PHD Dissertation
My father was a Georgetown graduate student. He submitted his history dissertation to the department and it was approved. Is it possible to obtain a pdf copy?
Answer
We have several ways to provide access to GU dissertations:
- DigitalGeorgetown, our institutional repository, provides access to many GU-authored PhD dissertations. DG also includes master's theses, when submitted. Generally these are from recent graduates.
- ProQuest Theses and Dissertations is a large archive of dissertations from GU and other universities. Only PhD dissertations, no master's papers. Only available to current GU students and faculty.
- Dissertation Express from ProQuest/UMI allows unaffiliated scholars to order a print or PDF copy of a dissertation. Prices are $40 and up, depending on format. If you are not a current GU student/faculty, this is a good (if expensive) way to get a dissertation.
- HoyaSearch, the Library's catalog, can be used to search for print copies of older dissertations. Almost all print dissertations are housed in off-site storage and will need to be requested in advance of a campus visit.
Unfortunately the Library is unable to provide photocopy or scanning of print dissertations. (Try ProQuest or Dissertation Express.) Also, some authors have prohibited ProQuest and the Library from distributing their work, and in these cases we cannot provide full text access, either in print or online.