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Open Access Theses and Dissertations

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About OATD.org

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 1100 colleges, universities, and research institutions . OATD currently indexes 6,912,508 theses and dissertations.

About OATD (our FAQ) .

Visual OATD.org

We’re happy to present several data visualizations to give an overall sense of the OATD.org collection by county of publication, language, and field of study.

You may also want to consult these sites to search for other theses:

• Google Scholar
• NDLTD , the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations. NDLTD provides information and a search engine for electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs), whether they are open access or not.
• Proquest Theses and Dissertations (PQDT), a database of dissertations and theses, whether they were published electronically or in print, and mostly available for purchase. Access to PQDT may be limited; consult your local library for access information.

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EBSCO Open Dissertations

EBSCO Open Dissertations makes electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs) more accessible to researchers worldwide. The free portal is designed to benefit universities and their students and make ETDs more discoverable. 

Increasing Discovery & Usage of ETD Research

EBSCO Open Dissertations is a collaboration between EBSCO and BiblioLabs to increase traffic and discoverability of ETD research. You can join the movement and add your theses and dissertations to the database, making them freely available to researchers everywhere while increasing traffic to your institutional repository. 

EBSCO Open Dissertations extends the work started in 2014, when EBSCO and the H.W. Wilson Foundation created American Doctoral Dissertations which contained indexing from the H.W. Wilson print publication, Doctoral Dissertations Accepted by American Universities, 1933-1955. In 2015, the H.W. Wilson Foundation agreed to support the expansion of the scope of the American Doctoral Dissertations database to include records for dissertations and theses from 1955 to the present.

How Does EBSCO Open Dissertations Work?

Your ETD metadata is harvested via OAI and integrated into EBSCO’s platform, where pointers send traffic to your IR.

EBSCO integrates this data into their current subscriber environments and makes the data available on the open web via opendissertations.org .

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Open Access Theses and Dissertations (OATD)

OATD.org provides open access graduate theses and dissertations published around the world. Metadata (information about the theses) comes from over 1100 colleges, universities, and research institutions. OATD currently indexes 6,654,285 theses and dissertations.

Open Access Theses and Dissertations

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Global ETD Search

Search the 6,492,302 electronic theses and dissertations contained in the NDLTD archive:

The archive supports advanced filtering and boolean search.

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Have you ever wondered which dissertations and theses are accessed most by researchers?

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global™ database is the world's most comprehensive curated collection of multi-disciplinary dissertations and theses from thousands of universities around the world.  Each month ProQuest posts the top 25 Most-Accessed Dissertations and Theses across all subjects, based upon total document views. Check out the current list of top titles (where a number is listed more than once, this indicates a tie in usage). View the Archives to see lists from previous months.

Dissertations    Theses

Dissertations - May 2024

Re-examining diversity policy at university of california, san diego: the racial politics of asian americans.

Kong, Angela Wai-Yin, University of California, San Diego, 2014, Ph.D. Subject: Higher education

"I saw a nightmare...": Doing violence to memory: The Soweto uprising, June 16, 1976

Pohlandt-McCormick, Helena, University of Minnesota, 1999, Ph.D. Subject: African history

Servant leadership: A theoretical model

Patterson, Kathleen Ann, Regent University, 2003, Ph.D. Subject: Management

Content Analysis of the Theory Base Used in the Conference Proceedings of the Association of Educational Communications and Technologies

Flynt, Peggy R., Nova Southeastern University, 2014, Ed.D. Subject: Education

Nothing Left Unfinished: A Transcendental Phenomenology on the Persistence of Black Women in Distance Education Doctoral Programs

Rogers, Sherrita Yolande, Liberty University, 2018, Ed.D. Subject: Higher education

Biochemical and structural dissection of the regulation of the apoptotic pathways in Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans

Yan, Nieng, Princeton University, 2005, Ph.D. Subject: Molecular biology

Social Media and Self-Evaluation: The Examination of Social Media Use on Identity, Social Comparison, and Self-Esteem in Young Female Adults

Solomon, Michelle, William James College, 2016, Psy.D. Subject: Clinical psychology

Teachers' perceptions regarding the use of Google Classroom and Google Docs and their impact on student engagement

Morquin, Demian, Texas A&M University - Kingsville, 2016, Ed.D. Subject: Educational leadership

School uniforms and sense of school as a community: Perceptions of belonging, safety, and caring relationships in urban middle school settings

Fosseen, Linda Lee Abel, University of Houston, 2002, Ph.D. Subject: Social psychology

Online Dating Versus Face-to-Face Dating: A Comparison of Attachment Style and Relationship Success

Atkins, Staci, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, 2019, Psy.D. Subject: Psychology

Coming of age in American cinema: Modern youth films as genre

Schmidt, Matthew P., University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2002, Ph.D. Subject: Film studies

Exploring Online Community Among Rural Medical Education Students: A Case Study

Palmer, Ryan Tyler, Portland State University, 2013, Ed.D. Subject: Health education

Examining the Relationship Between Group Cohesion and Group Performance in Tuckman's (1965) Group Life Cycle Model on an Individual-Level Basis

Hall, Troy B., Regent University, 2015, Ph.D. Subject: Organizational behavior

Factors Influencing Customer Satisfaction at a Fast Food Hamburger Chain: The Relationship Between Customer Satisfaction and Customer Loyalty

Kabir, Jahangir M., Wilmington University (Delaware), 2016, D.B.A. Subject: Business administration

Mental Health Outcomes for Adult Children of Narcissistic Parents

Leggio, John Nicholas, Adler University, 2018, Psy.D. Subject: Clinical psychology

UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY TOWARD EGYPT UNDER SADAT: 1970-1981

MUFTI, MUHAMMED AHMED, University of California, Riverside, 1983, Ph.D. Subject: Political science

The politics of taste: Classicism in Charleston, South Carolina, 1815-1840

McInnis, Maurie Dee, Yale University, 1996, Ph.D. Subject: Art history

Application of Jean Watson's Theory of Transpersonal Caring in Nurses Practicing in a Pain Center

Hubert, Patricia Malone, Seton Hall University, 2018, D.N.P. Subject: Nursing

Teacher-Writer Perceptions on the Essence of Writing: Influences, Identity and Habits of Mind to Sustain a Writing Life

Daniels, Shari Lynn, The University of North Dakota, 2018, Ph.D. Subject: Teacher education

The dynamic assessment of narratives: A bilingual study

Fiestas, Christine Eve, The University of Texas at Austin, 2008, Ph.D. Subject: Speech therapy

INPUT, INTERACTION, AND SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

LONG, MICHAEL HUGH, University of California, Los Angeles, 1980, Ph.D. Subject: Linguistics

The role of team effectiveness in construction project teams and project performance

Azmy, Nurhidayah, Iowa State University, 2012, Ph.D. Subject: Civil engineering

Layers of Subordination: Intersectional Approaches to Affirmative Action in Rural India

Gandhi, Triveni, Cornell University, 2017, Ph.D. Subject: Political science

Identifying as Husbands, Fathers, and School Leaders: A Phenomenology of Doctoral Persistence Among Limited Residency Students

Patterson, John, Liberty University, 2017, Ed.D. Subject: Educational leadership

Voting rights, corporate control, and firm performance

Zhang, Yi, Michigan State University, 2002, Ph.D. Subject: Finance

Boy builders and pink princesses: Gender, toys, and inequality over the twentieth century

Sweet, Elizabeth Valerie, University of California, Davis, 2013, Ph.D. Subject: Sociology

Mentor and Candidate Attributes That Promote Doctoral Persistence and Postgraduation Scholarship in Limited Residency and Online Doctoral Programs

Spaulding, Maria T., Regent University, 2019, Ph.D. Subject: Higher education

Movements in Chicano music: Performing culture, performing politics, 1965--1979

Azcona, Stevan Cesar, The University of Texas at Austin, 2008, Ph.D. Subject: Music

An assessment of dropout rates of former youth ministry participants in conservative Southern Baptist megachurches

Shields, James Brandon, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2008, Ph.D. Subject: Social sciences education

Phenotypic variation in the dogwhelk, Nucella lapillus: An integration of ecology, karyotype, and phenotypic plasticity

Vazquez, Katie Elizabeth, University of Pennsylvania, 2015, Ph.D. Subject: Ecology

INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN EMPATHY: A MULTIDIMENSIONAL APPROACH.

DAVIS, MARK HOLDEN, The University of Texas at Austin, 1979, Ph.D. Subject: Social psychology

Dissertations/Theses: MIT

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Dissertations/Theses at MIT | Non-MIT | How to write

Related guide

• MIT Thesis FAQ View topics such as specifications, submitting to DSpace, copyright, holds, availability, and fees.

MIT doctoral dissertations and masters theses

• Paper and microfiche: Search the library catalog, Search Our Collections .
• DSpace does NOT contain the complete collection of MIT theses.
• Use Search Our Collections to search for all MIT theses.
• Theses are received one month after degrees are granted in February, June, and September.
• Additional information may be found at Thesis Access and Availability FAQ .
• Theses may not be borrowed from the Distinctive Collections Reading Room .
• PDF copies may be purchased through the Distinctive Collections Request System . See Requesting Materials for complete information.
• Theses may be viewed in person in the Distinctive Collections Reading Room .
• Institutions may purchase PDF copies through the Distinctive Collections Request System . See Requesting Materials for complete information.

View Online:

•   MIT theses in DSpace are available to anyone, for free, as printable full-text PDF files.

Order PDF Copies:

• For theses not in DSpace, PDF copies may be purchased through the  Distinctive Collections Request System . See  Requesting Materials  for complete information.
• See pricing information and contact Distinctive Collections with any questions. 

Prepare and Submit Your MIT Thesis:  

• How to write a dissertation or thesis
• Manage your references
• MIT Thesis FAQ
• Specifications for Thesis Preparation and Submission
• Add your thesis to DSpace: Electronic submission information

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ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global

• The largest single repository of graduate dissertations and theses
• 3.8 million graduate works, with 1.7 million in full text
• Includes work by authors from more than 3,000 graduate schools and universities the world over, and covers every conceivable subject. 
• Next: Non-MIT >>
• Last Updated: Oct 19, 2022 7:33 AM
• URL: https://libguides.mit.edu/diss

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Why search this literature?

It is crucial for graduate students to search the thesis and dissertation literature to make sure that an idea or hypothesis has not already been tested, explored, and published.  An additional reason to search this literature is that it is rich with ideas and information not found elsewhere.  If graduate students do not continue on as academics or if students that came after them in their programs did not continue their research, this literature may be the end of the line for scholarship on a topic.

ProQuest has published dissertation e-learning modules covering the usefulness of using dissertations as a research source.  See link below:

• Dissertation eLearning resources from ProQuest Uncover the value of dissertations.

Library Databases

All graduate students should, at minimum, search the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global database (PQDT) to see if the research they are proposing to do has already been done by a student at another institution/university.  RIT dissertations and theses have been included in PQDT since approximately 2006.

• Proquest Dissertations & Theses Global This link opens in a new window Identifies Ph.D. dissertations from U.S. & Canadian universities since 1861. Abstracts from 1980. Master's theses from 1988. Many with full-text.

RIT Digital Institutional Repository

• Digital Institutional Repository The digital institutional repository for the Rochester Institute of Technology, managed by RIT Libraries.
• ProQuest - Most Accessed Dissertations/Theses

Each month ProQuest updates this list of the top 25 Most-Accessed Dissertations and Theses across all subjects, based upon total PDF downloads. Find out what is trending.

The web sites below should also be consulted as appropriate to perform a full and thorough review of the dissertation and thesis literature beyond your introductory search of ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.  Consider whether a particular country or part of the world would have an interest in your potential research topic.

Only large-scale repositories of dissertations and theses are included here. You may also need to search individual university repositories directly.

• Ebsco Open Dissertations Search thousands of open dissertations and theses from over 50 participating libraries.
• EThOS (from the British Library) EThOS offers a 'single point of access' where researchers the world over can access ALL theses produced by UK Higher Education.
• Indian Institute of Science Dissertations and theses from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.
• Indian Theses and Dissertations (Shodhganga) Over 130 participating Indian universities and over 8800 ETD documents.
• National ETD Portal (South Africa) South African theses and dissertations.
• Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations The Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD), is an international organization dedicated to promoting the adoption, creation, use, dissemination, and preservation of electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs). The NDLTD Union Catalog contains more than one million records of electronic theses and dissertations. Search the Union Catalog from here: http://thumper.vtls.com:6090/?theme=NDLTD
• OhioLINK ETD Center Electronic theses and dissertations from colleges and universities in the state of Ohio.
• Open Access Theses and Dissertations OATD 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 600 colleges, universities, and research institutions. OATD currently indexes over 1.5 million theses and dissertations. RIT is included.
• Theses Canada Canadian universities voluntarily participate by submitting approved theses and dissertation to Theses Canada. Click on "Search Theses Canada" under the Introduction on the left hand side of the page to begin your search.
• TROVE From the National Library of Australia - Search Trove to explore amazing collections from Australian libraries, universities, museums, galleries and archives.
• Next: Thesis Writing Guides >>

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Dissertation Repositories, Open Access

How to find dissertations, open access repositories, selected university affiliated, open access repositories.

Use the websites listed below to find freely accessible (open access) dissertations from the United States and other countries.  While all repositories listed here include doctoral dissertations, Master's theses may be available in some cases as well.

Regis College maintains print copies of Regis student theses and dissertations in the Regis Library.  They are not digitized although individual students may have submitted their dissertation to a digital repository.

• American Doctoral Dissertations (EBSCO) A free resource, hosted by EBSCO, this database includes more than 172,000 theses and dissertations in total from 1902 to the present.
• British Library: EThOS, E-theses Online Service EThOS is the UK’s national thesis service. EThOS aims to hold a record for all doctoral theses awarded by all UK universities (institutions). Also available when using Regis Library discovery tool, PowerSearch.
• Digital Commons Network Free, full-text scholarly articles from hundreds of universities and colleges worldwide. Curated by university librarians and their supporting institutions, the Network includes a growing collection of peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, dissertations, working papers, conference proceedings, and other original scholarly work.
• Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD) The Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD) is an international organization dedicated to promoting the adoption, creation, use, dissemination, and preservation of electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs). We support electronic publishing and open access to scholarship in order to enhance the sharing of knowledge worldwide.
• Open Access Theses and Dissertations 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 1100 colleges, universities, and research institutions. OATD currently indexes 4,264,663 theses and dissertations.
• PQDT Open PQDT Open provides the full text of open access dissertations and theses free of charge. The authors of these dissertations and theses have opted to publish as open access.
• Theses Canada Theses Canada is a collaborative program between Library and Archives Canada (LAC) and nearly 70 universities accredited by Universities Canada. It strives to: acquire and preserve theses and dissertations from participating universities; provide free access to Canadian electronic theses and dissertations in the collection.

These digital repositories maintained by various universities enable public access to theses and dissertations.  These are just a select sample; there are many other repositories associated with universities.

• Duke University: Duke Space, Theses and Dissertations
• Harvard University: Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard (DASH) Also available when using Regis Library discovery tool, PowerSearch.
• Johns Hopkins University: DSpace Repository
• Northeastern University: Digital Reposity Service: Theses and Dissertations
• University of Washington: ResearchWorks
• Walden University Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
• Last Updated: Jul 12, 2023 8:18 AM
• URL: https://libguides.regiscollege.edu/open_access_dissertations

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Open Access Theses & Dissertations (OATD)

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An index of over 1.6 million electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs). To the extent possible, the index is limited to records of graduate-level theses that are freely available online.

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Thesis & dissertation.

  Understanding Deadlines and Requirements

The final requirement in earning a graduate degree is the completion and defense of the master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation. Understanding the steps and associated deadlines in the thesis/dissertation submission and degree conferral process is necessary to establish a successful plan and realistic timeframe.

2024 Thesis/Dissertation Submission to the Graduate School Deadlines:

• For May 26, 2024 conferral, deadline is May 1.
• For August 31, 2024 conferral, deadline is August 1.
• December 31, 2024 conferral, deadline is December 1.

See our  Planning Timeline  for more detailed information.

  Writing Your Thesis/Dissertation

The Graduate School offers several writing resources to help you get started, meet your goals, and complete your thesis/dissertation on time. 

Before You Begin:

• Guide to Writing Your Thesis/Dissertation
• Fields Permitting the Use of Papers Option
• Required Sections, Guidelines, and Suggestions
• Formatting Requirements
• Fair Use, Copyright, Patent, and Publishing Options

Resources for Writing:

• Thesis & Dissertation Templates
• Writing from A to B

  Scheduling and Taking Your Final Exam

Once you have submitted your draft thesis/dissertation to your committee you are ready to defend. This involves scheduling and taking your final exam (“B” exam), an oral exam/dissertation defense for Ph.D. candidates, or (“M” exam), an oral exam/thesis defense for Master’s candidates.

• About Exams
• Defending Your Thesis or Dissertation
• Taking Exams

 Submitting Your Thesis/Dissertation

Policy requires the thesis/dissertation be submitted within 60 days of the final exam. The Graduate School uses a service called ProQuest to administer the electronic thesis/dissertation (ETD) submission and committee approval process. Once you have made any necessary revisions and the thesis/dissertation is final, you are ready to begin the approval and submission process.

Before initiating the submission process, students are required to complete an ORCID iD and complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates.

• Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID iD)
• Survey of Earned Doctorates 
• Thesis & Dissertation Submission Process
• Submission Fees
• Graduation Requirements 

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Home > Theses and Dissertations

Theses and Dissertations

Theses/dissertations from 2024 2024.

Multifunctional and Moisture Tolerant Zinc-Based Mono- and Bi-metallic Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) thin films , Emmanuel Agbata

Infared Light-Based Data Association and Pose Estimation for Aircraft Landing in Urban Environments , David Akagi

The Generation of Terahertz Light and its Applications in the Study of Vibrational Motion , Aldair Alejandro

Speech-Language Pathologists' Perspectives on Working With Couples Impacted by Aphasia , Jannelyse Allred

Preparing for and Engaging Middle School Students in Read-Alouds of Expository Texts , Kari L. Allsup

School Psychologist's Tiered Social-Emotional Recommendations in Response to Data Gathered From Social-Emotional Screening , Audrey Anita Andersen

Flexible and Rigid Endoscopic Evaluation of In Vivo Rabbit Larynges: A Pilot Study , Shauntel Mei Li Anderson

Investigating Self-Regulation in Secondary and Higher Education Online Contexts , Karen T. Arnesen

Application of High-Deflection Strain Gauges to Characterize Spinal-Motion Phenotypes Among Patients with CLBP , Spencer Alan Baker

O Processo de Escrita para uma Audiência Autêntica: As Reações de Aprendizes Intermediários da Língua Portuguesa como Terceira Língua , Marcos Paulo Barboza

The Impact of Applied Mental Health Classes on Eudaimonia, Gratitude, and Heart Rate Variability , Derek Charles Bartlett

Validating Boyness: How Art Education Allows Male Adolescent Students a Space for Authenticity, Vulnerability, Empathy, and Connection , Stephanie Behlke-McFarland

Prosodic Speech Rate, Utterance Duration, Interruption Rate, and Turn-Taking Latency in Autistic and Neurotypical Adults , Grace Madeline Bell

Toward Overcoming the Double Empathy Problem: Bridging Autistic and Neurotypical Minds Through Science and Art , Elizabeth Rose Bessey

Developing a SQL Injection Exploitation Tool with Natural Language Generation , Kate Isabelle Boekweg

Differences in Presenting Concerns of Anxiety Amongst Students in College Counseling Centers Across The United States , Julia Brim

GPS-Denied Localization of Landing eVTOL Aircraft , Aaron C. Brown

Digitally Beamformed 2D Scanning Phased Array Radar for Networked Unmanned Air Vehicle Detection and Tracking , Carson Reed Brown

Songs and Flowers of the Wasatch: Rhetorical Aesthetics and Latter-day Saint Women's Poetry , JoLyn D. Brown

Effects of Professional Development on Secondary School Teachers’ Self-Efficacy, Knowledge, and Attitudes About ADHD , Rebecca Jeanne Brown

A Rabbit Model of Voice Function Changes Caused by the Administration and Subsequent Withdrawal of Asthma Inhalers , Savannah Forbes Bullock

Dissecting Trypanosome Metabolism by Discovering Glycolytic Inhibitors, Drug Targets, and Glycosomal pH Regulation , Daniel Hale Call

Robot Proficiency Self-Assessment Using Assumption-Alignment Tracking , Xuan Cao

Associations Between Young Children's Problematic Media Use and Physiological Regulation -- Does Temperament Act as a Mediator? , Noah Alexander Chojnacki

Marriage and Family Therapists' Perspectives of Working With Couples Impacted by Aphasia: General Perceptions and Response to Relationship-Centered Communication Partner Training , Madison Rae Christensen

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PhD candidates must successfully complete and submit a dissertation to qualify for degree conferral. It is perhaps the most important and far-reaching undertaking in the entire doctoral program, having an impact that extends well beyond graduate studies. 

Requirements and Deadlines 

Each graduate program maintains specific requirements for the content and evaluation of the dissertation. Be sure to review your program’s departmental requirements prior to beginning the process. You should also review Harvard Griffin GSAS’s dissertation policies for important information about formatting, submission, and publishing and distribution options, including embargoes.  

Degrees are awarded in November, March, and May. Dissertation submission deadlines are noted in the Degree Calendar section of Policies . 

Help with the Dissertation 

Library research .

It’s never too early to start planning for your dissertation. The Harvard Library can help! The Library maintains a guide for graduate students engaged in scholarly writing titled the Writing Oasis . They also offer access to Overleaf , which is an online LaTeX and Rich Text collaborative writing and publishing tool that makes the process of academic writing, editing, and publishing quicker and easier. Overleaf has a section on Writing Your Dissertation that you may find useful.  

Writing 

Students can find support with planning and preparing to write the dissertation from their academic advisors and programs. The Fellowships & Writing Center also offers workshops on various aspects of dissertation writing, holds brainstorming office hours during which students may discuss their dissertations, and provides written feedback on dissertation chapters.  

Dissertation Completion Fellowships 

Harvard Griffin GSAS provides a dissertation completion fellowship (DCF) for one academic year to eligible PhD students in the humanities and social sciences who anticipate completing their dissertations within the year. Find out more in Policies .

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• Dissertation & Thesis Outline | Example & Free Templates

Dissertation & Thesis Outline | Example & Free Templates

Published on June 7, 2022 by Tegan George . Revised on November 21, 2023.

A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical early steps in your writing process . It helps you to lay out and organize your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding the specifics of your dissertation topic and showcasing its relevance to your field.

Generally, an outline contains information on the different sections included in your thesis or dissertation , such as:

• Your anticipated title
• Your abstract
• Your chapters (sometimes subdivided into further topics like literature review, research methods, avenues for future research, etc.)

In the final product, you can also provide a chapter outline for your readers. This is a short paragraph at the end of your introduction to inform readers about the organizational structure of your thesis or dissertation. This chapter outline is also known as a reading guide or summary outline.

Table of contents

How to outline your thesis or dissertation, dissertation and thesis outline templates, chapter outline example, sample sentences for your chapter outline, sample verbs for variation in your chapter outline, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about thesis and dissertation outlines.

While there are some inter-institutional differences, many outlines proceed in a fairly similar fashion.

• Working Title
• “Elevator pitch” of your work (often written last).
• Introduce your area of study, sharing details about your research question, problem statement , and hypotheses . Situate your research within an existing paradigm or conceptual or theoretical framework .
• Subdivide as you see fit into main topics and sub-topics.
• Describe your research methods (e.g., your scope , population , and data collection ).
• Present your research findings and share about your data analysis methods.
• Answer the research question in a concise way.
• Interpret your findings, discuss potential limitations of your own research and speculate about future implications or related opportunities.

For a more detailed overview of chapters and other elements, be sure to check out our article on the structure of a dissertation or download our template .

To help you get started, we’ve created a full thesis or dissertation template in Word or Google Docs format. It’s easy adapt it to your own requirements.

 Download Word template    Download Google Docs template

It can be easy to fall into a pattern of overusing the same words or sentence constructions, which can make your work monotonous and repetitive for your readers. Consider utilizing some of the alternative constructions presented below.

Example 1: Passive construction

The passive voice is a common choice for outlines and overviews because the context makes it clear who is carrying out the action (e.g., you are conducting the research ). However, overuse of the passive voice can make your text vague and imprecise.

Example 2: IS-AV construction

You can also present your information using the “IS-AV” (inanimate subject with an active verb ) construction.

A chapter is an inanimate object, so it is not capable of taking an action itself (e.g., presenting or discussing). However, the meaning of the sentence is still easily understandable, so the IS-AV construction can be a good way to add variety to your text.

Example 3: The “I” construction

Another option is to use the “I” construction, which is often recommended by style manuals (e.g., APA Style and Chicago style ). However, depending on your field of study, this construction is not always considered professional or academic. Ask your supervisor if you’re not sure.

Example 4: Mix-and-match

To truly make the most of these options, consider mixing and matching the passive voice , IS-AV construction , and “I” construction .This can help the flow of your argument and improve the readability of your text.

As you draft the chapter outline, you may also find yourself frequently repeating the same words, such as “discuss,” “present,” “prove,” or “show.” Consider branching out to add richness and nuance to your writing. Here are some examples of synonyms you can use.

If you want to know more about AI for academic writing, AI tools, or research bias, make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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When you mention different chapters within your text, it’s considered best to use Roman numerals for most citation styles. However, the most important thing here is to remain consistent whenever using numbers in your dissertation .

The title page of your thesis or dissertation goes first, before all other content or lists that you may choose to include.

A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical first steps in your writing process. It helps you to lay out and organize your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding what kind of research you’d like to undertake.

• Your chapters (sometimes subdivided into further topics like literature review , research methods , avenues for future research, etc.)

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

George, T. (2023, November 21). Dissertation & Thesis Outline | Example & Free Templates. Scribbr. Retrieved June 24, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/dissertation/dissertation-thesis-outline/

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Earn Your Master of Climate Solutions In Just One Year

Unleash your impact: Drive climate actions in leading industries, non-profits, and government agencies.

Find out more about the Master of Climate Solutions

Applications will open in fall 2024 for the first cohort beginning fall 2025! Be among the first to receive details about the new Master of Climate Solutions at UC Berkeley, including scholarship information, course listings, and more.

Climate change is the grand challenge of our generation—be a part of the solution.

Meeting the climate challenge will require new leaders who can separate fact from fiction, who understand which actions make the biggest difference, and who know how to get things done.

The new Master of Climate Solutions at UC Berkeley’s Rausser College of Natural Resources is designed with a relentless focus on identifying the skills and experiences leaders like you will need to accelerate your careers and maximize the impact you have on our planet. Join us to find out how you can be part of the climate solution.

This program translates the fundamental science and groundbreaking discoveries, enabling professionals to learn how to evaluate technologies, develop just climate strategies, and remove barriers to implementing practical climate solutions.

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Designed for professionals with 3+ years’ experience, our program takes just one year

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Become a climate leader, equip yourself with in-demand climate and quantitative expertise, unlocking change for a sustainable tomorrow, our focus on equity, immersive learning, an ideal location.

Critical leadership skills are integrated within a compact curriculum, preparing you to be a proficient, conscientious leader in addressing climate challenges. A central changemaking course, Organizational, Political, and Societal Change for Climate Solutions , equips you with a framework for enacting change within organizations and across society. The year-long capstone program includes training in key management skills. All courses reinforce lessons in communication, problem-solving, and teamwork.

Whether or not you come with a background in quantitative skills, be prepared to immerse yourself thoroughly. We’re here to ensure you acquire the necessary knowledge, whatever your starting point.

A low-carbon future requires change across society and within organizations. Our unique leadership course Organizational, Political, and Societal Change for Climate Solutions prepares you to be a change agent across sectors like businesses, civil society organizations, and government agencies. Emphasizing power dynamics and influence, the course offers strategies for enacting change and understanding the process of decision-making. Key topics include sources of power, societal shifts, and industry disruptions. Practical exercises, analytical memos, and a final report based on real-world interviews enrich the learning experience. The curriculum also underscores leadership skills including strategic planning, behavior change, collaboration, and conflict resolution to drive impactful change.

Climate impacts and climate solutions have an uneven impact across society, and too often those with the least will bear the biggest burden. Meeting the climate challenge means saving the planet and also finding solutions that protect those in greatest need. The MCS was built with equity and climate justice at its core. Your learning journey here prepares you to adeptly evaluate and seamlessly integrate equity impacts into your professional work.

The goal of the MCS is to both train you in new skills and to connect you to the real world. The program will connect you with sustainability leaders via guest presentations, fireside chats, and excursions. The program also includes a yearlong immersive capstone experience that pairs small groups of students with a real partner organization seeking help in creating a climate solution. Program staff prepare a pool of potential projects, allowing you to apply your knowledge in real life, real time.

There is no better place to study climate solutions than in California. The Rausser College unites experts from three top-ranked departments known for their faculty’s applied research in climate and sustainability action across policy and business, forging a nexus of innovation with industry across the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.

The Inflation Reduction Act motivated $232.5 billion of climate and cleantech financial and capital markets deals.

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California’s Senate Bills 253 and 261, the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, and the Security Exchange Commission’s proposed Climate Rule all require the disclosure of Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, as well as climate risks.

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There is explosive growth in climate and sustainability roles across industries and a need for people with the skills taught in the MCS. A sample of exciting careers that graduates will be prepared to enter is below.

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UC Berkeley’s Rausser College is looking for partners and supporters in our Climate Solutions Network. From mentorship opportunities to project sponsorship, there are several ways you can get involved.

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Shang defends dissertation

Doctoral candidate Lanyu Shang successfully defended her dissertation, "A Human-Centric Artificial Intelligence Approach Towards Equality, Well-Being, and Responsibility in Sustainable Communities," on June 19.

Her doctoral committee included Associate Professor Dong Wang (chair); Assistant Professor Jessie Chin; Ximing Cai, professor of civil and environmental engineering; and Na Wei, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering.

Abstract: This dissertation introduces a human-centric artificial intelligence for sustainable communities (HAI4SC) approach that harnesses the complementary strengths of artificial intelligence (AI) and human intelligence (HI) to foster equality, well-being, and responsibility. AI has shown superiority in processing large amounts of data, identifying latent patterns, and making predictions, addressing the scalability and complexity of sustainability challenges. On the other hand, HI excels in providing context, domain expertise, and human-centric insights, which are essential for understanding the complex social and physical factors for community sustainability. This dissertation develops a holistic HAI4SC approach by addressing three fundamental challenges: multimodality, adaptability, and trustworthiness. First, we develop a multimodal information fusion system to seamlessly integrate multimodal content in enhancing community information credibility. Moreover, we design an adaptive cross-domain analytic framework that explicitly incorporates and adapts domain knowledge from well-studied source domains for improving the resilience and well-being of sustainable communities. Additionally, we develop a trustworthy social-physical knowledge distillation scheme that effectively models the diverse and uncertain human inputs from community stakeholders to strengthen the community responsibility and sustainability.

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105-year-old woman earns master's from Stanford University

Virginia "Ginger" Hislop earned a master's degree in education from Stanford University this weekend at 105 years young.

PALO ALTO, Calif. - Virginia "Ginger" Hislop earned a master's degree in education from Stanford University this weekend at 105 years young. 

When she was given her diploma on Sunday, the Palo Alto native climbed gingerly up the podium stairs and beamed a smile while accepting her hard-won certificate, closing an educational journey she began in 1936. 

"My goodness," Hislop said. "I’ve waited a long time for this."

Her extended family was in the audience to witness her remarkable feat.  

Hislop already had her bachelor's degree, which she earned in 1940, but didn't finish her graduate work because her then boyfriend, George Hislop, was called to serve during World War II, prompting the pair to get married. 

Virgnia Hislop left Stanford before she was able to graduate, according to the Stanford Graduate School of Education. The only thing she had left to complete was her thesis. 

"I thought it was one of the things I could pick up along the way if I needed it and I always enjoyed studying, so that wasn’t really a great concern to me — and getting married was," Hislop told the university news site.

Virginia Hislop is surrounded by her family at Stanford's graduation on June 16. Photo: Charles Russo/Stanford 

At the ceremony, Dean Daniel Schwartz called Hislop a "fierce advocate" for equality and education. 

The Hislops moved to Yakima, Wash., where they raised their children and some of this fierce advocacy reared its head. 

When her daughter, Anne, started first grade, Hislop fought for her to take advanced English instead of home economics. 

"I felt that she could learn to cook at home and it was more important that she learn more academic skills at school," Hislop told Stanford.

Anne Hislop Jensen and her husband, Doug Jensen, both earned their master's from Stanford's Graduate School of Education as well. 

"The biggest lesson I’ve taken from her is that you never really stop learning," Doug Jensen told Stanford. "She’s a voracious reader, and at 105 she’s still actively moving and shaking. No moss grows under her feet."

Stanford officials told KTVU that her son-in-law contacted Stanford a while back to see if his mother-in-law could get her degree, since she was 105. It also turns out that the thesis is no longer part of the master's requirements. 

Stanford said yes. 

Hislop definitely deserved her degree, albeit 83 years later. 

Master's degree or not, Hislop has been active in education all these years. 

When her children were younger, Hislop joined the Yakima School Board of Directors, where she sat for 13 years, to have more of a say in what students were being taught. 

She also became a founding member of Yakima Community College and helped start Heritage University, where she served on the board for 20 years. She's also been involved in city, county and state politics. 

"I felt that all the kids should have an opportunity to develop their potential as best they could," Hislop told Stanford. "And that everybody should have a crack at higher education if they wanted." 

Virgnia Hislop, 105, graduated Stanford University with a master's degree in education. Photo: Charles Russo/Stanford 

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The Information Systems (IS) group studies novel tools and techniques that help organizations use their information systems to support better operational decision making.

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Information Systems are at the core of modern-day organizations. Both within and between organizations. The Information Systems group studies tools and techniques that help to use them in the best possible way, to get the most value out of them.

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83 years later, 105-year-old finally earns master's from Stanford

Virginia Hislop has spent a lifetime trying to increase access to education, and now, at 105 years old, she appears to have completed her own schooling.

On Sunday, Hislop celebrated Stanford University's conference of a master of art's degree in education — 83 years after having left campus just shy of the degree. Her son-in-law had contacted the institution and discovered a final thesis, her unfulfilled obligation, was no longer required.

“I’ve been doing this work for years and it’s nice to be recognized with this degree,” Hislop told Stanford for a story about her nearly lifelong journey to a stage on campus , where a diploma in a Cardinal-red cover was placed in her hand.

In 1941, on the eve of the United States' direct involvement in World War II, and as her fiance was preparing to be called to serve, Hislop skipped out on the thesis.

Her Stanford days, starting in 1936, were nonetheless fruitful, and she earned an undergraduate education degree before moving directly to postgraduate studies.

She wanted to go to law school, Hislop has said, but her father wouldn't pay for it, so she opted for the briefer time required for teaching.

Hislop had completed coursework for a master's and needed only to turn in the final version of her thesis, she has said. Instead, she told NBC Bay Area, she skipped town and had a honeymoon in Oklahoma near her husband's Army post at Fort Sill.

"Not my idea of a place for a honeymoon," she told the station, "but I had no choice in the matter."

At the time, such a sacrifice — trading her career for marriage and a future family — was seen as a way to support the war effort. It was a sacrifice for America.

She had grown up in Los Angeles, but after the war the California girl found herself with husband George in Yakima, Washington, where George took part in the family business of ranching.

They raised two children, which put Hislop's focus on a passion stoked during her days in Palo Alto: education.

"I didn’t return to teaching, but I feel I put my teaching certificate to good use serving in committees and on boards and trying to improve the educational opportunities every chance I got," she told the Yakima Herald-Republic in 2018.

She opposed middle school curricula that required home economics but not advanced English for her daughter, so she ran for the Yakima School District Board of Directors and won, according to the publication.

Hislop also successfully lobbied for independent community college districts in Washington state at a time when Yakima's two-year college was under the otherwise K-12 district.

She was eventually recruited to raise funds for what would become Heritage University, a women-founded, women-led institution about 20 miles south of Yakima.

She launched the school's annual Bounty of the Valley Scholarship Dinner, which by 2018 had raised nearly $6 million to help students attend the institution. Hislop is listed by the school as a board member emerita.

At Pacific Northwest University, a medical and health sciences school in Yakima, a scholarship, the Virginia Hislop Emergency Fund , bares her name.

Her interest in broad access to education may have been inspired by an aunt who was the principal of a public school in West Los Angeles' Sawtelle Japantown neighborhood when Hislop grew up in L.A.

Sawtelle is an area originally anchored by a housing and care facility for disabled veterans of the Civil War, but it evolved into a community populated by Japanese Americans and Latinos.

Hislop said she was moved by her aunt’s experience seeing education change lives on L.A.’s Westside, according to the Yakima Herald-Republic.

“Aunt Nora would tell us about some of the Hispanic students in her school and how they were doing and the difference that education made for them,” she told the publication. “It seemed to me that without an education, your future was limited and with an education it was unlimited.”

Her new degree is punctuation for a life spent advocating for public education for the masses.

On Sunday, Daniel Schwartz, dean of Stanford’s Graduate School of Education, handed Hislop her master’s diploma with a broad smile, describing her as “a fierce advocate for equity and the opportunity to learn."

Dennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.