10 Epic Classes at BU

Students will participate in hands-on cooking labs in the College of Arts & Sciences Physics of Food/Cooking course. And hopefully snack a little, too. Photo by Cydney Scott

It’s only a few weeks after Commencement, but BU Today is already looking forward to fall. We put together a list of the classes that we are most anticipating, from across BU’s schools and colleges, found in the course bulletin. Most of these classes are already full but there’s always next semester.

1. CAS PY 107—Physics of Food/Cooking

Who doesn’t want to entertain dinner guests with an explanation of the science of phase transitions: how one thing (say, water) transforms into something else (ice)? This College of Arts & Sciences offering covers the physics of soft materials, the basic principles of thermodynamics, molecular physics, and molecular biology. And best of all, you get to eat your experiments, which include ice cream and cheese.

2. CAS AS 107—Life Beyond Earth

About 10 percent of the planets in the Milky Way galaxy are similar to Earth in size and material composition. If our planet supports life, so might they. Physical laws covered in this course operate everywhere, leading us to wonder if life on other planets is both common and technologically advanced.

3. CAS CI 590 / COM CI 590—Cordless TV

This course, officially called Special Topics in Cinema and Media Studies, focuses on how people watch television even when there is no television set. It explores the ways on-demand viewing influences how programming is made and marketed, how audiences are targeted, and how outlets like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon are changing viewing opportunities.

4. ENG ME 408—Aircraft Performance and Design

Students will learn the basics of designing and analyzing fixed-wing aircraft, including general aviation aircraft, commercial transports, and select military planes. Student teams will design an airplane during the semester and compete against classmates for Best-in-Class design.

5. SHA HF 329—Intro to Fine Wines

If you’ve hankered after an overview of the fine wines of the world, this introductory-level course is for you. Students are educated about the world’s major wine-producing regions, taught the winemaking process, and shown how to do several wine-related tasks, like compiling a comprehensive wine list.

6. QST MK 465—Retailing and Online Distribution

Questrom students will study retail organizations and the challenges they face in the highly competitive retail marketplace. They will learn how consumers make purchasing decisions and what retailers do to try to influence those decisions.

7. CFA TH 507—Advanced Study in Stage Violence

College of Fine Arts junior and senior performance majors will be trained in unarmed combat, along with one discipline of armed combat, all required skills for those hoping to earn the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD) weapon certification.

8. CAS EC 385—Economics of Sports

This class applies the tools of microeconomic theory to such things as the optimal design of sports leagues, the impact of new stadiums on a local economy, fan (customer) discrimination, and salary differentials between players. Competition for a seat can be tough.

9. SED DE 570—American Sign Language I

This introductory course teaches American Sign Language as a foreign/second language to non–native signers. Students also learn what makes deaf culture a culture of its own.

10. COM FT 514—Writing the Television Pilot

If you’re mourning the end of Big Little Lies or The Leftovers, here’s a chance to top it. Each student will pitch a concept and write a treatment and a finished pilot script for an original comedy or drama series. The class consists of lectures, screenings, script readings, written assignments, and critiques.

Know of another unique class? Let us know in the Comment section below.

Amy Laskowski can be reached at amlaskow@bu.edu.