Cite a thesis or dissertation in MLA 9
Theses and dissertations change shape depending on degree level, publication status, and where the copy is hosted. In MLA 9 (2021), distinguish Master's theses from doctoral dissertations, then note whether the work is unpublished, in a commercial database, or in an institutional repository. The university name stays central because it identifies the awarding body.
MLA 9 rules for a thesis or dissertation
- Author is the student who submitted the thesis or dissertation.
- Year is the award or publication year shown in the repository record.
- Title is italicized in the reference list.
- Label the work as [Doctoral dissertation] or [Master's thesis].
- Include the university name, then the database, repository, or URL.
- Identify the thesis type and university after the title.
Worked example
MLA 9 · thesis or dissertationA real thesis or dissertation formatted using the MLA 9 rules above.
Howell, Jane M. "Machine reading strategies for historical archives [Doctoral dissertation]." *Stanford Digital Repository*, 2021, purl.stanford.edu/example-howell-2021. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
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