How to Cite a Thesis or Dissertation in ASA (7th Edition)

This guide explains how to format a thesis or dissertation citation in ASA (7th 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 ASA (7th Edition):

Template

Author, First Name. Year. "Title of Thesis." Type of thesis, Department, University Name, Location.

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

(Chen 2022)

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

Chen, Amy. 2022. "Social Networks and Health Outcomes in Immigrant Communities." PhD dissertation, Department of Sociology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
List the author
Invert the name: Last, First.
2
Add the year
Write the year followed by a period.
3
Write the thesis title
Place in double quotation marks with headline-style capitalization.
4
Specify type, department, and university
Write "PhD dissertation" or "MA thesis" (lowercase), then the department name, university name, and location, each separated by commas.
5
Add URL if accessed online
If accessed online, add: Retrieved Date (URL).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not placing the thesis title in quotation marks.
Omitting the department name.
Using "Doctoral Dissertation" instead of "PhD dissertation" (lowercase d).
Forgetting the university location.
Using initials instead of full first names.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does ASA include the department name for theses?

Yes. ASA recommends including the department: PhD dissertation, Department of Sociology, University Name, Location.

Is the thesis title italicized or in quotation marks?

In quotation marks. ASA uses quotation marks for unpublished works including theses and dissertations.

Do I capitalize "dissertation" in ASA?

No. ASA uses lowercase: "PhD dissertation" and "MA thesis". The degree abbreviation (PhD, MA) is capitalized.

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

Invert the name: Last, First.

Add the year

Write the year followed by a period.

Write the thesis title

Place in double quotation marks with headline-style capitalization.

Specify type, department, and university

Write "PhD dissertation" or "MA thesis" (lowercase), then the department name, university name, and location, each separated by commas.

Add URL if accessed online

If accessed online, add: Retrieved Date (URL).