Mar 18, 2024  
2012-2013 General Catalog 
    
2012-2013 General Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Academic Programs



The State of Louisiana Board of Regents, in its Master Plan for Higher Education, designated LSU as Louisiana’s single “comprehensive university.”

LSU is also the “flagship university” of the state of Louisiana.

LSU students have the opportunity to experience a rich diversity of courses, curricula, students, faculty, and settings that stimulate and challenge individual growth. As the state’s comprehensive university, LSU offers numerous choices for intellectual development, career options, and cultural exposure. The undergraduate classroom is enhanced through LSU’s research status, ensuring that students are aware of the most recent discoveries and are taught innovative modes of inquiry.

Bachelor’s degrees are offered in 70 major fields, master’s degrees are offered in 73 major fields, and doctoral degrees are offered in 49 major fields.

The University has no more important mission than to provide its students with outstanding learning opportunities. LSU offers undergraduate programs of study that are both rigorous and exciting. These programs attract bright, energetic students who wish to prepare for the career challenges of the 21st century.

Undergraduate Degrees

Academic programs and services at LSU provide students with the opportunity to obtain a strong general education, explore a variety of fields and majors, and have direct contact with faculty in their major field. Freshmen are admitted to University College where they either declare a major or examine educational and career alternatives while completing the general education requirements. To complete degree requirements, students must meet the admission requirements of a senior college.

Students select from degree programs offered by ten senior colleges and schools.

College of Agriculture

Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science in Forestry

College of Art & Design

Bachelor of Architecture
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Interior Design
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture

E. J. Ourso College of Business

Bachelor of Science

School of the Coast & Environment

Bachelor of Science in Coastal Environmental Science

College of Human Sciences and Education

Bachelor of Science

College of Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Construction Management
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering

College of Humanities & Social Sciences

Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
Bachelor of Science

Manship School of Mass Communication

Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication

College of Music & Dramatic Arts

Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music Education

College of Science

Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science in Geology

Graduate Degrees

Graduate degrees that the University is currently authorized by the Board of Regents to offer are listed below. Please see the chapter “The Graduate School Professional Programs (UG) ” for additional information.

Master of Applied Statistics
Master of Architecture
Master of Arts in Teaching
Master of Arts
Master of Arts in Liberal Arts
Master of Business Administration
Master of Education
Master of Fine Arts
Master of Landscape Architecture
Master of Library & Information Science
Master of Mass Communication
Master of Music
Master of Natural Sciences
Master of Public Administration
Master of Science
Master of Science in Biological & Agricultural Engineering
Master of Science in Chemical Engineering
Master of Science in Civil Engineering
Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
Master of Science in Engineering Science
Master of Science in Industrial Engineering
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering
Master of Science in Systems Science
Master of Social Work
Certificate of Education Specialist
Doctor of Musical Arts
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Course Offerings

Instruction is provided through a wide variety of on- and off-campus courses. The academic year is divided into fall and spring semesters and a summer term consisting of one or more sessions. Most classes are taught between 7:30 a.m. and 10 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The fall semester starts in mid-August and ends in mid-December; the spring semester lasts from January to May. The summer sessions are generally held from early June to early August. There are three intersession terms: between the fall semester and the spring semester, the spring semester and the summer term, and the summer term and the fall semester. During the three-week intensive intersessions, students attend classes for approximately three hours each day. Many students take advantage of the summer term and intersessions to expedite graduation, to take courses unavailable during the fall or spring, or to lighten their academic load for the following semester.

Some courses are taught through independent learning, online, or in off-campus locations through Continuing Education. These offerings provide maximum flexibility for students, particularly adult students and those who work during the day. Also available are educational opportunities through ROTC, the “Artist and Lecture Series,” the Career Services Center, LSU-Baton Rouge Community College Cross-Enrollment Program, and LSU-Southern University cooperative programs.

Special Programs

Continuing Education offers instruction to traditional and non-traditional students by extending the educational services of LSU through a wide range of outreach efforts. Programs include on- and off-campus credit and noncredit courses and certificate programs; independent and distance learning courses; programs for professional advancement, conferences, seminars; precollege programs, and other specialized instructional programs. For more information, see the section “Continuing Education” in this catalog.

The Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes (CCACSA) is comprised of an academic affairs team, a student affairs team, and an information technology team. Collectively, the purpose is to provide an all-inclusive student-centered support structure for all student-athletes from matriculation through graduation and life beyond.

Artist and Lecture Series and Lectureships

LSU sponsors artist and lecture series and lectureships to foster intellectual inquiry, stimulate dialog, and cultivate unique experiences with outstanding performance in a variety of fields. Among these programs are:

  • Aesculapian Lecture Series in Veterinary Medicine
  • Senator John Breaux Annual Symposium in Media and Public Affairs
  • Chancellor’s Distinguished Lectureship Series
  • Max Z. Conrad Lecture Series
  • Deep South Conference in Communication Sciences & Disorders
  • Delta Mouth Literary Festival
  • Design Week Visiting Critic, Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture
  • J. Norman Efferson Lectureship Series
  • Festival of Contemporary Music
  • Walter Lynwood Fleming Lectures in Southern History
  • Flores MBA Program Distinguished Speaker Series
  • Frank J. Germano Lecture Series in Civil Engineering
  • Max Goodrich Distinguished Speaker Series in Physics and Astronomy
  • Giles Wilkeson Gray Lecture Series in Communication Studies
  • Alfred C. Glassell Jr. Lecture Series
  • Holt B. Harrison/Harrison Paint Co./Elmira H. Harrison Lectureship
  • History Graduate Student Association Annual Conference
  • Walter Hitesman Lecture Series in Mass Communication
  • Hubert H. Humphrey Lectureship in Public Affairs
  • J. W. Kistler Conference
  • W. A . Lawrence Lecture
  • School of Library & Information Science Beta Phi Mu Lecture Series
  • Louisiana Environmental Lecture Series of the Coast and Environment
  • LSU School of Art Artist in Residence
  • Paula G. Manship College of Art & Design Lecture Series
  • Paula G. Manship School of Music Guest Artist Series
  • Marathon Speaker Series in Geology
  • Modern History Colloquium
  • Grover E. Murray Lecture Series in Geology
  • E. J. Ourso College of Business Louisiana Looking Up
  • Pasquale Porcelli Distinguished Lecture Series in Mathematics
  • Patrick Lecture Series in Nutrition, Food Science, and Wetland Science
  • The performance studies area in the Department of Communication Studies presents performances of literature, performance art, and experimental productions designed by students, faculty, and guest artists throughout the academic year.
  • Evelyn Pruitt Geography Lecture Series
  • William A. Pryor Lecture Series
  • Readers & Writers Literary Forum
  • Janice R. Sachse Visiting Artist Series
  • School of Architecture Lecture Series
  • Stephenson Entrepreneurship Institute’s Distinguished Entrepreneurship Speaker Series
  • The Underpass/Small Bar Reading Series
  • Visiting Poets Series
  • Edward Douglass White Lectures on Citizenship
  • L. J. Wilbert Memorial Lectures in Geology
  • School of Music–Throughout each year, the School of Music presents a comprehensive series of concerts involving faculty and student performers; orchestras; wind ensembles; jazz groups; gospel choirs; choral ensembles; chamber music; and opera.
  • LSU Theatre and Swine Palace present six major productions each year featuring students, faculty, and professional artists as well as a Lab Season of student-directed workshop productions and the annual LSU Dance Concert.

Board of Regents’ Academic Policy

The University conforms to Board of Regents’ requirements to ensure consistency of official documentation with the Regents’ Inventory of Degree and Certificate Programs. The following standardized terms are used in LSU catalogs, diplomas, commencement programs, transcripts, and other official documents.

Degree ▪ The title of the award conferred on students by a college, university, or professional school upon completion of a unified program of study (i.e., Bachelor of Arts, BA; Bachelor of Science, BS; Master of Science, MS; Master of Fine Arts, MFA; Master of Landscape Architecture, MLA; Doctor of Philosophy, PhD, etc.).

Degree Program ▪ A grouping of campus-approved courses and requirements (i.e., minimum GPA, comprehensive examinations, English and mathematics proficiency) that, when satisfactorily completed by a student, will entitle him or her to a degree from a public institution of higher education.

Degree Designation ▪ A degree designation for each authorized program at public institutions of higher education is listed in the Board of Regents’ Inventory of Degree and Certificate Programs. Some professional programs require the name of the general subject area as part of the degree designation (i.e., Bachelor of Architecture, BArch; Master of Social Work, MSW; Juris Doctorate, JD, etc.).

Degree Subject Area ▪ The primary discipline that constitutes the focus of a degree program. (For example, a Bachelor of Arts in history. In some cases, the degree subject area is part of the degree title, as in Bachelor of Architecture, Master of Landscape Architecture.) When a student satisfactorily completes a degree program, he/she will be entitled to a degree in the appropriate subject area (i.e., biology, history, English, etc.)

Degree Title ▪ The complete label of a degree program, consisting of the degree designation and the degree subject area (i.e., Bachelor of Arts in history; Bachelor of Science in chemistry).

Curriculum ▪ A description of the required and elective courses for a degree program.

Major ▪ That part of a degree program that consists of a specified group of courses in a particular discipline or field. The name of the major is usually consistent with the degree subject area. A major usually consists of 25 percent or more of the total hours required in an undergraduate curriculum. Establishment of a major requires prior approval by the Board of Regents.

Minor ▪ That part of a degree program that consists of a specified group of courses in a particular discipline or field. The minor usually consists of 15 percent or more of the total hours required in an undergraduate curriculum. Minors do not require prior approval by the Board of Regents.

Concentration ▪ An alternative track of courses within a major, accounting for at least 30 percent of the major requirements. Establishment of a concentration does not require prior approval by the Board of Regents. Transcripts list degree titles, majors, minors, and concentrations. Diplomas list only the appropriate degree designations.

Under­graduate degrees that the University is cur­rently authorized by the Board of Regents to offer are presented here  by college. Mi­nors within degree programs are listed here .

Louisiana State University

University College

Go to information for University College.

College of Agriculture

Go to information for College of Agriculture.

General Minor

Department of Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness

Go to information for Department of Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness.

Major

Minor

Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering

Go to information for Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering.

Department of Entomology

Go to information for Department of Entomology.

Major

Minor

Department of Experimental Statistics

Go to information for Department of Experimental Statistics.

Minor

Department of Food Science

Go to information for Department of Food Science.

Major

Department of Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology

Go to information for Department of Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology.

Major

School of Animal Sciences

Go to information for School of Animal Sciences.

Major

Minor

School of Human Ecology

Go to information for School of Human Ecology.

Major

Minor

School of Human Resource Education & Workforce Development

Go to information for School of Human Resource Education & Workforce Development.

Major

Minor

School of Plant, Environmental & Soil Sciences

Go to information for School of Plant, Environmental & Soil Sciences.

Major

Minor

School of Renewable Natural Resources

Go to information for School of Renewable Natural Resources.

Major

Minor

College of Art & Design

Go to information for College of Art & Design.

E.J. Ourso College of Business

Go to information for E.J. Ourso College of Business.

General Minor

General Business (Interdepartmental Program)

Go to information for General Business (Interdepartmental Program).

Major

Department of Accounting

Go to information for Department of Accounting.

Major

Department of Economics

Go to information for Department of Economics.

Major

Department of Finance

Go to information for Department of Finance.

Major

Minor

Department of Information Systems & Decision Sciences

Go to information for Department of Information Systems & Decision Sciences.

Major

Minor

William W. and Catherine M. Rucks Department of Management

Go to information for William W. and Catherine M. Rucks Department of Management.

Major

Minor

Department of Marketing

Go to information for Department of Marketing.

Major

Business Administration (Interdepartmental Program)

Public Administration Institute (Interdepartmental Program)

Go to information for Public Administration Institute (Interdepartmental Program).

School of the Coast & Environment

Go to information for School of the Coast & Environment.

College of Engineering

Go to information for College of Engineering.

General Minor

Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering

Go to information for Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering.

Major

General Minor

Gordon A. and Mary Cain Department of Chemical Engineering

Go to information for Gordon A. and Mary Cain Department of Chemical Engineering.

Major

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

Go to information for Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering.

Major

Minor

Department of Construction Management

Go to information for Department of Construction Management.

Major

Minor

Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering

Go to information for Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering.

Major

Minor

Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering

Go to information for Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering.

Major

Minor

Craft & Hawkins Department of Petroleum Engineering

Go to information for Craft & Hawkins Department of Petroleum Engineering.

Major

Engineering Science (Interdepartmental Program)

Honors College

Go to information for Honors College.

College of Human Sciences & Education

Go to information for College of Human Sciences & Education.

School of Education

Go to information for School of Education.

Major

Minor

School of Human Resource Education & Workforce Development

Go to information for School of Human Resource Education & Workforce Development.

Major

Minor

School of Kinesiology

Go to information for School of Kinesiology.

Major

Minor

School of Library & Information Science

Go to information for School of Library & Information Science.

School of Social Work

Go to information for School of Social Work.

Major

Minor

Masters

Doctorate

College of Humanities & Social Sciences

Go to information for College of Humanities & Social Sciences.

General Minor

Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders

Go to information for Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders.

Major

Department of Communication Studies

Go to information for Department of Communication Studies.

Major

Minor

Comparative Literature (Interdepartmental Program)

Go to information for Comparative Literature (Interdepartmental Program).

Doctorate

Economics (Intercollegiate Program)

Go to information for Economics (Intercollegiate Program).

Major

Department of English

Go to information for Department of English.

Major

Minor

Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures

Go to information for Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures.

Major

Minor

Department of French Studies

Go to information for Department of French Studies.

Major

Minor

Department of Geography & Anthropology

Go to information for Department of Geography & Anthropology.

Major

Minor

Department of History

Go to information for Department of History.

Major

Minor

Interdisciplinary Studies (Interdepartmental Program)

Go to information for Interdisciplinary Studies (Interdepartmental Program).

Major

International Studies (Interdepartmental Program)

Go to information for International Studies (Interdepartmental Program).

Major

Minor

Liberal Arts (Intercollegiate Program)

Go to information for Liberal Arts (Intercollegiate Program).

Major

Linguistics (Interdepartmental Program)

Go to information for Linguistics (Interdepartmental Program).

Department of Military Science

Go to information for Department of Military Science.

Minor

Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies

Go to information for Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies.

Major

Minor

Department of Political Science

Go to information for Department of Political Science.

Major

Minor

Department of Psychology

Go to information for Department of Psychology.

Major

Minor

Department of Sociology

Go to information for Department of Sociology.

Major

Minor

Department of Aerospace Studies

Go to information for Department of Aerospace Studies.

Minor

School of Mass Communication

Go to information for School of Mass Communication.

College of Music & Dramatic Arts

Go to information for College of Music & Dramatic Arts.

College of Science

Go to information for College of Science.

Department of Biological Sciences

Go to information for Department of Biological Sciences.

Major

Minor

Department of Chemistry

Go to information for Department of Chemistry.

Major

Minor

Department of Computer Science

Go to information for Department of Computer Science.

Major

Minor

Department of Geology & Geophysics

Go to information for Department of Geology & Geophysics.

Major

Minor

Department of Mathematics

Go to information for Department of Mathematics.

Major

Minor

Department of Physics & Astronomy

Go to information for Department of Physics & Astronomy.

Major

Minor

Natural Sciences (Interdepartmental Program)

School of Veterinary Medicine

Go to information for School of Veterinary Medicine.

Doctorate

Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences

Department of Pathobiological Sciences

Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences

The General Education Component of Undergraduate Education

Go to information for The General Education Component of Undergraduate Education.

The Graduate School Professional Programs

Go to information for The Graduate School Professional Programs.

Accounting

Go to information for Accounting.

Masters

Doctorate

Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness

Go to information for Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness.

Masters

Doctorate

Animal Sciences

Go to information for Animal Sciences.

Masters

Doctorate

Architecture

Go to information for Architecture.

Masters

Art & Art History

Go to information for Art & Art History.

Masters

Biological & Agricultural Engineering

Go to information for Biological & Agricultural Engineering.

Doctorate

Biological Sciences

Go to information for Biological Sciences.

Masters

Doctorate

Interdepartmental Studies in Business Administration

Go to information for Interdepartmental Studies in Business Administration.

Doctorate

Chemical Engineering

Go to information for Chemical Engineering.

Masters

Doctorate

Chemistry

Go to information for Chemistry.

Masters

Doctorate

Civil & Environmental Engineering

Go to information for Civil & Environmental Engineering.

Masters

Communication Sciences & Disorders

Go to information for Communication Sciences & Disorders.

Masters

Doctorate

Communication Studies

Go to information for Communication Studies.

Masters

Doctorate

Comparative Biomedical Sciences

Go to information for Comparative Biomedical Sciences.

Comparative Literature

Go to information for Comparative Literature.

Doctorate

Computer Science & Engineering

Go to information for Computer Science & Engineering.

Masters

Doctorate

Construction Management

Go to information for Construction Management.

Masters

Doctorate

Economics

Go to information for Economics.

Masters

Doctorate

Education

Go to information for Education.

Masters

Doctorate

Certificate

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Go to information for Electrical & Computer Engineering.

Masters

Doctorate

Interdisciplinary Progam in Engineering Science

Go to information for Interdisciplinary Progam in Engineering Science.

Masters

Doctorate

English

Go to information for English.

Masters

Doctorate

Entomology

Go to information for Entomology.

Masters

Doctorate

Environmental Sciences

Go to information for Environmental Sciences.

Masters

Doctorate

Experimental Statistics

Go to information for Experimental Statistics.

Masters

Finance

Go to information for Finance.

Masters

Food Science

Go to information for Food Science.

Masters

Doctorate

Foreign Languages & Literatures

Go to information for Foreign Languages & Literatures.

Masters

French Studies

Go to information for French Studies.

Masters

Doctorate

Geography & Anthropology

Go to information for Geography & Anthropology.

Masters

Doctorate

Geology & Geophysics

Go to information for Geology & Geophysics.

Masters

Doctorate

History

Go to information for History.

Masters

Doctorate

Human Ecology

Go to information for Human Ecology.

Masters

Doctorate

Human Resource Education & Workforce Development

Go to information for Human Resource Education & Workforce Development.

Masters

Doctorate

Industrial Engineering

Go to information for Industrial Engineering.

Masters

Information Systems & Decision Sciences

Go to information for Information Systems & Decision Sciences.

Masters

Kinesiology

Go to information for Kinesiology.

Masters

Doctorate

Landscape Architecture

Go to information for Landscape Architecture.

Masters

Interdepartmental Program in Liberal Arts

Go to information for Interdepartmental Program in Liberal Arts.

Masters

Library & Information Science

Go to information for Library & Information Science.

Masters

Management

Go to information for Management.

Marketing

Go to information for Marketing.

Mass Communication

Go to information for Mass Communication.

Masters

Doctorate

Mathematics

Go to information for Mathematics.

Masters

Doctorate

Mechanical Engineering

Go to information for Mechanical Engineering.

Masters

Doctorate

Music

Go to information for Music.

Masters

Doctorate

Interdisciplinary Program in Natural Sciences

Go to information for Interdisciplinary Program in Natural Sciences.

Masters

Oceanography & Coastal Sciences

Go to information for Oceanography & Coastal Sciences.

Masters

Doctorate

Pathobiological Sciences

Go to information for Pathobiological Sciences.

Petroleum Engineering

Go to information for Petroleum Engineering.

Masters

Doctorate

Philosophy

Go to information for Philosophy.

Masters

Physics & Astronomy

Go to information for Physics & Astronomy.

Masters

Doctorate

Plant, Environmental & Soil Sciences

Go to information for Plant, Environmental & Soil Sciences.

Masters

Doctorate

Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology (Plant Health)

Go to information for Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology (Plant Health).

Masters

Doctorate

Political Science

Go to information for Political Science.

Masters

Doctorate

Psychology

Go to information for Psychology.

Masters

Doctorate

Public Administration Institute

Go to information for Public Administration Institute.

Masters

Renewable Natural Resources

Go to information for Renewable Natural Resources.

Masters

Doctorate

Social Work

Go to information for Social Work.

Masters

Doctorate

Sociology

Go to information for Sociology.

Masters

Doctorate

Theatre

Go to information for Theatre.

Masters

Doctorate

Veterinary Clinical Sciences

Go to information for Veterinary Clinical Sciences.

Masters

Doctorate