FAQ: Dissertations, theses, and honors papers

How to Find Dissertations & Theses
http://library.duke.edu/research/finding/dissertations.html

1.    About Duke doctoral dissertations and masters' theses
When you search for a thesis or dissertation in the on-line catalog, the first one listed in the holdings statement is usually the archival copy. This copy cannot be checked out. If you want a dissertation or thesis to check out and read, request the one that doesn't say "University Archives".  

• 1928-1958. Dissertations done during this period are available only on paper.
• 1958-1996. Dissertations are available on paper and microfilm.
  In the Fall of 1958, Duke began sending dissertations to University Microfilms (now ProQuest/University Microfims, or “UMI”) to be filmed. You can buy a paper copy from UMI for about $40.00. Go to http://www.umi.com/products_umi/dissertations/ to order.  If UMI cannot provide an item from this period, please contact the Interlibrary Loan Department of Perkins Library or the Medical Center Library as appropriate. The Archives will photocopy only dissertations that are not available from UMI, i.e., those done prior to Fall, 1958. Master's theses were not microfilmed.
  
• 1996-on. Dissertations are available electronically as PDFs from Duke IP addresses.
• 2006-on. Selected dissertations are available electronically on DukeSpace; http://dukespace.lib.duke.edu/dspace/handle/10161/4 . No paper copies exist for these dissertations. The Graduate School intends to make electronic-only submission of dissertations mandatory by 2009.

2.    About Duke undergraduate honors theses
Departmental honors theses (also called honors papers) are cataloged by academic discipline. The base call numbers for these are listed below. The call number is followed by the year submitted and the first two three letters letters of the author's last name.  Most are stored off-site. These unique items are non-circulating and must be used in the Archives' research room, 103 Perkins.  In order to preserve honors theses and similar bound volumes, photocopies will be made by the Duke Copy Center. Our in-house copier is not designed for copying bound volumes.

• Cultural Anthropology:  306 D877
• Economics: 330 D877
• English 804 D877
• History:  904 D877
• MALS:  001.3 (Master of Arts in Liberal Studies)
• Music:  780.4
• Political Science:  320.4 D877
• Public Policy:  320.4 D877S
• Sociology:  301 D877
• Women's Studies:  305.4 D877
• Zoology:  591 D877