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The listing of a course description here does not guarantee a course’s being offered in a particular term. Please refer to the published schedule of classes on the MyBU Student Portal for confirmation a class is actually being taught and for specific course meeting dates and times.

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  • CAS AS 312: Stellar and Galactic Astrophysics
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS MA 124; and CAS PY 212 or CAS PY 252. - Basic physics of radiation; radiative transfer; spectral analysis; distances, motions, and physical properties of stars; stellar interiors and atmospheres; stellar evolution; clusters of stars; the interstellar medium; content, structure, and rotation of the Milky Way Galaxy. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry II, Quantitative Reasoning II, Teamwork/Collaboration. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Scientific Inquiry II, Creativity/Innovation.
    • Creativity/Innovation
    • Quantitative Reasoning II
    • Scientific Inquiry II
  • CAS AS 401: Honors Work in Astronomy
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: Consent of instructor and approval of Honors Application by both the Astronomy Director of Undergraduate Studies and the Department Chair. - Directed research culminating in a senior thesis. Requirement for honors in Astronomy. Four credits for each of two consecutive semesters of the senior year. Honors Application can be found at: https://www.bu.edu/astronomy/academics/undergraduate/honors-in-astronomy/
  • CAS AS 402: Honors Work in Astronomy
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: Consent of instructor and approval of Honors Application by both the Astronomy Director of Undergraduate Studies and the Department Chair. - Directed research culminating in a senior thesis. Requirement for honors in Astronomy. Four credits for each of two consecutive semesters of the senior year. Honors Application can be found at: https://www.bu.edu/astronomy/academics/undergraduate/honors-in-astronomy/
  • CAS AS 413: Extragalactic Astrophysics and Cosmology
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS AS 203, CAS AS 312, and CAS PY 355. - Historical and intellectual developments that led to our current understanding of the universe; galaxies, galaxy clusters and large-scale structure; galaxy formation and evolution; dark matter and dark energy; Hot Big Bang and inflation; foundations of general relativity. (Offered alternate years.) Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Research and Information Literacy.
    • Historical Consciousness
    • Research and Information Literacy
  • CAS AS 414: Solar and Space Physics
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS PY 355; and CAS PY 212 or CAS PY 252. - The historical development of solar and space physics. Solar system plasma physics. The Sun, solar magnetic field, solar activity, and solar wind. Earth's magnetosphere and ionosphere. Magnetic storms and space weather. Research project relevant to solar and space physics. Oral and/or signed presentation on research project. Effective Spring 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Historical Consciousness, Research and Information Literacy.
    • Historical Consciousness
    • Oral and/or Signed Communication
    • Research and Information Literacy
  • CAS AS 441: Observational Astronomy
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS AS 312; First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120) - Astronomical techniques. Photometry, spectroscopy, imaging, polarimetry and interferometry. Statistical methods for data reduction and analysis. Technical writing and oral/signed presentation. Strong laboratory component. Effective Spring 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Writing-Intensive Course, Research and Information Literacy.
    • Oral and/or Signed Communication
    • Research and Information Literacy
    • Writing-Intensive Course
  • CAS AS 491: Directed Studies in Astronomy
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: Consent of instructor and approval of CAS Academic Advising Office. Information about Undergraduate Directed Study at CAS found at: https://www.bu.edu/cas/academics/undergraduate-education/special-academic-opportunities/directed-study/ - Devoted to an intensive study of a particular aspect of astronomy, often working with a member of the faculty on a specific research project.
  • CAS AS 492: Directed Studies in Astronomy
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: Consent of instructor and approval of CAS Academic Advising Office. Information about Undergraduate Directed Study at CAS found at: https://www.bu.edu/cas/academics/undergraduate-education/special-academic-opportunities/directed-study/ - Devoted to an intensive study of a particular aspect of astronomy, often working with a member of the faculty on a specific research project.
  • CAS BB 140: First Year Research in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 1
    First-semester first-year research in BMB. Application through the BMB Program. Minimum 6 hours/week. Students conduct research under supervision of faculty mentor. Two-credit research does not carry major credit in BMB.
  • CAS BB 141: First Year Research in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2
    Second-semester first-year research in BMB. Application through the BMB Program. Minimum 6 hours/week. Students conduct research under supervision of faculty mentor. Two- credit research does not carry major credit in BMB.
  • CAS BB 240: Sophomore Research in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 1
    First-semester sophomore research in BMB. Application through the BMB Program. Minimum 6 hours/week. Students conduct research under supervision of faculty mentor. Two-credit research does not carry major credit in BMB.
  • CAS BB 241: Sophomore Research in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2
    Second-semester sophomore research in BMB. Application through the BMB Program. Minimum 6 hours/week. Students conduct research under supervision of faculty mentor. Two- credit research does not carry major credit in BMB.
  • CAS BB 340: Junior Research in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 1 (2 Credits)
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: major GPA of at least 3.0 and junior standing. - First semester junior research including training in use of research literature. Application through the BMB Program. Students conduct research under supervision of faculty mentor. Attendance at group meetings required. Minimum 6 hours/week. Two-credit research does not carry major credit in BMB and cannot be combined with another 2-credit course for elective credit. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Research and Information Literacy.
    • Research and Information Literacy
  • CAS BB 341: Junior Research in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2 (2 Credits)
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: major GPA of at least 3.0, junior standing, and either BB 340, BB 350, full-time summer UROP, or any 4 credits of BB 140, BB 141, BB 240, an d BB 241, - Second-semester junior research including required participation in group meetings. Conduct research under supervision of faculty mentor. Application through BMB Department. Minimum 6 hours/week. Two-credit research does not carry major credit in BMB and cannot be combined with another 2-credit course for elective credit. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Oral and/or Signed Communication.
    • Oral and/or Signed Communication
  • CAS BB 350: Junior Research in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 1 (4 Credits)
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: major GPA of at least 3.0 and junior standing. - First-semester junior research including training in the use of research literature and active participation at group meetings. Application through the BMB Program. Students conduct research under supervision of a faculty mentor. Attendance at group meetings required. Minimum 12 hours/week in labwork and data analysis. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Research and Information Literacy.
    • Oral and/or Signed Communication
    • Research and Information Literacy
  • CAS BB 351: Junior Research in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2 (4 Credits)
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: major GPA of at least 3.0, junior standing, and either BB 340, BB 350, full-time summer UROP, or any 4 credits of BB 140, BB 141, BB 240, an d BB 241. - Second-semester research with junior standing, including training in the use of research literature. Application through the BMB Program. Students conduct research under supervision of a faculty mentor. Students expected to attend group meetings and take a lead and make creative contributions to projects. Minimum 12 hours/week in labwork and data analysis. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Creativity/Innovation, Research and Information Literacy.
    • Creativity/Innovation
    • Research and Information Literacy
  • CAS BB 352: Junior Research in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 3
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing, First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120), major GPA of at least 3.0, junior standing and either BB 341 or BB 351 . - Third-semester research with junior standing, including required participation in group meetings. Application through the BMB Program. Students conduct research under supervision of a faculty mentor. Students expected to take a lead and make creative contributions to projects. Attendance at group meetings and final report required. Minimum 12 hours/week in lab or fieldwork, data analysis, and writing. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing- Intensive Course, Creativity/Innovation.
    • Creativity/Innovation
    • Writing-Intensive Course
  • CAS BB 401: Honors Research in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: senior standing, overall and BMB GPA of at least 3.5, and approval of application by the BMB Research and Honors Committee. ; Undergraduate Corequisites: (CASBB497) - First semester of independent laboratory research under the supervision of a faculty member in a two- semester course. Overall course grade is determined by laboratory performance, oral presentation, written thesis, and defense of the thesis before a committee of three BMB faculty members. Successful completion of both CAS BB 401 and BB 402 may lead to a degree with honors in the major. This course contnues in the Spring as BB 402 and recieves a J-grade if completed satisfactorily. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Research and Information Literacy.
    • Oral and/or Signed Communication
    • Research and Information Literacy
  • CAS BB 402: Honors Research in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120), senior standing, overall and BMB GPA of at least 3.5, and approval of application by th e BMB Research and Honors Committee. ; Undergraduate Corequisites: (CASBB498) - Second semester of independent laboratory research under the supervision of a faculty member in a two-semester course. Overall course grade is determined by laboratory performance, oral presentation, written thesis, and defense of the thesis before a committee of three BMB faculty members. Successful completion of both CAS BB 401 and BB 402, with a minimum grade of B , is required to graduate with honors in the major. Students must also present a research talk at the BMB symposium at the end of the Spring semester of the academic year. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Creativity/Innovation, Research and Information Literacy.
    • Creativity/Innovation
    • Research and Information Literacy
    • Writing-Intensive Course
  • CAS BB 421: Biochemistry 1
    Undergraduate prerequisites: CASCH 204 or CASCH 212 or CASCH 214 or equivalent. Introductory biochemistry. Protein structure and folding, enzyme mechanisms, kinetics, and allostery; nucleic acid structure; macromolecular biosynthesis with emphasis on specificity and fidelity; lipids and membrane structure; vitamins and coenzymes; introduction to intermediary metabolism. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion, four hours lab. Effective Fall 2024, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Critical Thinking, Teamwork/Collaboration.
    • Critical Thinking
    • Quantitative Reasoning II
    • Teamwork/Collaboration

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