Courses

NOTE: This site is an archive of 2012–2013 programs and policies at Boston University Metropolitan College. If you are looking for current information about Metropolitan College and its programs, please go to our official website: www.bu.edu/met.

• GMS BT 104: Medical Terminology I
  Understanding medical terminology is fundamental for anyone working in the sciences. It is the language of the technician or researcher involved in biotechnology, biomedical investigations, or clinical research. Student learn the analysis and construction of medical words within a context of scientific concepts. After the basics, students learn the anatomy and diseases of the following systems: male and female reproductive, cardiovascular, respiratory, and blood.
• GMS BT 106: Medical Terminology II
  Continue building your medical vocabulary as you learn the anatomy and diseases of the following systems: digestive, urinary, lymphatic/immune and endocrine. 2 cr.
• GMS BT 110: Introduction to Biomedical Laboratory Sciences
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: GMS BT 208 or equivalent.
  Provides a theoretical and practical foundation in laboratory science. Students are introduced to the scientific method, laboratory mathematics, chemistry, biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, and immunology. Students learn hands-on solution making, electrophoresis, protein quantitation and other commonly used laboratory methods. Emphasis is placed on lab safety, proper handling of instruments, careful following of written instructions for lab procedures, maintenance of lab notebooks, and data collection, presentation and analysis. Laboratory course.
• GMS BT 160: Biotechnology I
  Biotechnology I introduces students to the basic sciences of biotechnology (cell biology, immunology, DNA/molecular biology) and describes DNA technologies used in gene therapy and microarray technology and in the production of recombinant protein drugs, antibodies, vaccines, and transgenic animals/plants. The challenges of bringing protein drugs from R&D through large scale manufacturing and the FDA approval process are also discussed.
• GMS BT 170: Biotechnology II
  Biotechnology II focuses on the applications of biotechnology to medicine and other disciplines. Through a combination of lectures, videos, readings of scientific articles, class discussions and presentations, students explore recent developments in the biotech industry. Topics can include stem cell therapy and animal cloning, novel drugs and vaccines for emerging infectious diseases, immunotherapies to treat cancer, and the potential of genomics, proteomics and pharmacogenomics to identify drug targets and identify disease processes.
• GMS BT 201: Anatomy and Physiology I
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: knowledge of biology
  This course provides a practical understanding of anatomic structures and coordinates this knowledge with the various functions of the human body. We will also explore regulatory processes that integrate cells, tissues, organs and systems. Topics include: organization of the body, tissue development, cellular structure and function as well as the integumentary (skin), skeletal, and muscular systems. The last third of the course focuses on the nervous system. The course will incorporate clinical material throughout, and laboratory exercises will correlate with the lecture material.
• GMS BT 202: Anat&Physio 2
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: GMS BT 201
  This course description is currently under construction.
• GMS BT 208: Essential Math for Biotech
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: Elementary math including ratios and proportions, decimals, percentages, fractions and basic algebra.
  This course prepares students for math calculations commonly used in biotech and other biomedical science laboratories, and in BLCS courses such as GMS BT 110, 413, and 454. Topics include scientific notation, metric system, solution concentration, dilutions, and logarithmic scales. Some classes are held in the laboratory so that students can apply math skills to solution making, serial dilutions and standard curves. Students also learn strategies for solving word problems and explore the essential elements of data organization, summarization and presentation.
• GMS BT 210: Technical Writing in Clinical Research
  Technical Writing for Clinical Research introduces students to the structure, content, and regulatory requirements of documents created for the clinical research industry. The course reviews the FDA regulations and ICH guidances for drug, device and biologic documents, AMA Manual of Style Guidelines, and common industry standards. Students will learn to compose study abstracts, clinical protocols, informed consent forms, and clinical study reports.
• GMS BT 220: Principles of Instrumentation
  This course introduces students to laboratory instrumentation fundamentals. Topics include: safety; the measurement of viscosity, melting point, and refractive index. We will also explore chromatographic instruments (gas and high pressure liquid); fundamentals of method development; infra-red (IR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) principles. Statistical methods and the analysis of errors will be reviewed. Course format will include readings and presentations. (First eight weeks).
• GMS BT 240: Current Good Manufacturing Practices and Quality Assurance
  Provides a detailed knowledge of the role of Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs) and a Quality Department in the development and manufacture of biopharmaceutical products. Topics include the goals and obligations of the Food and Drug Administration, a review of the CGMP subparts, and the responsibilities of a Quality Department in ensuring product quality.
• GMS BT 280: Computing for the Lab
  This course focuses on the development of computer skills essential to modern-day laboratory or clinical researchers. Statistical analysis tools and data presentation techniques will be explored using Microsoft Excel, while Microsoft Access will be employed for data integration, organization and storage through the development of databases. Students will survey existing bioinformatics databases and tools, and will examine how to integrate external data sources into their own research. A brief introduction to current trends in computational genomics will also be discussed. No previous computing skills or classwork are required to take this course.
• GMS BT 305: Introductory Biochemistry
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: one year of college biology and one year of college chemistry.
  This course is for undergraduate students familiar with chemistry and biology. An overview of biochemistry is provided to prepare students for medical school or for advanced undergraduate or general graduate science courses. Topics covered include protein structure and function, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids structure and function.
• GMS BT 320: Laboratory Automation and Robotics
  This course introduces students to laboratory automation fundamentals. Topics include: non-robotic automated work stations; robotic workstations and systems; high throughput technologies and Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) for lab automation. Optimization of organic process chemistry in automated systems (fundamentals of statistical design of experiments) will be reviewed. Course format will include readings and presentations. (Second eight weeks).
• GMS BT 330: Medical Devices
  This course will provide students with an introductory overview of the world of medical devices, from bandages to defibrillators. We will explore what the applicable regulations are, starting with the FDA, and how companies use these regulations to guide the design, development, and marketing of their products. Most classes will contain an interesting mix of rules, realities, and renegades, that includes a unique component called, "At the Drugstore," where students will focus an educated eye on commonly found items on the shelf. In addition, students will learn about jobs and career opportunities within the medical device industry and how to gain entry into the field.
• GMS BT 336: Bioinformatics
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: Familiarity with computers and a basic knowledge of molecular biology.
  This course description is currently under construction.
• GMS BT 342: Cell Biology
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: GMS BT 413 & GMS BT 405, or equivalent, or consent of the instructor.
  This course will introduce students to eukaryotic cell structure and function. Topics include membrane structure, intracellular organelles, control of gene expression, cell motility and transport, cell communication and signaling, cell cycle and apoptosis, and differentiation. Students will explore the field of cell biology through readings and presentations.
• GMS BT 360: Auditing in Clinical Research
  Clinical research auditing ensures that the rights, safety, and well being of the study subject have been protected and the clinical study data are credible. Auditing clinical trial activities provides the strict oversight of performance with the ultimate goal of having a successful submission and identifying opportunities for improvement. In this practical course, students will learn how to prepare and conduct audits, write audit observations, create an audit report and review audit report responses. In addition, students will learn how to manage audits by an outside agency. Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines and regulatory requirements will be reviewed along with exploring the concept of a quality system and the writing of audit program Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). Developing an audit plan will be an emphasis. Group discussions and role- playing will be used to develop practical audit techniques. This class should prepare a student for an introductory auditing position within clinical research.
• GMS BT 404: Medical Virology
  Focuses on techniques used to isolate and identify viral pathogens associated with human disease. Through a series of lectures, the student takes a functional approach to this subject. Covers the biology, the immune response to viral infections, the genetics of viral replication, and viral pathogenesis. Offered every other year.
• GMS BT 405: Biochemistry
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: One semester of biology, one semester of chemistry and knowledge of organic chemistry is helpful, but not required.
  Biochemistry is the perfect melding of basic biology and chemistry. This course focuses on the study of life at the molecular level. We will first look at the structure and function of biomolecules including proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. Secondly, we will analyze how biological information is stored and transferred in the cell. We will then learn about bioenergetics and the importance of energy flow in living cells and organisms.