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George Mason University Infoguides | University Libraries
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Dissertation Proposal Resources

The purpose of this guide is to highlight library resources and services that will help you when preparing your dissertation proposal.

Find Ebooks

These are a sample of the many books on research, writing, and dissertation proposals you will find in Mason Libraries.

These are eBook copies you may read online with your Mason NetID and password. You can look for a print copy in the Mason Libraries catalog if you prefer that format.

Find Print Books

Mason Libraries books are given call numbers based on the subject of the book.  Since books are shelved by call number, books on the same subject are grouped together in the same area of the library. Knowing the letter(s) for your subject area gives you a place to start when browsing the shelves.

 

Call numbers have two formats, one used on the books, and another used in the library’s catalog online (see below):

On the spine of a book -- Read the call number from top to bottom

N 678.9        Subject and subtopic designation

.M9              Author designation

2007            Publication year

In your search results in the Mason Libraries catalog -- Read the call number from left to right.

PG3366 .V6 2017

Print resources for the College of Engineering and Computing include books and conference proceedings and are located in Fenwick Library and Mercer Library.

Look in the following call number ranges for your topic:

  • TA  Civil engineering
  • TD  Environmental technology; Sanitary engineering
  • TE  Highway engineering
  • TG  Bridge engineering
  • TH  Construction

​Computer Science books are located primarily in Fenwick Library and Mercer Library. Subjects covered by this collection include electronics, telecommunications, computer programming, networks, programming languages, and cyber security.

Look in the following call number ranges for your topic:

  • QA 75.5 - 76.95     Electronic computers; computer science
  • QA 76.6                Software Engineering
  • QA 76.75-76.765   Computer software
  • QA 76.76              Requirements Engineering
  • Q 300                    Artificial intelligence; cybernetics

Print resources for Statistics are located primarily in the Fenwick Library and consist of books, journals and conference proceedings.  

Look in the following call number ranges for your topic:

QA 273 - QA 280   Probabilities; Mathematical Statistics

Print resources for systems engineering are located primarily in the Fenwick Library and consist of books, journals and conference proceedings.

Look in the following call number ranges for your topic:

  • QA 76.6          Software Engineering
  • QA 76.76        Requirements Engineering
  • T 57.6-57.97   Operations Research; Systems Analysis
  • T58.6-58.62    Management Information Systems
  • T 59.7-59.77   Human Engineering in industry; Man-machine systems
  • TA 166-167     Human Engineering
  • TA 168            Systems Engineering
  • TA 174            Engineering Design

Find Books at Mason

 

Still can't find the item? Use Interlibrary Loan (ILL) to request books, media and articles from other libraries when they are not available at Mason or the WRLC. Start your research early if you want to take advantage of this wonderful service as it can take up to 2 weeks.