Do Flaxman Librarians offer help with thesis research?
Yes. We offer one-on-one research consultations for all your research needs and questions. We also visit Thesis classes in all SAIC programs to teach research skills. Please contact us at flaxman@saic.edu to schedule an appointment.
How do I format my thesis?
Please consult your Thesis Advisor for document and page layout requirements specific to your program, the library does not require a specific format. You can view a generic, sample Thesis Title Page here. If you have questions about creating a bibliography for your thesis, or how to cite a particular source, please see a librarian and/or email flaxman@saic.edu.
How do I submit my thesis to the Library?
As of Spring 2019, all theses will be submitted digitally through Canvas. Please see instructions on the Thesis Submission page. If you need to be added to the thesis submission course for your degree, please contact the administrative director of your program.
What happens to my thesis after it is submitted in Canvas?
1. Your thesis is approved by your Thesis Advisor and program. A thesis deposited with the library becomes part of a student's academic record. No changes may be made to a thesis after uploaded into Canvas.
2. Once approved, Flaxman Library staff download your thesis from Canvas.
3. Within a month, Flaxman Library staff will catalog your thesis in the SAIC Digital Thesis Repository, Flaxman Library catalog, I-Share, and OCLC WorldCat.
4. Your digital thesis will be uploaded to the SAIC Digital Thesis Repository and be discoverable to everyone.
How long does it take until my thesis is available in the library?
Theses should be available in SAIC Digital Libraries within 4 weeks of submission. Please contact us at flaxman@saic.edu if you do not see your thesis there after a month.
Why isn’t my thesis in the library?
It could be at any of the stages described above. Please check with your program to verify when they sent your thesis to the library. That will help us determine where it might be in the process. Digitizing and cataloging your thesis is a high priority for Flaxman Library. We try to process theses immediately but when a great many are received at the same time, the work may take longer to complete.
How can I get my own copy of my thesis bound?
The bindery that we use, The HF Group, also works with individual customers. There are other affordable options such as lulu.com or FedEx/Kinkos.
Can everyone reach my thesis online?
Theses submitted Spring 2019 or later have the options to choose Open Access which means anyone in the world with an internet connection can read your thesis in our Digital Thesis Repository. You choose the access you want when you submit your thesis. See Choose Access PDF for these options.
Search the Catalog
Finding an SAIC thesis
How do I find an SAIC thesis in the Flaxman Library?
Digital Theses (November 2013 to the present): Go to the SAIC Thesis Repository or the search box at the top of this page.
Print Theses (2018 or earlier): You can visit these call number areas in the Flaxman Library to browse, or you can use the search box at the top of this page to look up a thesis in the library catalog. All SAIC theses submitted to Flaxman Library appear in our library catalog whether print or digital.
Why can’t I check out a thesis?
Theses are one-of-a-kind works and are not easily replaced. We are committed to making sure that our copy of your thesis will be here for future generations to read.
Are SAIC theses available digitally?
Since November 2013, printed theses submitted to the library are digitized for inclusion in SAIC Digital Collections. Some theses are available on-campus only. Theses submitted prior to November 2013 are available only in physical form in the library.
How can I get a copy of an SAIC thesis? Can I buy a copy?
The library cannot loan or sell copies of SAIC theses--only the author can do that--but we will direct you to the granting department or program; they can forward your request to the thesis author.
Do you have alternative format theses, like DVDs, CDs, etc.?
Yes, we do. They are shelved with the DVDs, CDs, etc.
I found an abstract for an SAIC thesis on the web, but can’t find the thesis in the Flaxman Library. Why?
Over time, programs have chosen to publish thesis abstracts in print, on disc, or on their web pages, as well as supplying them for the Flaxman Library catalog. In earlier years, some programs required students to submit an "abstract" (a proposal) prior to writing their thesis. While a few of these theses may never have been finished, their "abstracts" may still exist.
I found a thesis in the library catalog, but there is no abstract. Why?
Between 2006 and November 2013, submitting a digital abstract for use in the library catalog was an additional step that not all authors completed.