Courses
Spring 2022 Course Directory
Complete List of Neuroscience Electives
The following is an unofficial list of all the electives that are approved to count towards the B.A. in Neuroscience. We strive to update this list when courses are added or removed, but if you are uncertain whether a course counts or not you can always consult the BU Bulletin (which maintains the official list of all courses that count for Neuroscience major credit). If you would like to petition for a course not in this list to be counted as an elective, please submit a Neuroscience Program Course Petition. Click on a course to see a description, which semesters it is offered, and at what times. Please note that not all listed electives run every semester or every year: see the Course Directory above or StudentLink for the list of classes available this semester.
Group 1: Neurobiology Electives
NE 230 – Behavioral Endocrinology
CAS NE 230 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI108 OR CASNE102) and sophomore standing. - Hormonal control of reproductive behaviors and social affiliation, aggression, fluid homeostasis and feeding, biological rhythms including seasonal reproduction, stress, learning and memory, psychiatric illness, and steroid abuse. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion. Also offered as CAS BI 230. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Oral and/or Signed Communication, Teamwork/Collaboration.Behavioral Endocrinology
NE 322 – Experimental Psychology: Physiology
BI/NE 349 – Neurotoxins in Biology, Medicine, Agriculture, and War
CAS BI 349 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: BI108 or NE102 or equivalent - Neurotoxins used as a lens to study the consequences of venom on mammalian physiological systems; potential clinical applications of neurotoxins; neurotoxins at cellular and molecular levels; mechanisms and possible impacts of neurotoxic pesticides; and physiological effects of neurotoxic chemical weapons. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning I, Critical Thinking.Neurotoxins in Biology, Medicine, Agriculture and War
NE 445 – Cellular and Molecular Neurophysiology
CAS NE 445 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI203 OR CASBI315 OR CASBI325 OR CASNE203) or consent of instructor. - Cellular and molecular basis of neural excitability and synaptic transmission. The molecular understanding of ion channels is extrapolated to higher brain functions such as learning, memory, and sleep. Three hours lecture, three hours lab, one hour pre-lab. Also offered as CAS BI 445.Cellular and Molecular Neurophysiology
NE 455 – Developmental Neurobiology
CAS NE 455 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI203 OR CASBI325 OR CASNE203) or consent of instructor. - Fundamental principles of developmental neurobiology, stressing molecular mechanisms that underlie early neural development, differentiation, process outgrowth, and behavior. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion. Also offered as CAS BI 455.Developmental Neurobiology
NE 481 – Molecular Biology of the Neuron
CAS NE 481 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI203 OR CASNE102) - Topics include electrical properties of neurons, a survey of neurotransmitters, molecular structure and function of receptors, synaptic transmission, intracellular signaling, and the molecular biology of sensory transduction. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion. Also offered as CAS NE 481. 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.Molecular Biology of the Neuron
CAS NE 520 (4 credits) 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.Sensory Neurobiology
NE 525 – Biology of Neurodegenerative Diseases
CAS NE 525 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASNE102 & CASBI203) and NE major; and junior or 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.Biology of Neurodegenerative Diseases
NE 535 – Translational Research in Alzheimer’s Disease
CAS NE 535 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASNE102 & CASNE203) and NE major; and junior or 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.Translational Research in Alzheimer's Disease
CAS NE 542 (4 credits) 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.Neuroethology
NE 545 – Neurobiology of Motivated Behavior
CAS NE 545 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI315 OR CASBI325 OR CASNE201) or consent of instructor. - Neural circuits and neuroendocrine mechanisms controlling reproductive, parental, and affiliative behaviors, decision making, ingestive behaviors and metabolism, circadian rhythms, pain perception, and reward in animals, with an emphasis on vertebrates. Lectures are integrated with student-led discussions of relevant research papers. Also offered as CAS BI 545.Neurobiology of Motivated Behavior
CAS NE 598 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI325 OR CASNE203) and CASPY106. - 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. Also offered as CAS BI 598.Neural Circuits
BI 599 – Neurobiology of Synapses
CAS BI 599 (4 credits) 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.Physiology of the Synapse
MET BI 566 – Neurobiology of Consciousness
MET BI 566 (4 credits) Your brain is a bizarre device, set in place through natural selection of your ancestors and your own experience. One thing that clearly separates your brain from the brain of any other non-human animal is the propensity of your brain for imagination and creativity. In this class we will dive into the neuroscience of imagination: from neurons to memory to neurological control of novel conscious experiences. We will study what makes your brain unique and the selectional forces that shaped the brains of our ancestors. We will discuss what makes human language special and how it evolved. This interdisciplinary class is intended for paleoanthropologists who want to learn neuroscience, psychologists who are interested in the question of the origin of language, biologists who are interested in the uniqueness of the human mind, neuroscientists who want an exposure to paleoanthropology and linguistics, philosophers fascinated by neurological basis of behavior and other students interested in an understanding of the mind of a man and the evolution of the brain. Students cannot take both METBI566 and METBI366 for credit.Neurobiology of Consciousness
Group 2: Cognitive Electives
NE 234 – Psychology of Learning
CAS NE 234 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASPS101) - How do we learn to associate stimuli together' How do we learn to associate behaviors with their consequences' How is memory applicable to learning' What are the different memory processes and systems responsible for learning' The aim of this course is to review the major traditional and current theories of learning and memory. Students will begin with an understanding of simple learning, including theories and basic principles of classical and operant conditioning. Students will then be introduced to the memory system, the three stages of memory, implicit and explicit memory processes. Carries social science divisional credit in CAS. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Social Inquiry I, Critical Thinking.Psychology of Learning
NE 327 – Experimental Psychology: Perception
CAS NE 327 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS PS101; PS222; either PS 211, PS/NE 212, or CAS MA 115 and MA 116. - Introduces psychophysical methods and their use in the study of perceptual processes: Students learn to think critically about the relation between theory and experiment, conduct perception experiments, and write experimental reports. Also offered as CAS PS 327.Experimental Psychology: Perception
NE 328 – Experimental Psychology: Memory and Cognition
CAS NE 328 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS PS336 or PS339/NE202 or instructor consent; either PS 211, PS/NE 2 12, or CAS MA 115 and MA 116. - An overview of standard experimental paradigms and computational modeling approaches used in the study of memory and cognition. Methods are illustrated in the laboratory where students perform experiments using themselves as subjects and analyze and model their data using computers. Also offered as CAS PS 328.Experimental Psychology: Memory & Cognition
NE 329 – Experimental Psychology: Cognitive Neuroscience
CAS NE 329 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS PS231 (or instructor consent); PS339/NE202; either PS 211, PS/NE 2 12, or CAS MA 115 and MA 116;1st Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120). - Laboratory course in human cognitive neuroscience. Emphasis on large-scale neural mechanisms of visual cognition using electrophysiological measurements of brain activity. Students critically engage with theories in psychological science, conduct cognitive neuroscience experiments, and learn to write experimental reports. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Research and Information Literacy, Teamwork/Collaboration.Experimental Psychology: Cognitive Neuroscience
CAS NE 333 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS PS 231 or CAS NE 101, and NE junior or senior standing; or consent of instructor. - Comprehensive survey of drug influences on behavior; introduces a neuroscience approach to behavior. Several classes of drugs are discussed, including abused and addictive substances and psychoactive and therapeutic agents. Also offered as CAS PS 333.Drugs and Behavior
NE 337 – Memory Systems of the Brain
CAS NE 337 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASPS231 OR CASNE101 OR CASBI325) or consent of instructor. - Survey of investigations into the brain systems and neurobiological mechanisms of memory. Includes experimental studies of amnesia in humans and experimental models of amnesia in animals. Focus on evidence for multiple forms of memory and distinct brain systems that mediate them. Also offered as CAS PS 337.Memory Systems of the Brain
CAS NE 338 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASPS231 OR CASBI325 OR CASNE203) - Survey of theoretical aspects and major empirical findings in human neuropsychology, including memory, language, spatial function, attention, emotion, and abstract thought. Emphasis is on the relation between brain disorders (resulting from head injury, stroke, degenerative disease, etc.) and abnormal behavior. Also offered as CAS PS 338.Neuropsychology
NE 456 – Neurobiology of Sex and Aggression
CAS NE 456 (4 credits) Examines neurobiological and genetic factors that influence sex and violence. Students review primary literature from the past century that highlights major scientific discoveries that have reconceptualized our understanding of the origins of sexual-determination, -attraction and - aggression. Effective Spring 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Historical Consciousness, Scientific Inquiry II.Neurobiology of Sex and Aggression
NE 499 – Human Functional Neuroanatomy through Clinical Cases
NE 521 – Animal Models in Behavioral Neuroscience
CAS NE 521 (4 credits) 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.Animal Models in Behavioral Neuroscience
CAS NE 528 (4 credits) 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.Human Brain Mapping
NE 529 – Neuroplasticity: Enabling the Brain to Heal Itself
NE 544 – Developmental Neurospsychology
CAS NE 544 (4 credits) 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.Developmental Neuropsychology
Group 3: Computational Electives
NE 340 – Introduction to Computational Models of Skilled Decision and Action
NE 360 – Introduction to Computational Neuroscience of Speech, Language, and Hearing
NE 449 – Neuroscience Design Lab
CAS NE 449 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI315 OR CASBI325 OR CASNE203) ; or consent of instructor. - Design and build devices for neuroscience experiments. Interface sensors with computers using Arduino microprocessors. Guided exercises followed by independent design projects to quantify human sensory and motor performance, or emulate animal sensory-motor circuits. All levels of programming experience accepted. Also offered as CAS BI 449. Neuroscience Design Lab
NE 526 – Neural Control of Movement
NE 530 – Neural Models of Memory Function
CAS NE 530 (4 credits) 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.Neural Models of Memory Function
CN 500 – Computational Methods in Cognitive and Neural Systems
CN 510 – Principles and Methods of Cognitive and Neural Modeling I
CAS CN 510 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASMA226 (or equivalent; can be taken in parallel); and CASCS108 or CA SCS111 or ENGEK127 (or equivalent); and CASNE101 (or equivalent; can b e taken in parallel); or consent of instructor. - Explores psychological, biological, mathematical, and computational foundations of behavioral and brain modeling. Topics include organizational principles, mechanisms, local circuits, network architectures, cooperative and competitive non-linear feedback systems, associative learning systems, and self-organizing code-compression systems. The adaptive resonance theory model unifies many course themes. CAS CN 510 and 520 may be taken concurrently.Principles and Methods of Cognitive and Neural Modeling 1
CN 520 – Principles and Methods of Cognitive and Neural Modeling II
CN 530 – Neural and Computational Models of Vision
Neural and Computational Models of Vision
CAS CN 530 (4 credits)
Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASCN510) or consent of instructor. - Graduate Prerequisites: (CASCN510) or consent of instructor. - Current models of mammalian visual processes are constrained by experimental and theoretical results from psychology, physiology, computer science, and mathematics. The course evaluates the explanatory adequacy of competing neural and computational models of such processes as edge detection, textural grouping, shape-from-shading, stereopsis, motion detection, and color perception. Students perform computer simulations of some of the examined models.
CAS MA 578 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASMA 575 or consent of instructor. - The principles and methods of Bayesian statistics. Subjective probability, Bayes rule, posterior distributions, predictive distributions. Computationally based inference using Monte Carlo integration, Markov chain simulation. Hierarchical models, mixture models, model checking, and methods for Bayesian model selection.Bayesian Statistics
MA 565 – Mathematical Models in Life Sciences
CAS MA 565 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASMA226 OR CASMA231) - Graduate Prerequisites: (CASMA226 OR CASMA231) - An introduction to mathematical modeling, using applications in the biological sciences. Mathematics includes linear difference and differential equations, and an introduction to nonlinear phenomena and qualitative methods. An elementary knowledge of differential equations and linear algebra is assumed. Mathematical Models in the Life Sciences
CAS CS 542 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASCS365) - Introduction to modern machine learning concepts, techniques, and algorithms. Topics include regression, kernels, support vector machines, feature selection, boosting, clustering, hidden Markov models, and Bayesian networks. Programming assignments emphasize taking theory into practice, through applications on real-world data sets.Principles of Machine Learning
CS 565 – Algorithmic Data Mining
CAS CS 565 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASCS112 & CASCS330 & CASCS365) - Introduction to data mining concepts and techniques. Topics include association and correlation discovery, classification and clustering of large datasets, outlier detection. Emphasis on the algorithmic aspects as well as the application of mining in real-world problems.Algorithmic Data Mining
Restricted Electives
CAS BI 203 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI108 OR CASNE102) and CAS CH 102 or equivalent. ; Undergraduate Corequisites: (CASCH203)or equivalent. - Principles of cellular organization and function: biological molecules, flow of genetic information, membranes and subcellular organelles, and cell regulation. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion. Students may receive credit for CAS BI 203 or 213, but not both courses. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Quantitative Reasoning I, Critical Thinking.Cell Biology
BI 213 – Intensive Cell Biology
CAS BI 213 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI108 & CASCH102) or equivalents. ; Undergraduate Corequisites: (CASCH203)or equivalent. - Recommended for students in BMB and the Specialization in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology & Genetics. Alternative to CAS BI 203 emphasizing experimental approaches and in-depth discussion. Molecular basis of cell biology, including genomics, subcellular organelles, cell signaling, stem cells, and cancer. Students may receive credit for CAS BI 213 or 203, but not both courses. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Quantitative Reasoning I, Research and Information Literacy.Intensive Cell Biology
BI 315 – Systems of Physiology
CAS BI 315 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI108 OR ENGBE209) , and CASCH101 and CASCH102, or equivalent. First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120) - An introduction to physiological principles applied across all levels of organization (cell, tissue, organ system). Preparation for more advanced courses in physiology. Topics include homeostasis and neural, muscle, respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, endocrine, gastrointestinal, and metabolic physiology. Three hours lecture, three hours lab. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry II, Writing-Intensive Course, Critical Thinking, Teamwork/Collaboration.Systems Physiology
CAS CH 203 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASCH102 OR CASCH110 OR CASCH112) - Fundamentals of contemporary organic chemistry, including skeletal and electronic structure, stereochemistry, and reactions of important functional groups. Applications of organic reactions to important synthetic targets in materials and drug discovery will be highlighted, as will reactions pertinent to biochemistry. Laboratory includes training in basic organic chemistry skills, such as extraction, reaction performance, spectroscopy interpretation and chromatography. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Quantitative Reasoning I.Organic Chemistry 1
CH 218 – Integrated Science Experience II
CAS CH 218 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS CH 116, and either CAS BI 116 or CAS NE 116. ; Undergraduate Corequisites: CAS BI 218 or CAS NE 218. - Integration of organic chemistry with cell biology and neuroscience, with emphasis on how each discipline interacts experimentally. Laboratory focuses on synthesizing compounds and testing in biological systems. 3 lecture hours (meets with CH 203 lecture), 1 discussion hour, 4 hours lab, 2 hour lab discussion. 4 Credits Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Quantitative Reasoning I, Critical Thinking, Research and Information Literacy.Organic Chemistry 1 with Integrated Science Experience II Lab
CS 111 – Introduction to Computer Science I
CAS CS 111 (4 credits) The first course for computer science majors and anyone seeking a rigorous introduction. Develops computational problem-solving skills by programming in the Python language, and exposes students to variety of other topics from computer science and its applications. Carries MCS divisional credit in CAS. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Creativity/Innovation, Critical Thinking.Introduction to Computer Science 1
CS 112 – Introduction to Computer Science II
CAS CS 112 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASCS111) or equivalent. - Covers advanced programming techniques and data structures. Topics include recursion, algorithm analysis, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, graphs, tables, searching, and sorting. Carries MCS divisional credit in CAS. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Creativity/Innovation, Critical Thinking. Introduction to Computer Science 2
MA 226 – Differential Equations
CAS MA 226 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASMA225 OR CASMA230) - First-order linear and separable equations. Second-order equations and first-order systems. Linear equations and linearization. Numerical and qualitative analysis. Laplace transforms. Applications and modeling of real phenomena throughout. (Cannot be taken for credit in addition to CAS MA 231.) Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Critical Thinking.Differential Equations
CAS MA 242 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites CASMA 121 or CASMA 123 or CASMA 129 or consent of instructor. - Cannot be taken for credit in addition to CAS MA 442 or ENG EK 103. Matrix algebra, solution of linear systems, determinants, Gaussian elimination, fundamental theory, row-echelon form. Vector spaces, bases, norms. Computer methods. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors, canonical decomposition. Applications. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Quantitative Reasoning II. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Critical Thinking.Linear Algebra
CAS MA 416 (4 credits) Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASMA 116 or CASMA 214 or consent of instructor. - Fundamental concepts and analytical skills in analysis of variance, including crossed and nested designs, as well as fixed- and random- effect models. Trend analysis for repeated measures, expected mean squares, and non-parametric techniques. SAS is used throughout the course. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Critical Thinking.Analysis of Variance
ENG EK 127 – Engineering Computation