Self-service help

Finding WSU Dissertations and Theses:

Conduct a keyword search in Search It

• All dissertations completed at WSU are cataloged in Search It. You can locate dissertations in Search It by searching for the author or title.  

• If you have a topic in mind, but don’t know the name of a specific dissertation, another way to locate dissertations in Search It is to make use of the keyword “thesis.” ALL WSU dissertations have the word “thesis” in their description (Thesis (Ph. D.)--Washington State University, 2001), so you can search for thesis and another word or phrase that describes your area of interest.

For Print: Dissertations published before 2008 are available in print from the WSU Libraries and are shelved by department. If the item is not available electronically, write down the call number, which begins with "WSU."  Use the location and call number information to find the dissertation in the stacks.

Use the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database

You may search ProQuest Dissertations & Theses.  To find WSU dissertations and theses, use the database ProQuest Dissertations and Theses at WSU.

If the dissertation is available online, you will see a "Full-text PDF" link to it. If you do not see a Full-text link, it means the resource is available in print.  Copy the title of the dissertation and paste it into Search It.  Click the search button, and you should see the item in the results list.  Write down the location and call number.

If you are looking to browse dissertations and theses from a specific department or advisor, use the following search field codes:

Advisor: ADV(Last name, First name) 

Department: DEP(Department name)

Learn more about field codes and using ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database.

Finding Dissertations and Theses From Other Institutions

Sometimes the best way to find dissertations and theses from other institutions is to search via Google, which often brings up results from the institution's institutional repository. If the item is older, you may need to search the institution's online catalog. You can also search Open Access Theses and Dissertations (OATD). If you cannot find full text, you will need to either request a copy from the host institution (via Interlibrary Loan) or purchase an electronic copy from the Proquest Dissertations & Theses database.

For more information on submitting dissertations & theses and to learn more about copyright and embargoes, please visit Theses and Dissertations at WSU.