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.

  • CAS MB 982: Certified Full-Time Study
    CERT FT STUDY
  • CAS MB 983: Continuing Part-Time Study
    Continuing Study Part-Time
  • CAS MB 984: Continuing Part-Time Study
    CONT STUDY PT
  • CAS MB 985: Continuing Full-Time Study
    CONT STUDY CFT
  • CAS MB 986: Continuing Full-Time Study
    CONT STUDY CFT
  • CAS MR 500: Topics in Marine Science
    Examines contemporary topics in marine sciences. Pre-requisites vary with topic. Offered as part of the Marine Semester. May be repeated for credit as topics change.
  • CAS MR 533: Scientific Diving and Underwater Research Methods
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: enrollment in the Marine Semester, basic scuba diving certification, and consent of instructor. - Introduces students to underwater research methods. Lecture and dive exercises include diving physics, diving physiology, dive planning, equipment, first aid, and data collection. This course fulfills American Academy of Underwater Sciences scientific diver training requirements. Taught in the Marine Semester.
  • CAS NE 503: Neuroimmunology
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS BI 203/NE 102 or BI 213 and BI 325/NE 203. - Neuroimmunology is a burgeoning field in neuroscience. This course examines current topics including the role of glia in brain development, health, and disease, glia-neuron crosstalk, impact of stress and environment on the neuroimmune system, and cell trafficking into the brain.
  • CAS NE 520: Sensory Neurobiology
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI325 OR CASNE203) or consent of instructor. - Animals receive a constant stream of sensory input that they use to adjust their behavior. In this course we explore how sensory systems translate the physical features of the outside world into meaningful patterns of neural activity. Effective Spring 2024, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Scientific Inquiry II.
    • Oral and/or Signed Communication
    • Scientific Inquiry II
  • CAS NE 521: Animal Models in Behavioral Neuroscience
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing and either CAS PS 231 or CAS NE 101. Strongly recommen ded: CAS NE 102 and either CAS PS 337 or PS 338. - Examines the modern behavioral approaches and wide range of species across the animal kingdom used to model human behavior and neural function. Lectures present background material, and students lead discussion of primary research articles. Also offered as CAS PS 521.
  • CAS NE 525: Biology of Neurodegenerative Diseases
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASNE 102 or CASBI 108, CASNE 203 or CASBI 325, and CASBI 203/213; and junior and senior standing.- An in-depth look at molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and their impact and relevance in clinical diagnosis and treatment. Topics include the molecular pathways of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, and Creuztfeldt-Jacob Disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Ethical Reasoning, Research and Information Literacy.
    • Ethical Reasoning
    • Oral and/or Signed Communication
    • Research and Information Literacy
  • CAS NE 528: Human Brain Mapping
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS PS 336 or CAS PS 339/NE 202. - Localization in the brain of human mental functions and the study of their neural mechanisms. Topics include methods (fMRI, PET, TMS, ERP), memory, perception, recognition, attention, and executive processes. Also offered as CAS PS 528.
  • CAS NE 530: Neural Models of Memory Function
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: a course in neuroscience or physiological psychology or consent of the instructor. - Computational models of neurobiological mechanisms for memory function and spatial navigation, with a particular emphasis on cellular and circuit models of the hippocampus and related cortical structures. Also offered as CAS PS 530.
  • CAS NE 531: Imaging and Manipulating Memories
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS PS231 or NE 101 or PS/NE 337 or PS339/NE202 or BI325/NE203; or con sent of instructor. - The nature of memory engrams, the physical manifestations of experiences in the brain, will be explored at the systems neuroscience level by surveying primary literature.
  • CAS NE 532: Neurobiology of Motivation, Decision Making, and Learning
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS NE101 or PS231; and PS211 or PS212; or MA115 & MA116 and one upper level NE course or BI 108 and BI 325; or consent of instructor. - Exploration of the molecular and neural circuit mechanisms responsible for driving movement, selecting actions, and evaluating outcomes to drive adaptive learning. Examination of how disorders of motivation and decision making arise from the disruption of different neural circuits.
  • CAS NE 535: Translational Research in Alzheimer's Disease
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASNE 102 or CASBI 108, CASNE 203 or CASBI 325, and CASBI 203/213; and junior and senior standing. - An introduction to translational research focused on the search for new therapeutic targets in Alzheimer's disease. Emphasis on the development of cellular and animal models for preclinical research, and on past and current clinical trials in Alzheimer's patients. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Ethical Reasoning, Research and Information Literacy.
    • Ethical Reasoning
    • Oral and/or Signed Communication
    • Research and Information Literacy
  • CAS NE 542: Neuroethology
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASNE102 & CASNE203) and NE major; and junior or senior standing. - An in-depth study of the neural mechanisms underlying natural behaviors in animals, integrating perspectives from behavioral ecology and neurobiology. Behaviors that are central to fitness will be studied in detail, including the sensory and motor bases of prey detection, predator avoidance, communication, courtship, navigation, and migration. A wide variety of non- model organisms such as honeybees, owls, bats, and crickets are discussed. Lectures are integrated with student-led discussions of relevant research papers. 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.
    • Oral and/or Signed Communication
    • Research and Information Literacy
    • Scientific Inquiry II
  • CAS NE 544: Developmental Neuropsychology
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASPS241) or consent of instructor. - Study of the neural mechanisms underlying behavioral development. Topics include the plasticity of the developing brain in response to deprivation or damage and mechanisms underlying specific syndromes (e.g., aphasia, dyslexia, learning disabilities, hyperactivity, autism, and Tourette's syndrome). Also offered as CAS PS 544.
  • CAS NE 556: Drug Discovery in Neuroscience
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS NE 102/116, NE 333, CH 203, NE major, and junior or senior standing g. - The process of drug discovery is complex especially when a drug is intended to treat a neurological disease. This discussion-heavy course examines the specific challenges of modern neuroscience drug discovery, including: target selection, pharmacodynamics, animal models, and clinical trials. Effective Fall 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Digital/Multimedia Expression, Scientific Inquiry II, Creativity/Innovation.
    • Creativity/Innovation
    • Digital/Multimedia Expression
    • Scientific Inquiry II
  • CAS NE 561: Proteostasis in the Biology of Neurodegenerative Diseases
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS NE 102, NE 203, NE major, and junior or senior standing. CAS BI 2 03/213 is recommended. - A hands-on class focusing on the mechanisms that control protein homoestasis, and on the approaches that we can use to study how it may change in conditions associated with neurodegenerative diseases. The class mimics, as much as possible, a real research environment, as students carry out experiments throughout the semester, learn how to develop and test new hypotheses, and also share knowledge through weekly readings and presentation of research articles inherent to the topics of the class. Effective Fall 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry II, Creativity/Innovation, Research and Information Literacy.
    • Creativity/Innovation
    • Research and Information Literacy
    • Scientific Inquiry II