Skip to main content
LibApps staff login

ASU Digital Repository

https://repository.lib.asu.edu

Graduate Works

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The ASU KEEP Repository provides access to the full text of most ASU Theses and Dissertations from 2011 to present.

Submitting Your Thesis or Dissertation

All theses and dissertations are processed by the Graduate College. Please see Format/Submit Your Document for information about the Graduate College process. In general, your thesis should be accessible in the ASU Digital Repository approximately 3-4 months after submission.

Print Theses and Dissertations

ASU Theses and Dissertations awarded from 1938 to 2010 are found in the ASU Library Catalog and in ProQuest Dissertations and Theses @ ASU (1938 - 2010). You may check out a copy or view the original (first) copy. Contact archives@asu.edu to make an appointment to view the first copy.  

Embargo

ASU Electronic Theses and Dissertations are available in downloadable PDF format; however, a small percentage of items are under embargo. Request access to an embargo item, or request an extension to the embargo on your work, by contacting the ASU Graduate College.

Graduate theses and dissertations awarded by Arizona State University are archived and made available through a joint effort of the ASU Graduate College and the ASU Library.

Copyright

What are the terms under which my thesis/dissertation appears in the ASU KEEP Repository?

A limited, non-exclusive license to disseminate the work. You keep your copyright and all rights associated with it. “Non-exclusive” means that you can grant these permissions to others, in addition to ASU. Here are the full Terms of Deposit.

Do I own the copyright to my thesis/dissertation?

Yes, you do!

Copyright registration is not required, since copyright is automatic and comes into effect at the moment original work is fixed in a tangible medium. But registration has certain advantages.  First, if your work is registered you have proof that you are the author of the work and the owner of its copyright. Also, registration is necessary to enforce a copyright against an infringer or plagiarist. If you want to register copyright of your thesis/dissertation, you can do it online directly through the Copyright Office website at www.copyright.gov or through ProQuest, who will register the copyright for you.

How will people access my thesis/dissertation?

Through ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, the ASU Library Catalog, ASU KEEP Repository, Google Scholar and Web search engines.

How long will it take my thesis/dissertation to be available online?

Approximately 3-4 months after submission:

  • Graduate College processing: 1 week.
  • ProQuest processing: 8-12 weeks.
  • ASU Library processing: 2 weeks.

What are the benefits of open access for my thesis/dissertation?

  • A stable URL for your thesis/dissertation can be included in your CV.
  • Greater visibility helps improve your reputation in your field. Scholars seeking to build their reputation need to make their work accessible to potential colleagues and employers.
  • Scholarship available on the internet through open access is cited more often, and is cited sooner, than work that is available only through a subscription or the loan of a print copy.
  • Multimedia objects, audio, video, spreadsheets and databases, can be incorporated into your dissertation and for easy access to all of your readers.
  • Open access allows your work to reach an audience of interdisciplinary or cross-disciplinary researcher, and supports the formation of unexpected research collaborations.

Why might I restrict access to (embargo) my thesis/dissertation?

  1. If your work is based on data generated through research that will support other publications from people on the research team (such as your advisor), it may be necessary to refrain from releasing that information while other publications are prepared. The embargo options in these situations should be discussed with your committee and research team.
  2. If you plan to apply for a patent based on research that is discussed in your thesis/dissertation, please be sure that you have taken all necessary steps relating to your patent applications before sharing your work. Once a patent applicant publishes information about their invention, they will be subject to the “prior art” and “grace period” rules of the countries in which they apply. Since electronic distribution of your dissertation through either ProQuest or the ASU Digital Repository is publication for this purpose, taking an embargo will allow additional time to apply without jeopardizing patenting rights.
  3. If you are planning to publish all or part of your thesis/dissertation and know that publishers in your field consider open access ETDs to be a prior publication, you may want to consider an embargo or check on their open access policy before submitting your thesis/dissertation.

How do I restrict access to (embargo) my ETD?

You will be offered several options for restricting access (referred to as an embargo) when submitting your thesis/dissertation through ProQuest and the ASU KEEP Repository. At the time of your defense, you and your committee may decide to embargo your thesis/dissertation for a maximum of two years.

The Delaying Publication of Your Thesis/Dissertation Form must be submitted along with your completed Pass/Fail form to the Graduate Education office in order for your Thesis or Dissertation to be embargoed. If you select an embargo, your thesis/dissertation will not be available through the ASU KEEP Repository or ProQuest until the end of the embargo period. The title, abstract, attribution information, and subject classification will be visible during the embargo.

At the end of the two-year embargo period, you can request an extension of the embargo for another two years in the ASU Digital Repository. Send a brief email to gradformat@asu.edu and provide the following information:

  • Your first and last name.
  • The title of your thesis/dissertation.
  • Your graduation date.
  • Your email address.

Please be aware that this does not affect your embargo selection with ProQuest. If you would like to secure an indefinite embargo with ProQuest on your thesis/dissertation then you may submit a request directly to ProQuest, either by email (disspub@proquest.com) or by telephone (800-521-0600, ext. 77020).

While you can apply an indefinite embargo to your dissertation in ProQuest, the version submitted to the ASU KEEP Repository functions as the official ASU archives of completed graduate work and the two year extension is typically the maximum embargo period allowed. ASU’s policies regarding theses and dissertation embargoes are determined by the ASU Graduate College, and are separate from those of ProQuest.

See also, https://graduate.asu.edu/completing-your-degree.

Subjects: Multidisciplinary

The ASU Library acknowledges the twenty-three Native Nations that have inhabited this land for centuries. Arizona State University's four campuses are located in the Salt River Valley on ancestral territories of Indigenous peoples, including the Akimel O’odham (Pima) and Pee Posh (Maricopa) Indian Communities, whose care and keeping of these lands allows us to be here today. ASU Library acknowledges the sovereignty of these nations and seeks to foster an environment of success and possibility for Native American students and patrons. We are advocates for the incorporation of Indigenous knowledge systems and research methodologies within contemporary library practice. ASU Library welcomes members of the Akimel O’odham and Pee Posh, and all Native nations to the Library.