To ensure a smooth transition from research to graduation, all graduate students in CliMAS are required to adhere to the following guidelines regarding the preparation and deposit of their MS thesis (in the MS thesis option) or PhD dissertation.
Adherence to Graduate College Standards
All students must follow the official procedures and deadlines established by the Graduate College. Detailed information regarding the deposit process, including final examination requirements and degree list applications, can be found on the Thesis & Dissertation homepage.
Formatting and Templates
Consistency in formatting is essential for professional academic work and institutional archiving. To assist students, the Graduate College provides standardized templates that meet all accessibility and style requirements.
- Word & LaTeX Templates: Students are strongly encouraged to use the official Format Requirements and Templates to avoid manual formatting errors.
- Consistency: While the department perfers you use our discipline's citation standards (e.g., AMS, AGU), the overall layout must comply with the Graduate College’s structural standards.
Format Checks and Pre-Check Services
To prevent last-minute delays during the final deposit, students should utilize the following resources:
- Title Page Pre-Check: Students should Submit Their Title Page for an early review to ensure all committee information and titles are correctly formatted.
- Accessibility Check: All deposited PDF files must meet Digital Accessibility standards, including proper tagging and alternative text for images.
Departmental Support
While the Graduate College Thesis Office is the final authority on the deposit, the CliMAS Staff are available to assist with internal milestones, committee logistics, and general process questions.
Note: If you encounter issues with forms, departmental signatures or have questions regarding departmental defense and deposit deadlines, please contact Brenda Roy at broy@illinois.edu.
Printing your thesis
Please do not print your thesis or dissertation in color on the departmental printers. The Department will provide a copy of your thesis or dissertation bound and printed on archival paper to you after your deposit, but this service must be requested from the Department Administrative Aide. If you have left campus, we can ship it domestically.