Preparing Your Thesis or Dissertation
The official version of your thesis/dissertation is the electronic version, known as the ETD (for electronic thesis or dissertation). The university has established minimal requirements as outlined in ADV Form 11 with examples in ADV Form 11a. The college has additional requirements defining the formatting of the table of contents, chapter headings, and other elements. These requirements are defined by the format in the example documents at the bottom of the page.
The elements of the thesis/dissertation are
Abstract page
Acknowledgements (optional)
List of Tables (optional — include only if there are tables)
List of Figures (optional — include only if there are figures)
Nomenclature (optional)
Submitting Your Thesis or Dissertation
Prepare your thesis/dissertation as a one-sided document using the LaTeX or MS Word examples below.
Upload the thesis/dissertation to GradProgress system for approval.
Optional: If you, your advisor, or family would like a bound copy, you have two options: print the one-sided thesis/dissertation one-sided. Submit it for binding (see ETD Printing and Binding). or, create a two-sided version and print it two sided. Note the pagination in the front matter will be different from the ETD version, but this is OK. Submit it for binding (see ETD Printing and Binding).
Instructions for Using the LaTeX Files
The example LaTeX files are contained in the zip file
BYU-ECEn_thesis_template.zip
The zip file contains the files
byustyle.sty Do not modify this file as it defines most of the formatting.
master.tex This is the LaTex file you will modify a little. In this file, the following are defined:
one-sided or two-sided document (lines 6, 10)
thesis or dissertation (line 21)
your committee (lines 25-29)
the title (line 176)
your name (line 179)
the chapters (lines 189, 190, plus more as needed)
the bibliography (line 195)optional appendixes (lines 199, 200, plus more as needed)
abstract.tex Contains the abstract text.
acknowledgements.tex Contains the acknowledgement text.
nomenclature.tex Contains the LaTeX commands to create the optional nomenclature list.
exampleFiles/chapter1.tex Contains the LaTeX commands that define the content of chapter 1.
exampleFiles/appendixa.tex Contains the LaTeX commands that define the content of the first (optional) appendix.
exampleFiles/appendixb.tex Contains the LaTeX commands that define the content of the second (optional) appendix.
exampleFiles/refs.bib The BibTex file defining the citations.
exampleFiles/some_pic.eps The encapsulated postscript version of the figure in the example in Appendix A.
exampleFiles/some_pic.pdf The portable document format version of the figure in the example in Appendix A.
exampleFiles/stuff.eps The encapsulated postscript version of the figure in the example in Chapter 1.
exampleFiles/stuff.pdf The portable document format version of the figure in the example in Chapter 1.
automatically created LaTeX files *.aux, *.bbl, *.blg, *.brf, *.dvi (not with PDFLaTeX), *.lof, *.log, *.lot, *.out (not with PDFLaTeX), *.pdf (only with PDFLaTeX)
Compiling the files in the "exampleFiles" directory will produce an example of formatted equations, tables, figures, etc.
Instructions for Using the MS Word File
The example MS Word document is
BYU-ECEn_thesis.docx
This is an MS Word document whose "styles" have been set up to meet the university and college requirements:
Heading 1 is the chapter heading style
Heading 2 is the chapter section style
Heading 3 is the chapter subsection style
Normal is the body text style (12 point, Times New Roman font, with the proper page margins)
Reference Text is the style for the bibliography
The file is not really a "template" in the formal sense, but rather an example of a document that conforms to the university and college standards. It is intended to be the one-sided document that you submit for approval and turn into the ETD.
The file is set up to be a thesis. A few changes are required for a dissertation:
Change "thesis" to "dissertation" on title page.
Change "Master of Science" to "Doctor of Philosophy" on the title page.
Include five committee members instead of three on the title page.
Change "Master of Science" to "Doctor of Philosophy" on the abstract page.
To create the optional two-sided version for two-sided printing and binding, do the following:
Insert a blank page after the cover page.
Insert a blank page after the abstract page.
Insert a blank page after the acknowledgements page (if you have an acknowledgements page)
Insert blank pages as required so that the Table of Contents, List of Tables, List of Figures, and Nomenclature start on odd-numbered pages (an odd-numbered page is a "right-hand" page in the two-sided mode). Never insert more than one blank page. It is either no blank pages or one blank page.
Make sure new chapters start on odd-numbered page (a right-hand page). This might require the insertion of a blank page at the end of the preceding chapter.
Make sure the References start on odd-numbered page (a right-hand page). This might require the insertion of a blank page at the end of the preceding chapter.
Make sure the Appendixes (if present) start on odd-numbered pages (right-hand pages). For the first Appendix, this might require the insertion of a blank page after the References. For the second Appendix, this might require the insertion of a blank page after the first Appendix. And so on.
This web page is provided for convenience and does not represent the official policy of the University. For official information please consult the Graduate Studies site at gradstudies.byu.edu.