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Classification: BYU Theses & Dissertations
Use this policy to determine call numbers for papers produced in fulfillment of a degree
program at BYU. Such papers include theses, dissertations, field projects and project
reports. (The term thesis is used throughout this document to refer to these
papers in general.) Two copies are usually acquired of each of these papers; one is cataloged
for the stacks and the other for the BYU Collection, which is part of Special Collections.
Stacks copies are classed together by academic department in the general subject area.
Only one copy each is acquired of Closure Projects for the Bachelor of Independent Studies,
which are cataloged for the BYU Collection, and Honor theses or University Scholars
projects, which are cataloged for the stacks. Copies of doctoral disserations are usually not
delivered to the Catalog Department together; upon receipt one copy is sent unbound to UMI
by the Acquisitions Department for microfilming. With these catalog the first copy you
receive for the stacks and the subsequent copy, when it arrives, for the BYU Collection.
Instructions:
Classify the stacks copy in the classification number for the academic department issuing the
degree, as given in the following tables:
Formulate the portion of the class number following the decimal to reflect the type of paper
as in the table below, where x is the portion of the classification number preceding
the decimal.
| x.02 | Theses for the M.A. or the M.S. |
| x.021 | Field projects, research papers or other papers written for
master's degree programs but not designated as theses. Also, theses for master's degrees
other than M.A. or M.S. (i.e. M.Ed., etc.) |
| x.022 | Doctoral dissertations |
Add a cutter number and date using the LC Cutter Table as with any LC call number. (Since
these are not true LC classification numbers, no x is needed after the final cutter.)
Classify the copy for the BYU Collection in Dewey 378 with a similar decimal suffix.
| 378.2 | Theses for the M.A. or the M.S. |
| 378.21 | Field projects, research papers, etc. |
| 378.22 | Doctoral dissertations |
| 378.23 | Closure projects (Bachelor of Independent Studies) |
As with any Dewey number, determine an appropriate cutter based on the author's name
using C.A. Cutter's Three-figure Author Table. In general, use the same cutter
for individuals with the same surname. Extend the cutter beyond three digits as needed to
insert additional names. Add the year of the thesis to the call number. Differentiate
identical call numbers for different theses with a number, e.g. 378.2 M692 1992 no. 2;
378.2 M692 1992 no. 3; etc. (No number is needed the first time the call number is
used.)
As Dewey collections are reclassified, collections of theses found within them should also be
moved into LC numbers. Sometimes selecting the right LC number presents a problem,
since some departments have undergone reorganizations or name changes since the theses
were written. Refer to the table LC Equivalents for BYU Thesis
Numbers in Dewey for a list of current and former department names, together with
the corresponding LC call numbers to use for reclass.
Honor Theses
Honor theses or University Scholars projects are papers that are written primarily by
undergraduates to fulfill requirements for special scholastic recognition, but are not required
for an actual degree. These papers are not classified with theses, but are all kept together in
AS36.B752. A second cutter is assigned for the author. To facilitate filing
while reducing the number of lengthy cutters, observe the following suggestions:
- Extend each cutter to at least three digits
- Use the same cutter for individuals with the same surname
- Add the year from the title page to the call number
- If the above steps do not result in a unique call number, add numbering as with thesis
numbers in the BYU Collection as described in the first part of these instructions.
Do not catalog honor theses for the BYU Collection.
Related Policies:
Theses & Dissertations