Master's Thesis ETD Submission
All theses must be submitted electronically and meet the formatting and other requirements outlined on the Electronic Theses and Dissertations Submission at GW website.
Contents
- ETD Formatting Requirements
- Submission and Approval Process
- Submission Deadlines
- ETD Resources
- ETD Office Hours
ETD Formatting Requirements
All ETDs must meet the University formatting requirements and the CCAS formatting requirements. These formatting requirements exist to ensure that all those interested in your work will be able to easily read and access your published thesis, as well as ensure that any hardcopies of your document that you order are printed properly. CCAS will double check the formatting of the front pages of your document, but as the author of the ETD you are responsible for making sure that each page of your document is formatted correctly so that it is suitable for publication.
The videos below explain the formatting requirements for each section of the master's thesis ETD in detail.
Please note that as of March 2024, the GW Library is no longer participating in the ETD review process. All webpages referenced in the videos below will redirect to the new GW ETD website that has the same structure and is hosted by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs. The GW Library ETD Administrator will no longer be taking appointments for ETD advising, but all ETD-related questions can still be directed to etds@gwu.edu and ccasgradserv@gwu.edu.
ETD Formatting Resources
Explains how to find:
- The GW ETD website
- University formatting requirements
- Word and LaTex resources
- Writing style and citation guides
- Information about digital accessibility
- CCAS formatting requirements, ETD template, sample format guide
General Formatting Requirements
Includes the formatting requirements for:
- Page Size
- Page Margins
- Font Type and Size
- Line Spacing
- Page Numbers
- Embedding fonts
- Saving as a PDF Document
Section Formatting Requirements Part 1
Includes the formatting requirements for:
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication
- Acknowledgments
- Disclaimer (same as Acknowledgments)
- Abstract of Thesis
Section Formatting Requirements Part 2
Includes the formatting requirements for:
- Table of Contents
- List of Figures
- List of Tables
- List of Symbols & Abbreviations
- Glossary of Terms
- Preface (Same as Glossary of Terms)
- Thesis Statement (Same as Chapter 1)
- Chapters (Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, etc.)
- References, Bibliography, or Works Cited
- Appendices
Submission and Approval Process
- Step 1: ETD Submission
Once your department has approved your thesis and verified that any required revisions have been made, you must complete the following:
- Submit the ETD Access Approval Form to ccasgradserv@gwu.edu by the deadline listed in the Submission Deadlines section.
- Upload your thesis to the ProQuest ETD Administrator platform by the deadline listed in the Submission Deadlines section. The document you submit must meet the University and CCAS formatting requirements outlined on the Electronic Theses and Dissertations Submission at GW website.
- Step 2: CCAS ETD Administrator Review
After you upload your ETD to the ProQuest ETD Administrator platform, a CCAS ETD Administrator will review the formatting of the Title Page and Copyright Page of your document. If necessary, the CCAS ETD Administrator may ask you to submit formatting revisions by email, and these revisions must be submitted by the University ETD Deadline listed in the Submission Deadlines section.
While CCAS will only review the first two pages of your document, you are responsible for ensuring that the formatting of every page of your document meets the University formatting requirements and the CCAS formatting requirements.
- Step 3: CCAS Approval
Once all required formatting revisions have been submitted, CCAS will approve your ETD for publication. You will receive a confirmation email once your ETD has been approved.
- Step 4: ETD Delivered for Publication
Your ETD will be delivered to ProQuest and GW ScholarSpace for publication on or after your degree conferral date. If you have requested to embargo your ETD, your ETD will be published after the embargo period has expired.
ETD Submission and Review Process
How to Complete the ETD Access Approval Form
Submission Deadlines
Students must meet all of the deadlines below in order to be approved for graduation.
| Task | Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apply to Graduate in GWeb | November 15 | March 15 | July 15 |
| Submit the ETD Access Approval Form to ccasgradserv@gwu.edu | December 6 | April 18 | August 8 |
| Upload final thesis to the ProQuest ETD Administrator platform (Do not upload your thesis to ProQuest until it has been approved by your department.) | December 6 | April 18 | August 8 |
| University ETD Approval Deadline: By this deadline, all requested formatting revisions must be complete. | December 13, 2024 at 5:00 PM | April 25, 2025 at 5:00 PM | August 15, 2025 at 5:00 PM |
| Degree conferral date | January 10, 2025 | May 18, 2025 | August 31, 2025 |
ETD Resources
The Electronic Theses and Dissertations Submission at GW website has detailed information about ETD formatting requirements and ETD submission. This website also has Microsoft Word and LaTex help resources, information about digital accessibility, and copyright and publishing resources.
Microsoft Word Formatting Videos
How to Create an Automatic Table of Contents
How to Create an Automatic List of Figures and List of Tables
ETD Office Hours
Virtual ETD office hours are available to CCAS master’s students in November, December, March, April, July, and August. Please feel free to bring any questions you may have, including questions regarding the ETD submission and review process, the ETD Access Approval Form, and the ETD formatting requirements.