citing phd dissertation chicago style

• Collections
• Research Help
• Teaching & Learning
• Library Home

Chicago Citation Style Guide

• Get Started With Chicago Style
• Note-Bibliography Basics
• Author-Date Basics
• Citing Journal Articles
• Citing Newspaper Articles
• Citing Magazines
• Citing Websites & Blogs
• Sound Recordings
• Radio Program (Podcast)
• Broadcast Radio & TV
• Video Recordings (DVD/VHS)
• TV & Video (Web)
• Images & Art
• Reference Materials
• Religious Texts
• Legal & Government Documents

Theses & Dissertations

Citing a published thesis, citing an unpublished thesis, citing a thesis in online database or repository.

• CMS 14.224: Theses and dissertations

Titles of unpublished works appear in "quotation marks"—not in italics . This treatment extends to theses and dissertations, which are otherwise cited like books.

The kind of thesis, the academic institution, and the date follow the title. Like the publication data of a book, these are enclosed in parentheses in a note but not in a bibliography.

If the document was consulted online, include a URL or, for documents retrieved from a commercial database, give the name of the database and, in parentheses, any identification number supplied or recommended by the database.

For dissertations issued on microfilm, see 14.120 . For published abstracts of dissertations, see 14.197 .

Note-Bibliography

First-name Last-name, "Title of Thesis: Subtitle," (Publisher, Year).

      Mihwa Choi, “Contesting Imaginaires in Death Rituals during the Northern Song Dynasty,” PhD diss., (University of Chicago, 2008).

Short Note:

Last-name, "Title of Thesis."

Choi. “Contesting Imaginaires ."

Bibliography Entry:

Last-name, First-name. "Title of Thesis: Subtitle." Year.

Choi, Mihwa. “Contesting Imaginaires in Death Rituals during the Northern Song Dynasty.” PhD diss. University      of Chicago, 2008.

Author-Date

Text Citation:

(Last-name Year)

(Mihwa 2008)

Reference Entry:

Last-name, First-name. Year. "Title of Thesis: Subtitle."

Choi, Mihwa. 2008. “Contesting  Imaginaires  in Death Rituals during the Northern Song Dynasty.”  PhD diss.       University of Chicago.

Note -Bibliography

Note #. First-name Last-name, "Title of Thesis: Subtitle," Unpublished thesis type, University. Year.

Barry C. Hosking, "The Control of Gastro-intestinal Nematodes in Sheep with the Amino-acetonitrile Derivative, Monepantel with a Particular Focus on Australia and New Zealand," PhD diss., (Ghent University, 2010).

Note #. Last-name,"Title of Thesis."

Barry C. Hosking, "The Control of Gastro-intestinal Nematodes."

Bibliography:

Last-name, First-name. "Title of Thesis: Subtitle." Unpublished thesis type. University. Year.

Hosking, Barry C. "The Control of Gastro-intestinal Nematodes in Sheep with the Amino-acetonitrile Derivative, Monepantel with a Particular Focus on Australia and New Zealand." PhD diss., Ghent University, 2010.

(Hosking 2010)

Last-name, First-name.  Year.  "Title of Thesis: Subtitle." Unpublished thesis type. University.

Hosking, Barry C.    2010.  "The Control of Gastro-intestinal Nematodes in Sheep with the Amino-acetonitrile Derivative, Monepantel with a Particular Focus on Australia and New Zealand." PhD diss., Ghent University.

Note #. First-name Last-name, "Title of Thesis: Subtitle," Database Name (Identifier if given), Year, Internet address.

      12. Meredith Stewart, "An Investigation into Aspects of the Replication of Jembrana Disease Virus, " Australasian Digital Theses Program (WMU2005.1222), 2005, http://wwwlib.murdoch.edu.au/adt/browse/view/adt-MU20051222.104106.

Note #. Last-name, "Title of Thesis."

21. Stewart, "An Investigation into Aspects."

Last-name, First-name. "Title of Thesis: Subtitle." Database Name (Identifier if given), Year. Internet address.

Stewart, Meredith. "An Investigation into Aspects of the Replication of Jembrana Disease Virus ." Australasian Digital Theses Program (WMU2005.1222),  2005. http://wwwlib.murdoch.edu.au/adt/browse/view/adt-MU20051222.104106.

(Stewart 2005)

Last-name, First-name. Year. "Title of Thesis: Subtitle."  Database Name  (Identifier if given), Internet address.

Stewart, Meredith. 2005. "An Investigation into Aspects of the Replication of Jembrana Disease Virus ." Australasian Digital Theses Program  (WMU2005.1222),    http://wwwlib.murdoch.edu.au/adt/browse/view/adt-MU20051222.104106.

• << Previous: Legal & Government Documents
• Next: More Help >>
• Last Updated: Feb 13, 2024 2:03 PM
• URL: https://libguides.wvu.edu/chicago

Home / Guides / Citation Guides / Chicago Style / How to Cite a Thesis/Dissertation in Chicago/Turabian

How to Cite a Thesis/Dissertation in Chicago/Turabian

Academic theses and dissertations can be a good source of information when writing your own paper. They are usually accessed via a university’s database or a third party database, or found on the web. The main difference between a thesis and a dissertation is the degree type they are submitted for:

• Thesis—A document submitted to earn a degree, such as a master’s degree, at a university.
• Dissertation—A document submitted to earn an advanced degree, such as a doctorate, at a university.

This guide will show you how to create notes-bibliography style citations for theses and dissertations in a variety of formats using the 17th edition of the  Chicago Manual of Style.

Guide Overview

• Citing a thesis or dissertation from a database
• Citing a thesis or dissertation from the web
• Citing an unpublished thesis or dissertation

Citing a Thesis or Dissertation from a Database

Citation structure.

1. First name Last name, “Title” (master’s thesis or PhD diss., University Name, year published), page number, Database (Identification Number).

Bibliography:

Last name, First name. “Title.” Master’s thesis or PhD diss., University Name, year published. Database (Identification Number).

Citation Example

1. Kimberly Knight,  “Media Epidemics: Viral Structures in Literature and New Media” (PhD diss., University of California, Santa Barbara, 2011), 17, MLA International Bibliography (2013420395).

Knight, Kimberly.  “Media Epidemics: Viral Structures in Literature and New Media.” PhD diss., University of California, Santa Barbara, 2011. MLA International Bibliography (2013420395).

Citing a Thesis or Dissertation from the Web

1. First name Last name, “Title” (master’s thesis or PhD diss., University Name, year published), page number, URL.

Last name, First name. “Title.” Master’s thesis or PhD diss., University Name, year published. URL.

1. Peggy Lynn Wilson, “Pedagogical Practices in the Teaching of English Language in Secondary Public Schools in Parker County” (PhD diss., University of Maryland, College Park, 2011), 25, https://drum.lib.umd.edu/bitstream/1903/11801/1/Wilson_umd_0117E_12354.pdf.

Wilson, Peggy Lynn. “Pedagogical Practices in the Teaching of English Language in Secondary Public Schools in Parker County.” PhD diss., University of Maryland, College Park, 2011. https://drum.lib.umd.edu/bitstream/1903/11801/1/Wilson_umd_0117E_12354.pdf.

Citing an Unpublished Thesis or Dissertation

In rare cases, you may need to cite a thesis or dissertation that has not yet been published. This is particularly the case if you want to cite your own work or the work of a colleague.

1. First name Last name, “Title” (unpublished manuscript, Month Day, Year last modified), format.

Last name, First name. “Title.” Unpublished manuscript, last modified Month Day, Year. Format.

1. John Doe, “A Study of Generic Topic” (unpublished manuscript, June 19, 2021), Microsoft Word file.

Doe, John. “A Study of Generic Topic.” Unpublished manuscript, last modified June 19, 2021. Microsoft Word file.

Chicago Formatting Guide

Chicago Formatting

• Book Chapter
• Conference Paper
• Musical Recording

Citation Examples

• Thesis or Dissertation
• Encyclopedia
• Sheet Music
• YouTube Video

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!

Let us improve this post!

Tell us how we can improve this post?

Chicago Citation Examples

Writing Tools

Citation Generators

Other Citation Styles

Plagiarism Checker

Upload a paper to check for plagiarism against billions of sources and get advanced writing suggestions for clarity and style.

Get Started

• MyExperience

Chicago Citation Style, 17th Edition: Thesis or Dissertation

• Bibliography
• One Author or Editor
• Multiple Authors or Editors
• Author and Editor
• Author and Translator
• Organization as Author
• Anonymous Work
• Chapter from an Edited Work
• Multivolume Work
• Edition Other than the First
• Dictionary or Encyclopedia
• Journal Article
• Magazine Article
• Newspaper Article
• Book Review
• Basic Webpage
• Blogs and Social Media
• Government Website
• Audio/Video Recording
• Online Multimedia
• Interview or Personal Communication
• Lecture or Presentation
• Primary Source Published in an Edited Collection
• Thesis or Dissertation
• Pamphlet or Brochure
• Sacred Text
• Indirect Source
• Government Document
• Paintings, Illustrations, Tables
• AI Generated Content
• Plagiarism This link opens in a new window

Thesis or Dissertation (14.215)

Example 1 – Print

N:           1. Lindsey Bingley, "From Overalls to Aprons? The Paid and Unpaid Labour of Southern Alberta Women, 1939-1959" (master's thesis, University of Lethbridge, 2006), 58.

B:     Bingley, Lindsey. "From Overalls to Aprons? The Paid and Unpaid Labour of Southern Alberta Women,              1939-1959." Master's thesis, University of Lethbridge, 2006.

Example 2 – Online (Commercial Database)

N:           1. Libra Rose Hilde, "Worth a Dozen Men: Women, Nursing, and Medical Care during the American Civil War" (PhD diss., Harvard University, 2003), 295, ProQuest ( 3091579).

B:     Hilde, Libra Rose. "Worth a Dozen Men: Women, Nursing, and Medical Care during the American              Civil War." PhD diss., Harvard University, 2003. ProQuest (3091579).

Example 3 – Online (Institutional Repository)

N:           1. Hiroshi Ishida, "A Geography of Contemporary Maori Agriculture." (PhD diss., University of Auckland, 1966), 110-16, https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/handle/2292/2489.

B:     Ishida, Hiroshi. "A Geography of Contemporary Maori Agriculture" PhD diss., University of Auckland,              1966. https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/handle/2292/2489.

Help & Guide Contents

Home General Guidelines     Notes     Bibliography Books     One Author or Editor     Multiple Authors or Editors     Author and Editor     Author and Translator     Organization as Author     Anonymous Work     Chapter from an Edited Work     Multivolume Work     Edition Other than the First     Dictionary or Encyclopedia     E-Book Articles     Journal Article     Magazine Article     Newspaper Article     Book Review Websites     Basic Webpage     Blogs and Social Media     Government Website Audiovisual Media     Audio/Video Recording     Online Multimedia Other Sources     Interview or Personal Communication     Lecture or Presentation    Primary Source Published in an Edited Collection     Thesis or Dissertation     Pamphlet or Brochure     Sacred Text     Indirect Source     Government Document     Paintings, Illustrations, Tables Plagiarism

• << Previous: Primary Source Published in an Edited Collection
• Next: Pamphlet or Brochure >>
• Last Updated: Mar 26, 2024 4:09 PM
• URL: https://library.ulethbridge.ca/chicagostyle

Chicago Referencing Guide

• Notes - basic patterns
• Bibliography - basic patterns
• Chapters and other parts of a book
• Journal articles
• Magazine articles
• Newspaper articles
• Reference works

Thesis - general pattern

Thesis, dissertation or exegesis, type of thesis.

• Social media
• Graphic arts
• Live performances
• Exhibition catalogues
• Television and radio
• Advertisements
• Online videos
• Sound recordings
• Legal resources
• Lectures and paper presentations
• Personal communications, unpublished interviews and AI content
• Tables - Examples
• Figures - Examples

Bibliography:

Thesis and dissertation can mean different things, depending on which institution the work is from.

At Auckland University of Technology (and other NZ universities):

• Thesis is used either for a doctoral or a master's degree.
• Dissertation is used either for a master's or a bachelor's degree with honours.
• Exegesis is the written component of a practice-based thesis where the major output is a creative work;  e.g. a film, artwork, novel.

In some other parts of the world, such as the United States, a dissertation may be used for a doctoral degree and a thesis   used for a master's degree. You can use the same citation pattern, no matter what the type of thesis is called.

List the type of thesis as it appears on the title page, but abbreviate dissertation as diss .

• << Previous: Reference works
• Next: Websites >>
• Last Updated: Mar 23, 2024 4:24 PM
• URL: https://aut.ac.nz.libguides.com/turabian

University Libraries

• Contact a Librarian
• Databases A-Z
• Guides by Subject
• Resources by Type
• Find Books & Articles
• Government Information
• Iowa Digital Library
• Iowa Research Online
• Special Collections & University Archives
• Iowa Women's Archives
• Course Reserves
• Office Delivery
• Borrowing From Another Library & Document Delivery
• Undergraduate Research Services (The SEAM)
• Research Consultations
• Instructional Services
• Research Data Services
• Open Educational Resources
• Distance Education
• Scholarly Publishing & Copyright
• More services...
• Check My Account
• Renew My Books
• My Interlibrary Loan
• Recommend Library Purchase
• EndNote Basic
• Departments
• Collection Management
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Publications, Plans & Reports
• Make a Gift
• History of the Library
• For the Media
• Research Guides & Tutorials
• Directions & Maps
• Assistance for Users with Disabilities
• All Campus Libraries
• Learning Commons
• Main Library Gallery
• Art Library
• Business Library
• Engineering Library
• Health Sciences Library
• Law Library
• Music Library
• Sciences Library
• Contact a Librarian or the UI Libraries
• Staff directory by name
• Staff directory by organizational unit
• Campus Libraries

Citation Help: Dissertations & Theses

• Getting Started
• Audio/Visual
• Business Reports and Gray Literature
• Dissertations & Theses
• Conference Sessions & Presentations
• Web Pages and Social Media
• Data Sets, Software & Tests
• In-text Citation
• Audio / Video
• Business Reports
• Dissertations & Theses
• Meetings & Symposia
• Interviews & Other Source Types
• Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
• Websites, Including Social Media
• Other Source Types
• Dataset Citations
• Engineering Citation
• Law Citation Formats
• Health & Medical Citation Formats
• Music Citation Formats
• Science Citation Styles
• Annotated Bibliographies
• Other Citation Managers
• Citation Builders

A quick note:

The following examples follow the Notes-Bibliography style. For Author-Date style, please consult The Chicago Manual of Style 17th Edition.

Chicago AND Turabian Citation Examples: Dissertations & Theses

Chicago and Turabian use the exact same format for citing dissertations and theses.

Important Elements:

• Author 
• Title of Dissertation or Thesis
• Type of Document (Dissertation or Thesis)
• Name of Degree Granting Institution

Thesis or dissertation

1. Author First Last, "Title of Dissertation or Theis" (Doctoral diss. or Master's Thesis, Name of Institution, Year), pp.-pp.

1. Dana S. Levin, "Let's Talk about Sex . . . Education: Exploring Youth Perspectives, Implicit Messages, and Unexamined Implications of Sex Education in Schools" (PhD diss., University of Michigan, 2010), 101-2.

Shortened note

2. Author Last, "Shortened Title," pp.

2. Levin, "Let's Talk about Sex," 98.

Bibliography Entry

Author Last, First. "Title of Dissertation or Thesis." Doctoral diss. or Master's Thesis, Name of Institution, Year.

Levin, Dana S. "Let's Talk about Sex . . . Education: Exploring Youth Perspectives, Implicit Messages, and Unexamined Implications of Sex Education in Schools." PhD diss., University of Michigan, 2010.

Examples courtesy of  The Turabian 8th edition .

Chicago/Turabian Examples by Source

•    Articles
•    Audio & Video
•    Books
•    Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
•    Dissertations & Theses
•    Websites, Including Social Media
•    Other Source Types

Ask a Librarian

Librarians are available to help you with your questions. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions you might have regarding citation styles, citation management, etc.

Ask a question below or contact your subject specialist librarian for more help!

Useful Resources for Chicago/Turabian

Check out the  Chicago Manual of Style's Shop Talk website  for more great information about using the Chicago Manual of Style through the links below!

• Shop Talk for Students
• Formatting a paper in Chicago Style
• What's the difference between Chicago and Turabian?!?

• << Previous: Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
• Next: Websites, Including Social Media >>
• Last Updated: Feb 23, 2024 6:30 PM
• URL: https://guides.lib.uiowa.edu/citationhelp

Chicago 17th edition notes and bibliography

• Introduction
• Author, title, date
• Book chapter
• ChatGPT and other generative AI tools
• Journal article
• Social Media
• Ancient sources
• Book review
• Dictionary or encyclopaedia

Citing theses

• Personal communication
• Newspaper or magazine articles
• Manuscripts
• Conference papers
• Legal materials

Titles of theses and dissertations appear in quotation marks otherwise they are cited like books.

The kind of thesis, the academic institution, and the date follow the title. Like the publication data of a book, these are enclosed in parentheses in a note but not in a bibliography.

If the document was consulted online, include a URL or, for documents retrieved from a commercial database, the name of the database and, in parentheses, any identification number supplied or recommended by the database.

• << Previous: Dictionary or encyclopaedia
• Next: Personal communication >>
• Last Updated: Apr 18, 2024 1:05 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.uq.edu.au/referencing/chicago17-notes-bibliography

Fast and free citation generator APA 6th and 7th ed. • MLA 8th ed. • Chicago 16th ed.

• Create Title Page
• Style Guide
• Manage Bibliographies

Mindfullness & COVID-19

• General Format Rules
• General Rules – Bibliography
• Encyclopedia & Dictionary
• Government Publication
• Social media
• Dissertation/Thesis
• Online Video
• Audio/Podcast
• Lecture/Speech

Chicago Style Guide

Thesis/dissertation – chicago bibliography, general tips.

• Titles of unpublished works appear in quotation marks—not in italics. This treatment is applied to theses and dissertations.

Thesis/Dissertation Print

Last , First M . " Thesis/Dissertation Title ." PhD diss., [OR] Master's thesis , Academic institution , Year .

1. Mihwa Choi, "Contesting Imaginaires in Death Rituals during the Northern Song Dynasty," (PhD diss., University of Chicago, 2008).

2. Choi "Contesting Imaginaires".

Choi, Mihwa. "Contesting Imaginaires in Death Rituals during the Northern Song Dynasty." PhD diss., University of Chicago, 2008.

Thesis/Dissertation Commercial Database

For items retrieved from a commercial database, add the name of the database and an accession number following the facts of publication. This dissertation cited below is shown as it would be cited if it were retrieved from ProQuest's database for dissertations and theses.

Last , First M . " Thesis/Dissertation Title ." PhD diss., [OR] Master's thesis , Academic institution , Year . Database name ( accession number ).

Choi, Mihwa. "Contesting Imaginaires in Death Rituals during the Northern Song Dynasty." PhD diss.,, University of Chicago, 2008. ProQuest (AAT 3300426).

Thesis/Dissertation Web

Last , First M . " Thesis/Dissertation Title ." PhD diss., [OR] Master's thesis , Academic institution , Year . http:// www.url.com

Johnson, Shakela Carion. "An Examination of the Social Characteristics and Beliefs of Delinquent and Non-Delinquent Youth." PhD thesis. Auburn University, 2007. http://search.proquest.com/docview/304897390?accountid=12528

1. Mihwa Choi, "Contesting Imaginaires in Death Rituals during the Northern Song Dynasty," (PhD diss., University of Chicago, 2008), ProQuest (AAT 3300426).

Choi, Mihwa. "Contesting Imaginaires in Death Rituals during the Northern Song Dynasty." PhD diss., University of Chicago, 2008. ProQuest (AAT 3300426).

Chicago/Turabian/SBL Style Guide (Notes-Bibliography)

• Format for Paper
• Citation Placement
• Reference (encyclopedias, dictionaries, or lexicons)
• Books / eBooks

Citing a Thesis or Dissertation

• Format for A Thesis or Dissertation
• Government Documents
• Other Resources
• Format of the Reference Page
• Grad Ministry
• Contact the Library
• Theses and dissertations are cited much like books except for the title in enclosed in quotation marks.
• After the author and tile, list the kind of paper (degree level and thesis or dissertation), the academic institution, and the date. This replaces the normal publication data (publisher name, place, and date of publication).
• Abbreviate dissertation as diss.

Bibliography:

Author's Last Name, Author's First Name. "Title of the Work: Subtitle of the Work." Degree Level Kind of Paper., University Name, Year of Degree.

1. Author's First and Last Names, "Title of Work: Subtitle of the Work" (Degree Level Kind of Paper, University Name, Year of Degree), page number.

Navarro-Garcia, Guadalupe. "Integrating Social Justice Values in Educational Leadership: A Study of African American and black University Presidents." PhD diss., University of California, Los Angeles, 2016.

1. Guadalupe Navarro-Garcia, "Integrating Social Justice Values in Educational Leadership: A Study of African American and black University Presidents" (PhD diss, University of California, Los Angeles, 2016).

• << Previous: Theses and Dissertations
• Next: Format for A Thesis or Dissertation >>
• Last Updated: Oct 18, 2023 11:09 AM
• URL: https://libguides.hiu.edu/chicago

Cite A Dissertation in Chicago Manual of Style citation style

Powered by chegg.

• Select style:
• Archive material
• Chapter of an edited book
• Conference proceedings
• Dictionary entry
• Dissertation
• DVD, video, or film
• E-book or PDF
• Edited book
• Encyclopedia article
• Government publication
• Music or recording
• Online image or video
• Presentation
• Press release
• Religious text

Notes-Bibliography Format

Reference list.

Place this part in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your assignment.

In-text citation

Place this part right after the quote or reference to the source in your assignment.

Author-Date Format

Popular chicago manual of style citation guides.

• How to cite a Book in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Website in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Journal in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a DVD, video, or film in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Online image or video in Chicago Manual of Style

Other Chicago Manual of Style Citation Guides

• How to cite a Archive material in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Artwork in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Blog in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Broadcast in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Chapter of an edited book in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Conference proceedings in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Court case in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Dictionary entry in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Dissertation in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a E-book or PDF in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Edited book in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Email in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Encyclopedia article in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Government publication in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Interview in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Legislation in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Magazine in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Music or recording in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Newspaper in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Patent in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Podcast in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Presentation or lecture in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Press release in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Religious text in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Report in Chicago Manual of Style
• How to cite a Software in Chicago Manual of Style

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Chicago Manual of Style 17th Edition

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Please note that although these resources reflect the most recent updates in the The Chicago Manual of Style  (17 th  edition) concerning documentation practices, you can review a full list of updates concerning usage, technology, professional practice, etc. at  The Chicago Manual of Style Online .

Introduction

The Chicago Manual of Style  (CMOS) covers a variety of topics from manuscript preparation and publication to grammar, usage, and documentation, and as such, it has been lovingly dubbed the “editor's bible.”

The material on this page focuses primarily on one of the two CMOS documentation styles: the Notes-Bibliography System (NB) , which is used by those working in literature, history, and the arts. The other documentation style, the Author-Date System, is nearly identical in content but slightly different in form and is preferred by those working in the social sciences.

Though the two systems both convey all of the important information about each source, they differ not only in terms of the way they direct readers to these sources, but also in terms of their formatting (e.g., the position of dates in citation entries). For examples of how these citation styles work in research papers, consult our sample papers: 

Author-Date Sample Paper

NB Sample Paper

In addition to consulting  The Chicago Manual of Style  (17th edition) for more information, students may also find it useful to consult Kate L. Turabian's  Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations  (8th edition). This manual, which presents what is commonly known as the "Turabian" citation style, follows the two CMOS patterns of documentation but offers slight modifications suited to student texts.

Notes and Bibliography (NB) in Chicago style

The Chicago Notes and Bibliography (NB) system is often used in the humanities to provide writers with a system for referencing their sources through the use of footnotes, endnotes, and through the use of a bibliography. This offers writers a flexible option for citation and provides   an outlet for commenting on those sources, if needed. Proper use of the Notes and Bibliography system builds a writer’s credibility by demonstrating their accountability to source material. In addition, it can protect writers from accusations of plagiarism, which is the intentional or accidental uncredited use of source material created by others.

Introduction to Notes

In the Notes and Bibliography system, you should include a note (endnote or footnote) each time you use a source, whether through a direct quote, paraphrase, or summary. Footnotes are added at the end of the page on which the source is referenced, while endnotes are compiled at the end of each chapter or at the end of the entire document.

In either case, a superscript number corresponding to a note, along with the bibliographic information for that source, should be placed in the text following the end of the sentence or clause in which the source is referenced.

If a work includes a bibliography, which is typically preferred, then it is not necessary to provide full publication details in notes. However, if a bibliography is not included with a work, the first note for each source should include  all  relevant information about the source: author’s full name, source title, and facts of publication. If you cite the same source again, or if a bibliography is included in the work, the note only needs to include the surname of the author, a shortened form of the title (if more than four words), and the page number(s). However, in a work that does not include a bibliography, it is recommended that the full citation be repeated when it is first used in a new chapter.

In contrast to earlier editions of CMOS, if you cite the same source two or more times consecutively, CMOS recommends using shortened citations. In a work with a bibliography, the first reference should use a shortened citation which includes the author’s name, the source title, and the page number(s), and consecutive references to the same work may omit the source title and simply include the author and page number. Although discouraged by CMOS, if you cite the same source and page number(s) from a single source two or more times consecutively, it is also possible to utilize the word “Ibid.,” ( from the Latin ibidem, which means “in the same place,”) as the corresponding note. If you use the same source but a draw from different new page, the corresponding note should use “Ibid.” followed by a comma and the new page number(s).

In the NB system, the footnote or endnote itself begins with the appropriate full-sized number, followed by a period and then a space.

Introduction to Bibliographies

In the NB system, the bibliography provides an alphabetical list of all sources used in a given work. This page, most often titled Bibliography, is usually placed at the end of the work preceding the index. It should include all sources cited within the work and may sometimes include other relevant sources that were not cited but provide further reading.

Although bibliographic entries for various sources may be formatted differently, all included sources (books, articles, websites, etc.) are arranged alphabetically by author’s last name. If no author or editor is listed, the title or, as a last resort, a descriptive phrase may be used.

Though useful, a bibliography is not required in works that provide full bibliographic information in the notes.

Common Elements

All entries in the bibliography will include the author (or editor, compiler, translator), title, and publication information.

Author Names

The author’s name is inverted in the bibliography, placing the last name first and separating the last name and first name with a comma; for example, John Smith becomes Smith, John.

Titles of books and journals are italicized. Titles of articles, chapters, poems, etc. are placed in quotation marks .

Publication Information

The year of publication is listed after the publisher or journal name .

Punctuation

In a bibliography, all major elements are separated by periods.

For more information and specific examples, see the sections on  Books  and  Periodicals .

Please note that this OWL resource provides basic information regarding the formatting of entries used in the bibliography. For more information about Selected Bibliographies, Annotated Bibliographies, and Bibliographic Essays, please consult Chapter 14.61 of  The Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition).

• Link to facebook
• Link to linkedin
• Link to twitter
• Link to youtube
• Writing Tips

How to Cite a Thesis or Dissertation in Chicago Footnote Referencing

2-minute read

• 6th May 2020

Have you found useful ideas or data in someone else’s dissertation or thesis to support an argument in your own work? Our guide below explains how to cite a thesis or dissertation correctly in the Chicago footnote style.

Footnote Citation for a Thesis or Dissertation

The Chicago Manual of Style ’s footnote referencing system uses superscript numbers to point to citations. For instance:

Usually at the end of a sentence, like this. 1

The footnote format for a thesis or dissertation in Chicago referencing is similar to the one used for a book . The main difference is that you should use quote marks instead of italics for the title:

n. Author name, “Title of paper” (type of paper, academic institution, year of completion), page number, URL/database name (document ID).

Of course, you only need to give a URL or database name and ID if you accessed the paper online! To cite page 42 of John Smith’s printed PhD thesis, then, your footnote would look like this:

1. John Smith, “Useful Ideas for Research” (PhD diss., University of Learning, 2006), 42.

If you’re citing only an abstract, simply add the word “abstract” after the title:

2. Tom Persson, “Great Thoughts and Stuff,” abstract, (master’s thesis, Educational Establishment of City Name Here, 2012), 81, https://CityNameUniversity.edu/1901.11/39144.

Find this useful?

Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.

For repeat citations, use the standard shortened footnote format .

The Bibliography Entry

The bibliography entry for a thesis or dissertation will be similar to the first footnote citation. However, there are a few differences in the format:

• You will need to use a period between each element, not a comma.
• The first author’s name should be inverted (i.e., “Surname, First Name”)
• You do not need parentheses for the additional paper information (i.e., the paper type, institution, and year of completion).
• No page number is required.

So, bibliography entries for these sources should look like this:

Author Surname, Author First Name. “Title of paper.” Type of paper, academic institution, year of completion. URL/database ID.

Thus, you would present your bibliography entries as follows:

Persson, Tom. “Great Thoughts and Stuff.” Abstract. Master’s thesis, Educational Establishment of City Name Here, 2012. https://CityNameUniversity.edu/1901.11/39144.

Smith, John. “Useful Ideas for Research.” PhD diss., University of Learning, 2006.

The points above will help you cite a dissertation or thesis in Chicago footnote referencing. Want further help checking your references and writing are error free? Our team of expert proofreaders is available 24/7.

Share this article:

Post A New Comment

Got content that needs a quick turnaround? Let us polish your work. Explore our editorial business services.

How to cite the cdc in apa.

If you’re writing about health issues, you might need to reference the Centers for Disease...

5-minute read

Six Product Description Generator Tools for Your Product Copy

Introduction If you’re involved with ecommerce, you’re likely familiar with the often painstaking process of...

3-minute read

What Is a Content Editor?

Are you interested in learning more about the role of a content editor and the...

4-minute read

The Benefits of Using an Online Proofreading Service

Proofreading is important to ensure your writing is clear and concise for your readers. Whether...

6 Online AI Presentation Maker Tools

Creating presentations can be time-consuming and frustrating. Trying to construct a visually appealing and informative...

What Is Market Research?

No matter your industry, conducting market research helps you keep up to date with shifting...

Make sure your writing is the best it can be with our expert English proofreading and editing.

Citing Sources

• Introduction
• Additional Resources
• A Brief Note on MLA 8th Edition

Need assistance? Get in touch!

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 931-540-2560

• Paraphrases & Summaries

Chicago Style can use one of two methods for in-text footnotes. Here at Concordia University, most of your classes that use Chicago will use the notes-bibliography method.

Notes-Bibliography means that when you cite a source, you provide a superscript note , such as a footnote , and an entry in your bibliography at the end of the paper.

There are two ways you'll use other people's words in your work.

• Paraphrases & Summaries: using the author's ideas in your own words
• Quotations: using the author's exact words

The following tabs provide guidelines for in-text footnotes in both of these situations.

PARAPHRASES & SUMMARIES

Guideline: No quotation marks required; may or may not include author's name in the text.

According to Davis, when they learned of an ape's ability to use sign language, both linguists and animal behaviorists were taken by surprise. 1

When they learned of an ape's ability to use sign language, both linguists and animal behaviorists were taken by surprise. 2

Rule: Introduce the quotation with a signal phrase, and place the superscript note at the end, after the closing quotation marks. (Signal phrases may or may not include the author's name.)

As Davis reported, "If the existence of a signing ape was unsettling for linguists, it was also startling news for animal behaviorists." 3

Rule: When the quotation is 5 lines or more (about 100 words), do not use quotation marks, but indent the quote .5" into its own block of text. The blocked quotation should be single-spaced .

Students having a hard time finding databases isn't a new phenomenon. At the University of Washington, they have problems too.

With the addition of so many new databases to the campus online system, many students were having difficulty locating the database they needed. At the same time, the role of Session Manager had evolved. The increased importance of the Session Manager as a selection tool made it a part of the navigation process itself. 4

Footnote Example:

4. Karen Eliasen, Jill McKinstry, Beth Mabel Fraser, and Elizabeth P. Babbitt, "Navigating Online Menus: A Quantitative Experiment," College & Research Libraries 58, no. 6 (November 1997): 510.

Bibliography Formatting Basics

• Formatting the Bibliography
• URLs vs DOIs

Chicago Style has a few formatting guidelines for the notes.

• Use superscript format and start with the number 1 .
• Place the note number at the end of the clause or sentence that refers to the source and after all punctuation except for dashes (—).
• The first time you cite a source, provide all information about it in the note: author’s full name, title of the source, and publication information.
• The next time you cite that source, you only need to provide the author's last name, a shortened source title, and the page number where you found the information.
• If you cite the same source and the same page consecutive times , use the word " Ibid " (a shorted form of the Latin ibidem, meaning “in the same place”).
• If you cite the same source but a different page number , use the word " Ibid " and follow it with a comma and the different page number .

Here are the formatting guidelines for the reference list.

• The reference list should start on a separate page at the end of your paper.
• Use margins no less than 1” and no greater than 1.5” .
• Title the page Bibliography , centered at the top (no bold, italics, quotation marks, etc.).

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Etiam at porttitor massa. In non cursus lectus. Fusce eget risus vitae tellus venenatis vestibulum a sed tellus.

• Single-space each individual entry, but provide an extra line space between each entry.
• Alphabetize the list by each source's first author’s last name . If there is no author, start with the first significant word in the title.
• In titles of articles, books, and other sources, capitalize each word, except for articles (the, an), prepositions, or conjunctions, unless one is the first word of the title or subtitle.

URLs (uniform resource locators) provide the location for a source on the Internet. However, URLs can often change, which causes problems for references because we're trying to send our readers to a specific location.

That location problem is where DOIs come in. DOI stands for digital object identifier . DOIs provide static, permanent online locations for sources. They're also noticeably shorter than most URLs, which is handy!

• A DOI Primer An introduction to DOIs, includes links to CrossRef and its Free DOI Lookup . (By Chelsea Lee, APA Style Blog .)
• A DOI and URL Flowchart Answers questions about finding DOIs and what to do when they're not available. (By Chelsea Lee, APA Style Blog ).

If you can't find the DOI on either the article or the database record page, you can look it up on CrossRef.org's  Free DOI Lookup form. Scroll down to the bottom and type in the first author's last name and the title of the article.

Bibliography Entries

• Conferences
• Legal Sources

BOOKS, including eBOOKS & REFERENCE BOOKS

The basic format is:

Footnote (First Note)

1. First_name Last_name, Title of Book: Subtitle of Book (City of Publication: Publisher, Publication Year), page numbers.

Footnote (Succeeding Notes)

2. Last_name, Shortened Title of Book, page numbers.

Bibliography Entry

Last_name, First_name. Title of Book: Subtitle of Book. City of Publication: Publisher, * Publication Year.

* Don't include the parts of publishers' names that are not required to locate the publisher. For example: The, Publishers, Co., Ltd., or Inc. However, keep the words Books, Sons, and Brothers . The word Press can be kept or omitted depending on the publisher's name. Keep Press in situations where the names could be confusing without it ( Free Press ) or when part of the name of a university press.

Specific Examples:

ARTICLES (JOURNAL, MAGAZINE, & NEWSPAPER)

Journal — Footnote (First Note)

1. First_name Last_name, "Title of Article," Title of Journal Volume, no. Issue (Publication Date): page numbers.

Journal — Footnote (Succeeding Notes)

2. Last_name, "Shortened Title of Article," page numbers.

Journal — Bibliography Entry

Last_name, First_name. "Title of Article: Subtitle of Article." Title of Journal Volume, no. Issue (Publication Date): page numbers.

Magazine/Newspaper — Footnote (First Note)

1. First_name Last_name, "Title of Article," Title of Magazine or Newspaper, Publication Date, page numbers.

Magazine/Newspaper — Footnote (Succeeding Notes)

Magazine/Newspaper — Bibliography Entry

Last_name, First_name. "Title of Article: Subtitle of Article." Title of Magazine or Newspaper, Publication Date.

Notes & Exceptions:

• Include a DOI if it's provided for electronic articles. If no DOI is available, use the periodical's homepage URL instead.
• If you provide the URL , state it as http://www.URL.com . You don't need to provide a access date unless required by your professor. [See the box to the right—"URL vs DOI"—for additional information about URLs and DOIs.]
• Chicago Style states that you only have to provide an issue number if each issue's pagination starts at page 1 . However, it also states "it is never wrong to include the issue number, and doing so can be a hedge against other errors" (p. 732, section 14.180). So, if in doubt, go ahead and include it. ^_^ To find out if the pagination continues from issue to issue, check the page numbers. High page numbers indicate continuous pagination . If you're still not sure, go to the journal's homepage and look up the issues in that volume. Find the page numbers for the first article in each issue.
• Journal articles usually only need the year . (But some may specify a season or month.)
• Magazine, newspaper, and newsletter articles require the year and the exact date (month or month and day).

ONLINE SOURCES

1. First_name Last_name, "Title of Web Page," Name of Website or Publishing Organization, Publication Date and/or Access Date (if available), URL.

2. Last_name, "Shortened Title of Web Page."

Last_name, First_name. "Title of Web Page." Name of Website or Publishing Organization. Publication Date and/or Access Date (if available). URL.

Note: Chicago citation for online sources contains the following pieces.

• author(s) name(s),
• webpage title (in quotation marks) or
• website title (if applicable),
• publishing organization (if applicable),
• publication/modification date or access date, and

MEDIA (AUDIO/VISUAL) MATERIALS

1. First_name Last_name, Title of Work, Format, directed/performed by First_name Last_name (Original Release Year; Publication City: Studio/Distributor, Video Release Year), Medium.

2. Last_name, Shortened Title of Work.

Last_name, First_name. Title of Work. Format. Directed/Performed by First_name Last_name. Original Release Year. Publication City: Studio/Distributor, Video Release Year. Medium.

TECHNICAL AND RESEARCH REPORTS

1. First_name Last_name, Title of Report: Subtitle of Report (City of Publication: Publisher, Publication Year), page numbers.

2. Last_name, Shortened Title of Report, page numbers.

Last_name, First_name. Title of Report: Subtitle of Report. City of Publication: Publisher, Publication Year.

Additional Notes:

• Format references for reports similarly to how you format references for books .
• If the report has a number (report number, contract number, etc.), include it the title and before the publisher information. If the report doesn't have a number, leave that notation out of the reference.
• If you access a report online , provide a URL after the publisher information.

COURSE MATERIALS

• It's important to keep in mind that the reference list is designed to provide information describing the source .

We knew beforehand that we should always bring our textbooks with us to class. 42

42. Joe Schmoe, e-mail message to class, September 3, 2014.

CONFERENCE, MEETING, & SYMPOSIUM MATERIALS

Presentation — Footnote (First Note)

1. First_name Last_name, "Title of Presentation" (presentation, Organization, Location, Date).

Presentation — Footnote (Succeeding Notes)

2. Last_name, "Shortened Title of Presentation."

Presentation — Bibliography Entry

Last_name, First_name. "Title of Presentation." Presentation at Organization, Location, Date.

Paper Presentation — Footnote (First Note)

1. First_name Last_name, "Title of Paper" (paper presented at the annual meeting for Organization, Location, Date).

Paper Presentation — Footnote (Succeeding Notes)

2. Last_name, "Shortened Title of Paper."

Paper Presentation — Bibliography Entry

Last_name, First_name. "Title of Paper." Paper presented at the annual meeting for Organization, Location, Date.

Published Proceedings — Footnote (First Note)

1. First_name Last_name, "Title of Article," In Title of Proceedings, edited by First_name Last_name, Pages. Location of Conference, Dates of Conference (Location: Organization/Publisher, Year).

Published Proceedings — Footnote (Succeeding Notes)

2. Last_name, "Shortened Title of Article."

Published Proceedings — Bibliography Entry

Last_name, First_name. "Title of Article." In Title of Proceedings, edited by First_name Last_name, Pages. Location of Conference, Dates of Conference. Location: Organization/Publisher, Year.

• Unpublished presentation sessions should follow the first example above.
• Unpublished paper or poster sessions should follow the second example above.
• Published papers or conference proceedings should follow the third example above.

Chicago style for interviews includes: the person being interviewed (or the person sending the communication), the interviewer (if known), information about the place and date of the interview/communication (if known).

LEGAL MATERIALS

The basic formats are:

These are basic examples for citing legal materials; for more information, see the latest edition of The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (19th ed., 2010), which is the source for Chicago legal citation style.

Common Abbreviations

Cong. H. S. Reg. Res. F. F.2d

U.S. Congress House of Representatives Senate Regulation Resolution Federal Reporter Federal Reporter, Second Series

F.3d F. Supp. U.S.C. Cong. Rec. Fed. Reg. U.S. S. Ct.

Federal Reporter, Third Series Federal Supplement United States Code Congressional Record Federal Register United States Supreme Court Reports Supreme Court Reporter

• Note that legal sources are cited in the footnotes only—no bibliography entries. (See Section 14.283)
• << Previous: Additional Resources
• Next: Additional Resources >>
• Last Updated: Dec 7, 2023 11:04 AM
• URL: https://libguides.columbiastate.edu/citations

• Bibliography
• More Referencing guides Blog Automated transliteration Relevant bibliographies by topics
• Automated transliteration
• Relevant bibliographies by topics
• Referencing guides

Dissertation (thesis): how to cite in Chicago Style – notes and bibliography (17th ed.)?

Create a spot-on reference in chicago 17 and 16, general rules.

Citing dissertations, master's theses, etc. under the requirements of The Chicago Manual of Style is specific due to the particularities of this type of source. Thus, a bibliographic reference should include the university responsible for the preparation and defense of the work and the type of work. The title of the dissertation is put between quotation marks. Use the following templates for references:

Reference in a bibliography:

Author . " Title ." Work type , University , year . URL .

Author , " Title " ( work type , University , year ), number of the cited page , URL .

Short note:

Author , " Title ," number of the cited page .

For a dissertation published online, it is allowed to indicate the database from which it is available and its publication number in the database instead of the URL address.

To order and indicate correctly all reference elements, we recommend using our online reference generator .

Examples of references in a bibliography

Bolton, Emma Victoria. "The Barriers and Facilitators to Stopping Inappropriate Medicines ('Deprescribing') for Older People Living in Care Homes." PhD thesis, University of Leeds, 2020. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/27649/ .

Alotaibi, Sarah. "A Biophysically-Based Skin Reflectance Model for Face Analysis." PhD thesis, University of York, 2019. White Rose eTheses Online.

Examples of notes

1. Emma Victoria Bolton, "The Barriers and Facilitators to Stopping Inappropriate Medicines ('Deprescribing') for Older People Living in Care Homes" (PhD thesis, University of Leeds, 2020), 11, http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/27649/ .

2. Sarah Alotaibi, "A Biophysically-Based Skin Reflectance Model for Face Analysis" (PhD thesis, University of York, 2019), 41, White Rose eTheses Online.

3. Bolton, "Stopping Inappropriate Medicines ('Deprescribing')," 11.

4. Alotaibi, "Skin Reflectance Model," 42.

Other citation styles:

• What is APA Style (7th ed.)?
• Examples of bibliographic references in APA (7th ed.)
• APA 7 vs APA 6: key differences
• How to cite authors?
• How to format the references page with APA (7th ed.)?
• In-text citations
• Archival document
• Book chapter
• Conference paper
• Dictionary/encyclopedia/dictionary entry/encyclopedia article
• Dissertation (thesis)
• Journal article
• Newspaper article
• Press release
• Religious text
• Social media post
• Software / mobile app
• Video (online)
• Video game / computer game
• What is MLA Style (8th ed.)?
• Examples of references in works cited in MLA (8th ed.)
• How to format the works cited page in MLA (8th ed.)?
• What is Chicago Style?
• Examples of bibliographic references in Chicago Style – notes and bibliography (17th ed.)
• How to format the bibliography page?
• Notes and in-text citations
• Examples of bibliographic references in Chicago Style – author-date (17th ed.)
• What is Harvard referencing style?
• Examples of bibliographic references in Harvard style
• Online video
• What is IEEE Style?
• Examples of bibliographic references in IEEE Style
• How to format the references pages in IEEE Style?
• What is Vancouver Style?
• Examples of bibliographic references in Vancouver Style

Citation guides

All you need to know about citations

How to cite a master's thesis in Chicago

To cite a master's thesis in a reference entry in Chicago style 17th edition include the following elements:

• Author(s) of the thesis: Give first the last name, then the name as presented in the source (e. g. Watson, John). For two authors, reverse only the first name, followed by ‘and’ and the second name in normal order (e. g. Watson, John, and John Watson). For more than seven authors, list the first seven names followed by et al.
• Title of the thesis: Give the title in quotation marks.
• Degree: Type of degree.
• University: Give the name of the institution.
• Year of publication: Give the year of publication as presented in the source.

Here is the basic format for a reference list entry of a master's thesis in Chicago style 17th edition:

Author(s) of the thesis . " Title of the thesis ." Degree , University , Year of publication .

Take a look at our reference list examples that demonstrate the Chicago style guidelines in action:

A psychology master's thesis with one author

Bauger, Lars . " Personality, Passion, Self-esteem and Psychological Well-being among Junior Elite Athletes in Norway ." Master's Thesis , University of Tromsø , 2011 .

A master's thesis with one author

Aube, Kyle Eric . " A Comparison of Water Main Failure Prediction Models in San Luis Obispo, CA ." Master's Thesis , Cal Poly , 2019 .

This citation style guide is based on the Chicago Manual of Style (17 th edition).

More useful guides

• Chicago Citation Quickguide
• How to Cite A Dissertation
• Citing and referencing: University theses and dissertations

More great BibGuru guides

• AMA: how to cite a magazine article
• APA: how to cite a newspaper article
• MLA: how to cite an undergraduate thesis

Automatic citations in seconds

Citation generators

Alternative to.

• NoodleTools
• Getting started

From our blog

• 📚 How to write a book report
• 📝 APA Running Head
• 📑 How to study for a test