Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 22 Apr, 2026

The USC Thesis Template is the format the University of Southern California Graduate School expects for master's theses. USC asks students to pick a discipline-appropriate style manual (APA, MLA, Chicago) and apply it consistently, with the Graduate School's baseline rules from the USC Graduate School Manuscript Formatting Guidelines layered on top.

What is the USC Thesis Template?

The USC Thesis Template is a structural shell anchored by the Graduate School's formatting guidelines and the Thesis Center submission workflow. Formatting baselines include US Letter (8.5 × 11), 1-inch margins, 0.5-inch footer for page numbers, double-spaced body, 11–12 pt font, and a specific order for preliminary and main pages. Practical steps from Appointment of Committee through final approval live on the USC Guidelines to Submission (Thesis Center steps) page.

A standard USC thesis template usually includes:

• Title page (no page number, required format)
• Optional epigraph, dedication, acknowledgments
• Table of Contents (required; Roman numeral ii if first page)
• Lists of Tables and Figures (required if present)
• Abstract (required; Roman numerals)
• Main body starting at Arabic 1
• Bibliography/References (required)
• Appendices (optional)

A strong manuscript prepared with this template should:

• Use 8.5 × 11 paper — not A4
• Keep all margins at 1 inch (0.5-inch footer for page numbers)
• Double-space body; single-space footnotes, long quoted passages, captions, table entries
• Use one consistent font (11–12 pt body, max 16 pt chapter titles, min 9 pt footnotes/captions)
• Place page numbers 0.5 inches from bottom, not bolded or italicized

What does this USC Thesis Template include?

USC's expectations across article types (MA, MS, MFA, etc.) are captured in the Graduate School's guidelines and the sample pages in the USC Dornsife Writing Center thesis formatting PDF. The USC Thesis & Dissertation Submission overview ties formatting to continuous enrollment, required documents, and submission deadlines.

Steps to Use the USC Thesis Template with Scispace Agent

1. Click Start Writing on this template page. You are redirected to the Scispace Agent prompt page with this USC Thesis Template and a starter prompt already loaded.
2. On the prompt page, choose whether to use the existing template shown in the side panel or upload a new template if you already have a program-specific or venue-specific copy.
3. Modify the prompt with your custom message: the topic, target audience, document type, scope, and any specific constraints (word limits, required pages, reporting checklists, citation style).
4. Run the prompt. Scispace Agent generates the draft directly in the USC Thesis Template structure — front matter, main sections, figures or chapters, references — without hand-editing layout code.
5. Use View Outputs to review the draft. Regenerate specific sections if the first pass needs tightening on depth, evidence, or wording.
6. When the draft is ready, save it to your library inside Scispace Agent or download it in Word or LaTeX format so it drops straight into your submission workflow.

This keeps USC Graduate School formatting compliance on the Scispace Agent side so you can focus on argument and evidence.

USC Thesis Template Structure at a Glance

Quick Tips for Using the USC Thesis Template

• Use US Letter; USC does not accept A4
• Place figures and tables near their first mention
• Sign and upload the Appointment/Change of Committee form before the Checklist deadline
• Browse approved USC theses on the USC Digital Library archive of theses

Best Practices

• Consult your committee chair on the style manual (APA, MLA, Chicago)
• Run Steps 1–7 in the Thesis Center sequentially, not in parallel
• Submit your manuscript as a single PDF in Thesis Center
• Respond to 'Formatting Changes Available' emails quickly to avoid missing deadlines

USC Thesis Template Tips

The USC Thesis Template is a two-rail system: your discipline's style manual for content, and the Graduate School's rules for the shell. When both are in sync, the Thesis Center review is a formality.