Ph.D. dissertation standards
As part of its collection development policy and to advance scholarship, JKM Library collects one hard-copy of the dissertation written by each Ph.D. degree candidate of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Your dissertation will be bound and made available as part of the print collection.
In addition, you will submit an identical copy in PDF format to ProQuest, which provides the comprehensive service for publishing, archiving, and disseminating graduate research, not to mention allowing you to receive royalties for your published work.
Please consult LSTC's 2023-24 PhD Program Manual, especially "Section 8: PhD Dissertation Policies and Procedures," as you prepare to submit your dissertation.
Guidelines for formatting your dissertation
Depending on your research, the dissertation should conform to the scholarly conventions set forth in either:
- Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations: Chicago Style for Students and Researchers, 9th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2018), or
- The SBL Handbook of Style for Ancient Near Eastern, Biblical, and Early Christian Studies, 2nd ed. (Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 2014).
The dissertation must incorporate all editorial and formatting suggestions made by the dissertation editor.
Submitting an electronic copy of your dissertation to ProQuest
The ProQuest UMI ETD Administrator allows Ph.D. candidates to upload their approved dissertations to ProQuest electronically. Participating in the program:
- significantly reduces publication turnaround time
- eliminates the basic publishing fee for authors.
Participation in the ProQuest UMI ETD program is mandatory for all graduating Ph.D. candidates, along with the submission of a hard-copy of your dissertation to the JKM Library.
The ProQuest UMI ETD website answers many of the questions that you may have in submitting your dissertation to ProQuest. If you have any questions for which you cannot find the answer, you have the option of either contacting ProQuest using an online form (under the Training & Support tab) or calling 1.800.521.0600 (toll-free in the U.S. and Canada). The Interim Director of the JKM Library can also answer some questions and is willing to work one-on-one with you. You can contact her at lfrost@jkmlibrary.org.
Important: The electronic copy submitted to ProQuest must incorporate all editorial and formatting suggestions made by the dissertation editor.
Before submitting your dissertation electronically to the ProQuest UMI ETD Administrator website you should:
- Read, mark and inwardly digest the Resources & Guidelines section of the website, especially the following sections:
- Copyright and your dissertation/thesis (note that you, the author, hold the copyright to your dissertation, not ProQuest)
- Preparing your manuscript for submission (including supplemental files)
- Subject categories (for the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Database)
- Delayed release and other publishing options.
- Decide whether you wish ProQuest to file a copyright application for you with the Library of Congress.
- Embed all fonts in the Word file. Instructions on embedding fonts is available under the Preparing your manuscript for submission portion of the website (p. iii).
- Write an abstract for inclusion in the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Database.
- Decide whether you wish to order personal copies of your dissertation from ProQuest.
When you begin the process of submitting your dissertation (using the Submitting Your Dissertation/Thesis page), you will create a password-protected account. As you submit your dissertation, the ProQuest UMI ETD will guide you through a step-by-step process to completion. Anytime during the submission process you can save your work and exit. After you've completed the process, the Associate Librarian for Public Services will review your submission and submit it to ProQuest/UMI Dissertation Publishing.
Submitting a hard-copy of your dissertation to the JKM Library
One original copy of your dissertation must be submitted to the JKM Library by a date to be determined by the Advanced Studies Office (as published in the Ph.D. Program Manual).
Upon your submission of the hard-copy dissertation to JKM Library and the electronic copy to ProQuest, the Library Director will sign and date the Form K, notifying the Advanced Studies Office that the hard-copy dissertation has been received by the JKM Library and the electronic copy has been submitted to ProQuest.
It is your responsibility to see that your submitted dissertation is complete and in correct order. Neither JKM, nor your advisor, nor the Advanced Studies Office will check for completeness.
If you have additional questions, please contact Laura Frost, Interim Director of the JKM Library at lfrost@jkmlibrary.org.
Paper and printing
As your dissertation will become a permanent part of the library’s collection, the minimum standards for the paper it will be printed on are:
- Quality: archival or acid-free paper
- Size: 8 ½ x 11 inches
- Weight: 20-25 lb. bond
This size, weight and quality of paper may be purchased from Amazon.com. Your dissertation should be printed using a laser or inkjet printer in black ink, and may be printed on both sides. As the hard-copy of the dissertation that is submitted to the library will be bound, the left margin must measure 1 ½ inches. JKM Library uses Wallaceburg Bookbinding to bind dissertations.
A personal print copy of your bound dissertation
You can purchase bound personal copies of your dissertation through ProQuest. Or, as an alternative, you may submit two printed copies of your dissertation to the JKM Library, along with a check or money order to pay for your personal copy, plus cost of shipping. Please contact Laura Frost at lfrost@jkmlibrary.org to determine cost of printing and shipping.
