How to Cite a Thesis or Dissertation in IEEE

This guide explains how to format a thesis or dissertation citation in IEEE. 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 IEEE:

Template

[1] A. A. Author, "Title of thesis," Type of thesis, Dept., Univ., City, State/Country, Year.

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

[1]

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

[1] T. R. Williams, "Machine learning approaches to early detection of neurodegenerative diseases," Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. Comput. Sci., Stanford Univ., Stanford, CA, USA, 2021.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Assign a reference number
Use the next sequential number in square brackets.
2
List the author
Write the author's initials followed by surname.
3
Write the thesis title
Place the title in double quotation marks using sentence case.
4
Add the thesis type
Write the type using IEEE abbreviations: 'Ph.D. dissertation' for doctoral work, 'M.S. thesis' for master's work.
5
Include department, university, location, and year
Abbreviate the department name (e.g., 'Dept. Comput. Sci.'), university name (e.g., 'Stanford Univ.'), city, state, and country. End with the year and a full stop.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not placing the thesis title in quotation marks.
Using 'PhD thesis' instead of the IEEE abbreviation 'Ph.D. dissertation'.
Omitting the department name.
Forgetting to abbreviate the university name.
Not including the city and state/country.

Frequently Asked Questions

What abbreviation does IEEE use for doctoral dissertations?

IEEE uses 'Ph.D. dissertation' (with periods in Ph.D.). For master's theses, use 'M.S. thesis' or 'M.A. thesis' depending on the degree.

Do I abbreviate the university name in IEEE?

Yes. IEEE abbreviates university names: 'Univ.' for University, 'Inst.' for Institute, 'Polytech.' for Polytechnic. For example: 'Massachusetts Inst. Technol.' or 'Stanford Univ.'

Should I include the department?

Yes. IEEE style includes the abbreviated department name. Example: 'Dept. Elect. Eng.' for Department of Electrical Engineering.

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

Assign a reference number

Use the next sequential number in square brackets.

List the author

Write the author's initials followed by surname.

Write the thesis title

Place the title in double quotation marks using sentence case.

Add the thesis type

Write the type using IEEE abbreviations: 'Ph.D. dissertation' for doctoral work, 'M.S. thesis' for master's work.

Include department, university, location, and year

Abbreviate the department name (e.g., 'Dept. Comput. Sci.'), university name (e.g., 'Stanford Univ.'), city, state, and country. End with the year and a full stop.