California State University, Sacramento
Division of Social Work
Master of Social Work
Graduate Thesis/Project
Formatting Information Session
AY 2016/2017 (UPDATED February 2017)
Dr. Santos Torres, Jr., Professor
Graduate Program Director
Culminating Experience
• Thesis/Project (SWRK500) - One student (or a group of two) will work
with a thesis advisor on an individual research-based thesis/project. An
individual faculty advisor works with approximately 10 students. Meeting
schedules and format may vary. A written manuscript which must meet
format guidelines, signed, and submitted to the Office of Graduate
Studies and filed in the CSUS Library.
• Advanced Research & Capstone Courses (SWRK501 & 502) - A class of
20 students will expand their competency on specific research
methodologies guided by the course instructor. Students will work in
small groups using existing data for analysis and complete the Capstone
Project report in SWRK502. Class meets regularly. Final products will be
recorded with Graduate Studies but not filed in the CSUS Library.
2
For any 1st year students in attendance:
• Meet with faculty as you explore these options and what
might be the best choice for you and your interests.
• Once you decide on SWRK500 OR SWRK501/502, you
need to complete a VORTA form with your thesis/project
advisor (SWRK500) or research/capstone instructor
(SWRK501/502).
• Begin contacting faculty (more than one) you might like
to work with you, better to do sooner rather than later.
3
Division of Social Work
Thesis/Project Format Guidelines
(Informed by APA’s Publication Manual - 6th ed., 2nd printing)
Beginning from the first page of Chapter 1, and for all of the rest
of the thesis/project manuscript, including references and
appendices, APA guidelines must be used.
Margins
•
•
•
•
Left margin 1.5 inches from edge of page
Top margin 1.5 inches from edge of page
Right margin 1 inch from edge of page
Bottom margin 1 inch from edge of page
4
5
Page Numbers
From the first page of Chapter 1,
page numbers must appear in the
upper right corner and be 1 inch
from top and right edge of page.
6
Font
Times New Roman, 12 point.
The text in your thesis/project would then appear like this.
7
Chapter Title
• At the beginning of each
chapter, the title of the
chapter should appear in
ALL CAPS.
• Chapter 1, 2, & 3 titles
must appear as listed.
• You should consult with
your project advisor
regarding the name of
Chapters 4 & 5.
• The titles that are to be
used are provided to the
right.
8
Heading Levels
There are 5 heading levels which reflect chapters, main
sections, and subsections etc. Use only heading levels that apply
to your specific manuscript
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/16/
9
Heading Levels
There are 5 heading levels which reflect chapters, main
sections, and subsections etc. Use only heading levels that apply
to your specific manuscript.
Level One (Centered, Boldface, Upper and Lowercase Heading)
Level Two (Left Aligned, Boldface, Upper and Lowercase Heading)
Level three. (Indented, boldface, lowercase heading with period)
Level four. (Indented, boldface, italicized, lowercase heading with period)
Level five. (Indented, italicized, lowercase heading with period)
10
Heading Levels
Demonstrated on the page to the right.
11
Tables
• A table is where information is presented in tabular form
using columns and rows.
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/19/
• The heading for the table is left justified at the top of the
table. Then double space and the title is italicized Uppercase
and Lowercase. The font within the table needs to still be
Times New Roman and can be no less than 10 point font and
no greater than 12 point font. All tables must be referred to in
the text of the manuscript.
12
Tables
13
Figures
• A figure is where information is presented in graphic form and/or
images. https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/20/
• Graphs, pictures, charts, etc. are all considered “figures” as
opposed to tables. For figures, the heading and title go at the
bottom and is left justified. “Figure” is italicized with a period after
the number followed by the title of the figure in lowercase except
for the first letter in the first word. This also ends with a period.
Sometimes a brief caption describing the figure is included next
but this is not required. The figure must fit within the margins of
the manuscript. Figures must be referred to in the text of the
manuscript.
14
Figures
15
Appendix Materials
• Refer to p. 39 in APA Style Manual 6th Edition. Or review the
following website
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/670/05/
• Appendix materials are placed prior to the references. If you only
have one appendix then you do not provide a letter after the
heading “Appendix”. There is no need to include a separate page
with the heading before each appendix. Rather, the heading
should appear centered on the page of the appendix material and
in Uppercase Lowercase, double space and then center the title of
the appendix with Uppercase Lowercase. All appendix material
needs to be cited within the manuscript and appear in the order of
citation. The appendix material must fit within the margins of the
manuscript.
16
Appendix Materials
17
References
• References should begin on a new page and should have the
title “References”
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/05/
• The heading for references should appear in Uppercase and
lowercase, and centered. All reference entries should be
double-spaced and with a hanging indent (meaning the first
line of each reference is set flush left and subsequent lines
are indented). Refer to pp. 180 – 192 in the APA Style Manual
as well as Chapter 7 and the link above.
18
References
19
In-text Citations
• In-text Citations: When you refer to a source and/or author
within the written manuscript provide appropriate in-text
citations. How to credit sources and cite within the text of
the manuscript is covered on paged 169 -179 of the manual. A
basic overview is found at the following link
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/02/
20
Useful APA Format Resources
• Publication Manual of the American Psychological
Association (6th ed., 2nd printing). www.apastyle.org
• APA Owl at Purdue
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01
/
21
Approval Pages
• There are two approval pages that must be included in your
thesis/project.
• The first “approval page” will include a place for your Thesis/Project
Advisor to sign (refer to page iii in the OGS Thesis Project Template).
• Check with your Thesis/Project Advisor as to how he/she wants their
name and credentials to appear on their signature page.
• The second “approval page”, is for format and is signed by the Graduate
Program Director (refer to page iv in the OGS Thesis Project Template).
• The signature block that should be included on this page should appear as
indicated below
________________________________, Graduate Program Director
Dr. S. Torres, Jr.
___________________
Date
Division of Social Work
22
Checklist for Thesis/Project Review Before Submitting
to the MSW Graduate Program Director
•
Review thesis/project for all formatting requirements before submitting it for Graduate
Program Director review.
•
The signature pages should be on 24 lb. 50 – 100% cotton paper (you may want to provide
several copies of these, depending on how many you plan to have bound).
•
Signature approval page must be signed by the Thesis/Project Advisor.
•
Approval page for Graduate Program Director signature must be formatted correctly.
•
Attach copy of Human Subjects approval letter .
•
You must sign-in your Thesis/Project into the “Division of Social Work Thesis/Project Log-In”
binder.
•
If your Thesis/Project requires changes (the first submission of your manuscript will), make
the changes and then follow all of the previous steps again until it is signed by the Graduate
Program Director.
23
Deadlines to Submit Thesis/Project to the main office
of the Division of Social Work for initial review.
All thesis/projects must be logged in to the Division of Social
Work Office (main window) on or before Friday, April 21, 2017 by
3:00 pm (for Spring 2017) for initial review. NO EXCEPTIONS!
Allow 4 business days (April 21 to April 27, 2017) for the initial
review to be completed and to see if available to log out from
the Division of Social Work (main window). You will have to
communicate with the Social Work Office to see if your
thesis/project is available for pick up prior to or on this date.
24
Office of Graduate Studies Information
Formatting for all pre-chapter 1 pages must adhere to the University’s
formatting requirements which govern ALL theses and projects. You are
responsible to obtain the templates on the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS)
website .
http://www.csus.edu/gradstudies/CurrentStudents/Thesis-ProjectDissertation/Templates-and-Guides.html
The Office of Graduate Studies provides required University formatting
workshops to help students with the pre-chapter 1 pages formatting of the
thesis/project and the submission of graduate filing documents. Click the link
below for workshop details and schedule:
http://www.csus.edu/gradstudies/CurrentStudents/Thesis-ProjectDissertation/FormattingWorkshops.html
25
• The Office of Graduate Studies provides the opportunity to
complete the formatting workshop requirement on line at
http://www.csus.edu/gradstudies/CurrentStudents/ThesisProject-Dissertation/FormattingWorkshops.html
• http://www.csus.edu/gradstudies/forms/thesis_project_form
s/THESIS%20PROJECT%20WORKSHOP.pdf
• A Certificate of Workshop Completion must be submitted
with your thesis/project to Graduate Studies.
26
• Deadline to submit Thesis/Project to the Office of Graduate Studies is
May 5, 2017 by 3pm for Spring 2017.
– Walk-ins are not accepted. You must make an appointment to submit
your manuscript (“check-in”). Click here for the Office of Graduate
Studies appointment schedule
– OGS expects you to bring a complete formatted and signed copy of
your manuscript as well as an electronic copy.
• Refer to the Office of Graduate Studies directions for submitting your
manuscript to ScholarWorks.
http://www.csus.edu/gradstudies/CurrentStudents/Thesis-ProjectDissertation/Scholarworks.html
27
We wish you much success
as you complete
this culminating portion of your MSW.
28