MLA Dissertations & Theses Citations

    Learn to cite dissertations, theses, and other academic works in MLA format with detailed examples and best practices.

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    Published: September 15, 2025
    By heypaperhero Team

    Basic Format for Dissertations and Theses

    MLA format for dissertations and theses depends on whether the work is published or unpublished.

    MLA Dissertation Citation Format:

    Author, First Last. "Title of Dissertation." Dissertation, Institution Name, Year. Database Name, URL.

    Published Dissertations

    Most dissertations accessed through databases like ProQuest are considered published.

    ProQuest Example:

    Johnson, Sarah M. "Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in Coastal Communities." Dissertation, University of California San Diego, 2022. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global, www.proquest.com/docview/2654321098.

    In-text citation: (Johnson)

    Elements:

    • Author: Sarah M. Johnson
    • Title: "Climate Change Adaptation Strategies" (in quotes)
    • Type: Dissertation
    • Institution: University of California San Diego
    • Year: 2022
    • Database: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global
    • URL: www.proquest.com/docview/2654321098

    Unpublished Dissertations

    For dissertations not available through commercial databases, often accessed directly from the institution.

    Example:

    Chen, David. "Machine Learning Applications in Medical Diagnosis." Dissertation, Stanford University, 2023.

    In-text citation: (Chen)

    Note: No database or URL needed for truly unpublished works.

    Master's Theses

    Master's theses follow the same format as dissertations but use "Thesis" instead of "Dissertation."

    Published Thesis Example:

    Martinez, Ana. "Social Media Impact on Political Engagement Among College Students." Thesis, Boston University, 2023. BU Libraries Digital Collections, hdl.handle.net/2144/45678.

    Unpublished Thesis Example:

    Williams, Robert. "Renewable Energy Policy Analysis." Thesis, University of Texas at Austin, 2023.

    Institutional Repositories

    Many universities make dissertations and theses available through their own digital repositories.

    Example:

    Thompson, Lisa K. "Urban Planning and Community Development in Post-Industrial Cities." Dissertation, University of Michigan, 2022. Deep Blue Documents, hdl.handle.net/2027.42/171234.

    In-text citation: (Thompson)

    Undergraduate Honor Theses

    Undergraduate honor theses or senior projects follow similar formatting.

    Example:

    Parker, Jennifer. "The Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Academic Performance." Honor thesis, Middlebury College, 2023.

    International Dissertations

    For dissertations from institutions outside the United States.

    Example:

    Schmidt, Klaus. "Sustainable Architecture in Northern European Cities." Dissertation, Technical University of Munich, 2022. European Doctoral Database, www.eurodoc.net/thesis/12345.

    Key Citation Elements

    Required Elements:

    • • Author name
    • • Title (in quotation marks)
    • • Type (Dissertation/Thesis)
    • • Institution name
    • • Year of completion
    • • Database/source (if applicable)

    Optional Elements:

    • • Department or school
    • • Advisor name
    • • Page count
    • • DOI or handle
    • • Access date (if required)

    Best Practices

    MLA Dissertation Citation Tips:

    • Publication Status: Determine if the work is published (in a database) or unpublished
    • Access Method: Note how you accessed the work (database, institutional repository, etc.)
    • Persistent URLs: Use DOIs or handle URLs when available for stability
    • Institution Name: Use the full, official name of the university
    • Currency: Recent dissertations may be more relevant for current research