Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Style Guide Formatting
The rules Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary sets for papers, theses, and dissertations, summarized from the official guide, plus a formatter that applies them to your Word file for you.
Try It Free on Your Paper →The Rules at a Glance
| Margins | 1 inch on all sides. Template 1 in. all (header 0.5 in., footer 0.8 in.). D.Min. students change the side margins to 1.25 in.; Ph.D. and Ed.D. use 1 in. |
|---|---|
| Font | 12 pt Times New Roman, including page numbers (guidelines). Template footnote style 10 pt. |
| Spacing | Double-spaced. Template 'Paragraph' style double-spaced, first-line indent 0.5 in.; the paragraph after a heading or block quote is not indented. Block quotes single-spaced, 12 pt after. Footnotes single-spaced, first-line indent 0.5 in. Bibliography entries single-spaced, 12 pt after. |
| Title Page Number | Counted, no number shown (also blank/copyright and dedication pages) |
| Front Matter Page Numbers | Lowercase Roman, centered in the footer (template); Acknowledgments show numbers; approval page may or may not be numbered |
| Body Page Numbers | Arabic starting at 1, centered in the footer (bottom center) on all pages; no top-right numbering |
| Chapter First Pages | Same as body: bottom center |
| Citation Style | Degree program determines SBL, Turabian, or APA (submission guidelines); the library provides the SBL Handbook of Style. Template bibliography examples are Chicago/SBL-style with a 3-em dash for repeated authors. Footnotes restart at 1 each chapter. |
| Copyright Page | Copyright/waiver page (template): '[YEAR]' line, then: 'This Dissertation prepared and presented to the Faculty as a part of the requirements for the [Degree] Degree at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, North Carolina. All rights and privileges normally reserved by the author as a copyright holder are waived for the Seminary...' Counted, no number shown. |
| Contents Heading | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| Chapter Headings | 'CHAPTER 1', line break, title; centered, all caps, not bold, TNR 12; 72 pt (1 in.) space before (about 2 in. from page top with the 1 in. margin) and 24 pt after. |
| Bibliography Heading | BIBLIOGRAPHY (chapter-heading style) |
Title Page Wording
Lines from top to bottom, as the guide shows them. Words in brackets are yours to fill in. Centered, all caps (template): seminary name and city; 7 blank; title (Title Page Text style, caps, double-spaced, up to 4 lines); 7 blank; 4-line degree statement; blank lines (count not given); 'BY' / name; blank lines (count not given); month and year.
Title capitalization: ALL CAPS.
Front Matter Order
- Title Page
- Copyright/Waiver Page
- Approval Page
- Acknowledgements
- Preface (optional)
- Table of Contents
- Abstract
- Dedication (heading hidden in white text; unnumbered)
- Chapter 1
Programs
Ph.D. dissertation
- Described in the top-level fields (1 in. margins; Ph.D. Dissertation Approval page).
D.Min. project
- Side margins changed to 1.25 in. in the same template; otherwise same template rules.
Th.M. thesis
- Template designed for Th.M. as well; no separate differences stated.
Ed.D.
- 1 in. margins like the Ph.D.; no separate differences stated.
Rules Students Often Miss
- Body page numbers bottom center on every page, including non-chapter pages.
- D.Min. side margins 1.25 in.
- Copyright waiver statement in favor of the Seminary instead of a standard copyright notice.
- Abstract comes after the Table of Contents; Dedication is placed after the Abstract with a hidden (white-text) heading.
- Paragraph after a heading or block quote is not indented.
- Block quotes indented 0.5 in. left and right.
- TOC: double-spaced entries; front matter and chapter entries (TOC1/TOC2) with dot-leader right tab at 6.5 in.; chapter entries in caps with a colon, e.g. 'CHAPTER 1: [Title]'; subheading entries (TOC3-6) right tab with no leader (per 'the Supplement'), hanging 0.125 in., left 0.25/0.375/0.5/0.625 in.; appendices 'Appendix 1: Title'; ends with BIBLIOGRAPHY.
- Ph.D. signed approval page mandatory: 'Ph.D. Dissertation Approval' (bold, centered) / [Student Name] / [Student ID#] / [Dissertation Title] / 'This Dissertation has been approved.' / Date of Defense / Major Professor / 2nd Faculty Reader / External Reader / Ph.D. Director.
What Style Guide Pro Does for You
- Builds the title page in Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary’s wording, order, and spacing.
- Sets the margins and puts page numbers where the guide asks, with roman numerals in the front matter when required.
- Builds the contents page with dot leaders and the real page numbers filled in.
- Styles every heading level, block quotation, footnote, and bibliography entry.
- Gives you a short list of what only you can fix, like signature pages.
- Formatting software only. It never writes or rewrites a word of your paper.
Format Your Paper in About a Minute
Pick your school, drop in your Word file or PDF, and see your own title page done to these rules before you pay. Your paper never leaves your computer.
Common Questions
What margins does Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary require?
1 inch on all sides. Template 1 in. all (header 0.5 in., footer 0.8 in.). D.Min. students change the side margins to 1.25 in.; Ph.D. and Ed.D. use 1 in.
Where do page numbers go in a Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary dissertation?
Front matter: Lowercase Roman, centered in the footer (template); Acknowledgments show numbers; approval page may or may not be numbered. Main text: Arabic starting at 1, centered in the footer (bottom center) on all pages; no top-right numbering.
What citation style does Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary use?
Degree program determines SBL, Turabian, or APA (submission guidelines); the library provides the SBL Handbook of Style. Template bibliography examples are Chicago/SBL-style with a 3-em dash for repeated authors. Footnotes restart at 1 each chapter.
Can Style Guide Pro format my Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary dissertation?
Yes. Choose Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary when you upload your Word file or PDF. Style Guide Pro rebuilds it with the title page, margins, page numbers, contents, headings, footnotes, and bibliography laid out the way the guide asks, then lists anything only you can fix. You can preview your own title page free before you pay.
Sources
- SEBTS Template for Dissertations, Theses, and Projects, Version 2.0 (Word template) (changelog 2022-06-13 (templates page last updated 2026-08-06))
- ETD Templates page (last updated 2026-08-06)
- ETD Submission Guidelines (library guide)
Summarized from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary’s official guide, which Library ETD program (Ph.D., Th.M., D.Min., Ed.D.) publishes. Checked October 2026. Programs sometimes add their own rules, so confirm with your graduate school or program before you submit.