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

Duke Doctoral Dissertations and Masters' Theses

When you search for a thesis or dissertation in the on-line catalog, the copy identified as belonging to the University Archives is the archival copy and cannot be borrowed. Most Duke dissertations and theses will have second copies that can be borrowed or loaned via Document Delivery.  

• 1928-1958: Dissertations submitted 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 Microfilms, or “UMI”) to be filmed. You may be able to purchase a paper copy from UMI at http://www.umi.com/products_umi/dissertations/. If UMI cannot provide a copy of a dissertation, please contact Document Delivery 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-present: Dissertations are available electronically from the Dissertations at Duke database (restricted to Duke IP addresses).
• 2006-present: Selected dissertations and theses are available electronically on DukeSpace. As of 2009, the Graduate School has made electronic submission of dissertations and theses mandatory (and a replacement for paper copies).

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; you can search the library catalog for these base call numbers to find all of the honors theses submitted in a particular discipline. These honors papers cannot be borrowed and must be used in the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library's reading room, located in 103 Perkins Library. Complete photocopies may be purchased from the University Archives (contact us).

• Cultural Anthropology: 306 D877
• Economics: 330 D877
• English: 804 D877
• History: 904 D877
• Graduate Liberal Studies: 001.3 D877
• Political Science: 320.4 D877
• Public Policy: 320.4 D877S
• Sociology: 301 D877
• Women's Studies: 305.4 D877
• Zoology: 591 D877

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