts
  • Criminology and Criminal Justice, Master of Science
  • Education Leadership and Policy, Doctor of Education (EDD)
  • English & Writing Professions
  • Exercise & Sport Science, Master of Science
  • Psychology (General), Master of Science
  • Public Administration, MPA
  • Recreation and Park Administration, Master of Science

Thesis Submission Deadlines for Graduation


  • April 11 – Spring Graduation (May)
  • July 2 – Summer Graduation (August)
  • November 10 – Fall Graduation (December)

Formatting


The Graduate School now only accepts theses and dissertations submitted electronically. Students preparing graduate theses/dissertations should carefully review the Thesis Guidelines and prepare your document according to the specific instructions.

Start Here – Download Formatting Guidelines
Ready to Write? – Use the Thesis/Dissertation Template
Checklist – Thesis Guidelines Summary

To help you with the formatting of your thesis, students are strongly encouraged to use the formatting specifications provided on the EKU Thesis Template Example. Everything in red must be filled in by you. This example template provides the format for the basic thesis pages; some disciplines may use additional sections. See the Thesis Guidelines for detailed instructions.

Thesis/Dissertation Submission Instructions


Electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs) will be published with ProQuest® UMI and also in EKU’s institutional repository. Electronic theses and dissertations will be available to other scholars and individuals through the internet. All ETDs must be submitted to ProQuest as a requirement for graduation. The process for submission and acceptance of electronic theses and dissertations is as follows:

  • Candidates who have successfully completed their defense should complete the electronic ETD Submission form and Permission to Use form and email it to graduateschooletd@eku.edu.
    *If you signed and dated the Permission to Use form and it was included with final document sent by committee then you do not need to send it again.
  • The Chair of the thesis/dissertation committee should email an electronic Word version of the thesis or dissertation along with the committee Signature form to graduateschooletd@eku.edu.
    Candidates will be notified by EKU email with instructions to enter biographical information into the ProQuest website.
  • Candidates will be notified via EKU email for formatting changes required before final publication. You will not be cleared to graduate until your thesis has been approved by the Graduate School and the final submission to ProQuest has been made.

Purchasing


Personal copies can be purchased during the electronic submission process or you order copies by contacting Proquest Author Services at disspub@proquest.com. You may also inquire about options and pricing with commercial binder H/F Group at (800) 334-3628.

Other Resources that may assist in your thesis/dissertation development:


Noel Studio – The Noel Studio for Academic Creativity, located in the heart of the Crabbe Library, provides graduate consultations for all types of communication projects. Students may bring sections of their thesis or dissertation in for a consultation at any stage of the process. Consultants can provide feedback on global issues in your thesis or dissertation, such as consistency, organization, and coherence.

Institutional Review Board – The Office of Sponsored Programs seeks to foster an environment that supports faculty and staff engagement in sponsored projects in ways that promote meaningful contributions to science, faculty scholarship that positively impacts student learning, and transformative opportunities for engagement in educational, research, and service experiences.

EKU Library offers a wealth of information to graduate students seeking to complete a thesis or dissertation. Their services include access to research publications, scholarly journals, databases, and much more!

Questions and Answers on Copyright for the Campus Community: You will have the option to copyright your document through the electronic thesis submission process. This will provide you will a detailed background of Copyright details.