Religious Studies
Collection Development Policy Statement
Library's Collection Development Objectives
The LSU Libraries strives to support teaching and research in religion throughout the university community, but also recognizes the interests of the thirteen active campus religious student organizations. The library collections provide curricular support for the Religious Studies Program, emphasizing investigations of significant and universal expressions of human experience and incorporating the great religious traditions of the world (Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), as well as smaller beliefs and cultures. The interdisciplinary course of study offers both a major and minor in religion with an approach that brings together perspectives from a variety of areas, including history, philosophy, literature, and anthropology.
Curriculum Program Descriptions
The Religious Studies Program is housed within the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences. There are ten faculty members in the program and all have Ph.D. degrees. The teaching staff includes four professors (one emeritus), four associate professors, and two assistant professors.
The Program offers a major and minor in Religious Studies. Several courses in the curriculum will also fulfill general education requirements for undergraduates in other majors. Listed below are the number of Bachelor degrees awarded to students in Religious Studies for the past five years:
| 1991-92 | 1992-93 | 1993-94 | 1994-95 | 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-00 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | |
| Bachelor | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | E |
E (Empty String) - (Info unavailable)
Areas of Specialization/Major Faculty Research Interests
New and Expanding Areas of Interest
Treatment of Subject Depth / Delimitations
LSU Libraries generally attempt to collect in a broad range of religious subject areas at the level of instructional support. A limited amount of research level support is provided for the areas noted above. Collecting is primarily of in-print monographs published in the U.S., Great Britain, Canada, and selectively from Europe. Periodicals and reference works are collected selectively. The Special Collections of LSU Libraries (Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections and Rare Books) will collect more extensively in the religion and culture of Louisiana and the South.
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.
Overlap with Other Subjects or Collections
Some aspects of the following areas may have relevance to the faculty and curriculum of the Religious Studies Program.
Classed Analysis
| LC Classification | Descriptor |
Collecting Level |
Comments | |
|
Existing Strength |
Current Intensity |
|||
| BL | Religions, Myth., Rationalism | 3 | 2 | |
| BM | Judaism | 2 | 2 | |
| BP | Islam, Bahá'í, Theosophy | 2 | 1 | |
| BQ | Buddhism | 2 | 1 | |
| BR | Christianity | 3 | 2 | Louisiana more intensively |
| BS | Bible | 3 | 2 | |
| BT | Doctrinal Theology | 3 | 1 | |
| BV | Practical Theology | 2 | 1 | |
| BX 1-799 | Eastern Christian Churches | 2 | 1 | |
| BX 800-4795 | Roman Catholic Church | 2 | 2 | Louisiana more intensively |
| BX 4800-9990 | Protestantism | 2 | 2 | Louisiana more intensively |
Prepared: January 15, 1998
Updated: March 15, 2003