Dissertations and theses are substantial scholarly works — extended research projects completed as part of a graduate degree. MLA distinguishes between published dissertations (available through a database like ProQuest or an institutional repository) and unpublished ones (not publicly distributed). The format is similar to a book citation, with the addition of a descriptive label and the granting institution.
Citing dissertations and theses follows the same logic as citing any other MLA source: identify the author, title, and publication context. The main difference is the descriptive label ("Dissertation" or "MA thesis") that tells the reader what kind of work it is and the institution where it was completed.
Published Dissertation — Database (ProQuest)
Most doctoral dissertations in the United States are published through ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global. This database is the primary container.
Basic Format
Author. Title. Dissertation, Institution, Year. Database Name, URL.
Example
Works Cited:
Rivera, Ana. The Poetics of Migration in Contemporary Chicana Literature. Dissertation, U of Texas at Austin, 2023. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, https://www.proquest.com/docview/123456789.
In-text citation:
(Rivera 45)
What to notice:
- The title is italicized (it's a standalone work)
- "Dissertation" is the descriptive label — capitalize it, don't italicize it
- The university name is abbreviated following MLA conventions ("U of Texas at Austin")
- ProQuest is the database container, italicized
- The URL links to the specific record
With a ProQuest Publication Number
Some citations include the ProQuest publication number for easier retrieval:
Rivera, Ana. The Poetics of Migration in Contemporary Chicana Literature. Dissertation, U of Texas at Austin, 2023. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, no. 30123456, https://www.proquest.com/docview/123456789.
Unpublished Dissertation
An unpublished dissertation is one that was completed and submitted to the institution but not distributed through a database or repository. This is less common today, as most institutions now deposit dissertations in a database or digital repository.
Basic Format
Author. Title. Dissertation, Institution, Year.
Example
Works Cited:
Okonjo, Chidinma. Oral Tradition and the Novel Form in West African Women's Writing. Dissertation, U of Lagos, 2019.
In-text citation:
(Okonjo 112)
There's no database or URL because the dissertation isn't publicly available online. A reader would need to contact the institution directly to access it.
Published Master's Thesis
Master's theses follow the same format as dissertations, with "MA thesis," "MS thesis," or just "Thesis" as the descriptive label.
Thesis in a Database
Works Cited:
Larsen, Erik. The Rhetoric of Wilderness in American Nature Writing, 1960–1990. MA thesis, U of Montana, 2021. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, https://www.proquest.com/docview/987654321.
In-text citation:
(Larsen 33)
Thesis in an Institutional Repository
Works Cited:
Nakamura, Yuki. Silence and Space in the Poetry of Matsuo Bashō. MA thesis, Kyoto U, 2022. Kyoto University Research Information Repository, https://repository.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp/handle/2345/67890.
In-text citation:
(Nakamura 18)
Unpublished Master's Thesis
Works Cited:
Chen, Wei. Translating Humor: Challenges and Strategies in Rendering Chinese Xiangsheng for English-Speaking Audiences. MA thesis, U of British Columbia, 2020.
In-text citation:
(Chen 57)
Dissertation from an Institutional Repository
Many universities publish dissertations through their own digital repositories (e.g., DSpace, Digital Commons, institutional library sites). Use the repository as the container:
Works Cited:
Patel, Kavya. Caste, Gender, and Literary Authority in Modern Hindi Fiction. Dissertation, Columbia U, 2024. Columbia Academic Commons, https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/doi/10.7916/abc123.
In-text citation:
(Patel 89)
Works Cited:
Washington, Marcus. Sonic Geographies: Sound, Place, and Identity in Post-Katrina New Orleans Literature. Dissertation, Tulane U, 2023. Tulane University Digital Library, https://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/islandora/object/tulane:12345.
In-text citation:
(Washington 156)
Abbreviating University Names
MLA uses standard abbreviations for university names in citations:
| Full Name | MLA Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| University of Texas at Austin | U of Texas at Austin |
| University of California, Los Angeles | U of California, Los Angeles |
| Columbia University | Columbia U |
| Oxford University | Oxford U |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | MIT |
| University of British Columbia | U of British Columbia |
If your university doesn't have a standard abbreviation, write the full name.
Doctoral Dissertation vs. Master's Thesis — Label Guide
| Degree | Descriptive Label |
|---|---|
| Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) | Dissertation |
| Doctor of Education (EdD) | Dissertation |
| Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) | Dissertation |
| Master of Arts (MA) | MA thesis |
| Master of Science (MS) | MS thesis |
| Master of Fine Arts (MFA) | MFA thesis |
Use the label that matches the degree. If you're unsure, "Dissertation" is standard for doctoral work and "Thesis" for master's work.
In-Text Citation Quick Reference
| Source Type | Works Cited Author | In-Text Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Dissertation (ProQuest) | Rivera, Ana. | (Rivera 45) |
| Dissertation (unpublished) | Okonjo, Chidinma. | (Okonjo 112) |
| MA thesis (ProQuest) | Larsen, Erik. | (Larsen 33) |
| MA thesis (repository) | Nakamura, Yuki. | (Nakamura 18) |
| MA thesis (unpublished) | Chen, Wei. | (Chen 57) |
| Dissertation (repository) | Patel, Kavya. | (Patel 89) |
Common Mistakes
- Putting the title in quotation marks. Dissertations and theses are standalone works — their titles are italicized, not placed in quotation marks. (Only short works like articles and chapters get quotation marks.)
- Forgetting the descriptive label. Always include "Dissertation," "MA thesis," or the appropriate label. Without it, the reader doesn't know what kind of work it is.
- Omitting the institution. The university that granted the degree is essential — it functions as the publisher.
- Skipping the database container. If you accessed the dissertation through ProQuest or an institutional repository, include it as a container — the reader needs to know where to find it.
- Using "PhD dissertation" as the label. MLA uses just "Dissertation" for doctoral work — the degree type is not included in the label.
- Abbreviating university names inconsistently. Follow MLA's standard abbreviation conventions. If you write "U of Texas" in one citation, don't write "University of California" in another.
What's Next
Now that you know how to cite dissertations and theses, explore related guides:
- MLA Works Cited Page — the complete guide to building Works Cited entries
- How to Cite a Journal Article in MLA Format — for citing published academic research
Writing your own thesis or dissertation? See our Thesis Writing Guide for help with structure, proposals, and defense preparation.
Archivero can help you organize your research sources — save a dissertation page or database record to your library, and the Works Cited entry is generated automatically with the author, title, institution, and access information.
