CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO

THE DIVISION OF GRADUATE STUDIES

THESIS OFFICE

The following template was developed for students using Microsoft Word to format their

master’s degree theses to conform to the publication requirements of the California State

University, Fresno Guidelines for Thesis Preparation. Any use beyond the intended is

prohibited, without permission of the Division of Graduate Studies.

Questions? Please contact:

Debbie Neufeld
278-2448

To the student: This template has been redesigned to include an automatic Table of

Contents, List of Tables, and List of Figures. Also, while it is understood that you and

your committee have the primary oversight on the content of your thesis, you will also

find text in blue at the beginning of each chapter. This text is meant to give general

guidance relative to the State of California’s Title 5 Education Code and its criteria for a

thesis.

If you are using APA style documentation, please download the APA 7th Chapter

template. Then, make sure you follow all guidelines according to APA. For additional

information and resources, see either the APA Style Manual 7th edition or access the

online APA resources. These guidelines apply to citations and the reference list as well as

rendering of numbers (words vs. numerals), formatting of figures and tables, use of

abbreviations, plus much more.

 ABSTRACT

THESIS TITLE: SINGLE SPACE BETWEEN LINES

TYPING IN INVERTED PYRAMID FORM

Start typing the abstract text (thesis text) here. The abstract should fit on one page.

A blank guard sheet should follow. Neither of these pages receives a page number, and

neither is considered part of the thesis proper. For further information on the contents of

the Abstract, consult the Division of Graduate Studies Guidelines for Thesis Preparation.

Abstract Author Name

Choose an item.
THESIS TITLE THAT EXTENDS OVER ONE LINE

GOES IN INVERTED PYRAMID FORM

by

Author's Full Name

A thesis

submitted in partial

fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

in the

California State University, Fresno

Choose an item.
NOTE: THIS PAGE IS OPTIONAL, AND REQUIRES PAYMENT OF AN EXTRA $75

FEE.

DELETE THIS PAGE IF YOU’RE NOT REGISTERING YOUR COPYRIGHT

© Student’s Name
Note: Do not use academic titles (i.e., Dr., Ph.D.) when you enter your committee members’
names on this page. Use first and last name only. When filling in the department name, do not
use “Department of…” Simply use Biology or English or Psychology.

APPROVED

For the Department of :

We, the undersigned, certify that the thesis of the following student meets
the required standards of scholarship, format, and style of the university
and the student's graduate degree program for the awarding of the master's
degree.

Type your name here

Thesis Author

Type thesis chair name here (Chair)

Type committee member’s name here

Type committee member’s name here

or professional affiliation

For the University Graduate Committee:

Dean, Division of Graduate Studies

 AUTHORIZATION FOR REPRODUCTION

OF MASTER’S THESIS

I grant permission for the reproduction of this thesis in part or in its

entirety without further authorization from me, on the condition that
the person or agency requesting reproduction absorbs the cost and
provides proper acknowledgment of authorship.

Permission to reproduce this thesis in part or in its entirety must be

obtained from me.

Signature of thesis author:

 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Start typing text here (thesis text).

 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page

LIST OF TABLES...........................................................................................................

LIST OF FIGURES............................................................................................................

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION........................................................................................

First-Level Heading: Include Only First-Level Headings in Your Table of

Contents...........................................................................................................

CHAPTER 2: TITLES THAT ARE MORE THAN ONE LINE ARE SINGLE-
SPACED, INVERTED PYRAMID IN TEXT........................................................

First-Level Heading.....................................................................................................

CHAPTER 3: CHAPTER 3 TITLE.....................................................................................

First-Level Heading.....................................................................................................

First-Level Heading.....................................................................................................

First-Level Heading.....................................................................................................

First-Level Heading.....................................................................................................

CHAPTER 4: CHAPTER 4 TITLE.....................................................................................

First-Level Heading.....................................................................................................

First-Level Heading.....................................................................................................
First-Level Heading.....................................................................................................

CHAPTER 5: CHAPTER 5 TITLE.....................................................................................

First-Level Heading.....................................................................................................

First-Level Heading.....................................................................................................

REFERENCES (WORKS CITED, OR SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY)..........................9

APPENDICES...................................................................................................................12

APPENDIX A: APPENDIX TITLE..................................................................................13

APPENDIX B: APPENDIX TITLE..................................................................................15

 Page

APPENDIX C: APPENDIX TITLE..................................................................................17

APPENDIX D: APPENDIX TITLE..................................................................................19

APPENDIX E: APPENDIX TITLE..................................................................................21

APPENDIX F: APPENDIX TITLE..................................................................................23

APPENDIX G: APPENDIX TITLE..................................................................................25

Note: The Table of Contents, List of Tables, and List of Figures are automatic. There is no
need to type anything into them. When you have finished adding all text to the template,
simply single-click in the Table of Contents to select it, then right-click to open the menu
options. Select the option “Update Field” and fill in the circle “Update Entire Table,” then
click “OK.” If you have applied the appropriate style (e.g., 1st-Level Centered Hdg) to your
headings in the text, headings and page numbers will update in the TOC without you having to
do anything. Delete this text box when you are finished.
 LIST OF TABLES

Page

Table 1. Table Titles Above Tables and Keep Them Brief, Capitalizing All Major
Words...................................................................................................................
 LIST OF FIGURES

Page

Figure 1. Figure captions below figures, capitalizing only the first word and any
proper noun or adjective; like table titles, keep figure captions brief.................
 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Typically, chapter 1 is where you introduce the problem and its background. Per

the Title 5 Education Code, this is where you might “clearly identify the problem, state

the major assumptions, [and] explain the significance of the undertaking.” Consult with

your committee when crafting the introductory chapter of your thesis. It is likely that you

will want to simply title chapter 1, INTRODUCTION.

First-Level Heading: Include Only First-Level Headings in

Your Table of Contents
Return to thesis text style for the next textual block of material. Be sure to review

the Headings section in the Guidelines for further important considerations.

Side Headings too Long for One Line Are

Placed on Two or More Lines
The template returns to thesis text style, takes the spacing back to the normal 24-

point line spacing mode.

A third-level paragraph heading. For a third-level subdivision, select 3rd-level

paragraph hdg from the style box. The text will continue immediately after the heading,

in normal fashion. 1

1
This is the first footnote that appears in the text, formatted with first line indent, single spaced.
There is a double space (24 points) to the next note. The font is 2 points smaller than the text.
 CHAPTER 2: TITLES THAT ARE MORE THAN ONE LINE ARE
SINGLE-SPACED, INVERTED PYRAMID IN TEXT

Typically, chapter 2 is the literature review portion of your thesis. Per the Title 5

Education Code, this is where you might critically analyze the body of literature relevant

to your central research question or questions. You might identify gaps in the literature

and indicate how your study fills one or more of those gaps. This is where you might

exhibit Title 5’s standard for “originality” and “critical and independent thinking.” This

is also the place where you might best evidence Title 5’s requirement for “accurate and

thorough documentation.” Ensure here that your sources are both current and credible.

Consult with your committee when crafting the literature review chapter of your thesis.

It is likely that you will want to simply title chapter 2, LITERATURE REVIEW.

First-Level Heading
Continue typing text here. When styling the First Level Heading, use 1st-Level

Centered Hdg style. When moving to the paragraph text, the template returns to thesis

text style and takes the spacing back to the normal 24-point line spacing mode.

Side Headings too Long for One Line Are

Placed on Two or More Lines
Use 2nd-level Side Hdg style for the Side Headings. When moving to the

paragraph text, the template returns to thesis text style and takes the spacing back to the

normal 24-point line spacing mode.

A third-level paragraph heading. For a third-level subdivision, select 3rd-level

paragraph hdg from the style box. The text will continue immediately after the heading,

in normal fashion.
 CHAPTER 3: CHAPTER 3 TITLE

Typically, chapter 3 is the methodology portion of your thesis. Per the Title 5

Education Code, this is where you might identify the “methods of gathering information.”

Perhaps you elicited responses through an original survey or you tested samples over the

course of several trials in a laboratory. This is the chapter where you might craft the

“blueprint” of the steps used in your study, providing later researchers the ability to

replicate your work. Consult with your committee when crafting the methodology

chapter of your thesis. It is likely that you will want to simply title chapter 3,

METHODOLOGY or METHODS AND MATERIALS.

First-Level Heading
Continue typing text here. When styling the First Level Heading, use 1st-Level

Centered Hdg style. When moving to the paragraph text, the template returns to thesis

text style and takes the spacing back to the normal 24-point line spacing mode.

Side Headings too Long for One Line Are Placed on Two or More Lines

Use 2nd-level Side Hdg style for the Side Headings. When moving to the

paragraph text, the template returns to thesis text style and takes the spacing back to the

normal 24-point line spacing mode.

A third-level paragraph heading. For a third-level subdivision, select 3rd-level

paragraph hdg from the style box. The text will continue immediately after the heading,

in normal fashion.

First-Level Heading
Start typing text here (thesis text). Use the Style box to obtain formatting for

thesis text, headings, subheadings, block quote spacing, reference list spacing and

indenting, etc.
 4
First-Level Heading
Continue typing text here.

Side Headings too Long for One Line Are

Placed on Two or More Lines
The template returns to thesis text style, takes the spacing back to the normal 24-

point line spacing mode.

A third-level paragraph heading. For a third-level subdivision, select 3rd-level

paragraph hdg from the style box. The text will continue immediately after the heading,

in normal fashion.

First-Level Heading
Continue typing text here.
 CHAPTER 4: CHAPTER 4 TITLE

Typically, chapter 4 is the results portion of your thesis. Per the Title 5 Education

Code, this is where you might analyze your own data and then present your original

findings. Often, this presentation is in the form of tables and/or figures. Included in this

template are samples of each, along with how the text should appear before and after such

renderings. Consult with your committee when crafting the results chapter of your thesis.

It is likely that you will want to simply title chapter 4, RESULTS or RESULTS AND

DISCUSSION.

First-Level Heading
Continue typing text here.

Side Headings too Long for One Line Are

Placed on Two or More Lines
The template returns to thesis text style, takes the spacing back to the normal 24-

point line spacing mode.

A third-level paragraph heading. For a third-level subdivision, select 3rd-level

paragraph hdg from the style box. The text will continue immediately after the heading,

in normal fashion.

First-Level Heading
Continue typing text here. Use the Style box to obtain formatting for thesis text,

headings, subheadings, block quote spacing, reference list spacing and indenting, etc.

First-Level Heading
When presenting tables and figures, you must always reference them in the text,

oftentimes through a parenthetical like this (see Table 1). Alternatively, you can
 6

reference the table or figure in a sentence like this: “Table 1 shows the scales used and

the standard deviations for each variable.” The table or figure must follow as closely as

possible after the paragraph in which it is referenced. Use the “Table Title” style for the

title, as shown below.

Table 1. Table Titles Above Tables and Keep Them Brief, Capitalizing All Major Words
Scale Introversion Extroversion Peculiarity

SPG .77 .45 .12

AIG .43 .89 .34

TRF .78 -.34 .45

XYZ -.03 -23 -.56

PDQ .09 .89 -.09

 7

Continue typing after the table and run text to the bottom margin of the page. Use

the style called “thesis text after table or figure,” which adds one line space above first

line after table.

Remember to change the style back to “thesis text” when you start a new

paragraph after the one following a table or figure. Again, continue text to the bottom

margin of the page. You may have another reference in here to a table or figure. The

example on the next page is a figure more than one-half page in size. Therefore, it

resides on a page by itself (see Figure 1). Use the “Figure caption” style for the caption.
 8

Figure 1. Figure captions below figures, capitalizing only the first word and any proper
noun or adjective; like table titles, keep figure captions brief.
 CHAPTER 5: CHAPTER 5 TITLE

Typically, chapter 5 offers a conclusion or recommendation, which is required per

the Title 5 Education Code. Here, you might indicate what specifically has been derived

from your research and offer future researchers recommendations for how the work might

be expanded. Consult with your committee when crafting the conclusion chapter of your

thesis. It is likely that you will want to simply title chapter 5, CONCLUSION.

First-Level Heading
Continue typing text here.

Side Headings too Long for One Line Are

Placed on Two or More Lines
The template returns to thesis text style, takes the spacing back to the normal 24-

point line spacing mode.

A third-level paragraph heading. For a third-level subdivision, select 3rd-level

paragraph hdg from the style box. The text will continue immediately after the heading,

in normal fashion.

First-Level Heading
Continue typing text here.
REFERENCES (WORKS CITED, OR SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY)
 REFERENCES (WORKS CITED, OR SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY)

(Begin typing your reference list here. Check your style sheet for the correct format of
how author names, dates, journal titles, etc. should appear. For this list, use a
hanging indent, single spaces within each entry, and double spaces between entries.
To convert to this style, highlight your entries and switch to the References style in
the style box.)

(The second entry will appear on this line in the list after pressing the return key,
repeating the hanging indent style . . .)
(Unlike the first page of your references, the second page of the reference list will show a
page number in the upper right-hand corner. Use Page Layout or Print Preview to
see this.)
APPENDICES
APPENDIX A: APPENDIX TITLE
15
APPENDIX B: APPENDIX TITLE
17
APPENDIX C: APPENDIX TITLE
19
APPENDIX D: APPENDIX TITLE
21
APPENDIX E: APPENDIX TITLE
23
APPENDIX F: APPENDIX TITLE
25
APPENDIX G: APPENDIX TITLE
27