Author. (Year). Title of dissertation or thesis (Doctoral dissertation/Master's thesis). Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Database. (Accession, publication, or order number).
Example:
Olds, J. L. (2008). An investigation of district promotion, retention, and intervention policies and practices for elementary students in four Southern California counties (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Database. (AAT 3308864).
Damon, A. (2010). Spirituality in the therapeutic process (Master's thesis). Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Database. (AAT 1482012).
Note: You may have to look carefully at the record in ProQuest to determine the publication number.
Citing a print dissertation or thesis found in a library and not available through PQDT Open or Dissertations Express (aka, "unpublished"):
Format:
Author. (Year). Title of dissertation or thesis (Unpublished doctoral dissertation/master's thesis). Name of institution, Location.
Example:
Mizuma, H. (1999). A survey of music therapists and children with special needs in California (Unpublished master's thesis). Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA.
Heil, J. A. (2009). Authors, audiences, and Elizabethan prologics (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Texas A&M University, Texas.
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Ready Ref BF76.7 .P83 2010 Look at section 7.05 on p. 207 for examples.
Note:
1. Gary M. Pritchard, "A Grounded Theory of the Factors That Mediate the Effect of a Strengths-Based Educational Intervention Over a Four-Month Period" (PhD diss., Azusa Pacific University, 2009), 37.
2. David E. Gross, "Assessment of Information Literacy Instruction" (Master's thesis, San Jose State University, 2009), 19.
Bibliography:
Pritchard, Gary M. "A Grounded Theory of the Factors That Mediate the Effect of a Strengths-Based Educational Intervention Over a Four-Month Period." PhD diss., Azusa Pacific University, 2009.
If you found the dissertation through a database, include the database name, URL, and date of access:
Gross, David E. "Assessment of Information Literacy Instruction." Master's thesis, San Jose State University, 2009. In ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, http://0-proquest.umi.com.patris.apu.edu/pqdweb?did=1869384541&sid=2&Fmt=2&clientId=23686&RQT=309&VName=PQD (accessed May 3, 2010).
Parenthetical citations-reference list style:
Reference List:
Pritchard, Gary M. 2009. A grounded theory of the factors that mediate the effect of a strengths-based educational intervention over a four-month period. PhD diss., Azusa Pacific University.
If you found the dissertation through a database, include the database name, URL, and date of access:
Gross, David E. 2009. Assessment of information literacy instruction. Master's thesis, San Jose State University. In ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, http://0-proquest.umi.com.patris.apu.edu/pqdweb?did=1869384541&sid=2&Fmt=2&clientId=23686&RQT=309&VName=PQD (accessed May 3, 2010).
For more information consult the official manual or websites, listed below.
Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations Ready Ref LB2369 .T8 2007 Look at section 17.6.1 on p. 194.
The basic MLA citation format for dissertations and theses is similar to the APA format for citing books, although there are variations if the dissertation or thesis is unpublished. Consider a dissertation or thesis "unpublished" if full text is not available for download for PQDT Open or for purchase from Dissertations Express.
Acknowledgement for the examples below goes to Kimberley Stephenson, Web Services Librarian, Azusa Pacific University CA.
Citing a dissertation or thesis found in PQDT Open or the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database (aka, "published" dissertations and theses):
Format:
Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Dissertation or Thesis. Thesis (include degree type)/Diss. School, Year. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. Web. Date of access.
Examples:
Phillips, Sheri L. Predictors of Vocational Calling in Christian College Students: A Structural Equation Model. Diss. Azusa Pacific U, 2009. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. Web. 3 May 2010.
Jeffrey, Bobbie Ann. British and American Approaches to Shakespeare: A Selective Study. MA thesis. U of Missouri - Kansas City, 2009. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. Web. 3 May 2010.
Citing a dissertation or thesis found in a library and not available through ProQuest Dissertations and Theses (aka, "unpublished" dissertations and theses):
Format:
Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Dissertation or Thesis." Thesis (include degree type)/Diss. School, Year. Print.
Examples:
McVay, Lori Ann. "Women as Relational Leaders: Nature or Nurture?" MA thesis. Azusa Pacific U, 2006. Print.
Heil, Jacob Allen. "Authors, Audiences, and Elizabethan Prologics." Diss. Texas A&M U, 2009. Print.
For more information, check the official manual or the websites listed below.
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. Ready Ref LB2369 .G53 2009 Look at section 5.5.25 on p. 180 for examples.