Topics Discussed in Greater Detail on the Dissertation Office Web Site

The Dissertation Office web site (http://phd.lib.uchicago.edu/) includes a sample title page and other examples, expands on the topics below, and provides information on other topics as well.

Abstract

All students must prepare two copies of a separate abstract, entitled Abstract, with the following information at the top of the first page:

• the title of your dissertation (using headline style)
• your name
• your dissertation advisor's name and title
• your dissertation committee members' names and titles

This abstract does not need to be printed on special paper. The text should be in English, even if your dissertation is in another language. Otherwise the text should be the same as the text of the abstract within your dissertation, if you included an abstract. The text should be double-spaced and no more than 350 words. Margins and so forth should match the formatting and style of your dissertation, even though it is a separate document. The first page of this abstract is page 1. The second page of this abstract, if there is one, is page 2. Do not include graphs, charts, tables, or illustrations in your abstract. Avoid abbreviations. Use word substitutes for formulas, symbols, superscripts, subscripts, Greek characters, etc. Do include all appropriate accents and diacritical marks.

Boxes

If you need manuscript boxes to submit the two, separately boxed, final copies of your dissertation, you may purchase boxes (two boxes for a dollar) from the Dissertation Office.

Copies

You may wish to order copies of your dissertation for your own use. The Dissertation Office does not provide this service. A few options:

• The University of Chicago Bookstore (773-702-7712)
• The University of Chicago Copy Center (773-822-0111)
• Heckman Bindery (http://www.thesisondemand.com/)
• ProQuest/UMI (Publishing Your Graduate Work with UMI Dissertation Publishing)

Copyright Permissions

Since you are publishing your dissertation, if you use previously copyrighted material beyond "fair use," you must obtain written permission from the copyright holder to use the item in your dissertation.

Copyright Registration

You own the copyright for your own dissertation. Registration is optional. You may register your copyright through ProQuest for an additional fee of $65.00, or you may register on your own at another time.

Draft Review Process

Our staff is willing to look at representative sections or the whole manuscript once at the beginning of each quarter. After the draft review deadline we focus on final manuscripts for the current quarter. Drafts must be submitted unbound and printed on one side of the paper only, double-spaced and in 12-point font. We cannot accept your draft as a fax or e-mail attachment. We do not review multiple versions of manuscript drafts, whether complete or partial.

Forms

1. Departmental Approval Form: The departmental approval form must be signed in ink (no stamps; no faxes; no photocopies) by your department chair, and must be submitted at the same time as the 2 final copies of the dissertation.
2. Library Form: The library form helps the Library catalog your dissertation correctly. One copy of your dissertation becomes part of the Library's circulating collection.
3. ProQuest/UMI Publishing Agreement and Dissertation Submission Form: Publishing Your Graduate Work with UMI Dissertation Publishing, from ProQuest Information and Learning, contains the agreement and submission form plus some additional forms and explanatory material. Publishing with ProQuest/UMI is one of the requirements for receiving a doctoral degree from the University of Chicago. You must sign the publication agreement. You may choose to restrict search engine access and third party sales, but you may not choose an embargo. The University of Chicago wants your dissertation to be released immediately.
4. Survey of Earned Doctorates: This online survey from NORC gathers data serving policymakers at the federal, state and local levels. For those who prefer hard copy to the web version, it is also available as a PDF and in paper from the Dissertation Office.

Paper

Only University of Chicago Dissertation Bond or Permalife Bond is acceptable. University of Chicago Dissertation Bond is available at the University Bookstore. Permalife Bond is available from several mail order companies. We suggest you order paper six weeks before you need it.

Table of Contents

To ensure accuracy, the table of contents should be generated automatically.

Title Page

The title page layout must be followed exactly, with appropriate substitutions for title, division, department or committee, your name and the convocation month and year, all arranged on the page as in the sample. Please note:

• The words VOLUME ONE or VOLUME TWO are included only in those dissertations which have multiple volumes.
• You have the choice of printing ONE, I, or 1, TWO, II or 2 and so on to designate the volume number. Do not use all three.
• If you are graduating from one of the professional schools, do not list an "area" or concentration; omit the "department" line.
• The "Convocation month" on the title page is the month of convocation, not the month of defense. Do not print the word "Convocation" in addition to the month and year.