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 in Gilbreath 205, which 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.  
• How do I learn to typeset in LaTeX? There are a number of LaTeX resources on the web. Here are a few:
  1. LaTeX: Math into LaTeX Short Course.
  2. Help On LaTeX Math Symbols.
  3. Short Math Guide for LaTeX (this webpage is maintained by the American Mathematical Society).
• 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): thesis-template2007.tex. You may download this file and edit it as you like. You also need the etsu_thesis.cls.txt file. Download it and save it as "etsu_thesis.cls" (DON'T OMIT THIS STEP!!!) in the same directory as the template file.
• 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 mailto: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).