Biology

• CAS BI 341: Junior Research in Biology 2 (2 Credits)
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing and one of the following: BI 340, BI 350, or full-time summer UROP. - Second semester junior research required participation in group meetings. Conduct research under supervision of faculty mentor. Group meeting participation required. Application through Biology Department. Minimum 6 hrs/wk. Not a Biology major/minor elective and cannot be combined with another 2-credit course for elective credit. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Oral and/or Signed Communication.
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  • Oral and/or Signed Communication
• CAS BI 350: Junior Research in Biology 1 (4 Credits)
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing. - First semester junior research including training in the use of research literature and active participation at group meetings. Application through the Biology Department. Students conduct research under supervision of a faculty mentor. Attendance at group meetings required. Minimum 12 hrs/wk in lab or fieldwork, data analysis, and writing. Effective Fall 2020, 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 351: Junior Research in Biology 2 (4 Credits)
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing and either BI 340, BI 350, or full-time summer UROP. - Second semester research with junior standing including training in the use of research literature. Application through the Biology Department. Students conduct research under supervision of a faculty mentor. Students expected to attend group meetings and take a lead and make creative contributions to projects. Minimum 12 hrs/wk in lab or fieldwork, data analysis, and writing. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Creativity/Innovation, Research and Information Literacy.
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  • Creativity/Innovation
  • Research and Information Literacy
• CAS BI 352: Junior Research in Biology 3
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing, First-Year Writing (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120), and eith er BI 351 or 341. - Third semester research with junior standing including required participation in group meetings. Application through the Biology Department. Students conduct research under supervision of a faculty mentor. Attendance at group meetings and final report required. Students expected to take a lead and make creative contributions to projects. Attendance at group meetings and final report required. Minimum 12 hours/week in lab or fieldwork, data analysis, and writing. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Creativity/Innovation.
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  • Creativity/Innovation
  • Writing-Intensive Course
• CAS BI 371: Reading in Biology 3
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing, consent of instructor, and completed application. - Library research on well-defined topic in the biological sciences, chosen with a faculty member. Check-in discussions with faculty member and additional work as assigned. Not a Biology/BMB major/minor elective and cannot be combined with another 2-credit course for elective credit.
• CAS BI 372: Reading in Biology 3
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing, consent of instructor, and completed application. - Library research on well-defined topic in the biological sciences, chosen with a faculty member. Check-in discussions with faculty member and additional work as assigned. Not a Biology/BMB major/minor elective and cannot be combined with another 2-credit course for elective credit.
• CAS BI 385: Immunology
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI203 & CASBI206) and junior standing. - The constituents and regulation of mammalian immune systems are described at the levels of the gene, protein, and cell. Topics include nonspecific, T cell and B cell recognition and responses, genetics of immune receptors, inflammation, tolerance, memory, and evolution and manipulation of defense systems. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion.
• CAS BI 394: Topics in Biology 3
  Topics and prerequisites vary. May be repeated for credit as topics change. Topic for Fall 2026, Section A1: In this course we explore the dynamic relationship between human society and the natural ecosystems in which they are embedded, and of which they are today an integral part.
• CAS BI 401: Honors Research In Biology
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: senior standing, overall GPA of at least 3.5, and approval of the Biology Research and Honors Committee. - Mentored laboratory or field research with a faculty member of the Biology Department leading to, but not required for, graduation with Honors in Biology. Minimum 12 hours/week in lab or fieldwork, data analysis, and writing. A minimum of B+ is required to continue to BI 402. Effective Fall 2020, 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 402: Honors Research in Biology
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: senior standing, overall GPA of at least 3.5, First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120), and approval of the Biology Research & Honors Committee. - At least one semester of prior undergraduate research for credit required. Mentored laboratory or field research with a faculty member of the Biology Department leading to graduation with Honors in Biology. Minimum 12 hours/week in lab or fieldwork, data analysis, and writing. Successful completion of this course, with a minimum grade of B+, is required to graduate with honors. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Creativity/Innovation, Research and Information Literacy.
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  • Creativity/Innovation
  • Research and Information Literacy
  • Writing-Intensive Course
• CAS BI 407: Animal Behavior
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI107) or equivalent. - Ethological approach to animal behavior; physiological, ontogenic, and phylogenic causes; and adaptive significance of behavior examined within an evolutionary framework, minimally including humans. Three hours lecture, three hours lab. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Ethical Reasoning, Philosophical Inquiry and Life's Meanings, Research and Information Literacy.
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  • Ethical Reasoning
  • Philosophical Inquiry and Life's Meanings
  • Research and Information Literacy
• CAS BI 408: Insect Biology
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI107 & CASBI108) CAS BI 303 is recommended. - The biology of insects, focusing on insect diversity and complexity. Topics include ecology, evolution, behavior, development and physiology of insects. Three hours lecture, three hours lab. Students build insect collections in lab.
• CAS BI 410: Developmental Biology
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CAS BI 203 or equivalent) or consent of instructor. - Contemporary aspects of embryonic development, drawing from current literature. Emphasis on the use of experimental approaches to address topics such as polarity in the egg, body axis specification, embryonic patterning, and organogenesis. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion.
• CAS BI 411: Microbiome: Our Intimate Relationship with Microorganisms
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASBI203 (or equivalent) & CASBI206 (or equivalent), or consent of ins tructor. - The microbial community - referred to as "microbiome" - that colonizes our body plays an important role in our health. Topics include (1) the human microbiome; and (2) fundamental aspects of the interactions between animals and the microorganisms that reside on them. Three hours lecture; one hour discussion.
• CAS BI 413: Microbial Ecology
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI107 & CASBI108 & CASCH101 & CASCH102) - Microbes (bacteria, archaea, and fungi) are the most diverse, abundant living organisms and microbial communities are key contributors to ecosystems. Topics include microbial cell structure and physiology, microbe-microbe interactions including biofilm formation and quorum sensing, and microbe-environment interactions.
• CAS BI 414: Ornithology
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI107) - Examines the behavior, ecology, morphology, physiology, classification, and evolution of birds. Flight, navigation, migration, territorial courtship, nesting, and parental behavior. Field trips. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion and demonstrations. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Scientific Inquiry II, Critical Thinking.
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  • Critical Thinking
  • Historical Consciousness
  • Social Inquiry II
• CAS BI 423: Marine Biogeochemistry
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASCH 101 and CASCH 102 or BUMP semester and CASEE 144, or consent of instructor. - Oceanic nutrient and biogeochemical cycling in the context of the marine response to global change. Links between local and global scales are emphasized. Topics include oceanic productivity, iron limitation, oceanic glacial carbon dioxide budget, biogenic particle fluxes, oceanic glacial-interglacial biogeochemistry. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Philosophical Inquiry and Life's Meanings, Scientific Inquiry II, Research and Information Literacy.
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  • Philosophical Inquiry and Life's Meanings
  • Research and Information Literacy
  • Scientific Inquiry II
• CAS BI 443: Terrestrial Biogeochemistry
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASBI 107 or CASE S105 and CASCH 101/102, or consent of instructor. - 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.
• CAS BI 445: Cellular and Molecular Neurophysiology
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI203 OR CASBI315 OR CASBI325 OR CASNE203) or consent of instructor. - 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 lab, one hour pre-lab. Also offered as CAS NE 445.
• CAS BI 448: Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI303 OR CASBI306) or consent of instructor. - 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.
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  • Ethical Reasoning
  • Oral and/or Signed Communication