Theses and Dissertations

As of the Fall 2023 semester, the UTSA Graduate School requires that all theses and dissertations are submitted electronically to both the ProQuest Theses and Dissertations database and UTSA's open access repository, the Runner Research Press. Information about the submission process and deadlines can be found on the Graduate School's website below. 

UTSA Libraries and Museums collected paper copies of thesis and dissertations until Spring 2014, when the Graduate School eliminated the hard copy requirement. Therefore, the Libraries does not have hard copies beyond Fall semester 2013.

Between Spring 2014 and Fall 2023, theses and dissertations were submitted electronically to only the ProQuest Theses and Dissertations database.

Beginning in Fall 2023, UTSA Libraries and Museums began collecting electronic versions of theses and dissertations in the Runner Research Press, UTSA's open access repository. Electronic copies of theses and dissertations written before 2023 may be available in the Runner Research Press only to current UTSA students, faculty, or staff. 

All electronic thesis and dissertations submitted after Fall 2023 are available open access in the Runner Research Press, with embargo options.

To find a hard copy or electronic version of a UTSA thesis or dissertation, search the Library Quick Search using the instructions below. Contact the library with questions about how to find a thesis or dissertation.

Searching for UTSA Theses and Dissertations in Library Quick Search

Use Library Quick Search Advanced Search to search for all UTSA theses and dissertations:

• Search For: Catalog
• Any Field - Contains - "university of texas at san antonio" [in quotation marks]
• Material Type - Equals - "Dissertations"

This search includes both print and electronic copies (as described above). To limit your search to only items that are available in print or electronically, use the "Refine Your Search" option on the left of the search results:

Because electronic theses and dissertations are available in different places (including Runner Research Press and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses database), you may see duplicate results for the same title.

In addition to searching all theses and dissertations, you can also further target your search.  For example:

• To search for a thesis or dissertation by a particular person: Author - Contains - [author name] AND Material Type - Equals - Dissertations
• To search for theses and dissertations on a particular topic: Any Field - Contains - "university of texas at san antonio" [in quotation marks] AND Any Field - Contains - [subject area /department] AND Material Type - Equals - Dissertations

We occasionally purchase theses and dissertations from other institutions that are of interest to our patrons. These items are cataloged and classified by subject, and are therefore intermingled in the stacks. Searching Catalog will retrieve these items as well.

Please consult with your department and the Graduate School about formatting and citing style for your dissertation or thesis. Questions about formatting should be directed to The Graduate School staff via gps@utsa.edu.