Oceanography and Coastal Sciences

Collection Development Policy Statement

Library's Collection Development Objectives

Support faculty and student research and the curriculum through the doctoral degree level in the discipline of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences, with an emphasis on the physical, chemical, biological, geological, meteorological, and economic aspects of those environments identified coastal, deltaic, and estuarine; and support research projects and programs conducted at the related agencies of the School of the Coast and Environment, including the Coastal Ecology Institute (CEI), the Coastal Fisheries Institute (CFI), the Coastal Studies Institute (CSI), and the Wetland Biogeochemistry Institute (WBI), and the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON).

Curriculum Program Descriptions:

The Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences (DOCS) is a multidisciplinary academic program within the School of the Coast and Environment which offers graduate-level training in disciplines associated with oceanography and coastal sciences. Cooperation with other divisions at LSU (Colleges of Basic Sciences, Institute for Environmental Studies, Public Administration Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, and the departments of Biochemistry, Civil Engineering, Experimental Statistics, Food Science, and Microbiology) in program development assures the availability of a variety of major/minor graduate degree options. The interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary nature of the field is stressed, and graduate study programs are sufficiently flexible to meet the needs of individual students. In addition, doctoral students majoring in other academic departments may elect a minor in this department. The 25 faulty members, all with Ph.D. degrees, hold join appointments in the department and in one of the related SC&E research institutes. Listed below are the number of degrees awarded to students in Oceanography & Coastal Sciences for the past five years:

E (Empty String)      - (Info unavailable)

The following degree programs are offered which the Library collection supports:

Areas of Specialization/Major Faculty Research Interests

• Physical and biological oceanography
• Boundary layer processes
• Sediment-water systems
• Fish ecology, life history, and habitat selection
• Ecology of marine vertebrates
• Fishery acoustics
• Deltaic sedimentation
• Riverine processes
• Continental shelf sediments
• Coastal, estuarine, and marine ecology
• Population dynamics
• Coastal management
• Environmental chemistry of soils
• Coastal and marine meteorology
• Air-sea interaction
• Coastal and continental shelf oceanography
• Satellite and aircraft remote sensing methods in oceanography
• Wetland and barrier island plant ecology
• Tidal and shallow-water hydrodynamics
• Nutrient cycling in wetlands
• Marine geology
• Carbonate sedimentology and reef processes
• Plankton ecology and dynamics
• Transport and recruitment mechanisms
• Wetland hydrology
• Mariculture
• Arctic coastal processes
• Geophysical signal processing
• Artificial reef ecology
• Bioremediation

CD ROMs, Electronic Books, Remotely Accessed Texts

LSU Libraries will purchase CD ROM works on a case by case basis when requested by faculty members or graduate students in need of enhanced capabilities afforded by CD ROMs. The LSU Libraries recognizes that electronic information, e-books, electronic paper, etc. merit attention. The purchase of access to remote data and texts, such as J-STOR and others, will be pursued when the ownership of remote products will benefit the greatest number of students, staff, and faculty at the best possible price. Purchase of remotely accessed texts must follow the policy and procedures set forth in Procedures for Acquiring and Processing Electronic Resources.

Classed Analysis

Prepared: January 15, 1998
Updated: March 15, 2003