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Theses and Dissertation Guide

Information about Theses and Dissertations at The City College Libraries

Submitting your Work

Please be sure you will have at least 15 minutes of uninterrupted access to the internet to complete each submission.

Before you start the deposit process, you will need

  • The final, approved version of your dissertation or thesis in PDF format.
  • Any supplementary files, such as copyright permission letters or accompanying data files.
  • A brief, informative abstract.
  • Advisor and other committee members’ names.
  • Subject categories to help index your work
  • A list of keywords to help identify, or classify, your work.
    • For example, geographical locations or scientific names not mentioned in your title or abstract might be listed.

CUNY Academic Works

  1. If you don't already have one, create an account in CUNY Academic Works. Be sure to use an email address that you will continue to access after graduation.
  2. Go to the City College Dissertations and Theses page in CUNY Academic Works.
    1. Read the Submission Agreement, click the checkbox to accept, and select “Continue” to proceed.
  3. Enter all required fields, following the onscreen instructions. Be sure to input your institution as “The City College of New York, City University of New York” and input the correct degree date.
  4. Input your embargo (delayed release) decision. Choose from the following options: no embargo (available immediately), 6 months, 12 months, or 24 months. This will determine when the full text of your work is made publicly available online. Title, author, and other metadata remain viewable even if a work is embargoed.
  5. When choosing subject categories, select the discipline that best describes your work. It is OK to keep it broad and simple. Adding relevant, more specific keywords will help discoverability.
  6. After you have entered your information and selected your file, double-check your entries and click “Submit” at the bottom of the page.
  7. That’s it! Library deposit of your dissertation or thesis is now complete.

ProQuest Dissertation Publishing

  1. Open the ProQuest ETD Admin tool.
  2. Create an account by clicking the red button that says “Sign up and get started today!”
  3. Follow the onscreen instructions for filling out the required areas. Select “traditional” publishing with ProQuest and indicate whether you would like your work in ProQuest to be discovered by search engines.
  4. Input your embargo (delayed release) decision. Choose from the following options: no embargo (available immediately), 6 months, 1 year, or 2 years. This will determine when the full text of your work is made publicly available online. Title, author, and other metadata remain viewable even if a work is embargoed.
  5. Enter all required fields according to the onscreen instructions. After uploading your file(s), you will be given the option to register your copyright for the work with the U.S. Copyright Office through ProQuest for a $55 fee, payable by credit card at the time of submission. This service is optional. Alternatively, graduates may choose to register their copyright directly with the U.S.Copyright Office if they so desire. Please see http://copyright.gov/about/fees.html for more information. Registering your copyright is optional. You own the copyright to your dissertation regardless of whether or not you officially register it.
  6. If you would like to order personal print copies, select options according to the onscreen instructions. Single copy orders of hardcover, 8 ½ x 11” are $56.00 each, plus tax. This service is optional. Graduates may have their work printed by a bindery of their choosing.
  7. Verify the details of your submission and click “Submit Dissertation/Thesis” at the bottom of the page.
  8. That’s it! Library deposit of your dissertation or thesis is now complete.