ndu thesis format

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The Master’s Thesis provides a capstone to the Master of Arts in Strategic Security Studies program at the College of International Security Affairs, allowing students to inquire deeply into an area of professional significance, policy importance, academic value, and/or personal interest. In this way, the thesis permits students to demonstrate their analytical abilities and creative argumentation skills developed during their studies at the College. Students who undertake the thesis option should complement their educational experience by choosing a problem with direct relevance to their professional duties and the needs of their sponsoring agency or country. With this in mind, students should also select topics that pertain to their Area of Concentration for the Master of Arts Degree in Strategic Security Studies degree. Students who are enrolled in the thesis option must fulfill the following thesis requirements.

Elements of the Thesis

A good thesis is a well-structured argument that is presented clearly and persuasively. Students may employ a variety of different thesis styles, including theory proposing, theory testing, literature assessing, and theory applying (including policy evaluation/recommendation), or a combination of any of these styles.

A thesis must present a well-structured analysis focused on the author’s main argument and explicate links between relevant variables. The analysis must integrate a clear definition of the problem and claim, a valid research design for the generation, interpretation, and incorporation of data; and ideas and findings from authoritative sources.

A thesis that is deemed to be successful by the CISA faculty should contain the following elements:

The Abstract is a brief summary of the thesis that should not exceed 250 words. It presents an introduction to the subject, the key statement of the thesis, which methodology was used, and a conclusion.

The Introduction clearly defines the problem, issue or question which the thesis intends to address. In other words, the author presents the hypothesis or proposed answer to the research question. In the justification, the author reveals the problem’s importance both from a practical policy perspective and how the study will contribute to theoretical development in political analysis and/or strategic studies. For CISA, a problem’s practical relevance is determined by its strategic prevalence in today’s security environment and its impact on policymaker decision making. The analytical (scientific, academic, or theoretical) justification concerns the larger implications of the problem and the author’s prescribed solution to address the problem in practical terms.

The Literature Review lays out historical and contemporary understanding of the problem and shapes the research project by integrating existing knowledge and assessing the strengths and weaknesses of past research designs. By examining these findings, this narrative explores the correlations and divergences in previous studies, incorporating those results into the subsequent analysis.

The Research Design provides the structure for organizing the author’s argument, generating data and information, and applying relevant theories and frameworks to interpret evidence. This construct provides coherence and integration necessary to a successful thesis. The research design should be determined by the purpose and style of the study and may include observation (descriptive research, case study, or survey), experiments, quantitative, qualitative, inductive, deductive, and/or other relevant methods. The Research Design may be presented in a stand alone chapter.

The Analysis is the main body of the thesis in which the author applies the research methodology to interpret evidence and support the conclusion. As with the research design, the structure of the analysis (e.g., division into chapters) will depend on the style and scope of the study. This section presents the core of the argument underpinning the author’s thesis about the research question, acknowledging and refuting counter-arguments.

The Conclusion synthesizes findings, provides recommendations, and acknowledges continued uncertainties and ambiguities about the understanding of the issue or the implications and/or applicability of the proposed practical solutions or actions.

*Note please refer to the CISA Formatting and Structure Guidelines for further guidance.

Students at CISA can take advantage of the outstanding library available on campus. The NDU Library is considered one of the greatest repositories of information on national defense, international security, policy and strategy, international relations, management of information resources and mobilization of national resources. The collection consists of over 500,000 bound volumes, pamphlets, periodicals, microforms, audio visual materials, government documents, and 50,000 classified documents. Library personnel provide a full range of research services and guidance in the use of materials in an environment designed to support research and study. The prudent student will go beyond the Internet and utilize the NDU Library as well as other resources.

Students should use primary materials, where appropriate. For example, researchers can conduct their own work through experiments, interviews, surveys, and other forms of data gathering. Students should work with their Thesis Advisor to ensure they comply with all relevant policies and regulations regarding human subjects, as described in the Human Subjects Research Policy, including in the use of interviews.

Aggregate data, such as survey results, voting tabulations, or social and economic data, will be relevant to some but not all questions. When appropriate, the student should engage aggressively with aggregate data sets. The ability to manipulate and use data in relevant and plausible ways can be extremely useful.    Length, Format, and Citation

The finished thesis should be 60-120 pages, double spaced, properly paginated (do not number the pages of the title, the disclaimer, any table of contents or reference pages) with standard margins and Times New Roman 12 point font. The written thesis presentation must meet high standards and demonstrate meticulous attention to style and publishing details, including spelling, grammar and punctuation.  Students should consult the CISA Citation Style Guide or  The Chicago Manual of Style,  16th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2010) for any questions regarding style and format. Thesis must adhere to the CISA Thesis Formatting and Structure Guidelines. Any questions in format or style should be directed to the student’s Thesis Advisor.  

Grades and Credits for Thesis

The Thesis must represent graduate level work in both substance and form. The final product will receive a grade of Exceeds Expectations (A to A-), Meets Expectations (B+ to B), or Does Not Meet Expectations (below B). Students earn six credits by completing  6943 Thesis .

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Each of the sections below provides essential information for authors. We recommend that you take the time to read them before submitting to NDU Press.

Getting published in Joint Force Quarterly

Please read this section before submitting. This section explains the journal's editorial criteria and how manuscripts are handled by our editors between submission and acceptance for publication.

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Manuscript formatting guide and Submission

This section provides a description of all types of contributions published in the journal and detailed instructions for preparing, formatting, and writing.

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NOTE:  NDU Press does not accept book manuscripts from sources outside the National Defense University.

• Guidelines for Authors

NDU Journal accepts original and evidence-based research papers that add value to existing literature. A research paper must have clarity of argument and uses an appropriate methodology that is workable and applicable to the given environment pertaining to the journal's scope.

Research Papers shall be in MS Word, duly formatted according to the guidelines (given below) and  Publication Policy  of the Margalla Papers. The corresponding text, tables and figures shall be drafted in a single Microsoft Word file. Only Electronic submission (Soft Form) of manuscripts is allowed. The Journal website is not guaranteed manuscript acceptance until the editorial process is completed. 

Author(s) are requested to register through their  ORCID IDs  for paper(s) submission.

Please check your given emails for automated responses. There is a likelihood that these messages may fall into your SPAM directory, and if so, allow them to be in your INBOX for further correspondence.

Manuscript Requirements

All manuscripts must be accompanied by a brief abstract (properly formatted as justified in Italicized text) and keywords, and highlight Research Background, Methodology, Major Finding(s), and Conclusion in brief.

The general guidelines for the authors are appended below:

-   Language:                                       British English -   Abstract:                                          150-250 Words -   Manuscripts Length:                    5000-6000 Words (approx.) -   Font and Size:                                 Times New Roman, 12 Font Size -   Spacing:                                            1.5 -   Margin:                                             1 Inch on each side -   Biographic Sketch of Author:     50 Words -   Referencing (Endnotes only):    The Chicago Manual of Style (17th Edition) - Click on  Chicago Style of Referencing  for more details.

Important for Referencing

There is a References field when an author makes a submission and the author will be able to add references to it. Each reference should be on a separate line and you should sure the text you paste into the field is unformatted and has no extra line breaks or spaces. Remove any DOIs in the references. Using a referencing tool, allowing the Chicago Style of Referencing, is highly recommended. 

Number of Authors

A Research Paper should not exceed three (3) Authors. The Principal/ Lead Author should provide each author's research contribution to the paper.

Conflict of Interest

There should be no  Conflict of Interest  among authors regarding the paper submitted.

Plagiarism Guidelines

NDU Journal follows the HEC plagiarism and similarity index policy and uses Turnitin Originality Report software. The journal allows an overall similarity of the content maximum of up to 19%, and single-source similarity must not exceed 5%. The Editorial Board of Margalla Papers has a zero-tolerance policy on academic dishonesty or any part or whole research paper being submitted for publication. Author(s) must take responsibility for academic ethics.

For more details please visit our webpage  Plagiarism Policy .

Ethical Guidelines 

Please visit our webpage  Publishing Ethics . 

Publication/ Processing Fee

ND Journal does not charge any fee for submitting, processing and publishing research articles.

For details, please visit our webpage  Processing Fee and Subscription . 

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How to Change Margins in Word? [For Students]

As an editor, understanding page formatting is key, especially when preparing documents for print or online publication. When I first started editing, I encountered challenges with formatting, particularly when trying to adjust margins for printed articles. If you're working on a paper, thesis, or essay, and need to print it for submission, but the formatting in the preview version doesn't align with your requirements. In this guide, I'll show you how to change margins in Word so they fit your formatting, ensuring your document looks just right for printing.

APA & MLA & Chicago Styles of Margins

Formatting a research paper consistently is crucial for academic success.  Among the essential elements of formatting is setting the margins correctly. Here's a closer look at how APA, MLA, and Chicago styles handle margins:

APA (American Psychological Association) style:

One-inch margins are the standard on all sides of the paper (top, bottom, left, and right). This creates a clean and balanced layout that facilitates readability and allows for instructor comments in the margins.

MLA (Modern Language Association) style:

Similar to APA, MLA also recommends one-inch margins on all sides of the paper. This consistency ensures a professional presentation and promotes a reader-friendly experience.

Chicago (Chicago Manual of Style) style:

Chicago offers a bit more flexibility compared to APA and MLA. It allows for one-inch margins or larger margins. While one inch is perfectly acceptable, some instructors or publishers might prefer slightly larger margins, such as 1.25 inches. This extra space can enhance readability, especially for longer or complex documents.

While Microsoft Office Word is often the go-to choice for students, WPS Office offers a convenient alternative, especially when it comes to printing and formatting documents. In this demonstration, I'll use WPS Office to show you how to achieve the same results you would with Word. WPS Office is a free software compatible with all Word document versions, and it even allows you to convert your papers to PDF format without sacrificing formatting. Whether you're using a mobile device, Windows, or Mac, WPS Office ensures seamless compatibility and efficient document management.

Change Margins on the View Tab?

The first method we'll explore involves using the ruler, which can be enabled from the view tab. This method is recommended only when you're dealing with short documents, such as class assignments or short survey reports. If you're wondering how to see the margins in Word , this method will help you. With the ruler enabled, margins are visible and adjusted accordingly.

Step 1 : Open your academic document in WPS Writer, which you need to quickly adjust margins for.

Step 2 : If the ruler is not enabled in the WPS Writer interface, visit the "View" tab and then check the "Ruler" checkbox to enable it.

Step 3 : Now, press "Ctrl + A" to select the entire document, or if you need to set margins for different pages, use your cursor to select the preferred pages.

Step 4 : Once the text has been selected, move your cursor to the horizontal ruler, and slide the ruler left or right to adjust the margins.

Step 5 : Once the margins have been set, format the document if any formatting errors occur due to the changing margins of pages.

Change Margins on the Layout Tab

Margins can also be custom set using the layout tab in WPS Writer. This method usually comes in handy for me when I'm writing reports or thesis for a course where I need to follow an academic style. So, if you're stuck with a thesis and looking for how to set or adjust margins in Word on the internet, don't worry, I've got you covered! Just follow these steps:

Step 1 : Launch WPS Writer and open the academic document for which you need custom margins.

Step 2 : Head over to the Page Layout tab in the toolbar, and then click on "Margins" to view the pre-set margins.

Step 3 : In the Margins drop-down menu, select from Normal, Narrow, Moderate, or Wide margins for your academic work.

Step 4 : If you wish to set custom margins, WPS Writer gives students quick access to set their custom margins in the Page Layout ribbon.

Change Margins when Printing

Short on time to submit a hard copy of your work to the instructor? WPS Writer provides a solution for such situations as well, allowing students to adjust margins or even set them according to their academic style right before printing the document.

Step 1 : So, let's open the document in WPS Writer that we want to print after adjusting the margins.

Step 2 : Once the document is open, click on the "Menu" button at the top left corner.

Step 3 : Now, hover over the "Print" option in the menu and then select "Print Preview" from the flyout menu.

Step 4 : In the print preview, go to the "Page Margins" field and click to expand margin options.

Step 5 : In the dropdown, students can select from one of the pre-set margins in WPS Writer.

Step 6 : If you want to set custom margins, click on "Custom Margins.." to open the Page Setup dialog.

Step 7 : In the Page Setup dialog, students can define the page margins they want for their entire document to be printed. Once all the margins have been entered, press "OK".

Step 8 : Now that you have adjusted or set up the page margins of your document, press "Enter" on your keyboard to print the document.

With WPS Writer, adjusting or setting margins for your academic documents becomes hassle-free. With three different methods to choose from, I would recommend choosing the ruler method only when the margin conditions are not set by your instructor, as accuracy of margins is an issue. Using the ruler, students can adjust margins to alter the page length and width and also determine how many pages they want to fit their work. However, for reports or theses where margins need to be set according to academic styles, this method can lead to negative marking.

With custom margins, students can align their work with the preferred academic style, with the only drawback being that it might take up some time. So, if you plan to use this method, make sure to do it timely to avoid any last-minute stress.

I would only suggest the printing method when you're running late because it could lead to formatting errors ruining the look of the entire document, so be careful with this one.

Bonus Tips: Convert Word to PDF without Losing Format

Formatting a document according to specific styles like MLA, APA, or Chicago can be tricky, especially if you're not familiar with their unique requirements. It becomes even more daunting when, after putting in the effort to get everything just right, you need to convert the document to PDF. A single misstep can lead to hours of reformatting. To avoid this headache, consider using WPS Office and its WPS PDF tool for conversion. With WPS Office , you can maintain your carefully crafted formatting, ensuring your document looks just as you intended after conversion. This not only preserves your work but also makes sharing much easier. Plus, WPS Office's intuitive interface helps you stay organized and focused on your content rather than worrying about technical glitches.

Here is how students can save their work as a PDF in WPS Writer, avoiding any formatting errors that may arise during conversion.

Step 1 : Open the Word document in WPS Writer that you want to convert into a PDF.

Step 2 : Click on the Menu button located at the top left corner of WPS Writer's interface.

Step 3 : In the menu, select "Export to PDF" to open the export to PDF dialog box.

Step 4 : Now, in the Export Type field, select "Common PDF" and then click on "Export to PDF".

Your PDF file is now saved. To view it, simply open it with WPS PDF, your true all-in-one office suite that fulfills all your needs.

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FAQs about Changing Margins in Word

1. can i print without margin.

Printing without margins can be useful when you need to maximize the printable area of a page. Adobe Reader provides an option for borderless printing, allowing you to print without margins. Follow the steps below to print without margins using Adobe Reader:

Step 1 : Open Adobe Reader and navigate to the "File" tab.

Step 2 : Select "Print" from the dropdown menu.

Step 3 : Choose your printer from the options provided.

Step 4 : Click on "Properties" to access the printer settings.

Step 5 : Look for the option labeled "Borderless Printing" and select it.

Step 6 : Click "OK" to save your settings.

Step 7 : Proceed with printing your document without margins.

2. Can I change the margins of just one page in Word?

Yes, for changing the margin of just one page, you have to add a section break to the page first and then change margin for the page.

Step 1 : Open the Word document.

Step 2 : Go to the page you want to change the margins for.

Step 3 : Place the cursor on the specific page.

Step 4 : Select Insert > Sections & Pages > Break > Section Break > Next Page.

Step 5 : Navigate to Page Setup > Margins.

Step 6 : Click Custom Margins.

Step 7 : Adjust the margins for the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the page using the up and down arrows or by typing specific values.

Step 8 : Click OK to apply the custom margins to the selected page.

3. How to change margins in Word without moving the header?

Step 1 : Open your document in Microsoft Word.

Step 2 : Double-click on the header area of the document to activate the header section.

Step 3 : The Header & Footer Tools tab will appear automatically. If not, ensure that you're on the "Design" tab, and the Header & Footer Tools tab should be displayed.

Step 4 : In the "Position" group on the Header & Footer Tools tab, locate the "Header from Top" option.

Step 5 : Click on the "Header from Top" dropdown menu and select the desired measurement unit (e.g., inches or centimeters).

Step 6 : Enter the new value for the distance between the top of the page and the header content. For example, entering "0.25" would set the header 0.25 inches from the top of the page.

Step 7 : Press Enter or click outside the header area to apply the changes.

Step 8 : To verify the changes, you can scroll down through the document to ensure that the header position has been adjusted accordingly.

Step 9 : If you need to make further adjustments, repeat the process by double-clicking on the header area and modifying the "Header from Top" value as needed.

Step 10 : Once you're satisfied with the header position, you can continue editing or close the header by double-clicking outside the header area or clicking on the "Close Header and Footer" button on the Header & Footer Tools tab.

Effortless Margin Adjustments for Students

Margins are crucial for maintaining a clean and professional appearance in your documents. If you're following a specific format, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago, knowing how to change margins in Word is not just optional; mandatory. WPS Office makes it incredibly simple to set and adjust margins, ensuring your work meets the required standards. Plus, WPS Office makes sharing and converting files a breeze, so you can focus on your content without worrying about technical issues. If you're a student, give WPS Office a try and see if it suits your needs. WPS Office is free to download, so you have nothing to lose!

• 1. How to Insert Signatures in Word [For Students]
• 2. How to Insert Degree Symbol in Word [For Students]
• 3. How to set the margins in WPS Writer
• 4. How to Check Word Count for Your Essays in Word [For Students]
• 5. How to Convert Word to PDF [For Students]
• 6. How to change margins in Excel

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Thesis and Dissertation Formatting Hybrid Workshop: Regular Session

June 12, 2024 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm, about this event.

This hybrid workshop (registrants can attend in person or online) covers the submission process for format review and demonstrates how to use the automated templates to format MSU theses and dissertations to the requirements set forth in the standards for preparing theses and dissertations: 8th edition. These templates were designed to help an author organize and format their document with minimal effort so that their focus can be on the content of their document. Those who have already started writing or have already defended are welcome to bring their current documents (either on flash drive or email attachment) to start the process of placing their content into the template.

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