How to Cite a Thesis or Dissertation in CSE (8th Edition)

This guide explains how to format a thesis or dissertation citation in CSE (8th 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 CSE (8th Edition):

Template

Author. Year. Title [dissertation/master's thesis]. [Place]: University.

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

(Williams 2021)

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

Williams TR. 2021. Machine learning approaches to early detection of neurodegenerative diseases [dissertation]. [Stanford (CA)]: Stanford University.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Format the author name
List the author as Last Name followed by initials with no periods.
2
Add the year
Place the year after the author, followed by a period.
3
Write the thesis title
Use sentence case. Do not italicize or use quotation marks.
4
Add the document type
Place "[dissertation]" or "[master's thesis]" in square brackets immediately after the title, before the period.
5
Include the university
Write the place of publication in square brackets (with state/country abbreviation), followed by a colon and the university name.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using quotation marks or italics around the thesis title (CSE uses neither).
Using "PhD diss." instead of "[dissertation]" in square brackets.
Omitting the square brackets around the document type designation.
Forgetting the square brackets around the place of publication.
Adding periods between author initials.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does CSE label dissertations differently from other styles?

CSE uses "[dissertation]" in square brackets as a content designator, rather than "PhD diss." (Chicago/Turabian) or "Doctoral dissertation" (APA). This is a distinctive feature of CSE formatting.

Why is the place of publication in square brackets?

CSE uses square brackets around the place name for theses because the location is inferred from the university rather than stated by a commercial publisher. This is standard CSE notation for non-commercial publications.

Should I include a DOI or URL for an online thesis in CSE?

Yes. If the thesis is available online, include the DOI or URL at the end of the reference, preceded by an access date in square brackets.

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

Format the author name

List the author as Last Name followed by initials with no periods.

Add the year

Place the year after the author, followed by a period.

Write the thesis title

Use sentence case. Do not italicize or use quotation marks.

Add the document type

Place "[dissertation]" or "[master's thesis]" in square brackets immediately after the title, before the period.

Include the university

Write the place of publication in square brackets (with state/country abbreviation), followed by a colon and the university name.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using quotation marks or italics around the thesis title (CSE uses neither).

Using "PhD diss." instead of "[dissertation]" in square brackets.

Omitting the square brackets around the document type designation.

Forgetting the square brackets around the place of publication.

Adding periods between author initials.