Natural Sciences

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  • CAS NS 101: Integrated Science I
    Laboratory-discussion course. Foundational concepts of elementary dynamics, conservation laws, thermal transport, introductory electricity and magnetism, properties of light, atoms and molecules, the chemistry and properties of materials are introduced through laboratory experiments and computer simulations. These concepts and models are used to explain climate change and understand electric power generation. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Quantitative Reasoning I, Critical Thinking.
    • Scientific Inquiry I
    • Quantitative Reasoning I
    • Critical Thinking
  • CAS NS 102: Integrated Science II
    Laboratory-discussion course. Introduction to the evolution of stars, the universe, and planetary systems. Physical description of the planet Earth. Introduction to ecology, environmental science, evolution of life, organisms, and genetics. Students engage in laboratory experiments, group work, and computer simulations. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Scientific Inquiry II.
    • Scientific Inquiry II
  • CAS NS 221: Oceanography
    Explores how interconnected ocean characteristics (bathymetry, seawater chemistry, biological diversity) and processes (plate tectonics, surface and deep‐water circulation, biological production) shape global patterns across multiple scales. Discussion of destination‐specific environmental issues and hot topics in marine research.
  • CAS NS 222: Maritime Studies
    Relationship between humans and the sea. History, literature and art of our maritime heritage. Ships as agents of change. Political and economic challenges of contemporary marine affairs. Destination‐specific focus.
  • CAS NS 223: Nautical Science
    The fundamentals of sailing ship operation, in preparation for direct application at sea. Navigation (piloting, celestial, and electronic), weather, engineering systems, safety, and sail theory. Participation as an active member of the ship's crew on an offshore voyage.
  • CAS NS 291: Introduction to Scientific Research
    An introduction to the performance of scientific research through lectures, discussions, and readings about the design of projects, understanding of scientific literature, and ethics of research and publication. Includes 4-6 weeks of practical research experience.
  • CAS NS 320: Ocean Science and Public Policy
    Culture, history, political systems, and science can shape ocean policy. Students practice current strategies to build, analyze, and communicate about diverse policy issues. Examines the power, use, and limitations of science and the scientist's voice in determining ocean policy.
  • CAS NS 321: Oceans in the Global Carbon Cycle
    Ocean as carbon source and sink. Examines global‐scale flux patterns and carbon storage mechanisms, from solubility/biological pumps to geo‐engineering. Explores buffering capacity and mitigation strategies in the face of anthropogenic carbon cycle perturbations. Oral presentation and written research proposal required.
  • CAS NS 322: Maritime History and Culture
    Explores impacts of European maritime ventures on the societies they contacted in the Atlantic or Pacific, with focus on the resulting social, political, economic, and cultural changes. Investigates responses documented in the post‐Colonial literature of indigenous people.
  • CAS NS 323: Marine Environmental History
    Employs methods and sources of historians and social scientists. Examines the role of human societies in coastal and open ocean environmental change. Issues include resource conservation, overfishing, pollution, invasive species, and climate change.
  • CAS NS 326: The Ocean & Global Change
    Ocean ecosystem change in the anthropocene: warming, acidification, fisheries depletion, and pollution. Reviews principles of circulation, seawater chemistry, nutrient dynamics, and biological production to understand causes and consequences of change. Field measurements for contribution to time‐series datasets are conducted.
  • CAS NS 327: Cultural Landscapes and Seascapes: A Sense of Place
    Field‐intensive analysis and documentation of dynamic relationships between nature and culture in specific coastal, island, and ocean places. Cultural landscape and related interdisciplinary bio‐cultural approaches are applied to place‐based environmental studies.
  • CAS NS 328: Toward a Sustainable Ocean: Conservation & Management
    Comparative and issue‐driven introduction to managing human uses and conserving coastal and ocean places and resources. Explores concepts of technology, governance, sector and ecosystem management, and marine protected areas through expert content lectures, topical seminars, and field trips.
  • CAS NS 329: Leadership in a Dynamic Environment
    How to be an effective leader while leveraging the individual strengths of a team. Uses leadership theory and case studies to understand how decisions affect outcomes. Students participate as an active member of a ship's crew, progressively assuming full leadership roles.
  • CAS NS 330: Data Communication & Visualization
    Information visualization strategies and associated software, emphasizing communication to diverse audiences. Students choose between geospatial (GIS) and qualitative data foci, develop graphics and/or multimedia products supporting research projects in concurrent courses, and compile an iterative digital portfolio.
  • CAS NS 331: Climate, Society, and the Humanities
    Survey of climate literature across humanities and social science disciplines. Explores interpretive and comparative approaches to understanding human-climate interactions in maritime contexts and identifies collaborative potential with the natural sciences. Requires interdisciplinary research, field journal writing, and team projects.
  • CAS NS 332: Environmental Communication
    Seminar focusing on communication skills development for environmental scholars. Introduces the field of environmental communication, examines environmental attitudes and behaviors, and develops a toolkit of communications strategies. Includes projects in data visualization, multi- media, and digital storytelling.
  • CAS NS 333: Directed Research Topics
    Seminar exploring humanities and social sciences approaches to understanding and resolving contemporary climate-related issues. Development of research and writing skills through analyses of case studies and guided seminar exercises. Requires field data collection, research paper and presentation of results.
  • CAS NS 433: Advanced Research Topics
    Advanced humanities and social science seminar focusing on contemporary climate-related issues including urban/coastal resilience, poverty and justice, clean energy, human displacement, and national security. Emphasizes case study analysis and research methods. Requires field data collection, research paper, and symposium presentation.
  • CAS NS 450: Advanced Topics in Biological Oceanography
    In-depth treatment of a single topic in biological oceanography. Extensive review of classical and contemporary literature. Introduction and practice of current laboratory techniques. Oral presentation and research paper required. Topics may include marine plankton ecology, biodiversity, and satellite oceanography.

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