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Thesis and Dissertation Submission and Printing

Submitting your thesis or dissertation is one of the final steps before graduation. At Boise State, all submissions are handled through ProQuest ETD. Once your document is approved, it will also be published in ScholarWorks, Boise State’s open-access repository.

This page walks you through:

  • What to do before you submit
  • The submission process in ProQuest
  • What happens after submission
  • Options for printing and binding

About ProQuest and Scholarworks

  • ProQuest ETD is one of the largest academic databases in the world. Publishing here makes your research part of the global scholarly record, accessible to universities and libraries worldwide.
  • ScholarWorks is Boise State’s open-access repository. Unlike ProQuest (subscription-based), works in ScholarWorks are freely available to anyone with internet access.

Tip: Publishing in both systems increases the reach and impact of your work, connecting you with specialized researchers and the broader public.

Before You Submit

Make sure you are ready to begin:

Tip: Build in time for revisions. Most students need to make formatting edits after the Graduate College review.

For an overview of all required forms, see Milestones & Requirements.

How to Submit Your Advisor-Approved Document in ProQuest

Follow these steps when submitting:

  1. Go to the Boise State ProQuest submission portal.
  2. Click “Log in with your account” and use your myBoiseState Single Sign-On. Do not click “Start the process” or “Sign up to get started.”
  3. Review the instructions page.
  4. Select your publishing option (immediate release or embargo).
  5. Accept the ProQuest Publishing Agreement and complete the required Boise State form (Access Agreement or Embargo Request).
  6. Enter your personal and program information (name, Boise State ID, graduation term, department, degree, committee information, keywords, etc.). Degree date = the month and year of your graduation (e.g., December 2025, May 2026, or August 2026).
  7. Upload your PDF document. If you also have a Word version, please upload it as a supplemental file for formatting reference.
  8. In Notes, indicate your writing style (e.g., APA, Chicago, MLA, etc.).
  9. Copyright section:
    1. When you create your thesis or dissertation, you automatically hold the copyright to your work under U.S. copyright law. This means you already have the exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, display, or adapt your work unless you later sign a copyright transfer agreement with a publisher.
    2. Because your thesis/dissertation is protected automatically, you do not need to pay ProQuest for additional copyright registration in order to retain your rights.
    3. ProQuest does offer an optional copyright registration service for students who wish to have their copyright formally registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. This is not required by Boise State. 
  10. Review all details and submit.
Detailed Submission Guide
  • Primary Language: Select English if not applied automatically.
  • Title: Enter exactly as on your title page, in Title Case.
  • Abstract: Provide your abstract (well-written and descriptive).
  • Degree Date: Month/year of your graduation.
  • Degree Awarded: Use the drop-down menu to find your degree.
  • Department: Select your department (or committee chair’s home department for interdisciplinary programs).
  • Subject Category: Select the most appropriate category.
  • Keywords: Enter up to 6 searchable keywords or phrases not already in your title/abstract.
  • Advisor/Committee Chair: Enter name and email (no degree titles).
  • Committee Members: Enter additional members and emails (no degree titles).

After You Submit

Here’s what happens next:

  1. Graduate College Review: Staff will review your document for formatting.
  2. Revisions (if needed): If edits are required, you will receive an email. Log back into ProQuest, upload your revised document, and resubmit. This step may happen more than once.
  3. Final Approval: Once your document meets all requirements, it will be approved. Final approval is documented in the semester after graduation.
  4. Publication: Once approved, your thesis/dissertation will be published in ProQuest and in ScholarWorks (unless embargoed).

Tip: Review your abstract and keywords carefully. They are often the first (and sometimes only) part of your work that researchers will see.

Printing & Binding (Optional)

Ordering bound copies is not required for graduation. 

  • Order copies during ProQuest submission or anytime later through your ProQuest account.
  • If you do not order at submission, ProQuest will email you after publication with ordering options.

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