Courses

The listing of a course description here does not guarantee a course’s being offered in a particular semester. Please refer to the published schedule of classes on the Student Link for confirmation a class is actually being taught and for specific course meeting dates and times.

• CAS BI 583: Seminar: Progress in Cell and Molecular Biology
  Facilitates presentation and discussion of research ideas, preliminary data, and research progress by all graduate students in Cell & Molecular Biology (CM). All CM graduate students are encouraged to participate every semester, but receive two credits toward the degree only once, for CAS BI 583 or for CAS BI 584.
• CAS BI 584: Seminar: Progress in Cell and Molecular Biology
  Facilitates presentation and discussion of research ideas, preliminary data, and research progress by all graduate students in Cell & Molecular Biology (CM). All CM graduate students are encouraged to participate every semester, but receive two credits toward the degree only once, for CAS BI 583 or for CAS BI 584.
• CAS BI 591: Bio-Optical Oceanography
  This field- and lab-based course explores how the optically active constituents in seawater affect the in-water light field, and in turn, how field optics and remote sensing can facilitate the study of marine biogeochemistry, biological oceanography and water quality. Also offered as CAS ES 591. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Teamwork/Collaboration.
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  • Teamwork/Collaboration
• CAS BI 593: Marine Physiology and Climate Change
  Explores the range of physiological responses marine organisms exhibit in response to climate change. Investigates phenotypic plasticity exhibited across different organisms and how this plasticity can influence an organism's resilience to its changing environment. Also offered as CAS ES 593. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Research and Information Literacy.
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  • Oral and/or Signed Communication
  • Research and Information Literacy
• CAS BI 594: Topics in Biology 5
  Examines contemporary topics in the biological sciences. This course may be repeated for credit if the topic is different. Pre-requisites vary with topic. Topics for Fall 2020: Section B1: Drug Discovery in the Neurosciences. Pre-reqs: CAS BI 108 and CH 102 (and CAS PS/NE 333 strongly recommended) or permission of instructor. Examines historical context through which nervous systems drugs were discovered and addresses specific challenges of modern drug discovery in the neurosciences. Section T1: Neural Impacts on Tumorigenesis. Pre-reqs: CAS BI 108 and BI 203. Looks at the symbiotic interaction between the peripheral nervous system and tumors using reciprocal cross-talk, exploring if this nervous system/cancer interface might be a mediator for the effects of stress-induced cancer.
• CAS BI 595: Master's Research in Biology
  Biology laboratory research conducted under supervision of a faculty member. Externships are acceptable with prior approval. Minimum of 7.5 or 15 hours per week in the lab, culminating in submission of a written progress report.
• CAS BI 598: Neural Circuits
  Reviews modern techniques and toolsets that are capable of dissecting neural circuits, which are critical for understanding how coordinated patterns of neural activity lead to complex behavior. Recent literature on information processing, guided behavior and cognition is discussed. Also offered as CAS NE 598.
• CAS BI 599: Physiology of the Synapse
  Neuron development and maturation, synapse formation, structure and molecular components of synapses, synaptic transmission, synaptic plasticity, neurotransmitter receptors, cellular basis for learning and memory, synaptic pathology in neurological diseases. Two hours lecture, two hours paper presentation and discussion.
• CAS CH 541: Natural Products Chemistry
  Chemical and biosynthetic pathways leading to important natural products derived from fatty acids, terpenes, amino acids, polyketides, shikimic acid, and other biosynthetic intermediates. Three hours lecture, one-hour discussion.
• CAS CH 550: Materials Chemistry
  Basic chemistry and physical properties of hard or soft materials (alternate years). Topics include material structure, synthesis, and properties, with applications to materials such as fuel cells, super- and semiconductors, nanomaterials, and biomaterials. Connections between materials properties and applications, such as energy capture, conversion, and storage, are covered.
• CAS CL 502: Studies in Ancient Greek and Roman Literature
  Topics vary. Open to advanced undergraduate and graduate students. The literature studied is read in its original language, either ancient Greek or Latin, so advanced skill in the appropriate language is required. Topic for Fall 2020: Virgil: Eclogues and Georgics.
• CAS CL 522: Survey of Latin Literature II
  Survey of Latin authors focusing on the period of the early Empire; introduction to classical scholarship.
• CAS CL 530: Latin Prose Composition
  Practice in set and free composition of Latin prose, aimed at developing advanced language proficiency.
• CAS CL 561: Survey of Greek Literature 1
  Reading course designed to study the history of Greek literature through a chronological survey of representative authors and genres: Homer through the archaic age.
• CAS CL 562: Survey of Greek Literature 2
  Reading course designed to study the history of Greek literature through a chronological survey of representative authors and genres: Classical through Hellenistic period.
• CAS CL 563: Greek Prose Composition
  Close study of exemplary Greek prose as the basis for original composition in Greek of sentences and short passages, then more extensive prose pieces.
• CAS CN 510: Principles and Methods of Cognitive and Neural Modeling I
  Explores psychological, biological, mathematical, and computational foundations of behavioral and brain modeling. Topics include organizational principles, mechanisms, local circuits, network architectures, cooperative and competitive non-linear feedback systems, associative learning systems, and self-organizing code-compression systems. The adaptive resonance theory model unifies many course themes. CAS CN 510 and 520 may be taken concurrently.
• CAS CN 530: Neural and Computational Models of Vision
  Current models of mammalian visual processes are constrained by experimental and theoretical results from psychology, physiology, computer science, and mathematics. The course evaluates the explanatory adequacy of competing neural and computational models of such processes as edge detection, textural grouping, shape-from-shading, stereopsis, motion detection, and color perception. Students perform computer simulations of some of the examined models.
• CAS EC 501: Microeconomic Theory
  Covers the basic concepts and mathematical methods of microeconomic theory. Topics include consumer demand and its foundation on preferences and budget constraints, economics of uncertainty and imperfect information, production theory, applied competitive equilibrium analysis, elementary game theory, and imperfect competition.
• CAS EC 502: Macroeconomic Theory
  Brief overview of macroeconomics, leading to mathematical models on long-run economic growth and inflation, and on short-run fluctuations with emphasis on the role of fiscal and monetary policy. Readings from research journals; introduction to analysis of macroeconomic data.

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