The Univeristy of Maryland
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) Style Guide

2006 Edition

This Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) Style Guide is intended to assist you in the preparation of your Master's Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation, in most cases the final requirement for your degree.   The Graduate School at the University of Maryland, College Park maintains specific requirements as to the format and appearance of its Theses and Dissertations; such requirements assure a standard of uniformity and aesthetic consistency commensurate with the rigorous academic principles of the University.   In previous years, these formatting requirements were determined primarily by the restrictions associated the process of printing and binding the documents for publication.  Theses and Dissertations completed in accredited Masters and Doctoral programs are published by Proquest Learning Services International through an exclusive arrangement with the Library of Congress.  These documents are also published electronically by the Digital Repository at the University of Maryland (DRUM), a free online archive of research done by members of the University community. 

The flexibility of electronic publishing—fast becoming the standard for Theses and Dissertations—enables the Graduate School to determine its own standards, independent of the printing process.  This guide will assist you in creating a Thesis or Dissertation that conforms to those standards.   Since September 2003, through an arrangement with Proquest / United Microforms International, the University of Maryland, College Park has accepted Theses and Dissertations primarily in electronic format.  Under this arrangement, students submit an electronic version of their Thesis or Dissertation (hereafter referred to as the “Thesis”) directly to Proquest / UMI via the World Wide Web.  Officials from the University of Maryland will then review the document online and request revisions if necessary.   This electronic process is the standard submission procedure for University of Maryland theses; the Graduate School will no longer accept hardcopy thesis or dissertation documents except in special circumstances at the discretion of the Dean of the Graduate School. Complete submission procedures are located in Chapter 4 of this Guide, Submitting Your Document.