Before you start
In addition to these format instructions, be sure you are aware of the following:
- general requirements for the research and document as specified by your department and your advisor
- rules regarding committee or readers
Before you finish
Early in the term in which you intend to graduate, you should start looking at the detailed information on how to submit the electronic essay, thesis or dissertation on Pitt Public Health's graduation information page. Questions should be directed to the school's Office of Student Affairs.
- Generic research document outline
Many students have found the following description of the components of a typical thesis/dissertation helpful as they begin to plan the layout of the document. Some essay writers may also choose to use this format.
- Other sources of format information
You will also find it useful to refer to a style guide such as Strunk and White's Elements of Style or the Chicago Manual of Style. Consult with your department and/or advisor about recommended style guides.
- Bibliography
You may find it useful to use software such as Endnote for managing your bibliography.
- ETD Website
Your basic source for format instructions is the University’s ETD website. This includes instructions, templates, forms, support, and a portal to view all University of Pittsburgh theses and dissertations that have been submitted in the past. However, there are some minor differences in format requirements between the general University guidelines and Pitt Public Health. Some instructions on the University ETD site may conflict with Pitt Public Health instructions, in which case you should follow the school instructions outlined in the sections below.
MPH Essay Format
The preferred method for formatting your essay is to the template the school offers (email stuaff@pitt.edu for an updated template). If you do not use the template, be sure that your essay formatting follows ETD guidelines. However, the essay sections should be ordered and numbered as in the table below, which is slightly different from the university ETD instructions. Your final essay can be deposited as a Word document or as a PDF.
Required order and numbering of pages for essays:
- Title page: Small Roman numeral i assumed, but not numbered
- Committee page: Small Roman numeral ii
- Copyright: Small Roman numeral iii
- Abstract: Small Roman numeral continuation
- Table of contents (including appendix titles): Small Roman numeral continuation
- List of tables (if any): Small Roman numeral continuation
- List of figures (if any): Small Roman numeral continuation
- Preface/Acknowledgments (optional, and if used should be brief): Small Roman numeral continuation
- Body of essay: Start with Arabic numeral 1 and continue
- Appendices (if any): Arabic numeral continuation (If there is more than one appendix, denote them with letters, e.g. “Appendix A, Appendix B.” Separate cover sheets for each appendix are not required, although each appendix must begin at the top of a new page. The heading for each appendix is centered without punctuation. The appendix title can either follow the heading or it can be centered below.)
- Bibliography: Arabic numeral continuation
Thesis and Dissertation Format
Follow the ETD guidelines, be sure the title page, committee page, and abstract page have the information as noted in the examples below. You may also use this template for formatting your thesis or dissertation. In addition, Pitt Public Health requires more complete bookmarks than the University guidelines indicate (see below).
Thesis or dissertation title page
Thesis or dissertation committee page
Thesis or dissertation abstract page
- Bookmarks
Essay, theses and dissertations MUST include complete bookmarks. All items in the thesis or dissertation, beginning with the title page and ending with the bibliography, must be bookmarked. This includes headings/subheadings, heading numbers, committee member page, abstract, table of contents, list of tables, list of figures, preface, acknowledgements, appendices, etc. See the ETD bookmark help sheet for instructions on how to insert bookmarks.
- Using published papers in your essay, thesis or dissertation
Some departments and advisors allow students to submit published or publication-ready manuscripts as thesis or dissertation chapters. Such papers may be included either in the body of the document or in the appendix. They must be based on work done during the student’s enrollment at Pitt Public Health. In general, the student should be the primary author on such a paper, but that is not absolutely required. The thesis or dissertation should include a preface listing the authors, the full citation (if published), and the role of the student in the work.
The articles must be logically connected by added text and be integrated into the document in a coherent manner. They must be presented in a manner consistent with the remainder of the text, i.e., identical typeface, paper, margins, and consistent numbering of tables, figures and footnotes. Bibliographic citations should be integrated with those for the rest of the document. Everything must be consistent with University ETD guidelines.
If your article is already published or in press, you will need permission from the publisher in order to reuse the article, unless you own the copyright (see below).
- Copyright general information
The following links contain helpful information on copyright rules.
1. Copyright Information for Graduate Students Writing a Thesis or Dissertation
2. The University Library System’s copyright page.
- Use of copyrighted material
When using text, tables, or figures from a published work, whether your own article or that of another author, you must receive the permission of the journal in which it was published. As a courtesy, you should also request permission of the author. Sample templates for contacting publishers are available here. Many journals have on their websites a “copyright permission request form.”
A copy of the letter or email giving you permission to use the article, table, or figure must be submitted along with other documents that you submit for your essay, thesis or dissertation. Do not incorporate the permission letter into the paper.
- ProQuest will not harvest the thesis or dissertation until it is released from the repository. In other words, ETDs that are embargoed within the Pitt community, will not be harvested by ProQuest until that embargo has expired. Similarly, students' ETDs that have been approved to be kept in the dark archive for one year, will not be harvested by ProQuest until that embargo has expired.
- Any additional services that a student wishes to purchase from ProQuest will be done directly with ProQuest. No checks or money orders should be submitted to you or the University's Registrar's office.