Dissertation Search

Some things to keep in mind:

1. Dissertation Abstracts is a pretty common database, found in both public and academic libraries. It indexes U. S. dissertations from 1861, and selectively covers international dissertations. Abstracts are given for dissertations added to the database after July, 1980, and for Master's theses beginning in the spring of 1988. PDF files for a few dissertations added after 1997 are available. For dissertations and theses completed prior to the above dates, references are given to the print counterparts of Dissertation Abstracts, American Doctoral Dissertations and Masters Abstracts. In those works you may find abstracts to older dissertations and theses.

2. The best information is not out there on the internet for free. Libraries (or other organizations, or even individuals) have to fork over big bucks to vendors for it. This means that you're probably going to have to trudge down to your local library to access the information.

3. Good news: Public libraries welcome you. In most states, academic libraries attached to state schools welcome you. In my home state, libraries at state schools are required to help the public--after all, the public's tax dollars support them.

4. Even more good news. Most people don't know about interlibrary loan. For a few dollars--or sometimes for free--you can get your public library, or an academic library if you have borrowing privileges there, to borrow a book, journal article, dissertation, or just about anything else from a library all the way across the country.

Good luck on your dissertation search, and by all means let the librarians of America help you with it.

Cheers,

Michael (a friendly librarian)

 

Hi Kristie and others,

Perhaps this location will be helpful to you, at least some of the material is free.

http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/browse/by_department/m.html

 

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Good news: Public libraries welcome you. In most states, academic libraries attached to state schools welcome you. In my home state, libraries at state schools are required to help the public--after all, the public's tax dollars support them.
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To add my own experience to what has been mentioned a couple of times: For me, the easiest way to get access to all dissertations is through the local public library. In New York City, the Mid-Manhattan Library has a public terminal on the second floor to search Dissertation Abstracts. No charge! It's a great resource.

Phillip M. Perry