University of Houston Dissertation Format
The rules University of Houston sets for thesis or dissertation, 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 top, 1 inch right, 1 inch bottom, 1.25 inch left. CLASS: left margin 1.25 to 1.50 in; 1 in on other three sides. Other colleges (Engineering, NSM, Bauer, Education, Technology) publish their own rules. |
|---|---|
| Font | CLASS: one font, header style and spacing used consistently; 10 to 12 pt. |
| Spacing | CLASS: double-spaced. Lists of tables and figures use 1.0-1.15 spacing. |
| Title Page Number | counted as i, number not shown (CLASS title page form) |
| Front Matter Page Numbers | lowercase roman, centered at bottom |
| Body Page Numbers | arabic starting at 1 at Introduction (if any) or Chapter 1; top or bottom per the style guide being followed |
| Citation Style | No fixed style required (CLASS); whichever style is chosen must be applied consistently; check with department for preferred citation style. |
| Copyright Page | Required in CLASS component order (commonly missed item); wording comes from UH Graduate School ETD template (not retrieved). |
| Chapter Headings | Heading 1 for chapter titles (Word built-in styles required for accessibility); no further format specified. |
| Bibliography Heading | Bibliography/References (per style) |
Title Page Wording
Lines from top to bottom, as the guide shows them. Words in brackets are yours to fill in. All centered (CLASS form): 2 blank lines, title, 2 blank lines, 'by', name, 4 blank lines, submission statement line, blank, college line, blank, 'in partial fulfillment...' line, 2 blank lines, degree / 'in' / major, blank, committee lines (single-spaced), blank, 'University of Houston', month year.
Title capitalization: Title Case (CLASS: do not use ALL CAPS anywhere in the front matter; no italics or bold on title page).
Front Matter Order
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication or Epigraph (optional, not both, max 1 page)
- Acknowledgments (optional)
- Abstract
- Table of Contents (auto-generated, required)
- List of Tables (if applicable)
- List of Figures (if applicable)
- Main Text (Introduction/Chapter 1 through Conclusion)
- Bibliography/References
- Appendices
Rules Students Often Miss
- Formatting rules are set by each college; Graduate School supplies only the front-matter ETD template and accessibility rules.
- CLASS forbids ALL CAPS anywhere in front matter, including title and degree name.
- Committee listed on title page with 'Chair of Committee:' / 'Committee Member:' labels.
- Dedication OR epigraph, not both.
- Body page numbers may be top or bottom per style guide.
- WCAG 2.1 AA required; Adobe Acrobat Pro Accessibility Checker report must be submitted with the ETD (Spring 2026).
- Lists of tables/figures include only main-chapter items, not appendix items (CLASS).
- TOC must be auto-generated.
What Style Guide Pro Does for You
- Builds the title page in University of Houston’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 Dissertation 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 University of Houston require?
1 inch top, 1 inch right, 1 inch bottom, 1.25 inch left. CLASS: left margin 1.25 to 1.50 in; 1 in on other three sides. Other colleges (Engineering, NSM, Bauer, Education, Technology) publish their own rules.
Where do page numbers go in a University of Houston dissertation?
Front matter: lowercase roman, centered at bottom. Main text: arabic starting at 1 at Introduction (if any) or Chapter 1; top or bottom per the style guide being followed.
What citation style does University of Houston use?
No fixed style required (CLASS); whichever style is chosen must be applied consistently; check with department for preferred citation style.
Can Style Guide Pro format my University of Houston dissertation?
Yes. Choose University of Houston 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
- UH Graduate School: Thesis/Dissertation Information (updated 2026-06-10)
- CLASS Thesis and Dissertation Information (updated 2026-10-06)
- CLASS Companion Guide: Preparing your Document Front Matter (September 2026)
- CLASS Title Page Fillable Form (.docx) (undated (current link))
- UH Graduate School ETD Template (SharePoint .docx) (undated; not retrievable without UH login)
Summarized from University of Houston’s official guide. Checked October 2026. Programs sometimes add their own rules, so confirm with your graduate school or program before you submit.
Note: parts of this school’s formatting are set by each college or department, so some rules above may differ for your program.