This course may be repeated for credit if the topic is different. Prerequisites vary with topic.
FALL 2026 Schedule
| Section |
Instructor |
Location |
Schedule |
Notes |
| A1 |
Kubica |
CAS 318 |
W 4:40 pm-5:30 pm |
Mammalogy:
Mammalogy is the study of mammals. Therefore, in this course, you’ll learn about a variety of biology subfields through the lens of mammals, including behavior and anatomy. Mammalian systematics and evolution will be key components of the course. You’ll also work on your presentation and grant writing skills. The readings will mainly come from primary literature. This course includes multiple short assignments, 5 take-home Check-Up Assessments, 1 in-person Midterm and a final GRFP (grant proposal). |
| A1 |
Kubica |
PSY B45 |
TR 3:30 pm-4:45 pm |
Mammalogy:
Mammalogy is the study of mammals. Therefore, in this course, you’ll learn about a variety of biology subfields through the lens of mammals, including behavior and anatomy. Mammalian systematics and evolution will be key components of the course. You’ll also work on your presentation and grant writing skills. The readings will mainly come from primary literature. This course includes multiple short assignments, 5 take-home Check-Up Assessments, 1 in-person Midterm and a final GRFP (grant proposal). |
FALL 2026 Schedule
| Section |
Instructor |
Location |
Schedule |
Notes |
| B1 |
Redhuis |
LSE 504 |
TR 1:30 pm-3:15 pm |
R Data Science for Biologists:
Students will learn statistical and data visualization techniques using the R programming language. Emphasis will be placed on intuitive and practical applications of statistics. The course will be themed around analyzing biological data, but students can choose to work with a variety of non-biological datasets as well. All levels of programming experience are welcome. |
FALL 2026 Schedule
| Section |
Instructor |
Location |
Schedule |
Notes |
| C1 |
Traniello |
LSE 404 |
M 1:00 pm-4:00 pm |
Evolution and Ecology of the Social Brain -
One of the greatest challenges in biological science is to understand the evolution, organization, and functionality of the brain, an extraordinarily complex and energetically costly organ responsible for remarkable information processing, computation, and behavior. During the course of their evolution, the brains of animals living in groups have experienced ecological and sociobiological performance demands to adapt to social life. This course explores the nature of these adaptations.
This course is focused on the evolutionary neurobiology of the brain using a broad analysis of patterns of brain evolution in diverse clades ranging from invertebrates to humans. The importance of this broad perspective was summarized by Christopher Walsh, Director of the Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution at Harvard Medical School: “To understand when and how our modern brains evolved, we need to take a multi-pronged approach that will reflect how evolution works in nature.” Similarly, the NSF BRAIN Initiative noted that understanding the human brain will benefit from comparative studies of animal models. We will study the natural history of the brain at different levels of analysis. |
Note that this information may change at any time. Please visit the MyBU Student Portal for the most up-to-date course information.
