Finding Theses and Dissertations

Is the title a UW thesis or dissertation?

UW Libraries Catalog: Most theses and dissertations written by UW students may be found in the Libraries catalog. This database will list the library unit where the item is held, location within the library, and whether or not the piece is currently checked out.

In addition, UW collects some theses and dissertations from other institutions. All theses and dissertations owned by the UW may be found in the catalog under author, title, or the subject of the work. Theses and dissertations completed for the course of study at the UW are also under the heading Theses. UW theses will additionally have a heading like:

Theses--German
Theses--Health-Services
Theses--History
Theses--Immunology
Theses--Inter-Engineering
Theses--International-Studies--Middle-East

Only theses and dissertations written by UW students can be searched in the catalog by genre.

Note: There may be a lag of several months between the time a thesis is submitted to a UW department and when it appears in the UW Libraries Catalog. If you are seeking a University of Washington thesis or dissertation that is not listed in the catalog, please contact Catherine Gerhart by e-mail at gerhart@u.washington.edu or by telephone at (206) 685-2827, to determine if the title you are looking for is in process.

UW theses and dissertations may be browsed in the stacks. They are assigned call numbers according to their subject area. If a subject is held in a branch library, e.g. Architecture and Urban Planning, theses and dissertations for that subject area will be in that library.

The Libraries collection includes an archival copy of UW theses and dissertations. These copies may be used in the library, but do not circulate. Archival copies of theses must be requested at the Circulation desk in the Suzzallo/Allen library.

What if the thesis/dissertation is not in the Libraries collection?

If the thesis that you are looking for is not in the UW Libraries collection, you may:

Order directly from University Microfilms International (UMI). UW affiliated users may access Dissertation Abstracts International
Consult Dissertation Abstracts International which lists University Microfilm's holdings. The Suzzallo Reference area has UMI dissertation/thesis order forms.
Request to have the item borrowed from another institution through UWorld Express. Note: Many libraries do not lend their dissertations via interlibrary borrowing.

Masters thesis

Masters thesis may be found by consulting Masters Abstracts International. Masters Abstracts includes masters theses, Educational Specialist materials, and projects accepted by accredited institutions for advanced degrees other than dissertations. Published since 1986, this source is available only in a print format at Suzzallo Reference (call number Z5053 .M3).