Last revised: August 2008

Theses and Dissertations at University of Maryland Libraries

Permanent, non-circulating copies of all University of Maryland (College Park, Md.) master's theses and doctoral dissertations are maintained by the Marylandia and Rare Books Department of UM Libraries. In many cases, a second, circulation copy of a thesis or dissertation is available in the McKeldin Library stacks or the appropriate branch library. Researchers should check the UM Libraries Catalog for the exact location of circulating copies. Although there are no circulating copies of theses and dissertations since December 2003, full text is available online at DRUM: Digital Repository at the University of Maryland.

Finding Online Theses and Dissertations

University of Maryland doctoral dissertations from 1998 to the present and master's theses from December 2003 to the present are available through Digital Dissertations. Because of licensing agreements, this database can be used only by current faculty, staff, and students of the University of Maryland, College Park.

Full text of UM dissertations and theses is available online since December 2003 at DRUM: Library Managed Collections. These are available to everyone.

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Finding Bound Print Copies of Theses and Dissertations in UM Libraries

1. Check the card catalog in the Maryland Room (entries maintained only up to 1991), under the author or department.
2. Search the UM Libraries Catalog. Use the College Park Advanced Search feature. Limit format to Theses/Dissertations. Also enter "University of Maryland" in word search option thesis institution/place to limit search to University of Maryland theses and dissertations.
a. Do an author search if you know the author's name. In Advanced Search , use the search for words in author option or use the browse search author beginning with option.


b. Do a word search to find relevant items. In Advanced Search , enter pertinent words in word search in all fields or title.

c. Do a search by Department (for post-1991 works only), using department names as listed on the Authority List. Enter Department name in Advanced Search using the word search option all fields.

All masters theses receive the call number: LD3231.M70m [plus last name and initials of author] all dissertations receive the call number: LD3231.M70d [plus last name and initials of author]. Starting in the year 2000, the year the degree was granted has been added to the base call number. The Marylandia and Rare Books Department does not have copies of theses or dissertations available until they are cataloged and appear in the library catalog.

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Additional Resources

• Digital Dissertations UM only
  Dissertations by University of Maryland students from 1998 to present are available in full text download for free.
• DRUM: Digital Repository at the University of Maryland
  Theses and dissertations by University of Maryland students from Fall 2003 to present are available in full text from DRUM. Search at the Library Managed Collections Web site.
• Dissertations through Interlibrary Loan
  Requests can be made to purchase a dissertation copy through ILL. To order a copy, you must include a check for $28.00 payable to UMI or attach an IDB form (Interdepartmental Billing Form) for $28.00 to your request form.
• UMI: Dissertation Explorer
  This is a guide to UMI's dissertation services and products. It includes help on preparing, locating, and ordering dissertations and theses. UMI's archives contain more than 1 million dissertations and theses available for purchase, bound, unbound, or on microfilm.
• University of Maryland Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) Style Guide 2006 Edition
  A Guide to the preparation of Master's theses and Doctoral dissertations at the University of Maryland.
• University of Maryland Names Established for Use on Theses or UPUBS
• Thesis, Dissertation, Personal Binding.

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