eTD Creation and Submission

1. Where do I find specifications on submission format: margins, point sizes, writing style, etc.?
2. What if I want to have a journal article as a chapter in my thesis or dissertation?
3. How do I cite an eTD?
4. Why should I submit electronically?
5. Should I urge my committee members to review my document electronically?

1. Where do I find specifications on submission format: margins, point sizes, writing style, etc.?

   Thesis and dissertation guidelines and format requirements can be found in the "Thesis Guide" on the Graduate School's web site at http://www.etd.psu.edu/thesis/thesis.guide.html.

2. What if I want to have a journal article as a chapter in my thesis or dissertation?

   If you have already published an article that you want to use, in whole or in substantial part, as a chapter in your thesis or dissertation, you should first check any contract you signed with the publisher of the journal to see if you need to seek permission for reuse of it. (If you signed no contract, then the publisher only obtained the right of first publication in that journal and all other rights reside with you.) If your contract is unclear on this point, you should seek clarification from the publisher about any restrictions there may be on your reuse of it in your dissertation and, if that is approved, the subsequent availability of your dissertation over the Internet.

3. How do I cite an eTD?

   Refer to the Chicago Manual of Style and see also "The Columbia Guide to Online Style."

4. Why should I submit electronically?

   By preparing an eTD and submitting it electronically you will learn about electronic document preparation and about digital libraries. These skills can help prepare you for your future role in the Information Age, whether you teach, conduct research, or use the research results of others.

   Furthermore, you may be able to better convey the message of your thesis or dissertation in an electronic document. Color diagrams, color images, hypertext links, audio, video, animations, spreadsheets, databases, simulations, and virtual reality worlds can be included in your document.

   By submitting electronically you also allow your university to fulfill more economically its responsibilities of recording and archiving your thesis or dissertation. This is a key responsibility of the university, which is easier and less costly to fulfill when the work flow involves electronic documents.

5. Should I urge my committee members to review my document electronically?

   A PDF file created in Acrobat allows viewers to mark up the file and add notes that can be sent back electronically to the author. The choice is strictly up to the committee members. However, there are advantages to reviewing the work electronically. For example, a committee member on sabbatical may have access to the Internet and could review your work online from a distant location.