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Dissertations & Theses

Welcome to the Dissertations & Theses Guide!

This guide will teach you

  • how to find capstones, dissertations, and theses related to the Auraria Campus.

  • How to find dissertations and theses broadly

  • how to find support for writing your own dissertation or thesis

Helpful Uses for Dissertations and Theses

They can help you discover:

  • current research trends
  • terms used in a specific discipline
  • original citations for hard-to-find works, such as theories or theorists
  • a specific writer's research history

Examples also give you a sense of what is possible and inspire you in your own work. 

Quick Tip

While you can find dissertations and theses in our search tool, Start My Research, it is not the best place to find what you're looking for. 

Instead, explore the Searching for Dissertations and Theses or the Finding Auraria Campus Capstone, Disssertations, & Theses pages. 

Comparing the Project Types

A Dissertation is the final, major research project that doctoral students undertake to demonstrate their mastery of their field and contribute to it with new knowledge. 

A Thesis is a formal research paper or document submitted for a higher education degree, typically a master's or doctorate. It presents the author's original research and findings, demonstrating their mastery of the subject and ability to conduct research and analysis. 

A Capstone Project is a final, comprehensive project undertaken by undergraduate or graduate students to showcase and apply their acquired knowledge and skills. It typically involves working on a real-world problem or topic within their field of study, demonstrating the culmination of their learning. 

Differences and Similarities of the Three Project Types: Capstone (Individual research project; Addresses a specific research question; Process includes writing, editing, and rewriting; Does not need to be defended to a committee; Related degree: Undergraduate; Degree or Honors Program; Length Estimate: Up to 50 pages; Type of Research: Can be original research but typically is a presentation of learned and existing research; Where to find: Institutional Repository); Thesis (Individual research project; Addresses a specific research question; Process includes writing, editing, and rewriting; Does not need to be defended to a committee; Related degree: Master's Degree; Length Estimate: Up to 100 pages; Type of Research: Can be original research but typically is a presentation of learned and existing research; Where to find: Institutional Repository or Proquest's Dissertations and Theses database); Dissertation (Individual research project; Addresses a specific research question; Process includes writing, editing, and rewriting; Must be defended to a committee; Related degree: Master's Degree; Length Estimate: Up to 100 pages; Type of Research: Original or expanded research that fills a research gap; Where to Find: Institutional Repository or Proquest's Dissertations and Theses database)

 

Differences and Similarities of the Three Project Types:

Capstone

  • Individual research project
  • Addresses a specific research question
  • Process includes writing, editing, and rewriting
  • Does not need to be defended to a committee
  • Related degree: Undergraduate Degree or Honors Program
  • Length Estimate: Up to 50 pages
  • Type of Research: Can be original research but typically is a presentation of learned and existing research
  • Where to find: Institutional Repository

Thesis

  • Individual research project
  • Addresses a specific research question
  • Process includes writing, editing, and rewriting
  • Does not need to be defended to a committee
  • Related degree: Master's Degree
  • Length Estimate: Up to 100 pages
  • Type of Research: Can be original research but typically is a presentation of learned and existing research
  • Where to find: Institutional Repository or Proquest's Dissertations and Theses database

Dissertation

  • Individual research project
  • Addresses a specific research question
  • Process includes writing, editing, and rewriting
  • Must be defended to a committee
  • Related degree: Master's Degree
  • Length Estimate: Up to 100 pages
  • Type of Research: Original or expanded research that fills a research gap
  • Where to Find: Institutional Repository or Proquest's Dissertations and Theses database

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