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Policy Topic Encyclopedias

A good place to begin researching a policy topic is in a subject encyclopedia or other relevant reference book that specializes in social or political issues. A major benefit of consulting these sources first is that many of the articles in them will have a bibliography. The article and the bibliography combined make a great jumping off point for your research.   The encyclopedias below are available in Morgan Library Reference and Reference South. See General Encyclopedias for broader definitions of terms and concepts.

Overview of Issues

  • Social Issues in America: An Encyclopedia. 8 vols. HN57 .S624 2006 REF
image of encyclopedia volume

Societal

Family & Society

  • Adolescence in America: An Encyclopedia 2 vols. HQ 796 .A33247 2001 REF SOUTH
  • Encyclopedia of American Social History 3 vols. HN 57 .E58 1993 REF SOUTH
  • Encyclopedia of Family Life 5 vols. HQ 534 .E53 1999 REF SOUTH
  • The Family in the New Millennium 3 vols. HQ 519 .F37 2007 REF
  • International Encyclopedia of Marriage and the Family. 4 vols. HQ9 .E52 2003 REF online edition (CSU affiliates only)
  • International Handbook of Child Care Policies and Programs HQ 778.5 .I58 1993 REF
  • Parenthood in America: An Encyclopedia 2 vols. HQ 755.8 .P3783 2000 REF SOUTH

Times of Life/Death

  • Childhood and Children HQ 781 .B45 1997 REF SOUTH
  • Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood & Adolescence HQ 772 .G27 1998 REF SOUTH
  • Encyclopedia of Adolescence 2 vols. HQ 796 .E58 1991 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Aging 3rd. ed. 2 vols. HQ 1061 .E53 2001 REF SOUTH
  • Encyclopedia of Aging 4 vols. HQ 1061 .E534 2002 REF SOUTH
  • Encyclopedia of Death & Dying HQ 1073 .E543 2001 REF SOUTH
  • International Encyclopedia of Adolescence 2 vols. HQ 796 .I58 2007 REF

Crime

  • Encyclopedia of Child Abuse HV 6626.5 .C57 2001 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Crime and Deviant Behavior 4 vols. HV 6017 .E53 2001 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Crime & Justice 4 vols. HV 6017 .E52 2002 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Crime & Punishment 4 vols. HV 6017 .E524 2002 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Criminology 3 vols. HV 6017 .E5295 2005 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Women and Crime HV 6046 .E56 2000 REF

Environment

  • Conservation and Environmentalism: An Encyclopedia GE 10 .C68 1995 REF SOUTH
  • Encyclopedia of Biodiversity 5 vols. QH 541.15 .B56 E53 2001 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Hydrology and Water Resources GB 655 .E53 1998 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Ecology & Environmental Management GE 300 .E53 1998 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Environmental Analysis and Remediation 8 vols. GE 10 .E49 1998 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Environmental Biology 3 vols. QH 540.4 .E52 1995 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Environmental Issues 3 vols. GE 10 .E52 2000 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Environmental Science GE 10 .E526 1999 REF SOUTH
  • Encyclopedia of Global Change 5 vols. GE 149 .E443 2002 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Global Change: Environmental Change and Human Society 2 vols. GE 149 .E47 2002 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Toxicology 4 vols. RA 1193 .E53 2005 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Urban Cultures 4 vols. HT 108.5 .E53 2002 REF
  • Environmental Encyclopedia 11 vols. GE 10 .E55 2001 REF
  • Environmental Encyclopedia and Directory 2001 GE 10 .E58 2001 REF SOUTH
  • World Encyclopedia of Cities (North America) 2 vols. HT 108.5 .K87 1993 REF SOUTH

Health

  • Diseases 8 vols. R 130.5 .D57 1997 REF SOUTH
  • Encyclopedia of Bioethics 4 vols. QH 332 .E52 2004 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Drugs, Alcohol, & Addictive Behavior 4 vols. HV 5804 .E53 2001 REF SOUTH
  • Encyclopedia of Family Health 18 vols. RC 81 .A2 E5 2005 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety 4 vols. RC 963.3 .E53 1998 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Public Health 4 vols. RA 423 .E53 2002 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Smoking and Tobacco HV 5760 .H57 1999 REF SOUTH
  • Facts on Files Encyclopedia of Health & Medicine 4 vols. R 125 .R68 2006 REF
  • Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health 5 vols. RT 21 .G353 2002 REF SOUTH
  • Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine 5 vols. RC 41 .G35 2002 REF
  • Human Diseases and Conditions 3 vols. RC 81 .A2 H75 2000 REF
  • World of Health R 130.5 .W67 2000 REF SOUTH

American Law/Politics

  • Encyclopedia of the American Legislative System 3 vols. JF 501 .E53 1994 REF
  • Encyclopedia of American Political History Studies of Principal Movements and Ideas 3 vols. E 183 .E5 1984 REF SOUTH
  • Encyclopedia of Democracy 4 vols. JC 423 .E53 1995 REF SOUTH
  • Encyclopedia of the American Presidency 4 vols. JK 511 .E53 1994 REF SOUTH
  • Encyclopedia of the American Left 2nd. ed. HX 86 .E58 1998 REF SOUTH
  • Encyclopedia of U.S. Foreign Relations 4 vols. E 183.7 .E53 1997 REF

Cultures in America

  • American Immigrant Cultures 2 vols. E 184 .A1 A63448 1997 REF
  • Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America 3 vols. E 184 .A1 G14 2000 REF

Human Rights

  • Encyclopedia of Human Rights JC 571 .E67 1996 REF SOUTH
  • Encyclopedia of Human Rights Issues Since 1945 JC 571 .L2747 1999 REF SOUTH
  • Human Rights Encyclopedia 3 vols. JC 571 .L522 2001 REF
  • International Encyclopedia of Human Rights, Freedoms, Abuses, and Remedies JC 571 .M3243 2000 REF

War & Arms

  • Encyclopedia of Arms Control and Disarmament 3 vols. JX 1974 .E57 1993 REF SOUTH
  • Encyclopedia of Prisoners of War and Internment UB 800 .E53 2000 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace, & Conflict 3 vols. HM 291 .E625 1999 REF
  • Encyclopedia of Youth and War HQ 784 .W3 S54 2000 REF SOUTH

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Content: Naomi Lederer