metropolitan college academic courses undergraduate courses
science and engineering

Science and Engineering Undergraduate Courses

metropolitan college college of arts and sciences college of engineering

Note: College of Engineering (ENG) and College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) courses are charged at the day rate for tuition, fees, and other charges. Course sequencing is semester-specific. Registration for SEP students must be approved by the SEP Academic Counselor.

The course descriptions below represent a sampling of courses SEP students complete. Additional course requirements depend upon the major program of study pursued.

Metropolitan College

MET EK 100 Freshman Advising Seminar

The Freshmen Advising Seminar introduces Science and Engineering Program freshmen to Boston University, the Science and Engineering Program, and resources and services available to all SEP freshmen. The seminar will provide students with a forum to learn about the unique academic support services, student activities, and career development opportunities available at Boston University. Guest speakers will address topics such as learning skills and strategies, research opportunities for students at Boston University, and ethical issues for scientists. Students will become familiar with theories of learning styles and career development and will have opportunities to complete learning style and career interest inventories. SEP freshmen will be informed of Metropolitan College academic policies, student obligations, and requirements to successfully transfer to either science or engineering programs at the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) or the College of Engineering (ENG) in their junior year. The course is graded P/F. Successful completion of MET EK 100 is a requirement of the Science and Engineering Program.

MET EK 127 Engineering Computation using MATLAB

This course provides an introduction to engineering problem solving using a modern computational environment. Basic procedural programming concepts will be presented, including input/output, branching, looping, functions, file input/output, and data structures such as arrays. Topics will include: basic linear algebra concepts, such as matrix operations and solving sets of equations; numerical methods, such as least squares solutions and their use for curve fitting. Nine programming assignments aligned with ENG departments (e.g. Biomedical Engineering) will reinforce these concepts and introduce SEP students to the various engineering disciplines. (4 cr.)

MET EK 311 Engineering Mechanics I: Statics

Prereq: CAS PY 211. Coreq: MET MA 225. Analysis of static systems. Equilibrium and friction. Vector treatment of particles and rigid bodies. (4 cr.)

MET EK 312 Engineering Mechanics II: Dynamics

Continuation of MET EK 311. Application of Newton's laws of motion. Energy and momentum methods. Vector analysis of dynamic systems. (4 cr.)

MET EK 317 Electric Circuit Theory I

Prereq: CAS PY 212. Coreq: MET MA 225. Introduction to electric circuits, including Kirchhoff's laws, current-voltage relationship, equivalent circuits. (4 cr.)

MET EK 318 Electric Circuit Theory II

Coreq: CAS MA 226. Continuation of MET EK 317. Analysis methods for AC and DC circuits, transient behavior, operational amplifiers. (4 cr.)

MET MA 123 Calculus I

Prereq: MET MA 118 or equivalent. Limits; derivatives; differentiation of algebraic functions. Applications to maxima, minima, and convexity of functions. The definite integral, the fundamental theorem of integral calculus, and applications of integration. (4 cr.)

MET MA 124 Calculus II

Prereq: MET MA 121 or 123, or CAS MA 121 or MA 123. Logarithmic, exponential, and trigonomic functions. Sequences and series; Taylor’s series with remainder. Methods of integration. Calculus I and II together constitute an introduction to calculus functions of a single real variable. (4 cr.)

MET MA 225 Multivariate Calculus

Prereq: MET MA 124, or CAS MA 124, MA 127, or MA 129. Vectors, lines, and planes. Multiple integration and cylindrical and spherical coordinates. Partial derivatives, directional derivatives, scalar and vector fields, the gradient, potentials, approximation, and multivariate minimization. (4 cr.)

College of Arts and Sciences

CAS BI 107 Biology I

For students who plan to concentrate in the natural sciences or environmental science, and for premedical students. Required for biology concentrators. No prerequisite. High school biology is assumed. Evolution, ecology, and behavior. The evolution and diversity of life; principles of ecology; behavioral biology. Three hours lecture, three hours lab including several weekend field studies. Schneider, Sorenson, Traniello, Wasserman. (4 cr. 1st sem.) (NS) (lab)

CAS BI 108 Biology II

For students who plan to concentrate in the natural sciences (including BMB) and for premedical students. Required for biology concentrators. It is recommended that students take CAS CH 101 before this course. High school biology is assumed. Cell and molecular biology, genetics, development, immunology, physiology, and neurobiology. The molecular, biochemical, and cellular basis of life. Three hours lecture, three hours lab. Godrick, Eldred, Monette. (4 cr. either sem.)

CAS BI 260 Marine Biology (EBE)

Prereq: CAS BI 107 and CAS BI 108 or consent of instructor. Life in the marine environment: its ecology, evolution, and human impacts. Includes behavioral, physiological, structural, ecological, and evolutionary perspectives. A prerequisite for the Woods Hole Marine Semester. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion. Kaufman. 4 cr, 2nd sem. experimentation. Field trips. Two hours lecture, six hours lab. Wasserman. (4 cr. 2nd sem.)

CAS BI 303 Ecology (EBE)

Prereq: CAS BI 107; CAS BI 206 recommended. Investigation of ecological processes and patterns at the individual, population, community, and ecosystem level. An evolutionary approach is emphasized. Three hours lecture, three hours lab. One research paper and one weekend field trip required. Kunz, Finzi. (4 cr. 1st & 2nd sem.) Brief introduction to pathogenicity and host reactions. Three hours lecture, four hours lab. Golubic. (4 cr. 2nd sem.)

CAS BI 260 Marine Biology (EBE)

CAS BI 315 Systems Physiology (PER/Neuro) Prereq: CAS BI 108 or 109. An introduction to physiological principles applied across all levels of organization (cell, tissue, organ system). Intended to prepare the student for more advanced courses in physiology. Topics include homeostasis and neural, muscle, cardiopulmonary, renal, endocrine, metabolic, and reproductive physiology. Three hours lecture, three hours lab. Widmaier, Cook, Naya. (4 cr. 1st & 2nd sem.)

CAS CH 101+, 102+ General Chemistry

First semester prereq: two years of high school algebra. For science concentrators who require a two-semester general chemistry course. Stoichiometry, gases, liquids, solids, solutions, equilibrium, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, atomic structure and bonding, kinetics, and selected chemical systems. Laboratory exercises include qualitative analysis. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion, one hour postlab lecture, and three hours lab. Tullius, Coker, Dill, Keyes, Prock, Straub, Golger, assistants. (4 cr. each, both courses 1st & 2nd sem.) (NS) (lab)

CAS CH 131 General Chemistry for the Engineering Sciences

Coreq: CAS MA 123. A one-semester, terminal general chemistry course for students who do not require a two-semester sequence. Stoichiometry, atomic and molecular structure, bonding, chemistry of solid state, chemical thermodynamics, and equilibrium. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion, three and a half hours lab. Clarke, Crosby, assistants. (4 cr. 1st sem.) (NS) (lab)

CAS CH 203, 204 Organic Chemistry

First semester prereq: CAS CH 102, CH 108, CH 110, or 112. Second semester prereq: CAS CH 203. Fundamentals of organic chemistry, including electronic structure, stereochemistry, and reactions of important functional groups. Environmental problems, action of drugs, chemical warfare agents, insecticides, and chemical causes of disease. Laboratory includes extraction, distillation, and chromatography. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion, one hour prelab lecture, three-and-a-half hours lab on alternate weeks. Giering, Schaus, Steliou, Porco, Weinstein, assistants. (4 cr. each, CH 203 1st sem.; CH 204 2nd sem.)

CAS MA 226 Differential Equations

Prereq: CAS MA 225 or MA 230. First-order linear and separable equations. Second-order equations and first-order systems. Linear equations and linearization. Numerical and qualitative analysis. Laplace transforms. Applications and modeling of real phenomena throughout. (Cannot be taken for credit in addition to CAS MA 231.) (4 cr. either sem.)

CAS PY 211, 212 General Physics

Prereq: CAS MA 123 or equivalent; coreq: CAS MA 124, MA 127, or consent of instructor for students concurrently taking MA 123. Prereq for CAS PY 212: CAS PY 211 or equivalent. For premedical students who wish a more analytical course than CAS PY 105, 106, and for science concentrators and engineers. Basic principles of physics emphasizing Newtonian mechanics, conservation laws, thermal physics, electricity and magnetism, geometrical optics. Lectures, discussions, and laboratory. Chamon, Duffy, Heintz, Mohanty, Narain, Schmaltz. (4 cr. 1st & 2nd sem.) (NS) (lab)

CAS PY 313 Elementary Modern Physics

Prereq: CAS PY 211, 212 and CAS MA 124. Waves and physical optics, relativistic mechanics, experimental foundations of quantum mechanics, atomic structure, physics of molecules and solids, atomic nuclei and elementary particles. Along with CAS PY 211, 212, PY 313 completes a three-semester introductory sequence primarily intended for students of engineering. Butler, Butler, Carey. (4 cr. either sem.)

CAS WR 100 Writing Seminar

Prereq: BUWA results or CAS WR 098 or WR 099. Imaginative engagement through reading and writing with a theme or topic in literature, thought, and society. Emphasis on assimilation of challenging readings into essays that are clear, accurate, persuasive, and engaging. Practice in classroom discussion of ideas and refinement of speaking skills. Special attention to comparison and synthesis. Individual conferences. (4 cr. either sem.)

CAS WR 150 Writing and Research Seminar

Prereq: CAS WR 100 or BUWA results. Imaginative engagement through reading and writing with a theme or topic in literature, thought, and society. Emphasis on research techniques, including the location, evaluation, and synthesis of secondary sources. Special attention to the role of evidence in persuasive writing. Assignments include oral presentations and two research papers. (4 cr. either sem.)

College of Engineering

ENG EK 130 Introduction to Engineering

Introduction to engineering analysis and/or design through a sequence of two modules or minicourses chosen from a selection of modules offered by participating engineering faculty. Each module presents students with key concepts and techniques relevant to an applied area of engineering. (4 cr.)