Finding Dissertations and Theses

Dissertations and theses are written or multimedia works "submitted by a student studying for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the results of research or creative activity" (OCLC, 2025).

In the United States today, generally a "dissertation" is a requirement for a doctoral degree (such as a Ph.D. or Ed.D.) while a "thesis" describes the required or optional culminating project for some master's and bachelor's degree programs. Confusingly, however, these terms are not used consistently -- their precise meaning varies by country and era, and sometimes each term is used in a general sense to refer to any such academic exercise. This inconsistent terminology should be kept in mind when searching any database or other bibliographic resource. Professional programs such as those for M.D. and J.D. degrees usually do not require either a dissertation or thesis.

This guide is broken down into sections discussing dissertations and theses that were submitted as part of a UConn degree program and those originating from other institutions. UConn's collection of UConn-submitted dissertations and theses is generally comprehensive. We do not physically own many dissertations and theses from other institutions, but we do provide resources to help you locate and access these items. Because of their varying physical and digital locations, different search strategies are required.

Different search techniques are also required if you do not have the title, author name, or other bibliographic information of a dissertation or thesis. If you are hoping to browse by a particular department or time frame, or if you are hoping to find dissertations about similar topics across institutions, you might try a few different resources. This guide is intended to help get you started, but librarians are here to help discuss your options!

Finally, guidance for the citation of dissertations and theses and the process of writing and submitting your own is provided.

Searching for dissertations and theses can be challenging. They are not as easily accessible or consistently cataloged as books or other traditionally published resources. Older texts are not always available online, and newer texts are often available only online. Increasing digitization can expand access, but it creates new challenges that each institution responds to differently. It takes some creativity and persistence, but dissertations and theses offer a unique set of resources that can be invaluable in understanding disciplines and furthering new knowledge.

Don't be afraid to reach out with additional questions. Contact our Ask a Librarian service with any general questions. Betsy Pittman, our University Archivist, can be reached with any questions regarding access to digital or print copies of UConn dissertations and theses.