Michigan State University

Collection Development Policy Statement: Allied Health

Page Coordinators: Andrea Kepsel and Jessica Sender; Last Updated: 8/4/23.

Purpose or Scope of Collection

A. Curricular/Research/Programmatic Needs

The purpose of the Allied Health Collection of the MSU Libraries’ is to support the research, teaching, and information needs of students and faculty in the (1) Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders, and in the (2) Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Program. The collection consists of materials in these allied health fields/degrees and attempts will be made to have a balanced collection of materials appropriate to the mission of the MSU Libraries.

B. History of the Collection

Communicative Sciences and Disorders

The Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders (CSD) is a unit of the College of Communication Arts and Sciences. It offers an undergraduate minor and both MA and PhD graduate programs. The Master of Arts Degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders, accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), is the entry-level degree for working as a speech-language pathologist. A PhD in Communicative Sciences and Disorders offers advanced research training in the field. Clinical activities take place at various clinical and educational settings throughout Michigan. 

Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics

The Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Program (BLD) is a division of the College of Natural Science and has been active on campus since 1926. It offers undergraduate degrees in Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) and Biomedical Laboratory Science (BLS), online Masters programs (MS in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, MS in Biomedical Laboratory Operations, and MA in Biomedical Laboratory Science), and online accredited certificate programs designed for working laboratory professionals. Clinical activities take place at various hospital and laboratory settings throughout Michigan. Upon completion of the program, students are nationally certified in either blood bank (immunohematology), chemistry, hematology, or microbiology.

C. Existing Strengths and Emphasis

Communicative Sciences and Disorders

The CSD curriculum focuses on all areas directly related with speech and hearing behavior; speech, hearing and language disorders; and the diagnostic and therapeutic management of these disorders at the undergraduate, graduate and research levels. Research in the department ranges from language development to speech and auditory perception to cognitive neuroscience and brain systems for language.

Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics

The BLD program prepares individuals for a career in the healthcare professions with a strong foundation in the basic sciences of chemistry, biology, mathematics, and physics. Teaching and research efforts are concentrated in the areas of hematology, immunology/immunohematology, hemostasis, clinical microbiology, clinical chemistry and body fluids.