Thesis and Dissertation | College of Graduate Studies

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Welcome to the Tennessee State University Graduate School Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD) Submission Website.

Thesis and Dissertation Guideline Handbook

The 10 Checklist Items

Before you submit your ETD, please print, read and complete:

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Checklist .

These documents are designed to walk you through all the necessary steps for completing and submitting your ETD. Do not begin the electronic submission process until you have met all the requirements on the Checklist. ETD submission is restricted to defended and approved manuscripts.

Signed Report on Thesis /Dissertation Final Oral Examination (Defense)
Thesis/Dissertation Checklist
A PDF file of Thesis/Dissertation is uploaded to the Tennessee State University ETD ProQuest portal.
Program of Study (contact your academic advisor or dept. chair for a copy). The Graduate School will verify and validate all programs of study using Degree Works
ONLY Ph.D. students are to complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) Certificate of Completion. To access the SED use this link: https://sed-ncses.org/GradDateRouter.aspx. Once you complete the questionnaire via the web the Graduate School Administrator automatically receives a confirmation email stating that you completed the survey. You will also receive a confirmation email for your own records.

To start the electronic submission process (ETD), click: Use this link to set up your ProQuest Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) account with Tennessee State University. https://www.etdadmin.com/cgi-bin/student/etd?siteId=52

The Big Blue Thesis & Dissertation Series

A Signature Graduate Writing Experience at Tennessee State University

The Big Blue Thesis & Dissertation Series is TSU’s premier program designed to help master’s and doctoral students successfully navigate the research and writing process. Through expert-led seminars, practical resources, and personalized guidance, students gain the skills and support needed to move confidently from proposal development to final submission.

What the Series Offers

Writing Seminars covering key stages of thesis and dissertation development.
Tools & Templates to support organization, productivity, and formatting.
Research Compliance Support for IRB, biosafety, and responsible conduct of research.
Professional Development Sessions focused on career readiness and academic success.

Who Should Attend

The series is ideal for:

Graduate students beginning thesis or dissertation planning
Students actively writing and seeking structured guidance
APEXx, POTUS, and Biomedical Scholars and advanced researchers
Anyone wanting to strengthen academic writing, research design, or scholarly communication

Why It Matters

Producing a strong thesis or dissertation is a defining milestone in your graduate journey. The Big Blue Thesis & Dissertation Series ensures you are supported every step of the way — with coaching, clarity, and community. By participating, you join a network of TSU scholars committed to excellence, integrity, and innovation.

Join the Big Blue Writing Community

Explore upcoming seminars, register for sessions, and take the next step toward completing your thesis or dissertation with confidence.

Beyond Google: Unlocking Library Resources for Graduate Research

Description: Learn how to use scholarly databases, peer-reviewed sources, and library research tools to efficiently locate, evaluate, and manage literature for your thesis or dissertation. This seminar will help you build a strong foundation for successful graduate research and writing.

Date: September 16, 2026 • Time: 12:00–1:00 PM • Facilitator: Dean Glenda Alvin • Link: — Registration This session will be rescheduled.

Tennessee State University Career Fair

Description: This fair is your gateway to internships, full-time roles, graduate programs, job shadowing experiences, and professional networking, all in one place. Whether you’re exploring new opportunities or preparing to launch your career, this is your moment to connect with employers, learn about different industries, and chart the next step in your journey.

Date: September 24, 2026 • Time: 12:00–3:00 PM • Facilitator: Dr. Kim Dale • Link: — Registration

Get It Approved: The Necessary Components of a Thesis/Dissertation Proposal

Description: This workshop provides an overview of the thesis/dissertation proposal, its purpose and components with the goal of providing participants with vital information for writing a proposal or prospectus that gets approved.

Date: September 30, 2026 • Time: 12:00–1:00 PM • Facilitator: Dr. Vernetta Mosley • Link: — Registration

Writing Productivity: A Project Management Approach to Completing Your Thesis or Dissertation

Date: October 7, 2026 • Time: 12:00–1:00 PM • Facilitator: Dr. Vernetta Mosley • Link: — Registration

Big 10 Quality Checks: Thesis and Dissertation Formatting

Description: A concise overview of the key formatting standards required for theses and dissertations. This session highlights the “Big 10” quality checks students must complete to ensure their manuscript meets university guidelines and is ready for final submission.

Date: October 21, 2026 • Time: 12:00–1:00 PM • Facilitator: Dr. Trinetia Respress • Link: — Registration

Laying the Groundwork: Writing the Literature Review

Description: A strong literature review serves as the foundation of a successful research study. This seminar will introduce graduate students to effective strategies for locating, evaluating, organizing, and synthesizing scholarly sources. Participants will learn how to identify key themes, gaps, and trends in the literature and use these findings to establish the significance of their research. The session will provide practical tips for developing a clear, well-organized literature review that supports a thesis, dissertation, or other scholarly projects.

Date: October 28, 2026 • Time: 12:00–1:00 PM • Facilitator: Dr. Marie Hammond • Link: — Registration

Methodology Matters: Choosing the Right Research Approach for Your Thesis or Dissertation

Description: Selecting the appropriate research methodology is critical to the success of any thesis or dissertation. This seminar will guide graduate students through the process of aligning research questions with qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods approaches, helping them develop a strong and defensible research design. Participants will gain practical strategies for choosing the methodology that best supports their scholarly goals.

Date: November 4, 2026 • Time: 12:00–1:00 PM • Facilitator: Dr. Owen Johnson • Link: — Registration

Thesis and Dissertation Writing Process

Tennessee State University requires a dissertation for all doctoral candidates and a thesis for all thesis option master’s candidates. The thesis or dissertation is a scholarly academic writing based on the student’s original research under the supervision of the dissertation committee. The thesis or dissertation should be well-organized, appropriately referenced, and formatted according to writing style requirements by the discipline. The information below is intended to assist students in navigating the thesis/dissertation writing process. Information will be provided on the thesis/dissertation writing process, deadlines, IRB submission, formatting, EDT submission, and completion of appropriate forms.

QUICK LINKS	IMPORTANT DEADLINES for FALL 2026
Formatting and Style Guidelines for Theses and Dissertations Graduate School Calendar Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Checklist The Big 10 Quality Checks Thesis and Dissertation Seminars	October 15, 2026, is the last day to apply for Fall 2026 graduation via myTSU. October 23, 2026, is the last day to defend Thesis and Dissertations. November 6, 2026 is the last day to submit Thesis/Dissertations into ETD ProQuest.

QUICK LINKS

IMPORTANT DEADLINES for FALL 2026

Formatting and Style Guidelines for Theses and Dissertations

Graduate School Calendar

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Checklist

The Big 10 Quality Checks

Thesis and Dissertation Seminars

October 15, 2026, is the last day to apply for Fall 2026 graduation via myTSU.

October 23, 2026, is the last day to defend Thesis and Dissertations.

November 6, 2026 is the last day to submit Thesis/Dissertations into ETD ProQuest.

	STEP 1: Selection of Thesis or Dissertation Committee Chair The student must select a thesis or dissertation chair who has full Graduate Faculty Status. Click here to review the listing for eligible faculty members with full Graduate Faculty Status.
	STEP 2: Selection of Thesis or Committee Members The chair and student must select thesis or dissertation committee members. The chair must complete the Thesis and Dissertation Committee Appointment Form. All committee members must have Graduate Faculty Status. Please review the listing for eligible faculty members with Graduate Faculty Status. If a committee member does not have Graduate Faculty Status, he/she must apply. Click here for Membership Application Forms. Once appropriate committee members have been identified, the dissertation chair must complete the Thesis/Dissertation Committee Appointment Form.
	STEP 3: Thesis/Dissertation Proposal The student will complete the thesis/dissertation proposal under the supervision of the thesis/dissertation committee. While working on the thesis or dissertation, the student should utilize the Formatting and Style Guidelines for Theses and Dissertations Handbook for formatting purposes. Once the proposal is complete, the student will complete an oral thesis/dissertation presentation. The dissertation committee will evaluate the student’s proposal. Once the dissertation committee has approved the thesis or dissertation proposal, the Report on Thesis/Dissertation Proposal Presentation form must be completed the chair of the committee.
	STEP 4: Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval After the thesis or dissertation proposal has been approved, the student must obtain IRB approval. The student must complete the appropriate IRB form prior to conducting research. Please visit the IRB website for instructions and required forms.
	STEP 5: Final Dissertation Defense After IRB approval is obtained, the student must complete thesis/dissertation research under the guidance of the dissertation committee. The student should check the Graduate School Calendar for oral defense deadlines. The oral defense must be completed by/or prior to Graduate School deadlines. Upon successful completion of the oral defense, the committee chair must complete, sign, and submit the Report on Final Oral Examination (Defense) of Thesis/Dissertation. The student must make all revisions recommended by the dissertation committee.
	STEP 6: Submission of Final Document to ETD The student must submit the final document to ProQuest ETD Administrator. Before you submit your thesis/dissertation to ProQuest ETD Administrator, please review and follow all the necessary steps for completing and submitting to ETD: Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Checklist Formatting and Style Guidelines for Theses and Dissertations The 10 Checklist Items Once all requirements have been met, submit your approved manuscripts. To begin the electronic submission process (ETD), please use this ProQuest Link to create your Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) account for Tennessee State University. Please review the video for instructions on how to upload to ProQuest.
	STEP 7: Submission of Final Documents for Degree Certification The following documents must be completed prior to degree certification. Signed Report on Thesis/Dissertation Final Oral Examination (Defense) Thesis/Dissertation Checklist A PDF file of Thesis/Dissertation is uploaded to the Tennessee State University ProQuest ETD Administrator portal. Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) Certificate of Completion is required of all Ph.D. Students. To access, use this SED Link. Once you complete the questionnaire via the web, the Graduate School Administrator automatically receives a confirmation email stating that you completed the survey. You will also receive a confirmation email for your own records.

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