Master’s Program Research, Thesis, and Capstone Information

All Boston University theses and dissertations are submitted to the library electronically. Submitting your thesis or dissertation to Boston University Libraries is the last step to fulfill at the University before you graduate and are awarded your degree.  A diploma application must be submitted prior to this step. Use only the Thesis template GMS provides, do not use any other templates.  

1. Mugar Library Webpage for Thesis and Dissertations
   • Guide for Writers of Dissertation and Thesis
   • GMS Thesis Guideline Landscape Page Numbering
2. GMS Faculty List
3. IRB 101 for BUMC Graduate Students IRB Submission with Mary-Tara Roth, Director, Clinical Research Resources Office (CRRO). View  Video Recording or Slides.
4. Research Support
5. Video Tutorials for Thesis & Dissertation Electronic Submission
6. The Mugar Library requires that a copyright page be added to all theses/dissertations.  Please add a copyright page after the title page and include it on the Table of Contents.  Make sure you re-number all the preliminary pages appropriately.  Adding the copyright page does not mean you must register for copyright.  You can find a sample of the copyright page in the Masters Thesis Prepage Template (updated Jan/2014).
7. Student Format Review Checklist
8. MAC Landscape Instructions
9. Dissertation-and-Thesis-Formatting-Tips-2023
10. Spellcheck Tutorial
11. Do not use google documents to write your thesis.  
12. When graduate students submit a dissertation to the Library via the online ETD Administrator, they are now able to complete the process with an online payment. If you have any questions about this service you can contact Brendan McDermott, Thesis/Dissertation Coordinator at theses@bu.edu or (617) 353-9387.
13. When graduate students submit a dissertation to the Library via the online ETD Administrator, they are now able to complete the process with an online payment. If you have any questions about this service you can contact Brendan McDermott, Thesis/Dissertation Coordinator at theses@bu.edu or (617) 353-9387.
14. Sample Embargo Letter Requesting Circulation Restriction for Thesis Most students do not request delayed circulation however if desired (due to special circumstances such as a pending patent), you will need to submit an Embargo letter requesting Circulation Restriction – embargo options are one year or two years.  Embargo letter must be signed by student and primary reader and submitted to the GMS Registrar with the final thesis/dissertation paperwork by the deadline.  Signature from the GMS Provost will be obtained by the GMS Registrar.

1. GMS Thesis Template 2022
   1. NOTE: The Research Guide For Writers Of Theses (#1 above) There is no longer a word limit to the length of the abstract, but please be concise.
   2. NOTE: Minimum length for MAMS theses is 40 pages (research thesis) or 45 pages (literature thesis), excluding the Prepages, Appendices, References and Vita.
2. Biomedical Research Technologies Capstone Information
3. Clinical Research Capstone Project, Practicum and Directed Study Information
4. Genetic Counseling Capstone Project Information
5. Health Professions Education Practicum and Capstone Guidelines
6. Oral Health Sciences Capstone & Thesis Information

All capstone, and thesis documents must be scanned using Turnitin plagiarism detection software prior to final submission to your Program/ Department and the Registrar.

• Turnitin similarity report must be approved by your mentor, advisor, first reader (BU faculty) or external committee member(s) depending on the GMS program.
• Turnitin similarity report must be submitted to your program director prior to thesis submission to the registrar
• This is the student’s responsibility.

Turnitin Directions:  Turnitin compares your work with existing online publications and allows you to confidentially check your written work for potential plagiarism.  With a close inspection of the Turnitin results, you may also identify incorrect quotations and missing citations. All students have access to the online tool throughout their time in GMS.   Directions and tips for usage can be found here.

If you have problems with Turnitin please reach out to Dr. Theresa Davies for assistance ( tdavies@bu.edu )

Google Doc Turnitin Draft Coach:  If you use Google Doc for writing your paper, you also have the option to use Google Doc Turnitin Draft Coach for checking the initial drafts of your work. However, note that as a requirement for submitting your thesis, you should generate and download the Turnitin similarity report through this GMS Plagiarism Check Blackboard course.

Electronic Signatures For MA & MS Students: Provisional acceptance by Boston University Libraries of electronic signatures in lieu of original signatures on the separately submitted and signed Readers’ Approval pages through electronic signatures or signature images have been extended for theses and dissertations for the January 2024 graduation deadline. There are several options for signature, such as electronic via Adobe Acrobat or inserting a signature image.  The students should work with their first and second readers to find the best solution and follow guidelines sent by the GMS Registrar’s Office GMSRegistrar@bu.edu.

Open BU

1. 1. 1. 1. Open Access Information
         2. Open Access FAQ’s
         3. FAQ: Embargoes & Electronic Theses & Dissertations (ETD)

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses

1. 1. 1. 1. Theses electronically submitted in 2014 or later are now searchable via Proquest