University of Michigan - Flint

The Philosophy & Religion division supports an interdisciplinary minor in religious studies, but primarily the curriculum of the Philosophy Department, which offers undergraduate degrees. WLN categories and subjects that receive particular attention in the curriculum include ancient and modern history and systems of philosophy, Kant, logic, metaphysics, epistemology, aesthetics, and ethics. Non-WLN subjects that are taught include philosophy of mind, cognitive science, and feminist philosophy.

Monographs. The Philosophy & Religion collection holds 4949 philosophy titles and 4201 religion titles, for a total of 9150. This is equivalent to a 2b for philosophy and religion respectively and collectively, and is 84% of the number from the modified ACRL standard (10,926). The median age of the books in this division is 25 years old, with 23% published in the last decade.

There is a good core collection for many categories in the conspectus. The ratings are lowered, however, by the insufficient total number of monographs and by the weak periodicals collection, as noted below. The relatively newer non-WLN subjects (philosophy of mind, cognitive science, and feminist philosophy) have strong monographs holdings.

Acquisitions. The 1997/1998 monographs allocation for the Philosophy Department is $6643. Taking a proportional share of librarians' budgets, plus the reference allocation, yields a weighted total of $8051. This is sufficient to buy approximately 254 books at a discounted average price of $31.70 apiece. This amounts to about 7% of the total domestic publishing output for philosophy and religion, for an AC rating of 2b. Acquiring 10% of the publishing output per year would require a monographs allocation of $12,331.

Periodicals. The periodicals collection is mixed bag. There are 47 Wilson-indexed philosophy and religion periodical titles, of which the Library has paper subscriptions to 9 (19%=2a) and web access to 14 more (49% total=strong 2b). From a list of 32 core periodical titles in philosophy, the Library subscribes to 20 in print, has back issues of 2 more, and can access one more through the Web.

The Library subscribes to the both the print and web versions of the Philosopher's Index, which is a more important point of access. Of approximately 600 periodicals indexed, the Library subscribes to 55, or 9% of the total, equivalent to a 2a. This poor level of holdings drags down the ratings of the whole division.

Sources consulted: EPSP, RA13, TEOR, RGTP, PGRL.

Prepared by Paul G. Streby, in consultation with Prof. Charles Dunlop and Prof. Catherine Gardner.

Ratings for Philosophy & Religion CL=Current collection level; AC=Acquisitions commitment; GL=Goal level
LC class	Line no.	Category	CL	AC	GL	Comments
B 1 - 68	PAR 001	Philosophy - Periodicals, Societies, Congresses	3a		3b	240 titles
B 69 - 789	PAR 001.5	Philosophy - History & Systems, Ancient - Renaissance	2b		3b	791 titles
B 108 - 626	PAR 002	-----History & Systems, Ancient	3a		3b
B 630 - 708	PAR 003	-----History & Systems, Alexandrian & Early Christian	2a		3b
B 720 - 765	PAR 004	-----History & Systems, Medieval	3a		3b
B 740 - 753	PAR 005	-----Arabian, Moorish, & Islamic Philosophers	2b		3b
B 755 - 759	PAR 006	-----Jewish Philosophers	2a		3b
B 770 - 785	PAR 008	-----History & Systems, Renaissance	3a		3b
B 790 - 5739	PAR 009	Philosophy - History & Systems, Modern	3a		3b	2266 titles
B 840	PAR 010	-----Philosophy of Language	3a		3b
B 2750	PAR 011	-----Kant	3a		3b
BC	PAR 013	Logic	3a		3b	301 titles
BC 131 - 135	PAR 014	-----Logic - Symbolic & Mathematical	3a		3b
BD	PAR 014.5	Speculative Philosophy	3a		3b	685 titles
BD 100 - 131	PAR 015	-----Metaphysics	3a		3b
BD 143 - 236	PAR 016	-----Epistemology	3a		3b
BD 300 - 450	PAR 018	-----Ontology	3a		3b
BH	PAR 020	Aesthetics	3a		3b	118 titles
BJ 1 - 1800	PAR 021	Ethics	3a		3b	548 titles
BJ 1188 - 1500	PAR 022	-----Ethics - Religious	3a		3b
BL	PAR 023.5	Religions, Mythology, Rationalism	3a		3b	964
BL 51 - 54	PAR 025	-----Philosophy & Psychology of Religion	3a		3b
BM	PAR 055.5	Judaism	2b		3b	196 titles
BP	PAR 068.5	Islam, Baha'i Faith, Theosophy	3a		3b	232 titles; weak on Baha'i religion and Theosophy
BQ	PAR 072.5	Buddhism	2b		3b	57 titles
BR	PAR 077.5	Christianity	3a		3b	629 titles
BS	PAR 088.5	Bible	3a		3b	838 titles
BT - BV	PAR 099.5 - 101.5	Doctrinal Theology, Practical Theology	2b		3b	361 titles
BX 1 - 799, 4710 - 4795	PAR 115.5	Eastern Christian Churches	2a		3b	40 titles
BX 800 - 4795	PAR 118	Catholic Church	3a		3b	403 titles
BX 4800 - 9999	PAR 129	Protestantism	2b		3b	481 titles
DIVISION AS A WHOLE			3a	2b	3b

0 -- Out of scope

1 -- Minimal level
1a ---- Minimal level, uneven coverage
1b ---- Minimal level, even coverage

2 -- Basic information level
2a ---- Basic information level, Introductory
2b ---- Basic information level, Advanced (Appropriate for community college students)

3 -- Study or instructional support level
3a ---- Basic study or instructional support level (Adequate to support lower division undergraduate courses)
3b ---- Intermediate study or instructional support level (Adequate to support upper division undergraduate courses; not adequate for master's degree programs)
3c ---- Advanced study or instructional support level (Adequate to support master's degree programs)

4 -- Research level (Adequate to support doctoral research)

5 -- Comprehensive level