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How to Cite a PhD in MLA Format

A university student working on his doctorate, will typically write a dissertation that he must present and defend before a committee to earn his PhD. Many times a scholarly publisher will acquire a PhD candidate's dissertation and publish it in expanded form. If the dissertation is published or unpublished, it may still be a source of valuable discussion, insight or information. Follow the guidelines of the Modern Language Association when you are citing a published or unpublished PhD dissertation or even the holder of a PhD himself.

Instructions

    • 1

      List the name of the author, last name first, first name last, separated by a comma and followed by a period. For example, write Zippy, Arnold.

    • 2

      Note the title of the dissertation within quotation marks. Place a period inside the closing quotation mark. For example, write Zippy, Arnold. "Palindromes and Dandelions: A Renaissance Exegesis."

    • 3

      Write "Diss." followed by the name of the university where the former PhD candidate earned his doctorate degree. Place a comma after the university name. "Diss." is the abbreviation for "Dissertation." Abbreviate the word "University" in the school's name, if it is used, as "U." For example, write Zippy, Arnold. "Palindromes and Dandelions: A Renaissance Exegesis." Diss. U of Utah. There is no period after the U.

    • 4

      Include the year the candidate received his degree followed by a period, and the medium in which the dissertation is available, in this case print, followed by a period. For example, write Zippy, Arnold. "Palindromes and Dandelions: A Renaissance Exegesis." Diss. U of Utah, 2001. Print.

    • 5

      Use the same format for a published dissertation, but italicize the title of the dissertation, remove the quotation marks, and give the date of publication instead of the year the PhD candidate received his degree.

    • 6

      State the last name of the author of the dissertation followed by the page number you are citing for an in-text citation in MLA style of a PhD dissertation. For example, "Clearly the author wishes to avoid intemperate or unwise analysis of common weed-field distribution (Zippy 31)."

    • 7

      Write the name of the author, last name first, first name last, separated by a comma and followed by a period when you want to cite a personal communication from a PhD holder. For example, write Zippy, Arnold.

    • 8

      Reference the type of personal communication you are citing followed by a period. Write "Personal interview" or "Telephone interview" if it is an interview; write "Letter to the author" if it is a letter written to you; write "Message to the author" if it is an e-mail sent to you. For example, write Zippy, Arnold. Letter to the author.

    • 9

      Cite the date, the abbreviated month and the year of the communication followed by a period. For example, write Zippy, Arnold. Letter to the author. 17 Dec. 2001.

    • 10

      Insert "TS" for "typescript" if it is a typed letter; write "MS" for "manuscript" if it is a hand-written letter; write "E-mail" if it is an e-mail; write nothing if it is an interview. For example, write Zippy, Arnold. Letter to the author. 17 Dec. 2001. MS.

    • 11

      Include only the name of the PhD holder when you want to make an in-text citation of a personal communication from the PhD holder in MLA style. For example, "According to Arnold Zippy, the dandelion's use as a literary locus is commonplace."

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