Final Paper Submission

Main Content

INDEX:

Guidelines for Preparation of Thesis/Dissertation and Research Paper

Guidelines are available on the Graduate School website under the “Thesis, Dissertation, and Research Paper” tab. ( https://gradschool.siu.edu/current-students/thesis-dissertation-researchpaper/). Submissions must meet both the initial format check deadline and the final submission deadline.

Forms

Graduate School graduation clearance, thesis, dissertation, and research paper forms may be downloaded on the Graduate School’s website under the “forms” tab. Once a thesis, dissertation, or research paper has been approved by the department, an original Approval and Oral Defense form must be signed and submitted to the Graduate School. Forms may be signed by hand (preferred) or (when committee members are away from campus) signed using Adobe Reader official digital signature software. Forms available on the Graduate School website are digital-signature-ready. https://gradschool.siu.edu/about-us/forms.php

Students may prepare their ETD using nearly any word processor or document preparation system, however, theses and dissertations must be submitted as one PDF file. Templates are available on the Graduate School website. https://gradschool.siu.edu/current-students/thesis-dissertation-researchpaper/etd-templates.php

ETD may include color diagrams, color images, hypertext links, audio, video, animations, spreadsheets, databases, simulations, and virtual reality worlds.

Organization of Materials

Organizational format should be as follows:

  1. Title page
  2. Copyright statement (when applicable)
  3. Approval page
  4. Abstract
  5. Acknowledgments/Dedication (not required)
  6. Preface (not required)
  7. Table of Contents
  8. List of tables with page references (when applicable)
  9. List of figures with page references (when applicable)
  10. Text
  11. Exhibits (tables, figures, photographs, etc. when not distributed in the text)
  12. Bibliography (or appropriate title prescribed by style manual chosen)
  13. Appendices (not required)
  14. Vita

Filing of Theses and Dissertations with the Graduate School

Approval Forms

The Graduate School must have an original Approval form and Oral Defense form signed by the student's committee and the department chair. Departments must submit the forms directly to the Graduate School. The Graduate School will hold ETD approval pending the submission of the approval forms. Forms may be signed by hand or signed using Adobe Reader official digital signature software.

Research Involving Human Subjects or Live Vertebrate Animals

SIU has policies governing all faculty, staff and student research that involve human subjects and live vertebrate animals. A human subject is defined as any individual whom a researcher contacts in person, by mail or by phone and makes a request for information. Project methods must be reviewed and approved prior to the start of the research.

Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations that require either Human Subjects Committee or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee approval must submit a copy of the approval letter to the Graduate School prior to the final paper submission. Submit the approval letter scanned and attached to an email to Dr. Rose Moroz at rmtmoroz@siu.edu.

ETD Submission Fee

The fee for submission of thesis and dissertation is $25.00 + tax (Library fee). If the thesis/dissertation copyright is to be registered by ProQuest (optional), an additional fee of $75.00 is due.

Survey of Earned Doctorates

The Survey of Earned Doctorates is required for all graduating doctoral students (Ph.D and Ed.D.). The survey must be completed prior to the final submission deadline. Visit https://sed-ncses.org/login.aspx to complete the survey.

Copies of Theses/Dissertations

Students may contact the SIU University Bookstore about binding their papers for a fee of approximately $30. ProQuest also offers binding services; however, ProQuest charges more and usually takes several weeks-months longer to deliver. 

Copyright and Intellectual Property – The Use of Copyright ed Material  

Compliance with copyright law is imperative. It is the student's responsibility to obtain permission to reproduce copyrighted material such as adapting all or part of a table or figure from a copyrighted source for inclusion in their thesis or dissertation. When permission is granted, the reproduced table or figure must be noted with the original author and copyright holder, and a copy of the letter or email granting permission should be included in the ETD Appendix. Information on copyright issues is available from the following web site: https://media2.proquest.com/documents/copyright_dissthesis_ownership.pdf

ETD Submission

Theses and Dissertations should be submitted to ProQuest dissertations.umi.com/siu

Research Papers should be submitted to OpenSIUC ( https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/gs_rp/author_guidelines.html)

Assistance is available by contacting etdsupport@siu.edu.

Deadlines for Submission

Th e sis/Dissertation/Research Paper Deadlines

Initial Submission Deadlines:

  • Fall/Spring – Friday, week 11

  • Summer – Friday, week 3

Final Submission Deadlines:

  • Fall/Spring – Friday, week 12
  • Summer – Friday, week 4

Submissions must meet both the initial format check deadline and the final submission deadline. ALL REVISIONS ARE DUE BY THE FINAL SUBMISSION DEADLINE DATE! NO EXCEPTIONS!

GRADUATE FACULTY COMMITTEE APPROVAL FORMS

The Graduate Faculty Committee Approval Form must be completed and submitted to the Graduate School for approval once a student has passed the preliminary examinations/prospectus defense.

The form may be accessed at:  https://gradschool.siu.edu/_common/documents/forms/graduate-faculty-committee-approval-form-updated.pdf.

If you have questions about Graduate Faculty Status for a committee member, please contact Donna Bennett at donnab@siu.edu.

Requirements for Committee Composition

Master’s

Must have a minimum of three committee members:

  1. The committee Chair must have SIU Carbondale REGULAR or DIRECT DISSERTATION status in the student’s program.
  2. Emeritus faculty members cannot serve as Chair; however, they can serve as Co-chair.
  3. At least two of the committee members must have SIU Carbondale REGULAR or DIRECT DISSERTATION status.
  4. Only one committee member can have ADJUNCT or EMERITUS status on a committee of three members.
  5. There are no limits on the number of Adjunct or Emeritus committee members; however, most of the committee members must have REGULAR or DIRECT DISSERTATION status.

Doctorate

Must have a minimum of five committee members:

  1. The committee Chair must have SIU Carbondale DIRECT DISSERTATION status in the student’s program.
  2. Emeritus faculty members cannot serve as Chair; however, they can serve as Co-chair.
  3. Committee members, other than Chair, can have REGULAR or DIRECT DISSERTATION status. At least four committee members must have SIU Carbondale REGULAR or DIRECT DISSERTATION status.
  4. One committee member must be outside of the student’s program.
  5. There are no limits on the number of Adjunct or Emeritus committee members; however, most of the committee members must have REGULAR or DIRECT DISSERTATION status.
  6. Only one committee member can have ADJUNCT or EMERITUS STATUS on a committee of five members.