Finding Dissertations and Theses at OHSU
- OHSU Catalog
- The OHSU library has almost all the dissertations from OHSU students, and a few others
- To browse the theses/dissertations for a specific field, use the subject heading for the discipline (i.e., Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry) and the subheading "theses".
- To search for a thesis/dissertation on a specific subject, combine the subject search with the subject keyword "theses"
- Example: Alternative Medicine and theses
- CINAHL
- The CINAHL database through OVID includes citations to nursing dissertations and theses
- To search for theses on a specific subject:
- Do a subject search
- Click on limits
- Go to "Publication Types" and select both "Doctoral Dissertation" and "Masters Theses"
- To select both, select the first one and then hold down the control key when you select the second. This will "OR" the two terms together.
- You must have an OVID login/password to use CINAHL or it must be used on a public access machine in the OHSU Library.
- WorldCat
- WorldCat is a catalog database that includes dissertations and theses from around the world.
- Do a keyword search, combining your concepts as follows:
- In the first search box enter your subject keyword (e.g. alternative medicine or herbal medicine)
- In the second search box enter: dissertation or dissertations or thesis or theses
- If you want to limit it to a specific field, in the third search box enter synomyms for that field (e.g. nurses or nurse or nursing)
- Click on the search button and you should come up with a fairly comprehensive list
- WorldCat must be used on an OHSU networked computer. If used from off-campus you must have an
off-campus account
- Dissertation Abstracts
- Dissertation Abstracts is a subject, title, and author guide to virtually every American dissertation accepted at an accredited institution since 1861.
Selected Masters theses have been included since 1962. In addition, since 1988, the database includes citations for dissertations from 50 British universities.
- OHSU no longer has Dissertation Abstracts. However, it is accessible at Portland State University
- Finding a Specific Dissertation/Thesis
- If you know where the dissertation/thesis was written, you can go to that university's library catalog
and get the information you need.
- To find the URL for the university library go to
Libraries on the Web
- Find the library catalog on the web page
- You will be able to search for the dissertation/thesis by author, title, or subject
- Getting the Dissertation/Thesis
- Once you have found citations for theses/dissertations you will need to request them on interlibrary loan if they are not in the
OHSU collection.
- Fill out the Interlibrary Loan form
- Be aware that there may be charges for Interlibary Loan from the lending library
- Some dissertations/theses are available only on microfiche, or printed from microfiche
- Any questions or problems?
- If you are having problems finding what you want, or have any other questions about finding dissertations, you should contact one of the Reference Librarians
through one of the following methods:
- Ask to speak to a Reference Librarian when you are in the Library
- Call the Information Desk at 503-494-3462 and ask to speak to a Reference Librarian
- Use the Reference Request Form.
Last updated May 7, 2001 by Dolores Zegar Judkins
Research & Reference Services, Oregon Health Sciences University Library