Boston College began offering graduate programs in the 1920s. Since then the format of masters theses and doctoral dissertations has changed with the times: from the early technology of print books to microforms (both microfilm and microfiche) and now to PDFs. The information in this guide can help optimize your search for full text of a BC dissertation or masters thesis.
Full text of BC dissertations and masters theses is available in a variety of formats and locations, depending on the publication date. Though there are outliers and exceptions, the following table shows likely availability, including format, location, and years.
| pre-1966 | 1966-1996 | 1996-2008 | post-2008 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Print (Burns Library*) | Microforms (O'Neill Library) | PDFs (eScholarship@BC) | |
| PDFs (ProQuest Dissertations and Theses) | |||
* Stored offsite; requires retrieval. Must be used at Burns Library.
Additional information on accessibility:
Embargoes: The author may have requested an embargo, delaying the online availability of the dissertation or thesis. If a dissertation is embargoed in ProQuest and/or eScholarship@BC, you will be able to see the author, title, and abstract, but not the full text. Embargoes are typically requested when a dissertation is being submitted to a publisher that proscribes prior publication; a patent application is going to be filed; there is a need to protect proprietary information; or there is a need to respect confidentiality.
If you are sure the dissertation/thesis you are looking for was written before 1966, contact Burns Library by submitting a question or by phone 617-552-4861.
For all other assistance with searching, ask a librarian.
The catalog includes records for the following formats/locations:
We recommend that you first search for a dissertation or thesis here. Use the advanced search option to do a title and/or author search. You can also search for the Local Collection Name "BC THESES."
See our search tips for additional help.
The ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database includes not only Boston College graduate dissertations and theses but also full-text dissertations and abstracts from institutions worldwide. BC dissertations and theses from 1996 on can be found in this database.
eScholarship@BC is the institutional repository of Boston College, managed by the Boston College University Libraries. Both graduate and undergraduate students have the option to provide free access to the full text of a thesis or dissertation through eScholarship@BC, though it is not required. BC dissertations and theses from 2008 on can be found in eScholarship@BC.
If you are submitting a graduate thesis or dissertation to Boston College, see our eTD@BC website for instructions and support.
If you would like to submit an undergraduate honors thesis, see our Undergraduate Theses Submission guidelines.
