How to Cite a Thesis or Dissertation in Turabian 9
Complete guide with footnote and bibliography examples for citing published and unpublished theses and dissertations in Turabian 9th edition.
Unpublished Thesis or Dissertation
Titles of theses and dissertations are placed in quotation marks, not italics. In a note, the institution and date are placed in parentheses; in the bibliography, they are not.
First Footnote (N)
1. Firstname Lastname, "Title of Thesis" (master's thesis or PhD diss., University Name, Year), page(s).
Bibliography Entry (B)
Lastname, Firstname. "Title of Thesis." Master's thesis or PhD diss., University Name, Year.
Example: Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation
First Footnote
1. Sophie Tremblay, "Social Media Use and Adolescent Identity Formation in Rural Quebec" (PhD diss., McGill University, 2025), 112.
Shortened Footnote
2. Tremblay, "Social Media Use," 145.
Bibliography Entry
Tremblay, Sophie. "Social Media Use and Adolescent Identity Formation in Rural Quebec." PhD diss., McGill University, 2025.
Published Dissertation (Database or Repository)
If the dissertation is available in a commercial database, include the database name and the identification number.
First Footnote
1. Juanita Smith, "Spiritual Preparation of Emerging Lay Leaders for Christian Ministry" (DMin project, Azusa Pacific University, 2007), 124, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.
Bibliography Entry
Smith, Juanita. "Spiritual Preparation of Emerging Lay Leaders for Christian Ministry." DMin project, Azusa Pacific University, 2007. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.
Thesis from an Institutional Repository
First Footnote
1. Linh Nguyen, "Urban Heat Islands and Equity: A Case Study of Vancouver Neighbourhoods" (master's thesis, University of British Columbia, 2023), 59, https://doi.org/10.14288/1.0123456.
Bibliography Entry
Nguyen, Linh. "Urban Heat Islands and Equity: A Case Study of Vancouver Neighbourhoods." Master's thesis, University of British Columbia, 2023. https://doi.org/10.14288/1.0123456.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should the title be italicized or in quotation marks?
In Turabian style, thesis and dissertation titles are placed in quotation marks, not italics.
Do I abbreviate "dissertation"?
Yes. Turabian recommends abbreviating "dissertation" as "diss."