How to Cite a Thesis or Dissertation in Bluebook (21st Edition)

This guide explains how to format a thesis or dissertation citation in Bluebook (21st 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 Bluebook (21st Edition):

Template

Author, Title (type of thesis, Institution Year).

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

See footnote 6 (superscript in text).

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

Sarah K. Chen, Algorithmic Fairness in Criminal Sentencing: A Comparative Analysis (Ph.D. dissertation, Yale University 2023).

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Write the author name
Write the author's full name in small capitals (law review) or regular type (practitioner).
2
Write the thesis title
Italicise the full title. Use title case.
3
Add the parenthetical
In parentheses, write the degree type (e.g., Ph.D. dissertation, S.J.D. dissertation, LL.M. thesis), the university name, and the year (no comma before the year).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using 'thesis' instead of 'dissertation' for doctoral work.
Not italicising the title.
Placing the university and year outside the parenthetical.
Omitting the degree type.
Adding a comma between the university name and the year within the parenthetical.

Frequently Asked Questions

What abbreviations does Bluebook use for degree types?

Common abbreviations include: Ph.D. dissertation, S.J.D. dissertation, J.S.D. dissertation, LL.M. thesis, and M.A. thesis. Spell out the degree name if the abbreviation is unclear.

Is there a comma between the university and year in the Bluebook thesis parenthetical?

No. Unlike other citation styles, Bluebook places a space (not a comma) between the university and year within the parenthetical: (Stanford University 2021).

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

Write the author name

Write the author's full name in small capitals (law review) or regular type (practitioner).

Write the thesis title

Italicise the full title. Use title case.

Add the parenthetical

In parentheses, write the degree type (e.g., Ph.D. dissertation, S.J.D. dissertation, LL.M. thesis), the university name, and the year (no comma before the year).

Frequently Asked Questions

What abbreviations does Bluebook use for degree types?

Common abbreviations include: Ph.D. dissertation, S.J.D. dissertation, J.S.D. dissertation, LL.M. thesis, and M.A. thesis. Spell out the degree name if the abbreviation is unclear.

Is there a comma between the university and year in the Bluebook thesis parenthetical?

No. Unlike other citation styles, Bluebook places a space (not a comma) between the university and year within the parenthetical: (Stanford University 2021).