The basic APA citation format for dissertations and theses is similar to the APA format for citing books, although there are variations if the dissertation or thesis is unpublished. Consider a dissertation or thesis "unpublished" if full text is not available for download or purchase from the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database.
For more information on APA style, consult the official manual or the "How to Cite Sources in APA Format" LibGuide.
Citing a dissertation or thesis found in the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database (aka, "published"):
Format:
Author. (Year). Title of dissertation or thesis (Doctoral dissertation/Master's thesis). Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Database. (Accession, publication, or order number).
Example:
Olds, J. L. (2008). An investigation of district promotion, retention, and intervention policies and practices for elementary students in four Southern California counties (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Database. (AAT 3308864).
Damon, A. (2010). Spirituality in the therapeutic process (Master's thesis). Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Database. (AAT 1482012).
Note: You may have to look carefully at the record in ProQuest to determine the publication number.
Citing a print dissertation or thesis found in a library and not available through ProQuest Dissertations and Theses (aka, "unpublished"):
Format:
Author. (Year). Title of dissertation or thesis (Unpublished doctoral dissertation/master's thesis). Name of institution, Location.
Example:
Mizuma, H. (1999). A survey of music therapists and children with special needs in California (Unpublished master's thesis). Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA.
Heil, J. A. (2009). Authors, audiences, and Elizabethan prologics (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Texas A&M University, Texas.
Note: Most APU dissertations should also appear in ProQuest. If you are going to cite an APU dissertation, you should check ProQuest to see if a publication number is available, then follow the guidelines for citing dissertations found in ProQuest. This is the most consistent way to ensure that readers of your paper will be able to retrieve the original source. Some APU theses do not appear in ProQuest, and should be cited using the print format (second set of examples above).
The basic MLA citation format for dissertations and theses is similar to the MLA format for citing books, although there are variations if the dissertation or thesis is unpublished. Consider a dissertation or thesis "unpublished" if full text is not available for download or purchase from the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database.
For more information on APA style, consult the official manual or the "How to Cite Sources in MLA Format" LibGuide.
Citing a dissertation or thesis found in the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database (aka, "published" dissertations and theses):
Format:
Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Dissertation or Thesis. Thesis (include degree type)/Diss. School, Year. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. Web. Date of access.
Examples:
Phillips, Sheri L. Predictors of Vocational Calling in Christian College Students: A Structural Equation Model. Diss. Azusa Pacific U, 2009. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. Web. 3 May 2010.
Jeffrey, Bobbie Ann. British and American Approaches to Shakespeare: A Selective Study. MA thesis. U of Missouri - Kansas City, 2009. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. Web. 3 May 2010.
Citing a dissertation or thesis found in a library and not available through ProQuest Dissertations and Theses (aka, "unpublished" dissertations and theses):
Format:
Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Dissertation or Thesis." Thesis (include degree type)/Diss. School, Year. Print.
Examples:
McVay, Lori Ann. "Women as Relational Leaders: Nature or Nurture?" MA thesis. Azusa Pacific U, 2006. Print.
Heil, Jacob Allen. "Authors, Audiences, and Elizabethan Prologics." Diss. Texas A&M U, 2009. Print.
The Turabian style of citing sources allows for two different methods: the "notes-bibliography style," which uses footnotes/endnotes and a bibliography, and "parenthetical citations-reference list style," which uses parenthetical in-text citations and a reference list.
These examples demonstrate how to cite dissertations and theses in Turabian style. For more information on Turabian style, consult the official manual or the "How to Cite Sources in Turabian Format" LibGuide.
Notes-bibliography style:
Note:
1. Gary M. Pritchard, "A Grounded Theory of the Factors That Mediate the Effect of a Strengths-Based Educational Intervention Over a Four-Month Period" (PhD diss., Azusa Pacific University, 2009), 37.
2. David E. Gross, "Assessment of Information Literacy Instruction" (master's thesis, San Jose State University, 2009), 19.
Bibliography:
Pritchard, Gary M. "A Grounded Theory of the Factors That Mediate the Effect of a Strengths-Based Educational Intervention Over a Four-Month Period." PhD diss., Azusa Pacific University, 2009.
If you found the dissertation through a database, include the database name, URL, and date of access:
Gross, David E. "Assessment of Information Literacy Instruction." Master's thesis, San Jose State University, 2009. In ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, http://0-proquest.umi.com.patris.apu.edu/pqdweb?did=1869384541&sid=2&Fmt=2&clientId=23686&RQT=309&VName=PQD (accessed May 3, 2010).
Parenthetical citations-reference list style:
Reference List:
Pritchard, Gary M. 2009. A grounded theory of the factors that mediate the effect of a strengths-based educational intervention over a four-month period. PhD diss., Azusa Pacific University.
If you found the dissertation through a database, include the database name, URL, and date of access:
Gross, David E. 2009. Assessment of information literacy instruction. Master's thesis, San Jose State University. In ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, http://0-proquest.umi.com.patris.apu.edu/pqdweb?did=1869384541&sid=2&Fmt=2&clientId=23686&RQT=309&VName=PQD (accessed May 3, 2010).
