APA Citation for Dissertations: A Complete Guide with Examples

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What Is APA Citation and Why It Matters for Your Dissertation

APA 7th edition is the current standard for citing dissertations across social sciences, education, and psychology
Reference list format depends on where you accessed the source: database (ProQuest), institutional repository, or unpublished
In-text citations follow the simple (Author, Year) pattern — but with important nuances for multiple authors and self-citation
Your own dissertation must be cited formally in third person, not in first person
Hanging indents, sentence case for titles, and italicization rules are the most common sources of formatting errors

APA (American Psychological Association) style is one of the most widely used citation systems in academic writing. It’s the standard in social sciences, education, psychology, and many education programs — and those are precisely the fields where doctoral and master’s students do the most dissertation work.

When you write a dissertation, you’ll encounter APA citation in two distinct places:

In-text citations — parenthetical and narrative references embedded within your chapters
The reference list — the alphabetical bibliography at the end of your dissertation

Both must follow the APA 7th Edition Publication Manual (2020), which is the current standard. Your committee will expect consistency — and formatting errors in citations are one of the most common reasons dissertations are returned for revision.

Here’s what you need to know to get it right.

APA 7th Edition: What’s Changed for Dissertations

Before diving into examples, it’s important to understand how the 7th edition differs from the 6th edition — because many students still learn from outdated materials.

Major changes that affect dissertations:

No “Retrieved from” before URLs or DOIs — the 7th edition removed this phrase from the format
Publication numbers are now included in parentheses after the title (not italicized)
Italics apply to dissertation titles in reference list entries
Sentence case is required for titles and subtitles (only the first word and proper nouns capitalized)
ORCID identifiers are included when available

These changes matter because many online citation generators still default to 6th edition formatting. Always verify your citations against the APA Publication Manual (7th edition) guidelines.

In-Text Citation Examples

In-text citations tell your reader where a specific piece of information came from. APA 7th edition uses the author-date format: (Author, Year).

Basic In-Text Citation Pattern

Parenthetical citation (information integrated into your sentence):

(Smith, 2023)

Narrative citation (author is part of the sentence):

Smith (2023) argued that…

Multiple Authors

Two authors — cite both every time:

(Smith & Jones, 2023) / Smith and Jones (2023)

Three or more authors — use “et al.” after the first citation:

First citation: (Smith, Jones, & Brown, 2023)
Subsequent citations: (Smith et al., 2023)

Citing a Specific Page

For direct quotes, always include the page number:

(Smith, 2023, p. 45)

For a range of pages:

(Smith, 2023, pp. 45–47)

No Author Available

When a source has no individual author, use the organization name:

(American Psychological Association, 2020)

If no date is available, use “n.d.”:

(Smith, n.d.)

The Reference List (Works Cited)

The reference list is where you provide full publication details for every source you cited. Each entry follows a four-element structure: Author, Date, Title, and Source.

General Reference Structure

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the work in sentence case. Source.

Dissertation and Thesis Reference Examples

This is the section most students struggle with — and where your committee is most likely to spot errors. The format depends entirely on where you accessed the source.

Published Dissertation from a Database (ProQuest)

When a dissertation is available through a commercial database and has a publication number:

Kabir, J. M. (2016). Factors influencing customer satisfaction at a fast food hamburger chain: The relationship between customer satisfaction and customer loyalty (Publication No. 10169573) [Doctoral dissertation, Wilmington University]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.

Format: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of dissertation (Publication No.) [Doctoral dissertation, Institution Name]. Database Name.

Published Dissertation from an Institutional Repository

When a dissertation is available through a university archive or repository:

Zambrano-Vazquez, L. (2016). The interaction of state and trait worry on response monitoring in those with worry and obsessive-compulsive symptoms [Doctoral dissertation, University of Arizona]. UA Campus Repository. https://repository.arizona.edu/handle/10150/620615

Format: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of dissertation [Doctoral dissertation, Institution Name]. Repository Name. URL

Published Dissertation from PDQT Open

Some dissertations are freely available through ProQuest Open Access:

Miranda, C. (2019). Exploring the lived experiences of foster youth who obtained graduate level degrees: Self-efficacy, resilience, and the impact on identity development (Publication No. 27542827) [Doctoral dissertation, Pepperdine University]. PQDT Open. https://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/2309521814.html

Unpublished Dissertation or Thesis

When a dissertation or thesis has not been published in a database or repository, and was retrieved directly from the institution:

Long, V. (2024). Instructor attitudes on the usefulness of writing across the curriculum [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University of Texas.

Format: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of dissertation [Unpublished doctoral dissertation or Master’s thesis]. Name of Institution.

Important: Do not include a URL or “Retrieved from” for unpublished works unless your institution requires it — the APA Style blog (August 2025) confirms that unpublished works should end with the institution name.

Master’s Thesis Examples

The format is the same, just with “Master’s thesis” instead of “Doctoral dissertation”:

Samson, J. M. (2016). Human trafficking and globalization [Unpublished master's thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

What to Cite as “Source”

Understanding what counts as the source element is critical:

Access Method	Source Element	Example
ProQuest database	Database name	ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global
PDQT Open	Database name + URL	PQDT Open + URL
University repository	Repository name + URL	UA Campus Repository + URL
Unpublished (print/institution)	Institution name	University of Texas
Institutional archive	Archive name + URL	University archive + URL

Common APA Citation Mistakes in Dissertations

Based on analysis of common errors documented by APA Style (2020) and university writing centers, here are the most frequent mistakes students make:

Mistake 1: Incorrect Title Capitalization

APA 7th edition requires sentence case for titles and subtitles — not title case.

Wrong: The Impact of Social Media On Student Learning Outcomes
Correct: The impact of social media on student learning outcomes

Only the first word, the first word after a colon, and proper nouns are capitalized.

Mistake 2: Italicizing Everything

Only the title of the work is italicized in a reference entry — not the database name, not the institution, and not the publication number.

Wrong: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global
Correct: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global

Mistake 3: Using “Retrieved from”

The 7th edition explicitly removed “Retrieved from” from the format. It should only be used when content is likely to change over time (like a wiki).

Wrong: Retrieved from https://repository.arizona.edu/handle/10150/620615
Correct: https://repository.arizona.edu/handle/10150/620615

Mistake 4: Incorrect Hanging Indent

Reference list entries require a hanging indent — the first line is flush left, and subsequent lines are indented 0.5 inches.

Most students manually add spaces instead of using Word’s built-in hanging indent feature. This causes inconsistent formatting when your document is reformatted.

Mistake 5: Missing or Incorrect DOIs

Every digital source must include a DOI in the format https://doi.org/xxxx. If a DOI is not available, use a direct URL.

Wrong: http://www.example.com/article
Correct: https://doi.org/10.1234/example

Mistake 6: Alphabetizing by Title Instead of Author

Reference lists are alphabetized by the first author’s last name — not by the title or the publication date.

Mistake 7: Using “Thesis” or “Dissertation” interchangeably

Some institutions use “thesis” and others use “dissertation” to describe the same document. Use the exact term your institution uses. If your institution calls it a “doctoral dissertation,” use that term in the bracketed description.

Mistake 8: Forgetting to Include the Publication No. When Available

If ProQuest or another database assigned a publication number, it must be included in parentheses after the title.

Wrong: Smith, J. M. (2020). The impact of remote learning. [Doctoral dissertation, University of Michigan].
Correct: Smith, J. M. (2020). The impact of remote learning (Publication No. 10987654) [Doctoral dissertation, University of Michigan].

APA vs. Other Citation Styles (When to Use Each)

You’ll encounter different citation styles across disciplines. Here’s when APA is the appropriate choice and when another style might be more relevant:

Citation Style	Primary Disciplines	Key Difference from APA
APA (7th Edition)	Social sciences, education, psychology, nursing	Author-date format; emphasis on recency
MLA (9th Edition)	Humanities, literature, arts	Author-page format; uses “Works Cited”
Chicago (17th Edition)	History, some business disciplines	Notes-bibliography or author-date; flexible
Harvard	UK and Commonwealth universities	Similar to APA but with different formatting
IEEE	Engineering, computer science	Numeric bracketed citations [1], [2]

Your Institution Determines the Style

Critical rule: Your university or department may require a specific style regardless of discipline conventions. Always check your dissertation handbook or graduate studies office guidelines before you begin formatting your references.

Some institutions provide their own APA-style template that modifies standard APA rules — for example, requiring “Retrieved from” even though APA 7th edition discourages it. When your institution’s requirements conflict with APA guidelines, follow your institution’s rules.

Frequently Asked Questions About APA Dissertation Citation

What Is the Correct Format for Citing a Dissertation in APA?

Reference list format: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of dissertation (Publication No.) [Doctoral dissertation, Institution Name]. Database or Repository. URL (if applicable).

In-text format: (Author, Year) or Author (Year).

Can I Cite My Own Dissertation?

Yes. Your own dissertation must be cited formally using the standard reference format — not in first person.

Example: YourLastName, A. A. (2024). The title of my dissertation [Doctoral dissertation, University Name]. Database Name.

Should I Include the Publication Number in My Dissertation Citation?

Only if your dissertation has a publication number from ProQuest or another database. If you’re citing an unpublished thesis or a dissertation from an institutional repository without a publication number, omit this element.

What If My University Doesn’t Use APA Style?

Check your institution’s dissertation style guide. Many universities allow APA, Chicago, or discipline-specific styles. Follow the style mandated by your department’s graduate studies office.

How Do I Format a Master’s Thesis in APA 7th Edition?

The format is identical to a doctoral dissertation, except the bracketed description reads “[Master’s thesis, Institution Name]” instead of “[Doctoral dissertation, Institution Name].”

Putting It All Together: A Quick Reference Checklist

Before you finalize your reference list, verify:

[ ] Every source in the reference list has a corresponding in-text citation
[ ] All entries are alphabetized by the first author’s last name
[ ] Titles are in sentence case (only first word, subtitle first word, and proper nouns capitalized)
[ ] Dissertation titles are italicized
[ ] Publication numbers are included in parentheses after the title (when available)
[ ] Bracketed descriptions specify the degree level and institution name
[ ] Database names are included for published sources (not italicized)
[ ] URLs are included as https:// links (without “Retrieved from”)
[ ] Hanging indents are applied to all entries (not manually spaced)
[ ] DOIs are included for all digital sources
[ ] “et al.” is used correctly for three or more authors

Final Thoughts: Why Getting APA Citation Right Matters

Citation formatting isn’t just about rules — it’s about academic integrity and reader trust. When your citations are correct and consistent, your committee focuses on your research rather than questioning your professionalism.

APA citation for dissertations is one of those areas where small details add up. A single missing italic, an incorrect capitalization, or a broken hanging indent signals to reviewers that you’ve rushed the final stages of your dissertation.

The investment of an extra hour checking your reference list against APA 7th edition guidelines is far less than the cost of a months-long revision cycle.

Related Guides

Dissertation Formatting Guide 2026 (APA 7 & Chicago) — Comprehensive formatting guide covering margins, headings, tables, and reference list setup
Scribbr APA Citation Examples — Real examples of APA dissertation citations from Scribbr
Purdue OWL: APA 7th Edition Reference List — Authoritative APA reference formatting from Purdue University
How to Cite Unpublished Works — APA Style Blog — Official APA guidance on citing unpublished dissertations and theses (August 2025)

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