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 MyBU Student Portal for confirmation a class is actually being taught and for specific course meeting dates and times.

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  • GRS BI 643: Terrestrial Biogeochemistry
    The patterns and processes controlling carbon and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Links between local and global scales are emphasized. Topics include net primary production, nutrient use efficiency, and biogeochemical transformation.
  • GRS BI 645: Cellular and Molecular Neurophysiology
    Cellular and molecular basis of neural excitability and synaptic transmission. The molecular understanding of ion channels is extrapolated to higher brain functions such as learning, memory, and sleep. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory, one hour pre-lab.
  • GRS BI 648: Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
    The study of biological diversity and modern methods to protect endangered plant and animal species. The environment, population, and genetic and human factors that affect the survival of species are examined for temperate and tropical communities, as well as terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Ethical Reasoning.
    • Ethical Reasoning
    • Oral and/or Signed Communication
  • GRS BI 649: Neuroscience Design Lab
    Design and build devices for neuroscience experiments. Interface sensors with computers using Arduino microprocessors. Guided exercises followed by independent design projects to quantify human sensory and motor performance, or emulate animal sensory-motor circuits. All levels of programming experience accepted. Also offered as GRS NE 649.
  • GRS BI 655: Developmental Neurobiology
    Fundamental principles of developmental neurobiology. Course stresses molecular mechanisms that underlie early neural development, differentiation, process outgrowth, and behavior. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion.
  • GRS BI 671: Survey of Ecology, Behavior, Evolution, and Marine Biology
    Introduces graduate students to current faculty and research in ecology, behavior, evolution, and marine biology. Students and faculty share expertise and establish collaborations, helping the Department of Biology to leverage its most important asset: intellectual capital.
  • GRS BI 675: Urban Ecology
    The biophysical environments and ecology of urban settlements. Key topics include the physical environment, patterns in human population growth and development, ecosystem structure and function, global change, urban environment pollution and management, and sustainable urban development. Effective Spring 2022, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Scientific Inquiry II, Teamwork/Collaboration.
    • Historical Consciousness
    • Scientific Inquiry II
    • Teamwork/Collaboration
  • GRS BI 681: Molecular Biology of the Neuron
    Topics include electrical properties of neurons, a survey of neurotransmitters, molecular structure and function of receptors, synaptic transmission, intracellular signaling, and the molecular biology of sensory transduction. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion. Also offered as CAS NE 481. Effective Spring 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Scientific Inquiry II, Research and Information Literacy.
    • Scientific Inquiry II
    • Oral and/or Signed Communication
    • Research and Information Literacy
  • GRS BI 697: A Bridge to Knowledge: A Practical Seminar for First-Year Graduate Students in Biology
    A seminar for first-year biology and MCBB graduate students. Basic pedagogical theory and professional development topics are covered. The course is intended to help students become effective teachers and members of the graduate community. Also offered as GRS MB 697.
  • GRS BI 701: Graduate Readings in Biology
    Library research on well-defined subjects determined in consultation with faculty member. Two such half courses may be used to partially satisfy the eight-full- course requirement for the MS degree in Biology.
  • GRS BI 702: Graduate Readings in Biology
    Library research on well-defined subjects determined in consultation with faculty member. Two such half courses may be used to partially satisfy the eight-full- course requirement for the MS degree in Biology.
  • GRS BI 708: Systems Developmental Biology
    Aspects of animal and plant development are discussed using a systems biology approach. What are the challenges and solutions to developmental processes that differ in time scale, complexity, and error tolerance.
  • GRS BI 719: Colloquium in Biogeoscience
    Introduction to the field of Biogeoscience through weekly research presentations and discussions with GRS faculty and distinguished guests. Students also meet weekly with lead faculty member to discuss primary literature related to each presentation. Also offered as GRS ES 719 and GRS GE 719.
  • GRS BI 720: Practicum in Biogeoscience
    Analysis and synthesis of the primary literature via in-depth case studies in biogeoscience. Students meet weekly with faculty to read papers from the primary literature, synthesize results, and prepare a peer-review quality paper on the case study. Also offered as GRS ES 720 and GRS GE 720.
  • GRS BI 735: Advanced Cell Biology
    Current understanding of essential topics and important problems in modern cell biology, with emphasis on recent experimental findings, research strategies and approaches, and new techniques for investigating how cells work. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion.
  • GRS BI 741: Neural Systems: Functional Circuit Analysis
    An in-depth survey of powerful new approaches for understanding nervous system function, linking neural activity to behavior. Topics include anatomical connectivity, behavioral methods, and both recording and manipulating the activity of neural populations. Also offered as GRS NE 741.
  • GRS BI 753: Advanced Molecular Biology
    In-depth analysis of current topics in molecular biology regarding the flow of information in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. Focus on primary literature. Includes genomic flexibility, signal transduction to the nucleus, chromatin structure, gene expression, cell cycle checkpoints, health-related topics.
  • GRS BI 755: Cellular and Systems Neuroscience
    Advanced survey course in neurobiology. Topics covered include cell biology of the neuron, neurophysiology, neuropharmacology, cell signaling, anatomical methods, development of the nervous system, and human neuroanatomy. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion.
  • GRS BI 764: Urban Biogeoscience and Environmental Health Colloquium
    Introduction to the fields of Biogeoscience and Environmental Health. Through weekly reading, discussions, and research presentations, students acquire a basic foundation in urban Biogeoscience and Environmental Health.
  • GRS BI 765: Applied Research Methods in Urban Biogeoscience and Environmental Health
    Students learn skills in urban Biogeoscience, Environmental Health, and Statistics to tackle urban environmental challenges. Learning outcomes are achieved through learning about research methods related to urban air, soil, water quality, environmental stressors, nutrient cycles, and climate. Students read and deconstruct primary literature, have in-class discussions, and complete hands-on training.

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