Thesis and Dissertation (TAD) Services
For many advanced degrees at Ohio University, the master's thesis or doctoral dissertation is a requirement. Nearly the entire TAD process can be completed from a distance and trips to our physical offices are unnecessary. These pages have everything you need to complete the formatting of your thesis or dissertation, all the required paperwork for your Oral Defense and publication at the end of the process.
For those who can make it, seminars are available and for those who cannot, the video podcasts for each step and training manuals can be invaluable resources.
Please visit our FAQ for any unanswered questions you may have.
If you are working on any final work that is not a Thesis or Dissertation, please see our Project and Research Papers Information.
What is TAD Services and an ETD?
Valuable Information
Document Format Checklist/Heading Levels/Page order
Follow TAD Services on Twitter!
Step 1: Formatting a Thesis or Dissertation
When formatting your Thesis or Dissertation, be aware that there is a very specific front-of-document structure required by Ohio University. This is programmed into all templates. A sample is provided for those not using templates.
Resources for Formatting Documents in Microsoft Word:
Full TAD Guidelines
Avoiding Unintentional Plagiarism
Resources & Style Guides
APA Guide to Electronic References
Institutional Research Board (IRB) Compliance Information (required before research is conducted)
Online Research Databases:
Alden Library: Databases available by area of study
OhioLink: Ohio online theses and dissertations
ProQuest: U.S. and other countries' theses and dissertations, available full-text for Ohio University dissertations
Networked Digital Libraries of Thesis and Dissertation: Worldwide access to online theses and dissertations
Step 2: Complete Required Forms
Please email all forms to tad@ohio.edu.
TAD Forms and Process Checklist
Required Forms for Master and Doctoral Students:
1. TAD Submission Form(do not resubmit unless your information has changed)
2. Graduation Application
3. Oral Defense Form
Optional Forms for Masters and Doctoral Students:
Copyright Information/Form
Publication Delay Form
Additional Required Forms for Doctoral Students:
4. Survey of Earned Doctorate (SED)5. ProQuest/UMI Information Form
Step 3: Pre-Oral Defense Format Check
Email document for pre-oral defense format check to tad@ohio.edu ONLY. If document is larger than 15 MB, click here to send to TAD Dropbox. Emails to TAD staffs' personal emails will be ignored.
Step 4: After Oral Defense
After oral defense, student makes revisions, obtains advisor's approval, and emails in Word the final post-oral defense manuscript to tad@ohio.edu. If document is larger than 15 MB, click here to send to TAD Dropbox.
Student obtains one photocopy or scan of the signed oral defense form and emails or drops this off to TAD Services.
When manuscript format is accepted by TAD Services, student receives an email titled "Document Format Accepted" with instructions to upload to OhioLINK or print to paper.Step 5: Upload Final Document to OhioLINK or Print Hard Copy
Upload Instructions for Electronic and Paper Filers
TAD Services must have the following items before the final "TAD Process Complete" email can be sent:
- For Master students: TAD Submission Form, signed Oral Defense Form, and upload to OhioLINK or print to paper.
- For Doctoral students: TAD Submission Form, signed Oral Defense From, Survey of Earned Doctorates, ProQuest/UMI Form, and upload to OhioLINK or print to paper.
Once all steps have been completed, TAD Services sends an email with the subject of "TAD Process Complete" to the college contact, advisor, graduate director and student with the final document attached noting the document format has been accepted and the student has completed all the steps in the Thesis and Dissertation Process.
Technical Assistance
- If you need Adobe Macromedia Flash Plugin Player, click here. Link opens in a new window.
- If you need to learn how to create a PDF for your ETD, click here.
- If you need Adobe Reader to view, click here.
- For technical questions or appointments, contact tad@ohio.edu.
- Ohio University Software Information
Contact Information
Submit documents and forms to:
TAD Services
Research & Technology Center Room 220
Athens, OH 45701
740-593-4625 (fax)
tad@ohio.edu (email)
For help with your document:
If you cannot attend a workshop, you may make an appointment or visit us during open lab hours.
Appointments can be made by contacting tad@ohio.edu. Appointment times are generally 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., but other arrangements can be made.
Walk-ins may be requested to make an appointment for a later date.
Sara Armstrong
Associate Director of Thesis, Dissertation and Electronic Administration
Research & Technology Center Room 220-A
Phone: 740-597-2770
