Print GMS Theses
Search Strategy for Print GMS Theses
Click here for Electronic Thesis Search
This page is a reference tool for locating print GMS theses in the BU Library Catalog. Theses were submitted in print through the beginning of 2012. From mid-2012 on, GMS theses have been submitted electronically.
At this time, electronic theses are NOT easily searchable within the BU Library catalog, but can be located in the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Database. Please see the Search Strategy for Electronic GMS Theses page for tips on locating recent theses.
Please use this link for a search run following the instructions below (scroll down for titles, or enter keywords to narrow results), or view the steps listed to search both library and laboratory print theses (up to early 2012) by former GMS students.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact the Library by email at refquest@bu.edu or by calling (617) 358-4810. You can also stop by the Reference Desk between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM Monday through Friday.
Step 1: Getting to the Catalog
Go to the Medical Library homepage. Click on the Library Catalogs tab at the top of the page. This tab will direct you to the Quick Search page of Boston University’s Library Catalog.
Step 2: Getting to the Advanced Search
Click on the “Advanced Search” button to the right of the search bar.
This action will open the Advanced Search page in the catalog. Select “Call Number” from the drop-down menu. Leave the second search field as “keywords.”
Step 3: Locating all GMS Theses
All GMS theses are listed under the call number “GMS AM”. Type “GMS AM” (capitalization not necessary) into the search bar. Click “Search”.
You will retrieve over 3000 citations for past GMS theses. The citations will be listed in roughly chronological order, with more recent documents first, but this is not completely reliable. To find theses from specific years, click “Publication Date” in the right hand column labeled “Filter My Results.” You can adjust the earliest and latest dates you wish to search.
Step 4: Searching for a GMS thesis on a specific topic
GMS theses are not indexed with subject terms, so the only way to search for a thesis on a specific topic is to search for words in the title. Scrolling back up to the Advanced Search bars, change the first box in the second line from “as author/creator” to “in the title.” Leave the second box as “keywords.”
Enter your term(s) in the search bar and click Search. Note that you can search for variations on a term by using the word ‘OR’ (i.e. ‘tooth OR teeth’) to retrieve theses with either of the words. Entering terms without ‘OR’ will search for all of the words.
Since you can only search GMS theses by title, you may need to try several terms to ensure a comprehensive search on your topic.