Approved New Courses, College of Arts & Sciences 2009/2010
Humanities Curriculum Committee
Chair, Abigail Gillman (MLCL)
| CAS AH 368 | The Grand Tour |
| CAS EN 128 | Representing Boston |
| CAS EN 327 | Topics in American Literature |
| CAS EN 347 | Topics in Contemporary Fiction |
| CAS EN 340 E | Visionary Capital: The Writing of London |
| CAS EN 391 E | Research Seminar in the Literature of London |
| CAS LC 351 | Masterpieces of Modern Chinese Literature, 1910–Present |
| CAS LH 117 | Biblical Hebrew 1 |
| CAS LI 305 | Topics in Composition and Culture |
| CAS LI 383 S | European Context of Italian Cinema |
| CAS LK 116 | First-Year Accelerated Korean |
| CAS LK 216 | Second-Year Accelerated Korean |
| CAS LT 303 | Advanced Turkish I |
| CAS LY 350 | Introduction to Arabic Literature |
| CAS LY 404 | Advanced Arabic 2 |
| CAS LZ 281 | Rumi and Persian Sufi Poetry |
| CAS PH 159 | Philosophy and Film |
| CAS PH 320 | Making Ideas: Historical and Philosophical Perspectives on Reading, Note-Taking, and Writing |
| CAS RN 206 | Sacred Texts of World Religions |
| CAS XL 320 | Thomas Mann’s “Death in Venice” |
| CAS/GRS RN 308/608 | The Open Heaven: Apocalyptic Literature in Early Judaism and Christianity |
| CAS/GRS RN 326/626 | Jewish Mystical Movements and Modernization, 1492–2000 |
| CAS/GRS RN 385/685 | Representations of the Holocaust in Literature and Film |
| CAS/GRS RN 429/729 | Religion and Politics in South Asia |
| CAS/GRS RN 466/766 | Religion and the Problem of Tolerance |
| GRS RN 797 | Philosophical and Theological Approaches to Religion |
Natural Sciences Curriculum Committee
Chair, James Traniello (Biology)
| CAS AN 338 | Lucy and Ardi: The Oldest Women |
| CAS BI/MA 196 | Introductory Quantitative Biology |
| CAS BI 216 | Intensive Genetics |
| CAS BI 502 | Topics in the Mathematical Structure of Biological Systems |
| CAS BI 519 | Theoretical Evolutionary Ecology |
| CAS GE 502 | Field Measurements for Remote Sensing |
| CAS MA 141 | Mathematics and Society Through the Ages: Codes and Cryptosystems |
| CAS MA 148 | Investigations in Number Theory |
| CAS MA 150 | Investigations in Geometry |
| CAS PY 111 | Energy |
| CAS/GRS GE 456/656 | Terrestrial Ecosystems and the Carbon Cycle |
| GRS BI/GE/ES 719 | Colloquium in Terrestrial Biogeoscience |
| GRS BI/GE/ES 720 | Practicum in Terrestrial Biogeoscience |
| GRS MA 665 | Introduction to Modeling and Data Analysis in Neuroscience |
| GRS MA 783 | Advanced Stochastic Processes |
Social Sciences Curriculum Committee
Chair, Charles Lindholm (Anthropology)
| CAS AA/SO 355 | Science, Race, and Society |
| CAS AN 341E | Topics in Culture and Society in Niger |
| CAS AN 524 | Seminar: Language and Culture Contacts in Contemporary Africa |
| CAS AN 541/543 | Modernity Seminar I/II |
| CAS AR 345 | Introduction to Archaeological Field Methods: Getting the Context Right |
| CAS GE 150 | Sustainable Energy: Technology, Resources, Society, and Environment |
| CAS GE 555 | World Oil Markets |
| CAS HI 250 | Historical Writing and Statistics |
| CAS HI 303 E | London Since 1666: Imperial Capital to World City |
| CAS HI 320 E | Cultural Capital: The History of Popular Culture in London |
| CAS HI 337 | History of the Jews in Russia and Eastern Europe |
| CAS HI 359 S | Total War: 1914–1945 |
| CAS HI 360 | Politics of the American Environment |
| CAS HI 383 | Topics in the History of Israel |
| CAS HI 481 | Orientalism and Occidentalism: Encounters between Japan and the West |
| CAS HI 555 | Black Community and Social Change |
| CAS IR 392 E | Britain and the European Question: The Confluence of History and Politics |
| CAS IR 427 E | Seminar in International Business |
| CAS IR 452 | Topics in European Politics and Culture |
| CAS IR 529 | Cuba in Transition |
| CAS PO 302 | Campaigns and Elections Around the World |
| CAS PO 343 | Foundations of American Public Policy |
| CAS PO 509 / IR 502 | Latin American Political Parties |
| CAS PO 641 | Public Policy Analysis: Issues, Concepts, and Tools |
| CAS SO 241 | Sociology of Gender |
| CAS SO 253 | Sociology of Popular Culture |
| CAS WS 310 E | London Women’s Social History from Aphra Behn to the Blitz |
| CAS/GRS AR 347/747 | Egypt and Northeast Africa: Early States in Egypt, Nubia, and Eritrea/Ethiopia |
| CAS/GRS HI 413/713 | Gender in Medieval Christian Mysticism |
| CAS/GRS SO 448/848 | Culture, Markets, and Inequality |
| GRS AR 808 | Survey and Landscape Archaeology |
| GRS IR 780 | CIA’s National Clandestine Service |
| GRS PO 854 | Seminar on the Politics of Immigration |
Enrollment of CAS Students by Concentration
Spring 2010
(Source: Institutional Research, Fall 2010)
Majors & Minors reflect enrollment in Spring 2010
BAs = Official as of Sum2 '09, Fall '09, and Spring '10
| Majors | Minors | BAs Awarded | |
|---|---|---|---|
| African American Studies |
7 | ||
| American Studies | 17 | 10 | |
| Anthropology | 125 | 49 | 42 |
| Anthropology & Religion | 11 | 4 | |
| Approved Deferral | 766 | ||
| Archaeology | 94 | 10 | 23 |
| Art History | 125 | 43 | 48 |
| Astronomy |
5 | 5 | 1 |
| Astronomy & Physics | 41 | 8 | |
| Geophysics & Planetary Sciences | 9 | 2 | |
| Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | 232 | 65 | |
| Biology (general) | 534 | 98 | 134 |
| Specialization: Cell, Molecular & Genetics | 89 | 16 | |
| Specialization: Ecology | 40 | 11 | |
| Specialization: Marine Science | 1 | 2 | |
| Specialization: Neurobiology | 27 | ||
| Specialization: Neuroscience | 36 | 15 | |
| Specialization: Quantitative Biology | 4 | 1 | |
| Chemistry | 94 | 21 | 19 |
| Chemistry: Biochemistry | 30 | 3 | |
| Chemistry: Teaching Chemistry | 1 | ||
| Classical Civilization | 41 | 23 | 19 |
| Ancient Greek | |||
| Ancient Greek & Latin | 13 | 6 | |
| Classics & Philosophy | 2 | 2 | |
| Classics & Religion | 1 | ||
| Latin | 5 | 8 | 2 |
| Modern Greek Studies | 7 | ||
| Myth Studies | 3 | ||
| Computer Science | 118 | 18 | 24 |
| Earth Sciences | 29 | 11 | 6 |
| Environmental Earth Sciences | 2 | 1 | |
| Economics | 677 | 65 | 202 |
| English | 365 | 36 | 122 |
| Film Studies | 15 | ||
| Geography & Environment | |||
| Environmental Analysis & Policy | 88 | 26 | 28 |
| Environment Remote Sensing & GIS | 4 | ||
| Environmental Science | 42 | 10 | 7 |
| Geography (Human & Physical) | 17 | 5 | |
| History | 303 | 74 | 133 |
| Independent Concentration | 9 | 5 | |
| Interdisciplinary Area Studies | |||
| African Studies | 7 | ||
| East Asian Studies | 22 | 9 | 5 |
| Latin American Studies | 11 | 4 | 2 |
| Muslim (Cultures & Societies) | 9 | ||
| Russia & East Europe | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| International Relations | 961 | 39 | 305 |
| Marine Science | 71 | 18 | 15 |
| Mathematics (including Statistics) | 182 | 44 | 43 |
| Mathematics & Computer Science | 9 | 2 | |
| Mathematics & Economics | 72 | 10 | |
| Mathematics & Mathematics Education | 5 | 4 | |
| Mathematics & Philosophy | 3 | 5 | |
| Statistics | 23 | ||
| Medical Science | 152 | 22 | |
| Pre-dental Science | 14 | 1 | |
| Medieval Studies | 5 | ||
| Modern Languages & Comparative Literature | |||
| Arabic | 19 | ||
| Chinese | 23 | ||
| Chinese Language & Literature | 4 | 1 | |
| Comparative Literature | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| German | 29 | ||
| German Language & Literature | 9 | 5 | |
| Hebrew | 3 | ||
| Japanese Language & Literature | 27 | 28 | 6 |
| Russian | 5 | ||
| Russian Language & Literature | 3 | 2 | |
| Music | 25 | 26 | 7 |
| Neuroscience | 170 | 16 | |
| Philosophy | 100 | 36 | 46 |
| Philosophy & Physics | 2 | ||
| Philosophy & Political Science | 26 | 10 | |
| Philosophy & Psychology | 23 | 3 | |
| Philosophy & Religion | 5 | 2 | |
| Physics | 81 | 9 | 11 |
| Political Science | 401 | 56 | 147 |
| Psychology | 823 | 105 | 276 |
| Religion | 45 | 40 | 22 |
| Judaic Studies | 6 | ||
| Romance Studies | |||
| French | 137 | ||
| French Language & Literature | 56 | 18 | |
| Hispanic Language & Literatures | 73 | 24 | |
| Italian | 17 | ||
| Italian Studies | 5 | 1 | |
| Linguistics | 84 | 17 | 31 |
| Linguistics & Philosophy | |||
| Spanish | 141 | ||
| Sociology | 120 | 33 | 69 |
| Women’s Studies | 22 |
CAS Students in Non-CAS Minors, Spring 2010
Spring 2010
(Source: Institutional Research, Fall 2010)
Majors & Minors reflect enrollment in Spring 2010
BAs = Official as of Sum2 '09, Fall '09, and Spring '10
| Minors | |
|---|---|
| Advertising | 17 |
| Business Administration & Management | 151 |
| Communication Studies | 8 |
| Dance | 6 |
| Education | 12 |
| Human Physiology | 12 |
| Journalism | 127 |
| Music Performance | 10 |
| Photojournalism | 7 |
| Physical Education, Health Education & Coaching | 1 |
| Public Health | 67 |
| Public Relations | 21 |
| Speech, Language & Hearing Science | 5 |
| Theatre Arts | 21 |
| Visual Arts | 35 |
Number of CAS students who, in Spring 2010, were pursuing simultaneous bachelor’s degrees in CAS and a second BU undergraduate school or college under the auspices of the “BUCOP” dual degree program: 287
Number of CAS students who, in Spring 2010, were pursuing dual BA/MA degrees offered jointly with the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences: 76
Enrollment of CAS Majors by Department/Program
Spring 2009 vs. Spring 2010
| 2009 | 2010 | |
|---|---|---|
| American & New England Studies | 19 | 17 |
| Anthropology | 148 | 136 |
| Archaeology | 91 | 91 |
| Art History | 149 | 125 |
| Astronomy | 43 | 54 |
| Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | 281 | 232 |
| Biology | 781 | 731 |
| Chemistry | 109 | 125 |
| Classical Studies | 81 | 63 |
| Computer Science | 113 | 118 |
| Earth Sciences | 27 | 31 |
| Economics | 728 | 677 |
| English | 373 | 365 |
| Geography & Environment | 129 | 147 |
| History | 353 | 303 |
| Independent Concentration | 9 | 9 |
| Interdisciplinary Area Studies | 31 | 36 |
| International Relations | 1014 | 997 |
| Mathematics | 283 | 271 |
| Medical Sciences | 154 | 152 |
| Modern Languages & Comparative Literature | 38 | 47 |
| Music | 25 | 22 |
| Philosophy | 178 | 156 |
| Physics | 63 | 81 |
| Political Science | 441 | 410 |
| Psychology | 872 | 823 |
| Religion | 58 | 45 |
| Romance Studies | 219 | 218 |
| Sociology | 161 | 120 |
Enrollment and Student Profiles
CAS Enrollment
| 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Full- and Part-time Enrollment in CAS | 7292 | 7345 | 7597 | 7546 | 7437 | 7379 | 7202 |
| Total Full- and Part-time Enrollment in GRS | 1727 | 1908 | 1902 | 1919 | 1945 | 1948 | 1968 |
| Total Enrollment in Arts & Sciences | 9019 | 9253 | 9499 | 9465 | 9382 | 9327 | 9170 |
| Incoming Freshman Enrollment in CAS (GOAL: 1807) | 1830 | 1819 | 1845 | 1763 | 1805 | 1953 | 1813 |
| Incoming Transfers from Outside BU in CAS (GOAL: 114) | 155 | 122 | 105 | 113 | 148 | 131 | 118 |
| Average Combined SAT Scores of Incoming Freshmen (Paid Deposits)* | 1310 | 1313 | 1314 | 1310 | 1306 | 1301 | 1300 |
*(taken from Admissions’ Final Comparative Credentials Reports)
Profile of the CAS Class of 2013
Registered and Settled through Final Fall 2009 (Official Mid-Semester)
| First-years | 1,812 |
| Male | 35.4% (642) |
| Female | 64.6% (1,170) |
Ethnicity
| Number | Total | Known | |
|---|---|---|---|
| African American | 58 | 3.2% | 3.9% |
| Hispanic | 150 | 8.3% | 10.0% |
| Native American | 13 | 0.7% | 0.9% |
| Hawaiian/Pacif. Isl. | 7 | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Asian | 291 | 16.1% | 19.5% |
| Other Minority | 37 | 2.0% | 2.5% |
| Caucasian | 744 | 41.1% | 49.7% |
| International | 196 | 10.8% | 13.1% |
| Unspecified | 316 | 17.4% | |
| Total | 1,812 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Top 10 Programs/Majors
| Undeclared | 501 |
| Premedicine | 204 |
| International Relations | 118 |
| Biology | 115 |
| Economics | 91 |
| Psychology | 85 |
| English | 68 |
| Political Science | 55 |
| Biology—Cell/Molec/Gen | 51 |
| Biology—Neuroscience | 40 |
Geography
| # States | 45 |
| % From Out of State | 79.6% |
Top States
| Massachusetts | 370 |
| New York | 286 |
| New Jersey | 159 |
| California | 136 |
| Connecticut | 91 |
| Pennsylvania | 68 |
| Texas | 44 |
| Florida | 40 |
| Maryland | 38 |
| Virginia | 33 |
| Other States, D.C. |
304 |
| State(s) not represented: AK, AL, AR, MT, SD | |
| Territories, A.P.O. | 10 |
| Territories represented: PR,VI | |
| Foreign Address | 233 |
Region
| New England | 29.6% |
| Mid-Atlantic | 30.8% |
| Midwest | 5.3% |
| South | 7.1% |
| Southwest | 2.9% |
| West | 1.8% |
| Pacific | 9.2% |
| Other | 13.2% |
International-by-Visa Students
| Countries by Citizenship | 42 |
Top Countries by Citizenship
| China (incl. Hong Kong) | 48 |
| Republic of Korea | 38 |
| India | 15 |
| Canada | 12 |
| Indonesia | 9 |
| Taiwan, R.O.C. | 9 |
| Greece | 6 |
| Republic of Singapore | 6 |
| United Kingdom | 4 |
| Germany | 3 |
Credentials
| Average | Middle 50% | |
|---|---|---|
| SAT Critical Reading | 637 | 590–680 |
| SAT Math | 662 | 620–700 |
| SAT Composite | 1300 | 1230–1370 |
| SAT Writing | 652 | 610–700 |
| ACT Composite | 29 | 27–30 |
| High School Rank in Class | 90.0 | |
| High School GPA | 3.58 |
Rank in Class
| Top 5% | 38.0% |
| Top 10% |
61.3% |
| Top 15% |
78.8% |
| Top 20% | 88.6% |
| Top 25% | 93.7% |
| Top 30% | 95.2% |
| Top 50% | 99.4% |
Annual Report 2009/2010
From the Dean
In the past year the College of Arts & Sciences has gone from strength to strength.
Strengthening the Quality of the Faculty
The strength and reputation of Boston University and CAS as a world-class teaching and research institution rest on the quality of its faculty.
Attracting and Nurturing the Best Students
By maintaining high standards of academic quality and integrity and adhering to the best liberal arts traditions, CAS increasingly is regarded as a prime destination by intelligent and highly motivated students.
Strengthening the Student Experience: Focusing on Student Success
The College of Arts & Sciences works hard to attract great students and is committed to making sure they stay once they get here.
Strengthening Graduate Education
Graduate students in the College of Arts & Sciences learn that a critical component of their education is the need to apply what they learn to the benefit of their communities.
Enhancing The Research Mission In The College Of Arts & Sciences
The research trajectory of the College continued its upward climb this year.
Strengthening Our Connections to the Community and the World
In keeping with the collaborative teaching and research culture that exists across BU, CAS partners in many graduate programs across the University.
Managing Our Financial Resources
The current economic downturn has had a real impact on resource development initiatives at colleges and universities nationwide.
Nurturing Our Connections with Alumni and Friends
Strong, vital connections with alumni are critical to our being able to realize the goals we have indentified in our strategic planning and beyond.
Celebrating the Class of 2010
Seniors and their families, faculty, trustees, and other members of the BU community celebrated the 137th Commencement of Boston University at Nickerson Field on Sunday, May 16.
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