Thesis Structure

There is no standard format for the dissertation. Most dissertations are organized into four or five chapters; however, there are many variations on these models. The dissertation proposal generally consists of the first three chapters (in a five-chapter format) or the first two chapters (in a four-chapter format).

Here are generic outlines for a five-chapter quantitative and qualitative dissertation. In each case the four-chapter model incorporates the literature review into the first chapter.