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 BI 588: Project Design and Statistics in Biological Anthropology
  This seminar teaches students project design and statistics using R and Rstudio. Students will become competent in coding, version control, data reports and commenting code, and implement both basic and advanced statistics to be used in student research projects. Effective Fall 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Scientific Inquiry II, Teamwork/Collaboration.
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  • Quantitative Reasoning II
  • Scientific Inquiry II
  • Teamwork/Collaboration
• CAS BI 589: Neural Impacts on Tumorigenesis
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASNE203 OR CASBI325) - Explores neuronal invasion and mechanisms of neurogenesis into solid tumors, cross-talk in tumor microenvironments, and nervous system influence on cancer modulators that enhance tumorigenesis. Enhancement of cancer from environmental stress at this interface is also examined. Effective Fall 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.
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  • Oral and/or Signed Communication
  • Research and Information Literacy
  • Scientific Inquiry II
• CAS BI 591: Bio-Optical Oceanography
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: admission to the Marine Semester. - This field- and lab-based course explores how the optically active constituents in seawater affect the in-water light field, and in turn, how field optics and remote sensing can facilitate the study of marine biogeochemistry, biological oceanography and water quality. Also offered as CAS ES 591.
• CAS BI 593: Marine Physiology and Climate Change
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI108) or consent of the instructor, and admission to the Marine Semester. - Explores the range of physiological responses marine organisms exhibit in response to climate change. Investigates phenotypic plasticity exhibited across different organisms and how this plasticity can influence an organism's resilience to its changing environment.
• CAS BI 594: Topics in Biology 5
  This course may be repeated for credit if the topic is different. Prerequisites vary with topic.
• CAS BI 595: Master's Research in Biology
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: Admission into the MS or BA/MS combined program - Biology laboratory research conducted under supervision of a faculty member. Externships are acceptable with prior approval. Minimum of 7.5 or 15 hours per week in the lab, culminating in submission of a written progress report.
• CAS BI 597: Graduate Directed Study in Biology
  Mentored directed study with a faculty member of the Biology Department. The directed study should involve graduate level investigation on a well-defined subject determined in consultation with faculty member.
• CAS BI 598: Neural Circuits
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASBI 325 or CASNE 203, and CASPY 106. - Reviews modern techniques and toolsets that are capable of dissecting neural circuits, which are critical for understanding how coordinated patterns of neural activity lead to complex behavior. Recent literature on information processing, guided behavior and cognition is discussed.
• CAS BI 599: Physiology of the Synapse
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing. Recommended: CAS BI 325 or BI 445 or BI 481. - Neuron development and maturation, synapse formation, structure and molecular components of synapses, synaptic transmission, synaptic plasticity, neurotransmitter receptors, cellular basis for learning and memory, synaptic pathology in neurological diseases. Two hours lecture, two hours paper presentation and discussion.
• CAS CH 500: Special Topics in Chemistry
  May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Pre-requisites vary with topic.
• CAS CH 524: Chemical Biology Laboratory
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBB421) or consent of instructor. Project-based laboratory course to introduce students to the design and implementation of modern experimental techniques in chemical biology, including protein-peptide and protein-small molecule interactions, fluorescent binding assays, enzyme activity, and inhibition kinetics. Eight hours of lab weekly in addition to a pre-lab lecture. Effective Spring 2024, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Teamwork/Collaboration, Creativity/Innovation.
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  • Creativity/Innovation
  • Teamwork/Collaboration
• CAS CH 525: Physical Biochemistry
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBB421); (CASMA121 OR CASMA123); (CASPY106 OR CASPY212). Cannot be taken as advanced course for chemistry majors or in addition to CAS CH351/352. Introduction to physical chemical principles with topics in biochemistry, solution and solid phase chemistry of biomolecules as studied by equilibrium, hydrodynamics, and spectroscopic/quantum mechanical methods.
• CAS CH 550: Materials Chemistry: Hard Materials
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: General Chemistry 2 (CAS CH 110 or CH 112 or equivalent) or consent of instructor. This course will focus on the structure, synthesis, properties, and applications of solid-state materials. The main topics in this class cover the bonding in solids; formation of crystals; basic crystallography; electron diffraction; defects, phase transformation; general principles about the atomic level growth and characterizations of solid materials.
• CAS CH 551: Materials Chemistry: Polymer Synthesis and Applications
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: Organic Chemistry 2 (CAS CH 204, CH212, or CH214 or equivalent) or consent of instructor. The primary objective of this course is to teach the chemistry and engineering skills needed to solve challenges in polymers and polymeric materials. This course is divided into three sections: macromolecular chemistry, physical characterization & properties, and specialty polymer sections. Three hours of lecture weekly.
• CAS CI 512: Film and Media Theory
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: First-year writing seminar (e.g., CASWR 100 or 120) and CASCI 101, CASCI 102, CASCI 200, or COMFT 250. - Introduction to film and media theory as a mode of inquiry. What happens when we render the world as an image? How do cinematic images differ from other forms of image-making? What does it mean to be a spectator? Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Philosophical Inquiry and Life's Meanings, Research and Information Literacy.
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  • Philosophical Inquiry and Life's Meanings
  • Research and Information Literacy
  • Writing-Intensive Course
• CAS CI 551: Studies in Auteur Filmmaking
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., CASWR 100 or WR 120) - Intensive study of a single filmmaker or group of filmmakers, paying special attention to theoretical problems of authorship and artistic control. How do filmmakers respond to studio pressure, historical events or government censorship? How do personal styles develop and transform in a collaborative medium? What does it mean to think of the director or writer or producer of a film as its author? Topic for Spring 2025, Section A1: Roberto Rossellini & Pier Paolo Pasolini. Survey of Italian filmmakers Roberto Rossellini and Pier Paolo Pasolini, from their similar roots in the (neo)realist tradition to their diverging paths, one would explore the pedagogical power of television while the other moved to literary adaptations and radical cinema. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Aesthetic Exploration, Research and Information Literacy.
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  • Aesthetic Exploration
  • Research and Information Literacy
  • Writing-Intensive Course
• CAS CL 502: Studies in Ancient Greek and Roman Literature
  Open to advanced undergraduate and graduate students. The literature studied is read in its original language, either ancient Greek or Latin, so advanced skill in the appropriate language is required. Not offered 2025/2026.
• CAS CL 520: Studies in Latin Literature
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASCL 351. - Extensive readings in original Latin supplemented by readings in modern scholarship and studies of post-classical receptions. Topic for Fall 2025: Critical Theory and Latin Literature.
• CAS CL 521: Survey of Latin Literature 1
  Historical survey from archaic Latin through Republican literature; introduction to classical scholarship. For advanced students wishing to increase their language skills through extensive reading. Not offered 2025/2026.
• CAS CL 522: Survey of Latin Literature 2
  Survey of Latin authors focusing on the period of the early Empire; introduction to classical scholarship. For advanced students wishing to increase their language skills through extensive reading. Not offered 2025/2026.