Courses

The listing of a course description here does not guarantee a course’s being offered in a particular term. 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.

• GMS BI 752: General Biochemistry and Cell Biology
  Graduate Prerequisites: consent of instructor - This course introduces general concepts in metabolism, signaling, cell biology and nucleic acids. 4 cr, Fall sem.
• GMS BI 777: Techniques in Biomedical Research
  Graduate Prerequisites: consent of instructor - Success in biomedical research requires proposing, developing and testing a novel hypothesis. The generation of a novel hypothesis in turn requires the ability to apply the scientific method and then implement the appropriate techniques to address the experimental question. This course will complement the Foundations in Biomedical Sciences (FBS) curriculum by providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the core experimental methods used in biomedical research. By the end of this course, students will master the concepts behind a wide range of experimental techniques and technologies and then be prepared to apply the most appropriate experimental system to a given biological question. Biochemical knowledge regarding "how things work" and "how to cook from scratch in the lab" will enable students to develop their own experimental research strategies. Specific topics to be covered include: the scientific method/lab basics, cell culture and gene transfer, protein extraction and analysis, DNA and cloning, PCR, DNA-protein interactions and chromatin, RNA and quantitative PCR, transgenic and knockout mice, mass spectrometry, flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, next generation sequencing, and bioinformatic analysis of RNA-Seq data. This course is team taught and will use lectures, in class discussions, and focused problem sets. A concise final written assignment is designed to test the students' mastery of the subject matter.
• GMS BI 778: Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Disease
  The course deals with research topics relevant to cardiovascular disease including lipoproteins, atherosclerosis, oxidative stress, diabetes, hypertension, congenital heart abnormalities, gene therapy, stem cell therapies and others. Emphasis is placed on molecular and cellular mechanisms of normal vascular function and of vascular dysfunction leading to disease. Each session is taught by an expert in the field. Each student presents an original paper assigned by the instructors and writes and presents a review.
• GMS BI 786: Biochemical Mechanisms of Aging
  Prereq: consent of instructor. Current issues and key research advances in the understanding of the biochemical processes involved in aging of mammals are discussed. Theories on aging are analyzed, and age-related changes in gene structure and expression are presented. Alterations in the function of the neuroendocrine and immune systems with aging are also discussed. Offered alternate years. Polgar. 2 cr
• GMS BI 787: Molecular Mechanisms of Growth and Development
  Graduate Prerequisites: consent of instructor - Examines the most recent advances in the molecular mechanisms involved in regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, and development. Control of the cell cycle and regulation of the expression of differentiated function are discussed. The role of extracellular growth factors and nuclear transcriptional regulatory proteins are explored. Students present and actively discuss recent primary research articles. Offered alternate years. 2 cr, Spring sem.
• GMS BI 793: Mass Spectrometry, Proteomics and Functional Genomics
  Graduate Prerequisites: consent of instructor - The application of mass spectrometry to protein, glycoconjugate and carbohydrate structures has propelled developments in proteomics and functional genomics. This course describes how to use mass spectrometry to answer structural and functional questions in biomedical research. The course explores the background necessary to effectively design mass spectrometric (MS) experiments and interpret data. Students gain a full understanding of modern MS and its effective use in research. Lectures are devoted to instrumentation, ionization methods, applications to proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, glycoconjugates, nucleic acids and uses of the technology in proteomics, biotechnology and medicine.
• GMS BI 951: Research in Biochemistry
  Var cr
• GMS BI 952: Research in Biochemistry
  Var cr
• GMS BN 775: Human Neuropsychology I
  Graduate Prerequisites: consent of instructor - This course focuses on the relationship of the field of neuropsychology to other medical and scientific disciplines. Includes neuropsychological assessment, electrical activity of the brain, the study of attention, cerebral dominance, pathologies of language, traumatic brain injuries, PTSD and Parkinson's Disease. 4 cr, Fall sem.
• GMS BN 776: Human Neuropsychology II
  Graduate Prerequisites: consent of instructor - This course focuses on the relationship of the field of neuropsychology to other medical and scientific disciplines. Includes neuropsychological and pathological aspects of neurological disease. Topics include dementing diseases, memory, epilepsy, child development, neurotoxicant exposures, and brain stimulation treatments. 4 cr, Spring sem.
• GMS BN 777: Basic Neurosciences
  Fall Semester: Overview includes neurophysiology, neurochemistry, neuroanatomy, neurobehavior, and neuropsychopharmacology. Processes occurring at the cellular and physiological levels are related to known central nervous system dysfunction. Spring Semester: Review of brain function and selected topics such as Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, neurotoxicology, aphasia, electrophysiology, and neuroimaging. This course is the same as GMS BN 778 (4 cr) and GMS BN 779 (2 cr), providing students with 32.5 hours of required course time. May not be taken concurrently with GMS BN 778 or 779. 3 cr, Fall or Spring sem.
• GMS BN 778: Basic Neuro
  Graduate Prerequisites: consent of instructor - Overview includes neurophysiology, neurochemistry, neuroanatomy, neurobehavior, and neuropsychopharmacology. Processes occurring at the cellular and physiological levels are related to known central nervous system dysfunction. 4 cr across the Fall and Spring sems.
• GMS BN 779: Basic Neuroscience
  Processes occurring at the cellular and physiological levels are related to known central nervous system dysfunction. Fall Semester: Overview to include neurophysiology, neurochemistry, neuroanatomy, neurobehavior, and neuro-psychopharmacology. Spring Semester: Review of brain function and selected topics such as movement disorders, schizophrenia, neurotoxicology, sleep, electrophysiology, and head injury. 2 cr Fall sem and 2 cr Spring sem
• GMS BN 780: Behavioral and Biological Aspects of Stress and Trauma
  Graduate Prerequisites: consent of instructor - This course provides an overview of theory and research on stress and trauma, with attention to biological, psychological, and social factors. Special emphasis placed on gender issues, developmental factors, psychopathology, and physical health. 2 cr, Spring semester every other year.
• GMS BN 782: Forensic Practice in Neuropsychology and Neuroscience
  Graduate Prerequisites: Human Neuropsychology course or some other introduction to the study o f brain-behavior relations; consent of instructor - This course description is currently under construction.
• GMS BN 791: Directed Studies in Behavioral Neuroscience
  Var cr, Fall sem.
• GMS BN 792: Directed Studies in Behavioral Neuroscience
  Var cr, Spring sem.
• GMS BN 794: BRAIN DOMINANCE
  Graduate Prerequisites: consent of instructor - This course description is currently under construction.
• GMS BN 795: Cognitive Neuroscience of Memory and Perception
  Graduate Prerequisites: consent of instructor - The study of normal and abnormal perception and memory is related to brain structure and function. This seminar covers theoretical and clinical issues about how abilities change in normal and abnormal (e.g., Alzheimer's disease) conditions, using a variety of methods. 4 cr, Fall or Spring sem. on demand.
• GMS BN 796: Neuropsychological Assessment I
  Graduate Prerequisites: consent of instructor - Overview of neuropsychological tests used for cognitive assessment in clinical and research settings. Focus is on determining appropriate outcome measures to quantify brain behavior relationships. Students will learn the Boston Process Approach for qualitative measurements and standardized assessment procedures of quantitative measurements in the differential diagnosis and symptomatology of neurological and neuropsychiatric syndromes. The course prepares students to design neuropsychological assessment batteries for research studies. Students work with the instructor to develop a research protocol for neurological populations of interest to the student. 4 cr, Fall sem.