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VALE - Virtual Academic Library Environment
Stephanie Bartz
Reference/Government Publications Librarian
&
Erika Gorder, Associate University Archivist
gorder@rci.rutgers.edu
August 21, 2008
Research Resources: Subject Research Guides: Dissertations and Theses:
Rutgers Dissertations and Theses

The largest collection of Rutgers University dissertations and theses is non-circulating and is maintained by the Rutgers University Archives, part of Special Collections and University Archives (SC/UA) which is housed in the lower level of the Alexander Library. For some time periods and some categories of dissertations and theses there may also be circulating copies. This guide is intended to provide detailed information for identifying and locating all categories of Rutgers dissertations and theses.

Note: Rutgers theses and dissertations are available on interlibrary loan (ILL) if there is a copy in the general stacks, that is, a circulating copy. Rutgers University does not currently lend its dissertations internationally.

Rutgers Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

  • Rutgers Doctoral dissertations and Master's theses are treated like books--cataloged and shelved in the stacks of the appropriate library (e.g., music to Music Library, most social sciences and humanities to Alexander Library, Camden graduate programs to Robeson Library, etc.). Search IRIS, the online catalog, to find locations and call numbers for dissertations and theses. Tips for searching IRIS are included in a separate section below. [NOTE: Master's theses in Art History are not cataloged but are available at the Art Library, shelved alphabetically by author from 1970 to the present.]
  • The Dissertations and Theses database from ProQuest/UMI includes the full-text of Rutgers Doctoral dissertations starting with titles submitted to University Microfilms in 1997. Rutgers dissertations become available via Dissertations and Theses before they become available in paper format within the Libraries. The database is available from any Rutgers computer or via remote access. Copies of Rutgers dissertations and theses may also be purchased from ProQuest/UMI using the order option in Dissertations and Theses or the ordering information available at the ProQuest/UMI web site.
Dissertations & Theses @ Rutgers University
(Search the ProQuest database for material completed at Rutgers.)



[Rutgers Restricted]
  • For early dissertations and theses that do not appear in IRIS, and that are not available full-text in Dissertations and Theses, check the card catalog at Alexander Library or consult the Rutgers University Archives. The Archives has a master list of Rutgers dissertations and theses from 1924-1985 that includes separate author, title, and department indices. This inventory is comprehensive but not complete, as it does not include all Master's theses completed at Rutgers. Individual schools may also maintain their own lists of dissertations and theses (e.g., PH.D. Program in Communication, Information and Library Studies: Dissertation Topics ). Other bibliographies of Rutgers dissertations and theses include:

    RU theses and dissertations in Special Collections and Archives.
    ALEXANDER REF Z5055.U5R831 1986
    DOUGLASS REF Z5055.U5R831 1986

    Index to doctoral dissertations, 1912-1981: keyword and author indexes.
    ALEXANDER REF Z5055.U5R82 1982
    CAMDEN REF Z5055.U5R82 1982
    DANA REF Z5055.U5R82 1982
    DOUGLASS REF Z5055.U5R82 1982
    LSM REF Z5055.U49R82 1982
    MATH REF Z5055.U5R82 1982
    SPCOL/UA SNCLNJ Z5055.U5R82 1982

  • Archival master copies of Doctoral dissertations and Master's theses are maintained by the Rutgers University Archives. The collection of Master's theses is less comprehensive than that of Doctoral dissertations. These materials are non-circulating, and are not listed in IRIS.
    The collection includes:
    • Graduate School-New Brunswick & other New Brunswick Graduate Schools [generally through 2002]
      Stored offsite and may be requested through the reference desk of Special Collections and University Archives in person or by phone (732-932-7510). (Note: Dissertations and theses from some New Brunswick Graduate Schools are included up to the present. For those schools, the most recent 2 years are kept in Special Collections and University Archives.)
    • Graduate School-Newark [to the present]
      The most recent 2 years are kept in Special Collections and University Archives; earlier years are stored offsite and may be requested through the reference desk of Special Collections and University Archives in person or by phone (732/932-7510).
    • Graduate School at Camden [to the present]
      The most recent 2 years are kept in Special Collections and University Archives; earlier years are stored offsite and may be requested through the reference desk of Special Collections and University Archives in person or by phone (732/932-7510).
  • For further assistance contact the Special Collections and University Archives reference desk (732/932-7510) or the Rutgers University Archives.

George H. Cook Scholar Papers

  • George H. Cook Scholar Papers are senior honors theses from Cook College students who conduct independent research studies as part of the George H. Cook Scholars Program. The papers are cataloged in IRIS under the series title George H. Cook scholar papers, and are located in the Chang Library (STACKS LD4751.25.G478).
  • Although the papers are not individually cataloged in IRIS, researchers may identify individual titles by using the searchable index to the collection.
  • George H. Cook Scholar Papers are non-circulating. As unpublished papers/student records, theses may be consulted in the Chang Library and may be photocopied only on a limited basis. George H. Cook Scholar Papers may not be photocopied in their entirety without permission from the author.

Henry Rutgers Scholars Theses

  • Henry Rutgers Scholars Theses are senior honors theses from students who conduct independent research studies as part of the Henry Rutgers Scholars Program.
    The disposition of Henry Rutgers Scholars theses depends on the time period in which they were created:
    • 1950-1972 - microfilm in Special Collections and University Archives, not cataloged but arranged by author.
    • 1973-1981 - treated like books--cataloged and shelved in the stacks of the appropriate Rutgers library. Search IRIS, the online catalog, to find locations and call numbers. Tips for searching IRIS are included in a separate section below.
    • 1982-present - treated as student records--sent to the Rutgers University Archives directly from the Dean's office one year after submission, not cataloged but arranged by year and author. The most recent 2 years are kept in Special Collections and University Archives; earlier years are stored offsite and may be requested through the reference desk of Special Collections and University Archives in person or by phone (732-932-7510).
  • Lists of Henry Rutgers Scholars Theses are published in the Rutgers College Convocation Program and may be consulted at the Special Collections and University Archives reference desk. Theses for recent years are listed at the Henry Rutgers Scholars Program site. SC/UA also has a list of Henry Rutgers theses from 1968-1979 organized by department, author, and title. Some theses with New Jersey and Rutgers-related topics are cataloged separately in IRIS. Tips for searching IRIS are included in a separate section below.
  • Henry Rutgers Scholars Theses from 1950-1972 and 1982 to the present are non-circulating; theses from 1973-1981 are part of the circulating collections. As unpublished papers/student records, theses may be consulted in the reading room of Special Collections and University Archives, or, for some years, in the stacks of the appropriate library, and may be photocopied only on a limited basis. Henry Rutgers Scholars Theses may not be photocopied in their entirety without permission from the author.
  • For further assistance contact the Special Collections and University Archives reference desk (732-932-7510) or the Rutgers University Archives.

Mabel Smith Douglass/Stanton-Anthony Honors Papers

  • Mabel Smith Douglass/Stanton-Anthony Honors Theses are senior honors theses from Douglass College students who conduct independent research studies as part of the Douglass Scholars Program. The papers are cataloged in IRIS under the series titles Mabel Smith Douglass honors papers, Stanton-Anthony honors theses, and Mabel Smith Douglass Honors Program. The most recent 2 years are kept in Special Collections and University Archives; earlier years are stored offsite and may be requested through the reference desk of Special Collections and University Archives in person or by phone (732/932-7510).
  • Mabel Smith Douglass Honors Theses (1981-1985, 1992-1998, 2001) were transferred from the Mabel Smith Douglass Library to the Rutgers University Archives for permanent retention in 2004. They are treated as unpublished papers/student records. Starting in 2004, theses will be sent to the Rutgers University Archives directly from the Dean's office at intermittent intervals.
  • Lists of Mabel Smith Douglass Honors Theses are published in the Douglass College Convocation Program and may be consulted at the Special Collections and University Archives reference desk. SC/UA also has author/title lists, by year, for 1981-1985 and 1992-1998. Some theses with New Jersey and Rutgers-related topics are cataloged separately in IRIS. Tips for searching IRIS are included in a separate section below.
  • Mabel Smith Douglass Honors Theses are non-circulating. As unpublished papers/student records, theses may be consulted in the reading room of Special Collections and University Archives and may be photocopied only on a limited basis. Mabel Smith Douglass Honors Theses may not be photocopied in their entirety without permission from the author.
  • For further assistance contact the Special Collections and University Archives reference desk (732-932-7510) or the Rutgers University Archives.

Paul Robeson Scholars Theses

  • Paul Robeson Scholars Theses are senior honors theses from Livingston College students who conduct independent research studies as part of the Livingston College Honors Program. The theses are not cataloged. The most recent year is kept in the Kilmer Library reserve collection. Earlier years are maintained by the Rutgers University Archives. A list of Paul Robeson Scholars Theses from 1984 to 2004 may be consulted at the Reserve Desk at the Kilmer Library or at the Special Collections and University Archives reference desk. Some recent theses are also listed at the Livingston College Honors Program site.
  • Paul Robeson Scholars Theses are non-circulating. As unpublished papers/student records, theses may be consulted in the Kilmer Library or the reading room of Special Collections and University Archives and may be photocopied only on a limited basis. Paul Robeson Scholars Theses may not be photocopied in their entirety without permission from the author.
  • For further assistance contact the Special Collections and University Archives reference desk (732-932-7510) or the Rutgers University Archives.

BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) Theses

  • BFA Theses are the theses of Mason Gross School of the Arts undergraduate programs. The theses are not cataloged, but those from 1981-1996 are located in the Rutgers University Archives, filed by year. BFA theses that have not been transferred to the Archives may be retained by the relevant department or in the Dean's Office of the Mason Gross School of the Arts.
  • BFA Theses are non-circulating. As unpublished papers/student records, theses may be consulted in the reading room of Special Collections and University Archives and may be photocopied only on a limited basis. BFA Theses may not be photocopied in their entirety, nor images from them reproduced, without permission from the author.
  • For assistance in locating BFA Theses contact the Special Collections and University Archives reference desk (732/932-7510) or the Rutgers University Archives.

Departmental Honors Papers

  • For further assistance contact the Special Collections and University Archives reference desk (732/932-7510) or the Rutgers University Archives.

Tips for Searching IRIS for Rutgers Dissertations, Theses, and Honors Papers

  • To search IRIS, the online catalog, for a dissertation or thesis:
    • by a known AUTHOR - Enter the author's name, last name first, without punctuation. Use the pull-down menu to the right of the search box to select AUTHOR (last name first), then click on the Search button.
    • with a known TITLE - Enter the exact title omitting any initial articles such as a or the. Use the pull-down menu to the right of the search box to select TITLE begins with (omit first article), then click on the Search button.
    • on a particular SUBJECT - Enter the keyword THESIS combined with the keyword RUTGERS and a subject keyword (e.g., thesis and rutgers and government, or thesis and rutgers and crime) being sure to include AND between each of the keywords entered. Make sure that the pull-down menu to the right of the search box is set to WORDS anywhere, then click on the Search button.
    • from a particular DEPARTMENT - Enter the keyword THESIS combined with the keyword RUTGERS and a keyword from the name of the department (e.g., thesis and rutgers and education, or thesis and rutgers and management) being sure to include AND between each of the keywords entered. Make sure that the pull-down menu to the right of the search box is set to WORDS anywhere, then click on the Search button.
    • from the HENRY RUTGERS SCHOLARS PROGRAM - Enter the phrase HENRY RUTGERS combined with the keyword THESIS (i.e., henry rutgers and thesis) being sure to include AND between each of the keywords entered. Add a subject keyword if desired (e.g., henry rutgers and thesis and war). Make sure that the pull-down menu to the right of the search box is set to WORDS anywhere, then click on the Search button.
    • from the DOUGLASS SCHOLARS PROGRAM - Enter the keyword DOUGLASS combined with the keyword THESIS (i.e., douglass and thesis) being sure to include AND between each of the keywords entered. Add a subject keyword if desired (e.g., douglass and thesis and jersey). Make sure that the pull-down menu to the right of the search box is set to WORDS anywhere, then click on the Search button.
    • from other HONORS PROGRAMS - Enter the keyword THESIS combined with the keyword RUTGERS, the keyword HONORS, and a subject keyword (e.g., thesis and rutgers and honors and history) being sure to include AND between each of the keywords entered. Make sure that the pull-down menu to the right of the search box is set to WORDS anywhere, then click on the Search button.
  • For additional search tips consult the IRIS Guide within IRIS, the online catalog.
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