Course Descriptions

Issues in Assisted Reproduction (GMS BT 442 OL)

This online course explores the new world of assisted reproduction. Students will examine cases for their ethical and legal implications. Websites and readings will be provided so students can synthesize information into thoughtful analyses. Topics will include in vitro fertilization, surrogacy, frozen embryos, and gene manipulation. The entire process is taught online. (4 credits)

Note: This course may be applied toward degree requirements for the B.S. in Biomedical Laboratory and Clinical Sciences , an on-campus program offered jointly by Metropolitan College and the Boston University School of Medicine.

Genetics, Ethics, and the Law (GMS BT 440 OL)

This course will explore the newest information in human genetics and its legal and bioethical implications. Human genetics is the most explosive field in medicine today. The decisions that come from the issues will be presented to professionals and lay people alike. This course examines cases that come straight from the headlines. Topics include new reproductive techniques, genetic diseases, prenatal testing, and genetic testing. (4 credits)

Note: This course may be applied toward degree requirements for the B.S. in Biomedical Laboratory and Clinical Sciences , an on-campus program offered jointly by Metropolitan College and the Boston University School of Medicine.

English for Health and Medical Professionals (EOP EN 099 OL)

The purpose of this course is for learners to advance their communication skills through study of English in the context of health and medical science. To this end, recent developments in different areas of health and medical science will be presented through lectures, readings, videos, and animations. These topics will provide the context for interactive exercises that will allow students to improve English skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, as they communicate with the instructor and classmates. When they finish the course, they will be better able to read, discuss, and write about these and other health and medical issues. While the areas covered in the course are limited due to its length, students are free to do research and present other topics of interest in their final projects. This first broad area covered is Genetics, including the Human Genome Project and the research it has enabled on genetic diseases; current issues surrounding assisted reproduction will also be examined. The second area, Diseases, will focus on epidemiology and existing treatments, as well as heart disease and cancer, for which new therapies are being developed. The third area, World Health Outlook, will examine the spread of HIV/AIDS and the efforts of international organizations to combat this and other epidemics. The fourth area, Public Health, will focus on natural disasters and emergency care, as well as consider violence against others and violence against self in the form of substance abuse. The fifth area, Medical Care Systems, will consider public and private access in different countries and the development and sale of drugs by international pharmaceutical companies. The final area, Medical Technology, will focus on innovative medical procedures and devices developed through biomedical engineering. Much of the material for theses topics will be from a U.S. standpoint although students will provide the instructor and class with unique perspectives from each of their countries. (Non-Credit)

 Introduction to Biomedical Forensics (GMS AN 717 OL)

This course is designed to provide the student with an overview of the various methods and procedures of the biomedical sciences that contribute to forensic investigations.  We will discuss the roles and responsibilities of the forensic pathologist, medicolegal death investigator, forensic nurse, forensic odontologist, and forensic entomologist. Each of these biomedical specialties brings unique knowledge and scientific methods to a forensic investigation.  They provide investigators with valuable information about victim identification, cause and manner of death, time since death and possibly details surrounding the events that lead to the victim’s death

Culture and Cuisine: France (MET ML 631 OL)

The association between France and fine cuisine seems so natural. French society and history are intertwined with the culinary, and have been since the court society of the Old Regime. After the French Revolution, French cuisine became a truly modern affair in the public sphere. The invention of the restaurant, the practice of gastronomy, a literature of food, and strong links between French cuisine and national identity all came together in the 19th century. In the 19th and 20th centuries, French food, featuring both haute cuisine and regional culinary specialties, was widely considered the world’s best. In the 20th century, the culinary allure of France continued to fascinate people all over the world. It is still said today, enviously, that the French really know how to appreciate good food and wine—la bonne chère— in their daily lives.
This course looks at how the history of French culinary culture evolved in the particular way that it did. The course is organized largely chronologically, but not entirely, as some of the readings weave issues of different time periods thematically. In studying culture and cuisine, with France as a great example, we will explore the relationship between a place, a people, and their foodways. Instructors Kyri Watson Claflin and Jaqcues Pépin launch our investigation with the question: how and why is this relationship distinctive in France? (4 credits)

Strategy and Entrepreneurship (SMG EN 561)

This course will provide students with a basic understanding of strategy and the entrepreneurial process. We will explore the essential components of idea and concept generation, the phases of the entrepreneurial process and timeline, management team and advisors. Topics will also include differentiation and competitive strategy, the role of information technology and intellectual property, exit strategies, elements of a business plan, and how to develop a preliminary feasibility analysis. (4 credits)

Marketing and Sales (SMG EN 562)

The excitement of out-of-the box thinking and operating on a limited budget creates the energy but also the key challenge that sales and marketing experts face as they try to perform their role within a growing organization. Without key resources such as time, money, and individuals with relevant experience, it becomes even more critical that entrepreneurs achieve a pioneering level of creativity to accurately profile their customers. That’s where true entrepreneurial spirit takes charge and that’s the spirit that we will explore in this course. (4 credits)

Interplay of Personal Character, Leadership, and Organization Structure
(SMG EN 563)

This course is designed to support potential entrepreneurs in their quest for entrepreneurial leadership. It provides a structured process to introduce the participant to three key elements for developing a successful management structure for an entrepreneurial enterprise: a self-aware, mature entrepreneur; a well-designed management (and governance) team; and motivated, creative work groups. The topics and assignments will assist the individual in deciding whether entrepreneurship is his/her best career choice and if so, to articulate what specific type of entrepreneurial organization to set up and what challenges await. (4 credits)

Finance and Funding (SMG EN 564)

Regardless of which career path you choose, a comprehensive understanding of finance is an essential ingredient in the "recipe" for business success. No longer can the assumptions underlying financial projections be treated as "black boxes." In many cases, the answer is less important than the analytical process used to calculate it. This course is designed for students who may at some point be interested in pursuing managerial careers in the entrepreneurial sector, and covers the development of financial and business skills to identify, evaluate, start and manage new ventures. (4 credits)

Symbiosis (CAS BI 501 OL)

Examines the intimate partnerships among certain organisms on Earth. Symbiosis is central to the formation of ecosystems and biomes, as well as evolutionarily central to the development of cells. Particular focus on those symbiotic systems that appear key to maintaining healthy earth systems. These include coral reefs, mycorrhizal fungi and plants, and lichens. (4 credits)

Global Ecology (CAS BI 571 OL)

A course designed to build global ecological literacy. Focus is initially on the scientific underpinnings of ecology, including natural selection, heat and energy transfers, element cycling, geological processes, and biodiversity. This is followed by an examination of the threats to these fundamental systems, including habitat fragmentation, deforestation, tropospheric and ozone, stratospheric ozone depletion, acid precipitation, and enhanced global warming. (4 credits)

Natural History Explorations (SED SC tbd OL)

What is natural history? How has it impacted society and education in the past? What is its potential and place in science learning today? The course also directly focuses on promoting familiarity with specific living systems around us. Focused examples include fungi, birds, flowers, amphibians, insects, and micro-algae. (4 credits)