Wesleyan University

Specifications for Preparation of the

Master's Thesis

Abstract- An Abstract is not required but may be included as the last of the preliminary pages.  Words not to exceed 350.

Minimum Margins - The minimum acceptable margins for all pages of the thesis are 1.5 inch on the left and 1.25 inch on the top, bottom, and right.

Paper Requirement - All paper submitted to the Graduate Office must be printed on 8.5 x 11 inch white (ranging from bright white to cream) that is at least 25% cotton fiber (acid free preferred) and of the 20 lb. weight.  Stores such as Staples or Office Depot carry this type of paper.

Font and Point Size - Recommended font include Arial, New Times Roman, and Helvetica with a point size of either 11 or 12.

Printing - Laser printing is suggested.  Photocopying is unacceptable and Inkjet is not allowed as it is water soluble.  Only one side of the paper is to be used for printing.  Printing should be consistently clear and dark.

Spacing - The text of the thesis should be double spaced.  Long quotations, footnotes, appendices, and references may be single spaced.

Photographs and Graphics - Photograph and graphics in the thesis should be printed or photocopied directly on the paper as high quality images.  Scanned images must print clearly.  If color is used, only color laser or color photocopy printing is acceptable.

Use of Material Copyrighted by Others - Any material included that goes beyond "fair use" requires written permission from the copyright owner.  It may be useful to include the permission(s) in the thesis as an appendix.

Pagination - Preliminary pages (i.e., acknowledgments, table of contents, abstract, and the like) are to be numbered consecutively using lower case Roman numerals.  All pages of the text, appendices (if any), and references must be numbered consecutively using Arabic numerals.

Landscape pages - The top of a landscape pages should be at the left margin (1.5), the bottom at the right margin (1.25).  The page number is to be in the same relative position as on the portrait pages.

Sequence of the Main Components of the Thesis - The appropriate order of the major sections of the thesis are as follows: the title page, the  acknowledgements, the table of contents, the text, appendices (if any), and the references.  The order of the appendices and the references may be reversed if the appendices are lengthy.

Footnote, Endnotes, and References - The format that is accepted in your discipline or that which is prescribed by your advisory committee should be followed.

Photocopied Journal Articles in the Thesis - When appropriate, photocopied articles already published in journals may be included in a thesis.  Photocopying must conform to the margins noted above.  An original letter from each journal granting permission for the inclusion of the photocopied article in the thesis must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Student Services.  In requesting a letter of permission, it is important to tell the journal that the thesis will become part of the permanent collection of Wesleyan University Libraries.  The journal usually will require that the journal be the first publisher of the article.

The Office of Graduate Student Services requires submission of two final copies of the thesis.  It is recommended that you use your full legal name on the abstract (if any) and the title page.  Please make certain that your name appears exactly the same way in all places.  Some graduate programs may have additional requirements regarding the format of the thesis.  Students should check with their faculty advisor.