University of Virginia Health System

Thesis Dissertation

The dissertation represents the summation of your independent research and adequate time must be set aside for preparation of the dissertation and for your thesis committee members to evaluate your work. The dissertation is to be prepared in consultation with your thesis advisor. When the document is complete to the satisfaction of both you and your thesis advisor it should be submitted to the first reader for evaluation before the dissertation can be submitted to your thesis committee. The first reader must have at least one week to evaluate and comment on the dissertation. Any changes to the dissertation deemed necessary by the first reader must be incorporated into the document before it is submitted to the thesis committee. The dissertation must be submitted to your committee a minimum of two weeks prior to your thesis defense.

Two copies of the final, approved dissertations must be brought to the Graduate School Office for inspection of physical standards (see below) for permanent binding. More detailed instructions for typing a dissertation are available in the Graduate School Office, 438 Cabell Hall, (434) 924-7183.

Physical Standards for Preparing Dissertation (University Requirements)

Two clear copies on acceptable thesis paper must be:

• Original title page, signed in black ink by at least two members of your committee at the bottom right hand corner of the title page.
• Title page must have your full legal name as it appears in ISIS
• Abstract of no more than 350 words, double spaced, must be in each copy.
• Hand delivered (not mailed) to the Enrolled Student Office, 438 Cabell Hall. If you cannot deliver your work in person, you must arrange for someone to do it for you.
• Each copy must be in a mailing envelope (not boxes or binders) with the following information written outside:
  • Full name, no initials
  • Shortened title of no more than 36 letters and spaces to be printed on the spine of the binding.
  • Date of Graduation- either May, August, or January 20##
  • Degree and School- e.g. Ph.D. Graduate Arts and Sciences
• Dissertation must be typewritten, double spaced on one side of 8.5'' x 11'' paper.
• Print should be black and the characters consistently clear and dense.
• Paper must have a watermark and be acid free.
• The left margin must be 1.5 inches; top, right and bottom margins must be 1 inch. Crucial because pages are trimmed before binding.
• Each page must be numbered consecutively in the upper right corner of each page-an inch from the top and side to preserve margins.
• Suggested page order: Title page, Copyright page (if applicable), Abstract, Table of Contents (if applicable) Dedication page, Body of Text, References.
• After inspection in 438 Cabell Hall, it must be delivered to printing services, first floor Alderman Library. Binding fee of $16.50 + tax for each copy must be paid upon delivery. Personal copies may be bound for the same price. No changes can be made to the document once it has been turned in.
• Receipt for binding must be returned to the enrolled student office. (438 Cabell)
• Microfilm agreement must be completed for microfilming. A copy of the title page and abstract must accompany the form. There is a $70 fee for microfilming and publishing the abstract.
• A survey of earned doctorates must be completed and ready to turn in to the office at the time of inspection of your dissertation. Forms are available in 438 Cabell.
• If you wish to have your dissertation copyrighted, you may obtain this service through Printing Services for a fee of $50.00. A copyright page must be included in your dissertation with the following information centered at the bottom of the page remembering the 1 inch margin.

line 1	© Copyright by
line 2	Your Full Legal Name
line 3	All Rights Reserved
line 4	August, 2003