Biological Sciences Collection Development Guidelines
General Department Information
Undergraduate goals
Undergraduate degrees are offered in Biological Sciences, Botany, Conservation, Zoology, and Pre-Professional Medical Programs. The library provides curriculum support for undergraduate courses in physiology, anatomy, cellular molecular biology, microbiology, neurobiology, histology, genetics and biological anthropology. General ecology courses include entomology, evolution, water management, limnology, botany, wildlife resources, and technical writing for biologists.
Graduate goals
Graduate programs are designed to prepare individuals for careers in biological science in colleges and universities. Graduate programs are offered in Ecology with specializations in Aquatic Ecology and Evolutionary/Systematic Biology and also Physiology with concentrations in Reproductive Physiology and Endocrinology or in Environmental and Comparative Physiology.
Departmental goals
The Kent State University Department of Biological Studies offer undergraduate and graduate programs which are designed to prepare individuals for careers in biological science in colleges and universities, the business sector, and governmental agencies. It expects students to master current knowledge in the field and to develop the skills necessary to make original contributions through research. Although it focuses on training in areas of faculty strength (ecology and physiology), it emphasizes a thorough grounding in the broad biological principles, believing that well-rounded individuals will be best prepared to face future challenges.
Departmental Areas of Concentration
- Biology
- Botany
- Conservation
- Ecology
- Medical Technology
- Physiology
- Zoology
Degrees Offered:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Master of Arts
- Master of Science
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Science
Special programs within the School
- Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biology. This new program provides opportunities for undergraduates to work with KSU faculty to develop an independent, interdisciplinary research project in ecology.
- Master of arts degree program: non-thesis option. The Department of Biological Sciences at Kent State University offers a Non Thesis M.A. degree for teachers in the Biological Sciences. This program allows teachers to work towards a Master's degree in the biological sciences on a part-time basis on the Kent State campus.
- The Department of Biological Sciences also has graduate programs that focus on ecology and physiology.
Biological Sciences Department Home Page:
Scope of Coverage
The collection focus for the Department of Biological Sciences is to support the curriculum and research needs of the faculty, graduate and undergraduate students in the Department.
The following subject areas are collected at the research level:
- Aquatic
- Ecology
- Biology Classification
- Botany Classification,
- Cladistic Analysis
- Developmental Anatomy both human and plant,
- Embryology
- Endocrinology (Endocrine Genetics, Molecular Endocrinology, Neuroendocrinology)
- Evolutionary Biology
- Evolutionary Genetics
- Evolutionary Trees
- Genomes
- Laboratory Animal Research
- Molecular Evolution
- Molecular Genetics
- Molecular Systematics
- Neurosciences
- Phylogeny
- Plant Biology
- Reproductive Biology
Apply the Following Parameters to the Above Scope of Coverage Areas
Language
Primary emphasis is on English language materials. German, Spanish and Russian materials are collected on a very selective basis with translation.
Date of publication
Emphasis is given to current materials although historical works are acquired on a selective basis for the botanical collection.
Geographical guidelines
Emphasis on North American publications, but works for the botanical collection may have a worldwide distribution.
Society or Publisher Emphasis
Publication of the Scholarly Societies and Scientific Publishers.
Multiple copies
Only when warranted by high demand.
Material Types
Monographs
Books
Research level scholarly materials are emphasized. Textbooks are acquired on a very selective basis.
Audio visual material
Purchased upon request from departmental faculty in support of classroom instruction.
Theses and dissertations
Selectively acquired in support of graduate and faculty research.
Microform reproductions
Acquired only if absolutely necessary.
Serials
Current list of department subscriptions
Recent volumes of a select number of scholarly journals in the discipline are also available online through the OhioLINK Electronic Journal Center (EJC).
Back issues and full runs of selected scholarly journals focusing on the Biological Sciences are also available online through Kent State University’s subscription to JSTOR. A current list of titles are available at:
Government Documents
The collection is strong from 1962 – present, with earlier collections obtained from purchases and donations. All materials are cataloged and accessible via KentLINK.
Methods of acquisition
Most government documents are received free of charge from federal and state governments. Federal government documents are selected to match a profile that supports the Department of Biological Sciences curriculum. If requested by the department, monographic funds may be used to purchase documents materials that are not normally received for free.
Federal publications
Many agencies publish and distribute information in support of the various research and instructional interests of the Department of Biological Sciences. The U.S. Geological Survey supplies a series of biological science reports. The Department of Health and Human Services provides Environmental Health Perspectives. Both of these agencies supply the library a variety of periodicals including several peer reviewed journals. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration supplies environmental studies that can be found mostly online. We receive all material published by the Library of Congress, which is accessible through Kentlink. Any and all congressional publications are received by the library which includes bills and laws, congressional hearings, congressional records and various House and Senate reports.
Online Services and Electronic Resources
A number of Biological Sciences journals are available through:
There are many Biological Sciences databases listed such as Biological Abstracts.
Exclude
The following items are excluded from the Biological Sciences Department scope of coverage: most undergraduate level books, textbooks and popular titles. Although some exceptions are made concerning titles that are considered important and necessary to the collection.
Interdisciplinary Relations
The Biological Sciences Department has relationships with the following departments:
- Liquid Crystal Institute
- Chemistry
- Geology
- Biomedical Sciences
