Document: Thesis Cataloging
Date: 11/02/05
Effective: Immediately
Created by: CAT, rs
Replaces: Thesis Location and Academic Department Codes
THESIS CATALOGING
Introduction:
Theses and dissertations are classified by area of study and shelved by locally constructed call numbers (MARC 099). Bibliographic descriptions of these documents also contain locally prescribed content in other fields (MARC 502, 590, 791). This document explains the construction of thesis call numbers, and the linked document (see below, under “Codes based on Area of Study”) contains the prescribed content for the call number codes and MARC 791 $b fields.
Thesis call numbers (MARC 099):
Call numbers for senior honors theses begin with “HON:”
Honors: HON:[Area of study][Year][Cutter]
Example: HON:PSY2005H343
| Label | Description |
|---|---|
| HON:PSY | Honors thesis in psychology (degree code determined from prescribed list; see linked document) |
| 2005 | Year of degree |
| H343 | Cutter for author |
Call numbers for masters theses and doctoral dissertations begin with “THE:”
Masters/Ph.D.: THE:[Area of study][Year][Degree][Cutter]
Examples:
THE:PSY2005MAS253
THE:PSY2005PHDB664
| Label | Description |
|---|---|
| THE:PSY | Thesis in psychology (degree code determined from prescribed list; see linked document) |
| 2005 | Year of degree |
| MS | Degree conferred (see below) |
| S53 | Cutter for author |
| Label | Description |
|---|---|
| THE:PSY | Thesis in psychology (degree code determined from prescribed list; see linked document) |
| 2005 | Year of degree |
| PHD | Degree conferred (see below) |
| B664 | Cutter for author |
Thesis note (MARC 502):
Thesis notes follow the format of the following example.
Change degree name and year as appropriate (see list of abbreviations below).
Example:
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio State University, 2005.
Abbreviations and codes for DEGREE CONFERRED (not area of study):
The degree name will be specified on the title page of the document
| 502 (Thesis note) | 099 (call no.) | Degree conferred |
|---|---|---|
| D.M.A. | DMA | Doctor of Musical Arts |
| M.A. | MA | Master of Arts |
| M.Arch. | MARCH | Master of Architecture |
| M.C.R.P. | MCRP | Master of City and Regional Planning |
| M.F.A. | MFA | Master of Fine Arts |
| M.H.A. | MHA | Master of Health Administration |
| M.L.A. | MLA | Master of Landscape Architecture |
| M.Mus. | MMUS | Master of Music |
| M.S. | MS | Master of Science |
| M.S.W. | MSW | Master of Social Work |
| Ph.D. | PHD | Doctor of Philosophy |
Codes based on AREA OF STUDY:
See the attached Excel file for current codes. (Click on "Open" when prompted.)
The linked document is a list which is sorted by area of study and prescribes coding for the following elements:
-- OSUL location for PAPER copies of documents (“bib loc” and “item loc”)
-- three-letter degree code used in the call number (after “HON:” or "THE:")
-- department name as transcribed into MARC field 791 $b
OSUL locations (“BIB LOC” and “ITEM LOC”):
Coding for locations occurs in the bibliographic record and the item record. The “bib loc” is a three-letter code; the “item loc” may be four or five letters, depending on the library. Both location codes are recorded in MARC 949 fields, but the second indicator distinguishes bib record from item record.
“Bib loc”: 949NOTE:b0 $l loc
“Item loc”: 949b1 $l locxx
-- This list of location codes pertains to PAPER masters theses and PAPER doctoral dissertations.
-- All PAPER HONORS theses, regardless of area of study, are housed in Thompson (Main) Library. The “bib loc” is mai. The “item loc” is maii.
-- All ELECTRONIC honors and masters theses and doctoral dissertations receive “bib loc” and “item loc” of wwt.
Degree code:
The degree code is based on the area of study. The area of study is indicated on the title page of the document. The list is alphabetized by area of study. Looking up the area of study will lead you to its degree code.
Department name “DEPT (791 $b)”:
The department name is taken from the prescribed list, not from the title page.
NOTE: The advisor’s department and the department from which the student is graduating (degree-granting unit) are not necessarily the same department. Many programs are interdisciplinary, and the advisor does not have to belong to the degree-granting unit. They do not have to match!
The advisor’s name and department are transcribed in a 590 field in the following format:
590The degree-granting unit is transcribed in a 791 field in the following format:bbAdvisor: [Name in direct order], [Advisor’s department]. (The advisor’s department may or may not appear on the title page.)
791 2bOhio State University. $b [see prescribed list].
Other information:
A “Notes” column is included in the prescribed list to provide history or explanation where current practice differs from previous practice. Generally, it is OSUL's policy to retain a degree code even when the name of an academic unit or degree program changes, in order for like materials to collocate together; e.g., ZOO is used for Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, formerly named Zoology. However, if the focus of a program changes in addition to the name of the academic unit that supports it, the degree code may be changed--this will be determined by the collection manager for that subject area, who will specify the change to the thesis cataloger.
Changes in location are negotiated between libraries. The "new" location will communicate the change to the thesis cataloger.
This document is for CURRENT materials only and will be updated as needed as programs and department names change. It is not intended for retrospective cataloging of older materials.
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