How to cite a thesis or dissertation in APA 7th edition
Quick answer
An APA 7 thesis reference reads: Last name, F. M. (Year). Title in italics [Master's thesis, University Name]. Database or Repository. URL. The bracketed note gives the degree level and university; the repository tells readers where you found the work.
What does a published thesis reference look like?
Rivera, A. (2023). Rooftop gardens and local employment [Master's thesis, Example University]. Institutional Repository. https://repository.example.edu/thesis/123The title is in italics. All details are fictional.
What elements does it have?
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Author | Last name, initials |
| Year | Year of the degree or publication |
| Title | Italic |
| Brackets | Degree level and university |
| Source | Repository or database |
| Link | Stable URL |
Common labels: Doctoral dissertation, Master's thesis, Bachelor's thesis.
How do I cite an unpublished thesis?
Rivera, A. (2023). Rooftop gardens and local employment [Unpublished master's thesis]. Example University.No repository and no link; the university closes the entry.
How do I cite it in the text?
- Parenthetical: Local employment rose with rooftop plots (Rivera, 2023).
- Narrative: Rivera (2023) studied how rooftop plots affect local employment.
Checklist
- Italic title
- Degree and university in brackets
- Repository and link, if published
- "Unpublished" label if not
Frequently asked questions
How do you cite a master's thesis in APA?
Author, year, italic title and, in brackets, the degree and university: [Master's thesis, Example University]. Then add the repository or database where you found it, followed by the link to the document.
What if the thesis is unpublished?
Change the bracket to [Unpublished master's thesis] and put the university after it as the source. Leave out the repository and the link, because readers cannot retrieve an unpublished document from the web.
How is it cited in the text?
With last name and year, like any other source: (Rivera, 2023). The degree label and the university appear only in the reference list, so the in-text citation stays short and consistent with the rest.