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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  • CAS NE 101: Introduction to Neuroscience
    Required of all NE majors. An introduction to the biological basis of behavior and cognition. Includes theoretical and practical foundations rooted in psychology, biology, neuropharmacology, and clinical sciences (e.g., neurology and neuropsychiatry). Neuroethical dilemmas are highlighted and integrated when relevant to discussion topics. Carries natural science divisional credit in CAS. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Scientific Inquiry I.
    • Scientific Inquiry I
  • CAS NE 102: Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120)
    An introductory class examining the molecular and cellular mechanisms that govern a cell's life, including mechanisms of neuronal function and disease. Project labs are intertwined with lectures and focus on experimental modeling of Alzheimer's disease. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single Hub unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry II, Ethical Reasoning, Writing- Intensive Course, Teamwork/Collaboration.
    • Scientific Inquiry II
    • Ethical Reasoning
    • Teamwork/Collaboration
    • Writing-Intensive Course
  • CAS NE 116: Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology with Integrated Science Experience 1 Lab
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS CH 101; and acceptance into the Integrated Science Experience (ISE). First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120)
    Undergraduate Corequisites: CAS CH 116.
    Integration of general chemistry with biology and neuroscience, with an emphasis on how each discipline interacts experimentally. Laboratory focuses on projects relating to enzymes and their function. 3 lecture hours (meets with CAS NE 102 lecture), 3 hours lab. Effective Spring 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry II, Ethical Reasoning, Writing-Intensive Course.
    • Scientific Inquiry II
    • Ethical Reasoning
    • Writing-Intensive Course
  • CAS NE 191: First-year Research in Neuroscience 1
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: consent of instructor.
    Research in neuroscience for students at the freshman level. Students design and implement a research project with a faculty member. Research topic must be defined at the time of registration. Course grade is determined by laboratory performance and written report.
  • CAS NE 202: Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS NE 101.
    Cognitive neuroscience seeks to understand the brain basis of cognition. This course introduces research methods and human neuroanatomy, and provides a survey of topics including learning and memory, attention, perception, language, social cognition, and executive function.
  • CAS NE 203: Principles of Neuroscience with Lab
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS NE 101; and First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120).
    Fundamentals of the nervous system, emphasizing synaptic transmission; hierarchical organization; automatic nervous system; mechanisms of sensory perception; reflexes and motor function; biorhythms; and neural mechanisms of feeding, mating, learning, and memory. Project labs focus on abehavioral neurobiology through inquiry-based experiments. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Research and Information Literacy, Teamwork/Collaboration.
    • Research and Information Literacy
    • Teamwork/Collaboration
    • Writing-Intensive Course
  • CAS NE 204: Introduction to Computational Models of Brain and Behavior
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS MA 121 and CAS MA 122; or (CASMA123 & CASMA124) or (CASNE 212) and soph. standing; or consent of instructor. CASNE212 or basic programming experience strongly encouraged.
    Introduction to important concepts in cognitive neuroscience and computational modeling of biological neural systems. Combines a systems-level overview of brain function with an introduction to modeling of brain and behavior using neural networks.
  • CAS NE 212: Introduction to MATLAB Programming for Research in Psychological & Brain Sciences
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS NE 101.
    Teaches computer programming concepts, core statistical concepts, and related skills via MATLAB. Programming examples that cover four steps of neuroscience research (experiment control; random samples; data analysis; brain process simulation) promote "constructive" understanding of the quantitative reasoning behind decisions based on descriptive and inferential statistics (e.g., confidence intervals, linear regression models, model- specific anovas). Explains numerical integration programs in two settings: probability distributions, and simulations of neural dynamics. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning I, Critical Thinking.
    • Quantitative Reasoning I
    • Critical Thinking
  • CAS NE 218: Fundamentals of Neuroscience with Integrated Science Experience II Lab
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS NE 116 and CAS CH 116, or consent of instructor. First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120)
    Undergraduate Corequisites: CAS CH 218.
    This project focuses on the application of modern approaches and techniques of molecular and cell biology and neuroscience to study how drugs affect molecular mechanisms of neuronal function or degeneration. Applications in the field of Alzheimer's disease, therapy and diagnosis. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Teamwork/Collaboration.
    • Teamwork/Collaboration
    • Writing-Intensive Course
  • CAS NE 234: Psychology of Learning
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS PS 101.
    How do we learn to associate stimuli together? How do we learn to associate behaviors with their consequences? How is memory applicable to learning? What are the different memory processes and systems responsible for learning? The aim of this course is to review the major traditional and current theories of learning and memory. Students will begin with an understanding of simple learning, including theories and basic principles of classical and operant conditioning. Students will then be introduced to the memory system, the three stages of memory, implicit and explicit memory processes. Carries social science divisional credit in CAS. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Social Inquiry I, Critical Thinking.
    • Scientific Inquiry I
    • Social Inquiry I
    • Critical Thinking
  • CAS NE 291: Sophomore Research in Neuroscience 1
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: consent of instructor.
    Research in neuroscience for students at the sophomore level. Students design and implement a research project with a faculty member. Research topic must be defined at the time of registration. Course grade is determined by laboratory performance and written report.
  • CAS NE 292: Sophomore Research in Neuroscience 2
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: consent of instructor.
    Research in neuroscience for students at the sophomore level. Students design and implement a research project with a faculty member. Research topic must be defined at the time of registration. Course grade is determined by laboratory performance and written report.
  • CAS NE 323: Experimental Psychology: Learning
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS PS 101; PS/NE 234; either PS 211, PS/NE 212, or CAS MA 115 and MA116.
    Methodology, results, and interpretation of respondent and operant conditioning. Experimental analyses of selected topics in learning within the context of reinforcement theory. Required reports of instructor- planned and student-planned experiments using a virtual rat. Also offered as CAS PS 323.
  • CAS NE 327: Experimental Psychology: Perception
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS PS101; PS222; either PS 211, PS/NE 212, or CAS MA 115 and MA 116.
    Introduces psychophysical methods and their use in the study of perceptual processes: Students learn to think critically about the relation between theory and experiment, conduct perception experiments, and write experimental reports. Also offered as CAS PS 327.
  • CAS NE 328: Experimental Psychology: Memory & Cognition
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS PS336 or PS339/NE202 or instructor consent; either PS 211, PS/NE 212, or CAS MA 115 and MA 116.
    An overview of standard experimental paradigms and computational modeling approaches used in the study of memory and cognition. Methods are illustrated in the laboratory where students perform experiments using themselves as subjects and analyze and model their data using computers. Also offered as CAS PS 328.
  • CAS NE 329: Experimental Psychology: Cognitive Neuroscience
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS PS231 (or instructor consent); PS339/NE202; either PS 211, PS/NE 212, or CAS MA 115 and MA 116;1st Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120).
    Laboratory course in human cognitive neuroscience. Emphasis on large-scale neural mechanisms of visual cognition using electrophysiological measurements of brain activity. Students critically engage with theories in psychological science, conduct cognitive neuroscience experiments, and learn to write experimental reports. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Research and Information Literacy, Teamwork/Collaboration.
    • Research and Information Literacy
    • Teamwork/Collaboration
    • Writing-Intensive Course
  • CAS NE 333: Drugs and Behavior
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS PS 231 or CAS NE 101, and NE junior or senior standing; or consent of instructor.
    Comprehensive survey of drug influences on behavior; introduces a neuroscience approach to behavior. Several classes of drugs are discussed, including abused and addictive substances and psychoactive and therapeutic agents. Also offered as CAS PS 333.
  • CAS NE 337: Memory Systems of the Brain
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS PS 231 or CAS NE 101 or CAS BI 325; or consent of instructor.
    Survey of investigations into the brain systems and neurobiological mechanisms of memory. Includes experimental studies of amnesia in humans and experimental models of amnesia in animals. Focus on evidence for multiple forms of memory and distinct brain systems that mediate them. Also offered as CAS PS 337.
  • CAS NE 338: Neuropsychology
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS PS 231 or CAS BI 325 or CAS NE 203.
    Survey of theoretical aspects and major empirical findings in human neuropsychology, including memory, language, spatial function, attention, emotion, and abstract thought. Emphasis is on the relation between brain disorders (resulting from head injury, stroke, degenerative disease, etc.) and abnormal behavior. Also offered as CAS PS 338.
  • CAS NE 349: Neurotoxins in Biology, Medicine, Agriculture and War
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS BI 108 or CAS NE 102; or equivalent.
    Neurotoxins used as a lens to study the consequences of venom on mammalian physiological systems; potential clinical applications of neurotoxins; neurotoxins at cellular and molecular levels; mechanisms and possible impacts of neurotoxic pesticides; and physiological effects of neurotoxic chemical weapons. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning I, Critical Thinking.
    • Quantitative Reasoning I
    • Critical Thinking