Cite It Right

Guidelines to citing in different citation styles

Basic Information

When citing, you need: 

  • WHO created the work
  • WHEN it was published, created, or performed
  • WHERE it was published, created, or performed
  • WHAT is the format (book, film, play, study, proceeding)

When using online resources, you need:

  • The URL or Database Name
  • WHEN the URL or database was visited

Common Citation Styles

Below is a list of common citation styles by academic discipline. 

PLEASE NOTE: This is a general guide only. The citation style required by your department may be different from what appears here. If you are undertaking a thesis or dissertation, you should always check with your faculty advisor.

Common Citation Styles by Academic Discipline

Program Sub-Discipline Style
Anthropology Cultural Anthropology American Anthropology Assoc. 
Anthropology Primatology APA
Anthropology Archaeology Society for American Archaeologists / American Antiquity
Art and Art History   Chicago
Communication   APA
English English

MLA
English Linguistics MLA
English Rhetoric MLA
History   Chicago
Music Music Education APA
Music Music History Chicago
Music Music Pedagogy Chicago
Music Music Psychology APA
Music Music Theory Chicago
Philosophy   APA
Political Science   APA
Spanish   MLA
Spanish Linguistics APA
Spanish Translation and Interpreting Studies APA

 

Program Style
Bicultural-Bilingual Studies APA
Counseling APA
Educational Leadership and Policy Studies APA
Educational Psychology APA
Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching APA

 

Program Style
Criminology and Criminal Justice APA
Demography Check with your department/advisor
Kinesiology APA
Psychology APA
Public Administration APA
Social Work APA
Sociology APA

 

Program Style
Accounting The Accounting Review
Economics APA
Finance Journal of Financial Economics
Information Systems and Cyber Security MISQ or IEEE
Management APA
Management Science and Statistics APA
Marketing APA

 

Program Style
Chemistry Check with your department/advisor
Computer Science Check with your department/advisor
Earth & Planetary Sciences Check with your department/advisor
Integrative Biology Check with your department/advisor
Mathematics Check with your department/advisor
Molecular Microbiology & Immunology Check with your department/advisor
Neuroscience, Developmental & Regenerative Biology Check with your department/advisor
Physics & Astronomy Check with your department/advisor
Program Style
Architecture & Planning Check with your department/advisor
Biomedical Engineering AMA or APA
Chemical Engineering ACS
Civil and Environmental Engineering & Construction Management APA or ASCE
Electrical and Computer Engineering IEEE or APA
Mechanical Engineering ASME