All University of Chicago dissertations must comply with the University-Wide Requirements for the Ph.D. Dissertation, with the following BSD-specific provisions. Students should always consult their program handbook for specific program requirements. Students should adhere to the BSD guidance on generative AI.
1. Abstract Requirement
Every Biological Sciences Division (BSD) thesis must include a complete dissertation abstract not exceeding the 500-word limit set by ProQuest.
2. Document Structure
The thesis should maintain a standard organizational framework which typically is:
- Table of Contents
- List of Figures
- Acknowledgments
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Data Chapters
- Discussion (including overarching conclusions contextualizing the work's significance to the field, and future directions)
- Bibliography
- Appendices (as needed)
Detailed methodological content may appear either as a dedicated chapter or distributed within Data Chapters.
3. Collaborative Work Attribution
For chapters incorporating collaborative research, authors must include an attributions section in the chapter's abstract/summary that clearly delineates the individual’s contributions to the work. This is particularly important when incorporating published or submitted co-authored works, ensuring readers can distinguish which aspects of the research were performed by the author of the dissertation.
4. Published Content Guidelines
The BSD does not require reformatting of published works for inclusion in the dissertation, provided they meet two conditions: sufficient contextual framing (through extended summaries or abstracts and/or chapter introductions) and complete citation of original publications. Students should confirm with each journal that its copyright policy permits including published material in dissertations hosted by ProQuest. Students should consult the University of Chicago Dissertation Office and attend preparatory workshops well before their defense quarter.