The following information is specifically for theses at the Frances Loeb Library, Graduate School of Design. If you are looking for theses at other Harvard University graduate schools you should contact their respective libraries. If you are looking for dissertations at other universities, you can use Dissertation Abstracts.
Please note the following:
- The word THESIS is not a subject. For example, you CANNOT search for theses by typing su thesis in HOLLIS.
- If you know the AUTHOR, TITLE, or the SUBJECT of a thesis, you can search for it using the normal HOLLIS commands: au(author) ti(title) su(subject)
- To find a thesis without a specific author, title or subject, use KEYWORD searching. Follow the examples below.
- A primary copy of every thesis which has been submitted to the Library is kept in the Special Collections Department. Special Collections is open from 1pm - 4:45pm, Monday-Friday.
- There may also be a circulating copy of more recent theses in the open stacks.
Type in the exact word sequence below or copy and paste into keyword search:
harvard university graduate school design thesis
For Masters of Design Studies type in keyword search: "mdess"
- A primary copy of every DDes dissertation is kept in the Special Collections Department.
- Special Collections is open from 1pm - 4:45pm, Monday-Friday.
Type in the exact word sequence below or copy and paste into keyword search
harvard university graduate school design doctor design
- The Ph.D. is administered by the Harvard University Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The primary copy is kept at the Harvard University Archives (Pusey Library). A second copy may be available at the Frances Loeb Library. HOLLIS will always indicate where copies are located.
Type in the exact word sequence and spacing below or copy and paste into keyword search:
harvard university ph d architecture
harvard university ph d landscape architecture
harvard university ph d urban planning
Example: harvard university graduate school design thesis shopping malls
You may limit your search to a specific year or decade by typing in one of the searches in the examples above and then selecting modify to define the date range.

