FINDING CSUS MASTERS THESES & PROJECTS By D. Rogenmoser

CONTENTS:
Where Theses are Located at CSUS Finding Theses by Subject Finding Theses by Academic Advisor Finding Theses by Academic Department	Finding Projects Only Manuals for Writing a Theses Finding other University Theses & Dissertations Return to Library Home Page

WHERE THESES ARE LOCATED AT CSUS It may take a year before the Library receives a copy of a thesis or project. The Library tries to keep two copies of every thesis and project. One copy is bound in book form and can be checked out. These bound copies are located in the Lower Level. Because theses and projects are shelved alphabetically by author, browsing this collection can be difficult when looking for theses on a specific subject. The call number for a thesis is an alpha-numeric representation of the author's last name and first name and it is filed as a decimal number. For example, the bound 1992 thesis by Alexander Smith is located on the Lower Level under the call number Thesis S6418 1992. Because this is a decimal number this thesis will be found on the shelf before Thesis S642 1967. A second copy is on microfiche and is located in the Library Media Center in cabinets 86-87. They will be arranged alphabetically by the author's last name. Some theses also include media, such as slides or videotape. In EUREKA, the Library's catalog, these are marked "1 South LMC Theses." Ask for them at the counter in the Library Media Center.

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FINDING THESES BY SUBJECT The best way to find theses by subject is to perform a Keyword search in EUREKA, the Library's online catalog. Do not use a Subject search since subject cataloging of masters theses and projects ceased after 1987. Because many theses have long, descriptive titles and recent master's students have provided keyword descriptors for their theses, a Keyword search is usually successful. Begin in EUREKA. Type one or more words that describe the title or topic of the theses. Open the pull down menu in the box that reads "Entire Collection." Scroll until you locate "CSUS Theses Collection" Click on the Search box. The most recent theses will be listed first.

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FINDING THESES BY ACADEMIC ADVISOR Since 1992 academic advisors are included as authors for each thesis they chair. Using the Author search screen in EUREKA type the advisor's last name. Open the pull down menu in the box that reads "Entire Collection." Scroll until you locate "CSUS Theses Collection" Finally, click on the Search box.

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FINDING THESES BY ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT There are three ways to locate theses by department. 1. The first way to find theses by department from a "Keyword" search in EUREKA. Begin in EUREKA and type as your keyword the name of the department. Open pull down menu in the box that reads "Entire Collection." Scroll until you locate "CSUS Theses Collection" Click on the Search box. For example, a Keyword search on International Affairs will result in all of the theses from that department. Or, a Keyword search on China and International Affair will result in those theses about China that were done for the International Affairs program. 2. For theses completed from 1998 and newer you can scan by the list of departments in EUREKA. Begin in EUREKA and click on the "Title" tab. Type "csus thesis." click on the Search box. Click on any of the departments listed to see the theses for that department. 3. The final way to find theses by academic department is to use the booklets, located at the Reference Desk. These booklets list, by department and author, theses completed after Fall 1988.

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FINDING PROJECTS ONLY You can limit your search to Thesis Projects only by adding the keyword project to your searches.

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MANUALS FOR WRITING A THESIS The Office of Graduate Studies at CSUS provides manuals for preparing theses and projects in PDF format. Click here to link to the list of manuals.

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FINDING OTHER UNIVERSITY THESIS & DISSERTATIONS The CSUS Library purchases theses and dissertations from other universities very selectively. You can try an author and/or title search in EUREKA to see if we have the one you are looking for. If not, you may be able to acquire a copy through our Interlibrary Loan department. Contact them at 278-6395 for details. Theses and dissertations may also be purchased from University Microfilms International. For help, inquire at the Reference Desk. Although we may not have the actual thesis or dissertation, we do have finding aids which help you identify those done at other universities. The following are print sources: Masters Abstracts International Latest 10 yrs-Index Area, earlier-Lower Level LBZ 5055 .U5 M3 (1962-current) Dissertation Abstracts Lower Level LBZ 5055 .U49 D5 (1952-1966) Dissertation Abstracts. A, The Humanities and Social Sciences Lower Level LBZ 5055 U49 D5 pt A (1966-1969) Dissertation Abstracts International. A, The Humanities and Social Sciences Latest 5 yrs-Index Area, earlier-Lower Level LBZ 5055 U49 D5 pt A (1969-current) Dissertation Abstracts. B, The Sciences and Engineering Lower Level LBZ 5055 U49 D5 pt B (1966-1969) Dissertation Abstracts International. B, The Sciences and Engineering Latest 5 yrs-Index Area, earlier-Lower Level LBZ 5055 U49 D5 pt B (1969-current) Using the Databases: Dissertations and Theses (ProQuest) Contains abstracts on dissertations and theses.

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Questions/comments to:  Debbie Rogenmoser, , Reference Librarian drogenmoser@csus.edu California State University, Sacramento revised 5/08