How to Cite a Thesis or Dissertation in ACS (3rd Edition)

This guide explains how to format a thesis or dissertation citation in ACS (3rd Edition). Follow the format template below, refer to the real example, and use the step-by-step instructions to build your citation correctly.

Format Template

The general pattern for citing a thesis or dissertation in ACS (3rd Edition):

Template

Author, A. A. Title of Thesis. Type of Thesis, University Name, Location, **Year**.

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

⁶ (superscript number)

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

Park, S. J. Development of Metal-Organic Frameworks for Carbon Capture. Ph.D. Dissertation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, **2022**.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
List the author
Write the author's last name, comma, and initials.
2
Write the thesis title
Use headline-style capitalization. Do not italicize. End with a period.
3
Specify the thesis type
Write "Ph.D. Dissertation" or "M.S. Thesis" followed by a comma.
4
Add the institution and location
Write the university name, comma, city, state abbreviation (or country), comma.
5
Include the year
Add the year in bold, followed by a period.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not specifying whether it is a Ph.D. Dissertation or M.S. Thesis.
Omitting the university location.
Italicizing the thesis title (it should not be italicized in ACS).
Forgetting to bold the year.
Using "doctoral thesis" instead of the ACS-standard "Ph.D. Dissertation" or "M.S. Thesis".

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I italicize a thesis title in ACS style?

No. Thesis and dissertation titles are not italicized in ACS style. Only journal abbreviations and published book titles are italicized.

What is the difference between a thesis and a dissertation in ACS?

ACS uses "M.S. Thesis" for master's-level work and "Ph.D. Dissertation" for doctoral-level work. Use the term that matches the degree.

How do I cite a thesis found in an online repository?

Add the repository URL and access date at the end: ...Year. URL (accessed Month Day, Year).

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your thesis or dissertation:

Author
Year
Title
Type (doctoral dissertation or master's thesis)
University name
Database or repository (if applicable)
URL (if available online)

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Step-by-Step Guide

List the author

Write the author's last name, comma, and initials.

Write the thesis title

Use headline-style capitalization. Do not italicize. End with a period.

Specify the thesis type

Write "Ph.D. Dissertation" or "M.S. Thesis" followed by a comma.

Add the institution and location

Write the university name, comma, city, state abbreviation (or country), comma.

Include the year

Add the year in bold, followed by a period.