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Stony Brook University

Dissertations and Theses at Stony Brook University

Information about how to locate and access theses and dissertations at Stony Brook University.

Director & Associate Librarian

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Kristen J. Nyitray
she/her/hers
Contact:
Director, Special Collections & University Archives
University Archivist
Associate Librarian
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY 11794-3323
t: 631.632.7119
e: kristen.nyitray@stonybrook.edu
Website

I. About

In 2010, the Graduate School at Stony Brook University formally instituted electronic submission for theses and dissertations. A small percentage of works in electronic format were submitted as early as 2006.

Stony Brook University Libraries facilitate access to theses and dissertations in print and in electronic format. 

II. Access Licensed Databases

Licensed databases are accessible to Stony Brook University students, faculty, and staff with a Net ID.
  • Dissertation & Theses@Stony Brook (ProQuest database): citations and/or access to the full-text (1967-present) of dissertations and theses authored by graduates of Stony Brook University. Please note: incomplete coverage for early years. 
     
  • Dissertations & Theses Global (ProQuest database): full-text and citations; contains 1.2 million full-text dissertations, including most dissertations added since 1997 and strong retrospective full text coverage for older graduate works; includes 2.7 million searchable citations to dissertation and theses from 1861 to the present. 

III. Open Access Databases

  • Full-Text of SBU Electronic Theses and Dissertations (2006 to 2017)

  • Hardcopy Editions of SBU Dissertations and Theses (pre-2006)
    Dissertations and theses authored by SBU graduates prior to 2007 can be located in SEARCH, SBU Libraries.
    The University Archives copy may be paged for use in the Special Collections Reading Room only if no other copy is available at SBU Libraries. 

  • Open Access Theses and Dissertations (OATD). OATD.org aims to be the best possible resource for finding open access graduate theses and dissertations published around the world. Metadata (information about the theses) comes from over 1000 colleges, universities, and research institutions. 

  • PQDT Open. PQDT Open provides the full text of open access dissertations and theses free of charge. You can quickly and easily locate dissertations and theses relevant to your discipline, and view the complete text in PDF format. The authors of these dissertations and theses have opted to publish as open access. 

  • Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD). An international organization dedicated to promoting the adoption, creation, use, dissemination, and preservation of electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs). Search open access ETDs by country or region.

  • The DART-Europe E-theses Portal provides researchers with a single European Portal for the discovery of Electronic Theses and Dissertations, with access (at the time of this writing) to 490,746 open access research theses from 557 Universities in 28 European countries.

IV. Acquiring Print Copies and Electronic Files

Most dissertations and theses are under copyright, and therefore the University Libraries do not sell or reproduce dissertations and theses. 

If you are not affiliated with SBU, you may be able to borrow a bound hardcopy (if available) through your institution's interlibrary loan department.

Copies may also be available for purchase from ProQuest Dissertation Express.

About this Guide

Guide created by Kristen J. Nyitray.
Last update: July 15, 2022.