Helpful Hints for Thesis Preparation

1. Determine if your work is a Thesis or a Project; submit Theses to the Library; submit Projects to your Department.  Graduate Studies will forward your formatted Abstracts to the Library.   (Please see the website for a complete Project flowchart).

2. For checking your margins, it’s best not to rely on your computer’s settings, but to use a ruler to measure all margins, following the thesis guidelines website.  http://www.csusm.edu/graduate_studies/thesis_project.htm

3. Signature pages must be on 100% cotton paper (20 to 24 pound bond, with a watermark that says ‘100% cotton’ or ‘pure cotton’), and must have original signatures in blue or black ink.  Download and modify the signature page from the website, print two copies on the cotton paper, and take these to your defense to obtain signatures from your committee.  If you are intending to make additional personal copies, you might want to take additional Signature pages on cotton paper, to have your committee sign.

4. The Thesis Certification Form can also be downloaded from the website and modified, and printed on regular paper (does not need to be on cotton paper), but does require original signatures, including the signature of your Department Thesis Coordinator.  You may need to schedule an appointment to have this signed.

5. You’re encouraged to set up a preliminary thesis review appointment with one of the Library reviewers to discuss any questions you may have.  Currently the Library reviewers are:  Mark Stengel (760-750-4372; e-mail: mstengel@csusm.edu); Susan Baksh (760-750-4362); e-mail: baksh@csusm.edu; Lynette Boyd (760)750-4354; e-mail: lboyd@csusm.edu).

6. To submit your final Thesis to the Library, you should schedule an appointment with one of the Library reviewers.  Don’t wait until the deadline, as the end of the semester can be very hectic.  When you have your final appointment/meeting, you will need to bring the following items:
• Two original copies of the thesis printed on the “good” paper
• Two original Signature pages with original signatures on the “good” paper
• The Thesis Certification form with original signatures (regular paper is fine)
• A check to cover the binding cost, made out to “CSUSM Library”  (the current fee is $20.00)
• Please bring 6 extra blank pieces of cotton paper, to use as spacers for your thesis (3 blank pages for each copy).
  
7. The Kellogg Copy Center (4^th floor, ext. 4547) can reproduce your thesis on the appropriate cotton paper, for $.10 per page, including the cotton paper, which is less expensive than the competition!  All original printing should be on a laser printer, directly from a disc or memory stick (not photocopied onto the cotton paper).
   
8. See the graduate handbook for forms and further information about thesis requirements.