University of Southern California Dissertation Format
The rules University of Southern California 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 on all sides. All margins must be 1 inch. Footer margin for page numbers 0.5 inch from bottom of page; all material except page numbers inside margins. No binding margin. |
|---|---|
| Font | Consistent font style throughout; 11 or 12 pt for paragraph text; chapter titles and main section headings up to 16 pt; footnotes, captions, equations, and figure/table text as small as 9 pt. Black except hyperlinks and content within tables/figures. Bold allowed for headings, subheadings, chapter titles. Page numbers in body font family, not bold or italic. |
| Spacing | Double-space text throughout and indent paragraphs. Single-space footnotes, long quotations, figure and table captions, list items and tables. If style manual requires single-spaced bibliography entries, double-space between entries. TOC: single-space entries, double-space between chapters/major sections. |
| Title Page Number | Counted as i but not numbered (first preliminary page is ii) |
| Front Matter Page Numbers | Lowercase roman starting at ii, 0.5 inch from bottom, centered or right-justified (consistent) |
| Body Page Numbers | Arabic starting at 1 on Introduction or Chapter 1, 0.5 inch from bottom, centered or right-justified (consistent throughout); landscape pages keep same position |
| Chapter First Pages | Same as body |
| Citation Style | Each graduate program adopts a style used by scholarly publications in the field (e.g. MLA, APA, Chicago), chosen with staff graduate advisor or committee chair; must be used consistently, including heading/subheading format and font. |
| Copyright Page | No separate copyright page; copyright line 'Copyright [Year]' (left) and '[Your Full Name]' (right) at bottom of title page. |
| Contents Heading | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| Chapter Headings | Not prescribed; TOC sample shows 'Chapter 1: Title'. Chapter titles may be up to 16 pt and bold. |
| Bibliography Heading | 'Bibliography' or 'References' depending on discipline; one comprehensive list at end of manuscript (before appendices), no chapter number, entries not split across pages |
Title Page Wording
Lines from top to bottom, as the guide shows them. Words in brackets are yours to fill in. Title and subtitle at top (blank line between); gap; 'by'; gap; name; larger gap; 7-line degree block single-spaced ('A Dissertation Presented to the' through major in parentheses); larger gap; month and year; larger gap; copyright line at bottom with 'Copyright [Year]' flush left and name flush right on the same line. All other lines centered.
Title capitalization: ALL CAPS per template placeholders ('[TITLE:]', '[SUBTITLE]'); institutional and degree lines in ALL CAPS.
Front Matter Order
- Title Page
- Epigraph (optional)
- Dedication (optional)
- Acknowledgements (optional)
- Table of Contents
- List of Tables (if tables)
- List of Figures (if figures)
- Abbreviations (optional)
- Abstract
- Preface (optional)
Rules Students Often Miss
- Abstract comes late in the front matter (after TOC, lists and abbreviations, before preface)
- Copyright notice on title page bottom line: 'Copyright [Year]' left-aligned, name right-aligned
- Page numbers 0.5 inch from bottom (not 0.75 or 1)
- Title page counted (first visible preliminary number is ii) and TOC itself not listed in TOC
- Single comprehensive bibliography required at end (per-chapter reference lists not allowed); bibliography precedes appendices; glossary in main body after last chapter
- Signature page not required by the University (include only if program requires)
- Font size 11 or 12 pt allowed for body
What Style Guide Pro Does for You
- Builds the title page in University of Southern California’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 Southern California require?
1 inch on all sides. All margins must be 1 inch. Footer margin for page numbers 0.5 inch from bottom of page; all material except page numbers inside margins. No binding margin.
Where do page numbers go in a University of Southern California dissertation?
Front matter: Lowercase roman starting at ii, 0.5 inch from bottom, centered or right-justified (consistent). Main text: Arabic starting at 1 on Introduction or Chapter 1, 0.5 inch from bottom, centered or right-justified (consistent throughout); landscape pages keep same position.
What citation style does University of Southern California use?
Each graduate program adopts a style used by scholarly publications in the field (e.g. MLA, APA, Chicago), chosen with staff graduate advisor or committee chair; must be used consistently, including heading/subheading format and font.
Can Style Guide Pro format my University of Southern California dissertation?
Yes. Choose University of Southern California 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
- Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines (USC Graduate School Thesis and Dissertation Formatting Guidelines PDF) (PDF modified 2020-03-13 (uploaded 2020-11); still the current linked version as of 2026-10-29)
- Manuscript Formatting Guidelines (accessed 2026-10-29)
Summarized from University of Southern California’s official guide, which The Graduate School (Thesis Center) publishes. Checked October 2026. Programs sometimes add their own rules, so confirm with your graduate school or program before you submit.