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Citation Guide (MLA 9th Edition)

How to cite sources according to MLA
This page has been updated to MLA 9

Theses and Dissertations

Theses and dissertations are written to fulfill an academic degree requirement, usually at the Masters or PhD level.

For the most part, you can treat them like books with supplemental elements. Here are some additional notes about citing these materials:

  • Since dissertations and theses are often re-worked into articles and books, it is important to note when your source was written
  • Typically, they only have one author
  • The publisher is the degree-granting institution
  • Include the type of degree conferred (e.g., MA, MFA, PhD) and whether the item is a thesis or dissertation
    • Do not include the program, department, school, division, or similar information
  • WARNING: Automatic citation generators often treat online theses and dissertations as websites or journal articles, so their results will be missing key information.

Print versions

Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of Item: Subtitle, if Any. Date of Publication. University or College name, Degree conferred Thesis or Dissertation.

For in-text citations, use (Author's Last Name Page Number)

Works Cited Example

Smith, Kate Elizabeth. The Influence of Audrey Hepburn and Hubert de Givenchy on American Fashion, 1952-1965. 2001. Michigan State University, MA Thesis.
In-Text Citation Example

(Smith 37)

Electronic Versions

Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of Item: Subtitle, if Any. Date of Publication. University or College name, Degree conferred Thesis or Dissertation.

For in-text citations, use (Author's Last Name Page Number)

Works Cited Example

Austin, Katherine. Rasquache Baroque in the Chicana/o Borderlands. 2012. McGill University, PhD thesis. eScholarship, https://escholarship.mcgill.ca/concern/theses/8p58ph61j. Accessed 6 Jan. 2023.

 Note: McGill University's digital repository is called eScholarship.

 Note: Most PhD programs require a dissertation; however, since thesis was the format listed for this work on the repository, that is what has been written in the citation.
In-Text Citation Example

(Austin 172)

Works Cited Example

Grullon, Jaymi Leah. Campy Musical Black Queer Forms: Finding Utopia in Lil Nas X's World of "Montero". St. John's University, MA Thesis. St. John's Scholar, https://scholar.stjohns.edu/theses_dissertations/477

 Note: McGill University's digital repository is called St. John's Scholar.
In-Text Citation Example

(Grullon 158)
  • Last Updated: Mar 3, 2025 11:49 AM
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