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Graduate Program: LaTeX Resources
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Graduate Students in Mathematics are required to complete their thesis in
LaTeX. This is the "industry standard" for typesetting mathematics - it is
used by textbook publishers, research journals, and mathematicians/scientists/engineers worldwide.
Though a bit different from other typesetting software (such as Word and
WordPerfect), it is much less frustrating and much more efficient to use in
typesetting mathematical symbols and formulae; and in setting up document
structures such as theorems, references, and a table of contents.
Thesis in LaTeX FAQ's:
- How do I get LaTeX Software? LaTeX requires a text
editor, a typesetter, and a previewer. The Math department provides
PCTeX accessible from any internet-connected computer at
xen.etsu.edu.
PCTeX is a commercial product that combines all 3
into a single software package. Freeware, open source LaTeX tends to be
based on MiKTex ( go to the MiKTex Project Page
for details). A MiKTex based freeware
equivalent of PCTeX is TeXNiCenter.
- Are there online LaTeX Editing Platforms Yes, sites like Verbosus
and ScribTex are equivalent to a full
LaTeX system, and several more such systems are soon to come.
- How do I learn to typeset in LaTeX? There are a number
of LaTeX resources on the web. Here are the two we recommend starting out with:
- LaTeX Wikibook
- LaTeX: Math into LaTeX
Short Course.
- How do I create a Thesis in LaTeX?
A sample LaTeX thesis file is available for
download (complements of Jason Lachniet, ETSU Math masters graduate, 2007).
- Download the zip file
ETSUThesisClassandStyle.zip
which includes the file thesis-template2007.tex and the
etsu_thesis.cls file. YOU WILL NEED BOTH IN THE SAME DIRECTORY
- Unzip the contents into the same folder
- Read commented instructions as you use the file.
The thesis file, sample articles, presentation files, exam templates, and documentation are also
available in the zip file
ETSUMathGradLatex.zip (4mb)
- What do I do with the ETSU Math thesis template?
Once you have
learned LaTeX syntax and typed your chapters, your thesis becomes a "fill in
the blank" task! Just paste your chapters in the sample file, insert committee
member names and a few other details, and LaTeX will do the rest!
- If I use LaTeX, can I easily conform to the Graduate School's required
thesis format?
Absolutely! The LaTeX thesis template was designed in association with the
ETSU School of Graduate Studies to meet all the guidelines that such a
template can meet.
- So once my thesis is in LaTeX and is
approved by my committee, am I finished?
No! Your thesis must be
converted into PDF format and submitted to the Graduate School.
They will proofread thoroughly!!! (for
spelling, grammar, format, word usage, consistency, etc.) Your thesis is not
finished until the Graduate School is completely satisfied. A checklist of
steps to Graduate School approval is available
here.
- How do I convert my thesis into PDF? If your thesis is in LaTeX form, then it is easily converted to PDF form.
Most LaTeX software packages do so by default. See
Dr. Bob Gardner (e-mail gardnerrr@etsu.edu), Dr. Jeff
Knisley (e-mail knisleyj@etsu.edu), or
Dr. Bob Price (e-mail pricejr@etsu.edu)
for help on this task.
- Are there faculty that can help me out?
All Math
Department faculty are familiar with the software, and so help is not far
away. If you have particular technical questions, you might check with these
"high traffic" users of LaTeX: Dr. Bob Gardner (e-mail
gardnerr@etsu.edu), Dr. Bob Price (e-mail
pricejr@etsu.edu), and Dr. Don
Luttermoser (of the ETSU Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Geology - he
has declared himself "Dr. LaTeX," so you can take your most difficult LaTeX
problems to him! - e-mail lutter@etsu.edu).
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