Courses

• CAS ES 546: Tropical Oceanography of the Caribbean Sea: Applications and Research
  Participation on oceanographic research expedition to pursue research developed as part of ES 545. Nearshore and open ocean research in geological, chemical, physical, and biological oceanography. BU and SEA faculty jointly teach. Taught at sea on research vessel operated by Sea Education Association.
• CAS ES 557: Oceanography of Stellwagen Bank and Surrounding Waters
  Nutrient distribution and physical oceanography of Stellwagen Bank and adjacent waters. Bathymetric influences and effects of ocean currents of biogeochemical parameters. Includes day-long cruises on NOAA research vessel. Taught as part of the BU Marine Program Semester.
• CAS ES 558: Coastal Biogeochemistry
  Examines coastal energy flow and nutrient cycling in the context of human impacts. Links between local and global scales are emphasized. Course is part of the Marine Semester and involves field and laboratory work. Also offered as CAS BI 558.
• CAS ES 571: Geochemical Modeling
  Quantitative techniques used to interpret chemical variations in earth materials. Principles of chemical equilibrium, mass transport, and kinetics applied to aqueous, igneous, and metamorphic systems. Focus on geological processes of melting, crystallization, mixing, reaction, weathering, and diagenesis. (Offered alternate years.)
• CAS ES 573: Analytical Methods in Geochemistry
  Introduces students to quantitative analytical techniques used in geology, including x-ray, optical emission, mass spectrometric, and neutron activation methods. Examples are drawn from igneous and sedimentary systems. Emphasizes criteria for selecting and using techniques appropriate to specific geologic problems. Three hours lecture, two hours lab. (Offered alternate years.)
• CAS ES 576: Aquatic Geochemistry
  Fundamentals of water chemistry as applied to the evolution of surface, soil, and ground waters. Emphasis is on chemical equilibrium and kinetics, pH as a master variable, carbonate chemistry, mineral solubility, aqueous complexes, ion exchange, redox, and weathering reactions.
• CAS ES 581: Solid Earth Geophysics
  Explores the methods and results of geophysical exploration into the solid earth. Topics include crustal and whole-earth seismology, the Earth's gravitational and magnetic fields, earthquake source phenomena, and structure of the planet.
• CAS ES 587: Seminar in Earth Sciences
  Discussion of current topics in earth sciences with assigned readings and lecture seminars.
• CAS ES 588: Seminar in Earth Sciences
  Discussion of current topics in earth sciences with assigned readings and lecture seminars.
• CAS FY 101: First Year Experience
  A continuation of the orientation process, FY 101 focuses on the individual student's connection to the College and the University. Through discussions, assignments, class activities and some large group activities, students engage with the academic, social and cultural dimensions of the University while examining their own development as students and individuals.
• CAS GE 100: Introduction to Environmental Science
  Introduction to basic physical, ecological, and environmental concepts underlying the relationship between human society and the natural environment. Evaluation of problems and options available in dealing with the areas of natural resources, pollution, environmental degradation, and population growth. Carries social science divisional credit in CAS.
• CAS GE 101: Natural Environments: The Atmosphere
  An introduction to weather and climate. Topics include the controls of weather and climate, day-to-day variations in weather, severe storms, climates of the world, urban climate and air pollution, past climates and climatic change, and the impact of climatic variations on society. Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS.
• CAS GE 104: Natural Environments: The Physical Landscape
  Introduction to controls that shape the ecosystems and landscape of the earth. Vegetation and soils of the forests, deserts, grasslands, and tropics. The work of rivers, glaciers, oceans, and volcanoes in sculpturing the earth's surface. History of the national landscape. Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS.
• CAS GE 110: Our Changing Planet: The Perspective from Space
  An integrated treatment of the various components of the earth system: the atmosphere, lithosphere, ecosphere, and hydrosphere, as well as how they are changing. Extensive use of observations and measurements from space. Emphasis on global environmental change and human impact on earth. Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS.
• CAS GE 150: Sustainable Energy: Technology, Resources, Society, and Environment
  Examines the social, environmental, and technological aspects of renewable and nonrenewable energy systems. Discusses energy issues in context of globalization, climate change, and sustainable development. Explores lifestyle and policy decisions related to energy issues. Carries social science divisional credit in CAS.
• CAS GE 201: World Regional Geography
  Overview of the special combination of environmental, historical, economic, and organizational qualities of the regions of the Old World, including Western and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, East and South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Emphasis on current issues of regional and global development. Carries social science divisional credit in CAS.
• CAS GE 250: The Fate of Nations: Climate, Resources, and Institutions
  Relationships among environment (e.g. climate), natural resources (e.g. energy, water), and human societies (hunter-gatherers to industrial economies). Principles from thermodynamics, climatology, ecology, and economics used to evaluate the role of environment and resources in the success and failure of societies. Carries social science divisional credit in CAS.
• CAS GE 302: Remote Sensing of Environment
  Introduction to satellite remote sensing of the Earth environment. Examines the physical basis and methods of the remote sensing process, as well as basics of digital image processing and analysis. Applications in Earth system science and natural resource management are considered.
• CAS GE 304: Environmentally Sustainable Development
  Traces the emergence of sustainable development as the defining environmental challenge of our times. Surveys and evaluates policies for balancing ecological sustainability and economic development in various parts of the world and at the global level. Also offered as CAS IR 304.
• CAS GE 307: Biogeography
  Examines the spatial distribution of plants and animals from historical, ecological, and analytical perspectives. Environmental and human influences on species distribution, abundance, and diversity are considered, as are changes resulting from past and projected climate change. Also offered as CAS BI 307.

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