{"id":86920,"date":"2022-05-31T18:48:30","date_gmt":"2022-05-31T22:48:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/?page_id=86920"},"modified":"2026-01-20T14:06:38","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T19:06:38","slug":"research-thesis-dissertation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/academics\/research-thesis-dissertation\/","title":{"rendered":"PhD Program Research and Dissertation (Thesis) Information"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h4 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">General Research &amp; Dissertation Information<\/h4><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p><span>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.\u00a0 A diploma application must be submitted prior to this step. <em>Use only the Dissertation template GMS provides, do not use any other templates.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/gms\/files\/2023\/10\/PhD-Completion-of-Degree-Checklist-1.xlsx\">PhD Completion of Degree Checklist<\/a><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/library\/guide\/theses\/\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\">Mugar Library Webpage for Thesis and Dissertations<\/a><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/library.bu.edu\/ld.php?content_id=30310050\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\">Guide for Writers of Dissertation and Thesis<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/files\/2016\/12\/GMS-THESIS-GUIDELINE-landscape-page-numbering-1.pdf\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\">GMS Thesis Guideline Landscape Page Numbering<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/academics\/gms-faculty\/\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\">GMS Graduate Educators and Mentors List<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li>IRB 101 for BUMC Graduate Students IRB Submission with Mary-Tara Roth, Director, Clinical Research Resources Office (CRRO). View \u00a0Video Recording or Slides.<span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"> \u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/buniverse\/search\/?q=&amp;sort=created_on&amp;view=detailed&amp;owner=dioa\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\">Video Tutorials for Thesis &amp; Dissertation Electronic Submission<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li>The Mugar Library requires that a<span>\u00a0<\/span><strong>copyright page<\/strong><span>\u00a0<\/span>be added to all theses\/dissertations.\u00a0 Please add a copyright page after the title page and include it on the Table of Contents.\u00a0 Make sure you re-number all the preliminary pages appropriately.\u00a0 Adding the copyright page does not mean you must register for copyright.\u00a0 You can find a sample of the copyright page in the Masters Thesis Prepage Template (updated Jan\/2014).<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/gms\/files\/2023\/12\/Dissertation-and-Thesis-Formatting-Tips-2023.docx\"><\/a><a href=\"\/gms\/files\/2025\/06\/Dissertation-and-Thesis-Formatting-Tips-2025-1.docx\">Dissertation and Thesis Formatting Tips 2025<\/a><a href=\"\/gms\/files\/2025\/06\/Dissertation-and-Thesis-Formatting-Tips-2025.docx\"><\/a><a href=\"\/gms\/files\/2025\/06\/Dissertation-and-Thesis-Formatting-Tips-2025.docx\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/gms\/files\/2024\/07\/MAC-Landscape-Instructions-3.28.24.docx\">MAC Landscape Instructions <\/a><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><a href=\"\/gms\/files\/2024\/12\/Spellcheck-Tutorial.pdf\">Spellcheck Tutorial<\/a><a href=\"\/gms\/files\/2023\/12\/Spellcheck-Tutorial.pdf\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Do not use google documents to write your thesis.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/files\/2019\/02\/Embargo-letter-2.4.19.pdf\"><\/a><a href=\"\/gms\/files\/2025\/10\/Sample-Embargo-Letter-Requesting-Circulation-Restriction-for-Thesis-or-Dissertation.pdf\">Sample-Embargo-Letter-Requesting-Circulation-Restriction-for-Thesis-or-Dissertation<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/files\/2019\/02\/Embargo-letter-2.4.19.pdf\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20220307182016\/https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/files\/2016\/03\/Requesting-Circulation-Restriction-Thesis-or-Dissertation-sample-letter.pdf\"><span>\u00a0<\/span><\/a>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 \u2013 embargo options are one year or two years.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 <em><strong>Signature from the GMS Associate Dean will be obtained by the GMS Registrar.<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<li>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 <span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><a href=\"mailto:theses@bu.edu\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\">theses@bu.edu<\/a><\/span>\u00a0or\u00a0(617) 353-9387.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h4 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">MD\/PhD &amp; PhD: Abstract &amp; Dissertation Templates Information<\/h4><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"\/gms\/files\/2023\/11\/MDPHD-Student-Transitioning-to-M3-Curriculum-2024.pdf\">MDPHD Student Transitioning to M3 Curriculum 2024<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/gms\/files\/2024\/02\/MDPHD-ABSTRACT-TEMPLATE.docx\"><strong>MDPHD Abstract Template<\/strong> <\/a><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><a href=\"\/gms\/files\/2023\/11\/MDPhD-DissertationTemplate-10.6.22.pdf\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\">MDPhD DissertationTemplate <\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/gms\/files\/2025\/03\/MDPhD-Completion-of-Degree-Checklist.xlsx\">MDPhD Completion of Degree Checklist<\/a><\/li>\n<li><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/files\/2024\/05\/PHD-GMS-Abstract-Template.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em><strong>PHD GMS Abstract Template<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/gms\/files\/2023\/11\/2022-MEDDissertationTemplate.docx\">PhD Dissertation Template 2022<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/gms\/files\/2025\/03\/PhD-Completion-of-Degree-Checklist.xlsx\">PhD Completion of Degree Checklist<\/a><a href=\"\/gms\/files\/2023\/10\/PhD-Completion-of-Degree-Checklist-1.xlsx\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/disc\/resources\/student-resources\/\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\">BU Library Student Resources<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h4 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Download think-cell<\/h4><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p><span>Create professional looking presentations fast using\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/students\/think-cell\/\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\">think-cell<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h4 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Turnitin -Required Plagiarism Check Prior to Thesis\/Dissertation Submission<\/h4><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p><span><strong>All capstone, thesis and dissertation documents must be scanned using Turnitin plagiarism detection software prior to final submission to your Program\/ Department and the Registrar.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Turnitin similarity report must be approved by your mentor, advisor, first reader (BU faculty) or external committee member(s) depending on the GMS program.<\/li>\n<li>Turnitin similarity report must be submitted to your program director prior to thesis\/dissertation submission to the registrar<\/li>\n<li>This is the student\u2019s responsibility.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/academics\/research-thesis-dissertation\/turnitin\/\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\">Turnitin Directions<\/a>:<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 Turnitin compares your work with existing online publications and allows you to confidentially check your written work for potential plagiarism.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 \u00a0Directions and tips for usage can be<span>\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/academics\/research-thesis-dissertation\/turnitin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\">found here.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>If you have problems with Turnitin please reach out to Dr. Theresa Davies for assistance ( <span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><a href=\"mailto:tdavies@bu.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\">tdavies@bu.edu<\/a><\/span> )<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/dli\/2021\/07\/22\/turnitin-draft-coach-for-google-docs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><strong>Google Doc Turnitin Draft Coach:<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/span> If you use Google Doc for writing your paper, you also have the option to use<span>\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/dli\/2021\/07\/22\/turnitin-draft-coach-for-google-docs\/\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\">Google Doc Turnitin Draft Coach<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>for checking the<span>\u00a0<\/span><strong>initial drafts<\/strong><span>\u00a0<\/span>of your work. However, note that as a requirement for submitting your thesis or dissertation, you should generate and download the Turnitin similarity report through this GMS Plagiarism Check Blackboard course.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h4 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Dissertation DocuSign Signatures<\/h4><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Deadline:<\/strong> to submit a dissertation will be set by the GMS Registrar.\u00a0 Do not submit prior to Dissertation\/Thesis format review has been done by GMS Registrar.<\/p>\n<p>PhD and MD\/PhD students graduating and needing to collect electronic signatures from their dissertation readers on their Readers\u2019 Approval page: GMS in collaboration with BU Libraries, has launched an initiative to simplify the collection of electronic signatures.<\/p>\n<p><strong>DocuSign for the use of PhD &amp; MD\/PhD Students Only:\u00a0 <\/strong>Once a doctoral student has successfully completed their defense and format review, they will be instructed to fill out a webform to initiate the signing of their readers\u2019 approval page through DocuSign. The student will enter their name, BU email address, and then the contact information for their readers. Their readers will then be sent emails from DocuSign, all at the same time, letting them know to sign the form. Once the form has been completely signed, a copy is automatically sent to GMS Registrars, the Libraries, and to the student.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Please go to the following link:<\/strong><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"> \u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/library\/gms-dissertations-docusign\/\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\">Docusign for PhD &amp; MD\/PhD Dissertations<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h4 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">BU Open Access Information and ProQuest<\/h4><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/open.bu.edu\/\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\">Open BU<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/library\/help\/openbu\/\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\">Open Access Information<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/library\/help\/openbu\/openbu-faq\/\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\">Open Access FAQ\u2019s<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/library\/files\/2011\/05\/EmbargoesETDFAQ.pdf\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\">FAQ: Embargoes &amp; Electronic Theses &amp; Dissertations (ETD)<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ol><\/ol>\n<p><strong>ProQuest Dissertations &amp; Theses<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li>Theses and Dissertations\u00a0electronically submitted in 2014 or later are now searchable via\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/search.proquest.com.ezproxy.bu.edu\/pqdtft\/advanced?accountid=9676#top\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\">Proquest<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20106,"featured_media":0,"parent":43092,"menu_order":9,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/86920"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20106"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=86920"}],"version-history":[{"count":53,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/86920\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":106201,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/86920\/revisions\/106201"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/43092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/gms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=86920"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}