How to Cite Dissertations and Theses in Chicago Style
Dissertations and theses represent original research and are important sources for academic work across all disciplines. Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition) provides distinct formats for published and unpublished dissertations in both Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date systems. This guide covers doctoral dissertations, master's theses, and both ProQuest-published and institutional repository versions.
Understanding Dissertation Citations
Dissertations exist in multiple forms: unpublished dissertations held by the degree-granting institution, versions published through ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, and increasingly, open-access versions in institutional repositories. The citation format varies based on how you accessed the dissertation. The Notes-Bibliography system is standard in humanities, while Author-Date is preferred in social sciences.
Chicago Notes-Bibliography: Dissertations
Basic Format for Unpublished Dissertation
Footnote/Endnote (first reference):
First Name Last Name, "Dissertation Title" (PhD diss., University Name, Year), Page.
Shortened note (subsequent references):
Last Name, "Shortened Title," Page.
Bibliography entry:
Last Name, First Name. "Dissertation Title." PhD diss., University Name, Year.
Example: Unpublished Dissertation
First note:
1. Sarah Elizabeth Johnson, "Women's Labor and Social Reform in Progressive Era Chicago" (PhD diss., Northwestern University, 2023), 87.
Shortened note:
2. Johnson, "Women's Labor," 102.
Bibliography:
Johnson, Sarah Elizabeth. "Women's Labor and Social Reform in Progressive Era Chicago." PhD diss., Northwestern University, 2023.
Example: Master's Thesis
Note:
3. Michael Chen, "Digital Preservation Strategies for Academic Libraries" (master's thesis, University of Michigan, 2024), 45.
Bibliography:
Chen, Michael. "Digital Preservation Strategies for Academic Libraries." Master's thesis, University of Michigan, 2024.
Example: Dissertation from ProQuest Database
Note:
4. Amanda Rodriguez, "Environmental Justice Movements in Urban America, 1970-2000" (PhD diss., University of California, Berkeley, 2022), ProQuest (30245678).
Bibliography:
Rodriguez, Amanda. "Environmental Justice Movements in Urban America, 1970-2000." PhD diss., University of California, Berkeley, 2022. ProQuest (30245678).
Example: Dissertation from Institutional Repository
Note:
5. David Lee, "Machine Learning Applications in Historical Text Analysis" (PhD diss., Stanford University, 2023), https://purl.stanford.edu/abc123def.
Bibliography:
Lee, David. "Machine Learning Applications in Historical Text Analysis." PhD diss., Stanford University, 2023. https://purl.stanford.edu/abc123def.
Example: Published Dissertation (as Book)
Note:
6. Rebecca Solnit, River of Shadows: Eadweard Muybridge and the Technological Wild West (New York: Viking, 2003), 123.
Note: When a dissertation is published as a book, cite it as a book, not as a dissertation.
Example: Dissertation Published by University Press
Note:
7. James Baldwin, "The Negro in American Culture" (PhD diss., Columbia University, 1947; repr., Ann Arbor, MI: UMI Research Press, 1991), 67.
Note: If citing a dissertation that was later published, include both original and publication information.
Chicago Author-Date: Dissertations
Basic Format
In-text citation:
(Author Year, Page)
Reference list entry:
Author, First Name. Year. "Dissertation Title." PhD diss., University Name.
Example: Unpublished Dissertation
In-text citation:
(Johnson 2023, 87)
Reference list:
Johnson, Sarah Elizabeth. 2023. "Women's Labor and Social Reform in Progressive Era Chicago." PhD diss., Northwestern University.
Example: Master's Thesis
In-text citation:
(Chen 2024, 45)
Reference list:
Chen, Michael. 2024. "Digital Preservation Strategies for Academic Libraries." Master's thesis, University of Michigan.
Example: Dissertation from ProQuest
In-text citation:
(Rodriguez 2022)
Reference list:
Rodriguez, Amanda. 2022. "Environmental Justice Movements in Urban America, 1970-2000." PhD diss., University of California, Berkeley. ProQuest (30245678).
Example: Dissertation from Institutional Repository
In-text citation:
(Lee 2023)
Reference list:
Lee, David. 2023. "Machine Learning Applications in Historical Text Analysis." PhD diss., Stanford University. https://purl.stanford.edu/abc123def.
When to Use Each System
| Discipline | Recommended System | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| History | Notes-Bibliography | Standard for historical research |
| Literature | Notes-Bibliography | Humanities preference |
| Art History | Notes-Bibliography | Traditional humanities format |
| Sociology | Author-Date | Social science standard |
| Psychology | Author-Date | Emphasizes publication date |
| Education | Author-Date | Social science format |
Common Errors to Avoid
1. Wrong Abbreviation for Degree Type
Use "PhD diss." for doctoral dissertations, "master's thesis" for master's level work, and specific designations like "EdD diss." or "DMA diss." for other doctoral degrees. Never write "dissertation" in full.
2. Confusing Published and Unpublished Dissertations
If a dissertation was revised and published as a book by a commercial or university press, cite it as a book, not as a dissertation. Only cite as a dissertation if you accessed the original dissertation version.
3. Missing ProQuest Number
When citing dissertations accessed through ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database, include the ProQuest order number or document ID in parentheses. This helps readers locate the specific version.
4. Incomplete University Name
Use the complete official name of the degree-granting institution. Write "University of California, Berkeley" not "UC Berkeley." Include campus locations for multi-campus universities.
5. Wrong Punctuation
The dissertation title is in quotation marks, not italics. This distinguishes unpublished dissertations from published books. Use italics only if the dissertation was published as a book.
6. Omitting Access Information
For dissertations accessed online through institutional repositories or ProQuest, include either the URL or ProQuest number to help readers locate the source.
Special Cases and Considerations
International Dissertations
For dissertations from non-U.S. institutions, use the equivalent local term (e.g., "DPhil" for Oxford, "doctorat" for French institutions) or translate to "PhD diss." Include the country in the institutional location.
Example:
8. Emma Thompson, "Victorian Literature and Social Change" (DPhil diss., University of Oxford, 2022).
Dissertations in Progress
If you need to cite an incomplete dissertation, use "diss. in progress" or "work in progress" and provide the expected completion date if known.
Example:
9. Robert Wilson, "Climate Change and Historical Agriculture" (PhD diss. in progress, Yale University, expected 2026).
Dissertations with Multiple Authors
While rare, some professional doctorate programs allow collaborative dissertations. List all authors as you would for any multi-author work.
Chapters from Dissertations
If citing a specific chapter, include the chapter title before the dissertation title:
Note:
10. Lisa Anderson, "Chapter 3: Methodology and Data Collection," in "Educational Outcomes in Rural Communities" (PhD diss., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2023), 67-89.
Finding Dissertation Information
ProQuest Dissertations and Theses
ProQuest is the primary database for North American dissertations. When citing from ProQuest, include the order number found in the database record. This number helps readers locate the exact version, as dissertations may exist in multiple formats.
Institutional Repositories
Many universities now require digital deposit in institutional repositories. These open-access versions often have stable URLs or DOIs. Prefer permanent identifiers (DOIs, handles) over standard URLs when available.
WorldCat Dissertations Database
WorldCat includes dissertation records from libraries worldwide. While useful for locating dissertations, cite the actual source (ProQuest, institutional repository, or physical copy) rather than the WorldCat record.
Why Cite Dissertations
Dissertations represent significant original research and often contain detailed methodology, data, and analysis not available in published articles. In many fields, especially history and the humanities, dissertations are respected primary sources. They document emerging scholarship and can be cited even before being revised for publication.
However, when possible, cite published versions if a dissertation has been revised and published. Published versions undergo additional peer review and are more accessible to readers. Check whether a dissertation author has published articles or books from their dissertation research.
Generate Chicago Citations for Dissertations
Create accurate Chicago-style citations for dissertations and theses in both Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date formats. Perfect for graduate students and researchers across all disciplines.