Francis Campanale

Ideal Curriculum

Boston College School of Biology

BIOL 1010 General Biology (Fall: 3)

Course Description

Designed for non-science majors who desire an introduction to cell and molecular biology, this
course is also suggested for students who may be interested in the Biology major but lack
sufficient preparation to enroll directly into BI200. Topics include the chemistry of life;
biological membranes; cellular metabolism; cell structure; cell division; DNA replication/RNA
transcription; protein synthesis; genetics/evolution. Lectures include discussions of the scientific
method and current applications of biological investigations. Note: this course does not fulfill
any requirement for the biology major, biochemistry major, or the pre-medical program.

BIOL 1112 Biology Honors Research Thesis I (Fall: 3 )

Course Description

Seniors with advanced standing who have already completed at least one semester of
undergraduate research can apply to participate in the Biology Honors Program. Students design
and execute experiments as part of independent research projects conducted under the
mentorship of a faculty member. Students write a senior honors thesis describing their project
and its results.

BIOL 1163 Understanding Urban Ecosystems:

Environmental Law, Policy, and Science (Fall: 3 )

Course Description

This course will explore the scientific and legal elements of the protection and restoration of
urban environmental resources, with a focus on Massachusetts. Specifically, the course will
cover the basic ecology, legal and social history, and legal and political frameworks for the
following topics: urban habitat and wildlife, toxic pollution in cities, urban watersheds, urban air
quality and public health, and the city as a biological habitat including human behavior and the
urban setting. This course will be taught by environmental lawyers, Charles Lord and Aaron
Toffler, with several lectures by Professor Eric Strauss, Boston College Environmental Studies
Program Director.

BIOL 1300 Anatomy and Physiology 1 (Fall/Summer: 3 )

Course Description

This course lays the foundation for the understanding of human anatomy and physiology. The
first portion of the course covers cellular and molecular aspects of eukaryotic cell function: basic
chemistry, macromolecules, cell structure, membrane transport, metabolism, gene expression,
cell cycle control, and genetics. The course continues with the study of several organ systems.
Beginning with the Integument, which is followed by the Skeletal and Muscular Systems, and
ending this first semester with the Nervous System. The cellular and molecular basis for the
functions of these systems is an integral element of this portion of the course.

BIOL 1310 Anatomy and Physiology Lab 1 Fall/Summer: 1

Course Description

Laboratory exercises intended to familiarize students with the various structures and principles
discussed in BIOL1300 through the use of anatomical models, physiological experiments, and
limited dissection.

BIOL 1320 Anatomy and Physiology 2 (Spring/Summer: 3 )

Course Description

This course is a continuation of BIOL1300/1310, with a primary emphasis on the physiology of

the major body systems. Systems studied in this course include the sensory, endocrine,
cardiovascular, lymphatic, immune, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems.
While the physiological functions under normal conditions are emphasized, relevant disease or
dysfunctional conditions are also discussed.

BIOL 1420 The Genetic Century (Spring: 3 )

Course Description

Genetics is transforming life in the twenty-first century, from health care to the foods we eat to
our understanding of evolution and biodiversity. The course will provide students with a basic
understanding of how information is encoded in genes and how that information is transmitted
between generations and expressed during development and disease. Topics covered in the
course include the genetic bases of disease and behavior, forensic uses of DNA, evolution,
genetic engineering, genetically modified crops, and personalized medicine. This course is
designed for students who are not majoring in biology or biochemistry.

BIOL 1440 Sustaining the Biosphere (Spring: 3 )

Course Description

Environmental problems and their solutions occur at the intersection of natural systems and the
human systems that manipulate the natural world. The course will provide students with an
integrated understanding of human systems that affect nature. Topics will include climate, air
and water pollution, economics and urbanization, food and agriculture, population growth,
biodiversity, waste management, and health and toxicology. Sustainability, personal
responsibility, and a proactive approach to involvement in solutions to current environmental
crises will be emphasized. This course is designed for students who are not majoring in biology
or biochemistry.

BIOL 1440 Sustaining the Biosphere (Spring: 3 )

Course Description

Environmental problems and their solutions occur at the intersection of natural systems and the
human systems that manipulate the natural world. The course will provide students with an
integrated understanding of human systems that affect nature. Topics will include climate, air
and water pollution, economics and urbanization, food and agriculture, population growth,
biodiversity, waste management, and health and toxicology. Sustainability, personal
responsibility, and a proactive approach to involvement in solutions to current environmental
crises will be emphasized. This course is designed for students who are not majoring in biology
or biochemistry.

BIOL 1480 Pathogens and Plagues (Spring: 3 )

Course Description

Much of biological discovery has been centered around human disease and our quest for health
and longevity. From the earliest observations regarding the human body, to the discovery of
germs and the eventual technology guiding current treatments, human beings have sought to
understand the physiological and cellular parameters associated with health. This course will
examine human disease and epidemics through the lens of pathogens, society and environmental
influence. Students will learn basic concepts of cell structure, genetics, and evolution in the
context of infectious diseases such as The Black Death, Tuberculosis, Influenza and AIDS. Not
open to students who have completed BIOL1702

BIOL 1503 Science and Technology in American Society

(Fall: 6 )

Course Description

What roles do science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) play in advanced,
knowledge-dependent societies? This course examines our institutional and cultural relationship
to innovation: hopes and fears about STEM, views of science and religion, conceptions of
democracy's cultural requirements, the emergence of DIY and geek culture, and more. And it
explores ethical questions around STEM, including debates over biotechnology,
pharmaceuticals, climate change, and mass extinction. The course gives students the basic
technical background to address these questions and an opportunity to imagine a technological
application of their own for addressing the complex problems of the twenty-first century.

BIOL 1701 Epidemics and Disease: Biological and Social

Causes, Consequences, and Responses (Spring: 3 )

Course Description

This course investigates the relationship between humans and microbes in the context of
historical epidemics. We will cover well‐known epidemics, such as the Black Death during the
Middle Ages and the devastating Influenza of 1918, and the role of antibiotics, vaccines, and
antivirals in the treatment of key illnesses such as polio, tuberculosis, and AIDS. Students will
learn basic concepts of biology including cell structure, genetics, physiology, and immunology.
The course will conclude with identifying common behavioral themes as seen in the on‐going
AIDS epidemic and in the more recent emerging Ebola epidemic in West Africa.
BIOL 1702 Human Disease:Plagues, Pathogens and Chronic
Disorders (Spring: 3 )

Course Description

Much of biological discovery has been centered around human disease and our quest for health
and longevity. From the earliest observations regarding the human body, to the discovery of
germs and the eventual technology guiding current treatments, human beings have sought to
understand the physiological and cellular parameters associated with health. This course will
examine human disease and epidemics through the lens of pathogens, genetic pre-disposition and
environmental influence. Students will learn basic concepts of cell structure, genetics, and
evolution in the context of infectious diseases such as Tuberculosis and AIDS or physiological
disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease or diabetes.

BIOL 1703 Your Brain on Theatre: On Stage and Off (Fall:

3)

Course Description

Actors are often challenged to portray individuals suffering from progressive neurological
disorders—e.g., Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases, Multiple Sclerosis, and syndromes
associated with malnutrition and traumatic brain injuries. Beginning with the neuroscience of the
“all right” brain, we will proceed to discuss neuroscience of the brain when awry, particularly in
the context of how actors authentically convey the complexities of emotion and of neuro-
disabilities. The enduring questions that we explore will pertain to defining the “true self”,
establishing memory, and engendering responsiveness to “the other.”

BIOL 1704 Metamorphosis: Evolution and the Genetics of

Change (Spring: 3 )

Course Description

Darwinian Evolution is a theory of change, and genetics is the field that attempts to explain how
evolution works. This course abandons science textbooks in favor of first-person accounts by
scientists (memoirs, letters, essays) to trace the origins and growth of evolutionary thought.
Through reading, discussion and writing, students will gain a deeper understanding of basic
genetics and how evolutionary theory can guide our thinking about human issues as diverse as
race, eugenics, medicine, genetic engineering and IQ tests.

BIOL 1705 In the Beginning: Scientific Explorations of Our

Origins (Fall: 3 )

Course Description

This course will examine scientific evidence regarding the origins of life on earth and human
evolution. The goals of this course are: (1) to understand how the scientific process may be
applied to questions for which no direct observation can be made, (2) to recognize scientific
hypotheses developed to explain both the origin of life and the origins of humankind, and (3) to
comprehend evidence supporting or refuting these hypotheses. This course will utilize both
historic and modern texts to explore how the scientific understanding our origins has changed
over time.

BIOL 2000 Molecules and Cells (Fall/Spring: 3 )

Course Description

Foundational course required for Biology majors that introduces students to living systems at the
molecular and cellular level of organization. Topics introduced in this course include basic
cellular biochemistry, gene regulation, cellular organization and metabolism, and cell signaling
and genetics.

BIOL 2010 Ecology and Evolution (Fall/Spring: 3 )

Course Description

Foundational course required for Biology majors with a focus on the ecology and resilience of
living systems across all levels of spatial scales. Topics introduced in this course include
evolution, population dynamics, behavioral ecology, ecosystems, co-evolution, and human
ecology.

BIOL 2020 Organisms and Populations (Fall/Spring: 3 )

Course Description

Foundational course required for Biology majors with a focus on the ecology and resilience of
living systems across all levels of spatial scales. Topics introduced in this course include
evolution, population dynamics, behavioral ecology, ecosystems, co-evolution and human
ecology.

BIOL 2040 Investigations in Molecular Cell Biology Lab

(Fall/Spring: 3 )

Course Description

A 3-credit laboratory course designed to introduce students to the core techniques and
experimental strategies of modern molecular cell biology within the context of an original
research investigation. Students will learn to construct testable hypotheses, design experiments,
and critically analyze experimental results. During the course of their investigations, students
will gain proficiency in microbial cell culture, molecular cloning, genetic analysis, and molecular
characterization. Students will also gain proficiency in scientific communication and the use of
biological databases.

BIOL 2100 Introductory Biology Laboratory I (Summer: 1 )

Course Description

The first semester of a two-semester introductory biology laboratory course designed for non-
biology majors preparing for graduate programs in health professions. This course teaches basic
laboratory skills, including microscopy, spectrophotometry, analytical electrophoresis and
molecular cloning. Students are introduced to the principles of experimental design, data analysis
and data interpretation. Inquiry-based activities include experiments in biochemistry, cell
physiology and molecular biology.

BIOL 2110 Introductory Biology Laboratory II Summer: 1

Course Description

The continuation of BIOL2100. Inquiry-based activities include experiments in organismic

biology, ecology and field biology.
BIOL 2140 Capstone Science and Religion: Contemporary
Issues (Fall: 3 )

Course Description

Is it possible for a contemporary scientist to be a believer in God and, in particular, a Christian

believer? This course will explore the interaction between religion and science from early
modern times (Galileo and Newton) to the present (Hawking, Peacocke, Teilhard de Chardin).
The origin of the universe and the origin and evolution of life on earth will be explored. The
influence of contemporary physics and biology on the believer's understanding of God's
interaction with the world will be considered.

BIOL 2150 Pathophysiology (Summer: 3 )

Course Description

This course provides an intermediate study of human pathological processes and their effects on
homeostasis. Emphasis is on interrelationships among organ systems in deviations from
homeostasis and the cellular compensatory mechanisms the body employs to maintain health.
During the course students will learn the mechanisms of pathogenesis at the molecular, cellular,
organ and system level in practical contexts, participating in discussions and presentations using
cases studies relating pathophysiological mechanisms to a wide spectrum of signs and
symptoms. Students completing this course should be able to demonstrate an understanding of
the pathology affecting the nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, and digestive systems.
Students should have completed courses in human anatomy, physiology or the equivalent.

BIOL 2200 Microbiology for Health Professionals (Fall: 3 )

Course Description

This course is a study of the basic physiological and biochemical activities of bacteria and
viruses. Emphasis will be placed on virulence factors and the mechanism by which a variety of
microorganisms and viruses establish an infection. The use of anti-viral drugs and antibiotics, the
host immune response to microbial infection, and the effectiveness of various vaccination
strategies will also be discussed.

BIOL 2201 Introductory Biology I (Summer: 3 )

Course Description

Foundational course required for Biology majors that introduces students to living systems at the
molecular and cellular level of organization. Topics introduced in this course include basic
cellular biochemistry, gene regulation, cellular organization and metabolism, and cell signaling
and genetics.

BIOL 2202 Introductory Biology II (Summer: 3 )

Course Description

Foundational course required for Biology majors with a focus on the ecology and resilience of
living systems across all levels of spatial scales. Topics introduced in this course include
evolution, population dynamics, behavioral ecology, ecosystems, co-evolution, and human
ecology.

BIOL 2210 Microbiology for Health Professionals

Laboratory (Fall: 1 )

Course Description

Exercises in this laboratory course deal with aseptic techniques, microbial cultivation and growth
characteristics, staining and bacterial isolation techniques, differential biochemical tests,
identification of unknown bacterial species, and testing effectiveness of antimicrobial agents.

BIOL 2240 Race, Disease, and Disparities (Fall: 3 )

Course Description

This course will focus on issues of race and health in America and address the question: Is race a
biological construct? Underrepresented minorities face huge health disparities in America, and
we will also address the question: Is there a biological basis for differing health disparities in
different diseases among different races? The course will also cover the issues of health and
training in the sciences for underrepresented minorities in the United States and current policy
initiatives to address these disparities. Discussions will cover such issues as: the current health
and science educational disparities in the sciences for minorities; current initiatives aimed at
closing the disparity gaps as proposed by government agencies, non-profit organizations,
scientific societies, and philanthropies; and why these issues are of general importance to science
and society. The biologic, social, and cultural dietary causes of diseases leading to health
disparities will be considered.

BIOL 2300 Biostatistics (Fall/Spring: 3 )

Course Description

This course will introduce biology students to the basic statistical techniques that are used in
conducting biological and medical research. The course is divided into four parts: (1) descriptive
statistics (averages, variability); (2) probability and probability distributions (basic probability
theory and the binomial, poison, and normal distributions); (3) statistical inference (parametric
and non-parametric tests); and (4) relationships between variables (simple and multiple
regression). Students will become familiar with a standard statistical analysis software package
and will critique actual research papers.

BIOL 2310 Biostatistics Honors (Fall: 3 )

Course Description

This course is similar in scope to BIOL2300, except that it is a calculus-based course with
perhaps more rigor than BIOL2300. The course trains students to comprehend, critique, and
communicate research findings from biomedical literature. Topics from statistics include
elementary probability theory, standard distributions (binomial, geometric, normal, exponential,
Poisson), random variable, expectation, variance, hypothesis testing, significance tests,
confidence intervals, regression, correlation, and statistical learning theory.

BIOL 2320 Case Studies in Epidemiology (Spring: 3 )

Course Description

This course will introduce students to core concepts in epidemiology, including disease rates,
incidence, prevalence, relative risk, case-fatality ratios, confounding, and bias. Through a
graduated series of case studies modeled on the famed introductory course of CDC's Epidemic
Intelligence Service, it will provide students with the basic tools they need to characterize
epidemics by time, place, and person; develop testable hypotheses about disease source and
mode of transmission; and develop evidence-based interventions.
BIOL 3030 Introduction to Physiology (Fall/Spring: 3 )

Course Description

This course will offer a comprehensive exploration of fundamental life systems with a primary
emphasis on human physiology. The chemical and physical processes common to all living
organisms, including hemodynamics, respiration, circulation, acid/base regulation, synaptic
transmission, kidney and muscle function will be discussed. Also included are related topics on
development of the organism and functional aspects of the immune system in host defense
strategies.

BIOL 3040 Cell Biology (Fall/Spring: 3 )

Course Description

This course is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in the molecular biology of
the cell. Topics covered in the course include cellular biochemistry, regulation of gene
expression, subcellular organization, regulation of the cell cycle, membrane trafficking, cell-
substrate interactions, cytoskeleton, cancer, and cell signaling. It serves as excellent preparation
for more advanced courses in cell biology, molecular biology, developmental biology, and
genetics.

BIOL 3100 Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory (Fall: 1 )

Course Description

A laboratory course designed to introduce students to the core techniques and experimental
strategies of modern cell biology and molecular biology. Students learn to construct hypotheses,
design experiments, and critically analyze experimental results. Inquiry-based activities
introduce students to the basics of sterile transfer, bacterial cell culture, molecular cloning, DNA
amplification, protein overexpression and protein characterization.

BIOL 3110 Genetics Laboratory (Spring: 1 )

Course Description
A laboratory course designed to introduce students to the principles and experimental strategies
of genetic analysis. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is used as the model organism. Inquiry-
based experiments are designed to teach students the principles of phenotypic analysis, genetic
complementation, recombination mapping, and gene replacement.

BIOL 3120 Genetics Discussion (Fall/Spring: 0 )

Course Description

Discussion session to accompany BIOL3190 Modern Classical Genetics. Discussion of lecture

topics and problem-solving activities in small groups.

BIOL 3150 Introduction to Genomics (Fall: 3 )

Course Description

Biology of genomes: functions of genes and their products on a global scale using high
throughput approaches, genome organization, transcriptomes and proteomes, genomics and
diseases.

BIOL 3190 Modern and Classical Genetics (Fall/Spring: 4 )

Course Description

Classic and modern genetics: transmission genetics, genotype-phenotype relationships, genetic

variation, genetic mapping, population genetics, genomic concepts, genomic aspects of genetic
methods.

BIOL 3210 Plant Biology (Spring: 3 )

Course Description

This course focuses on the critical importance of plants on Earth, and how their physiology (cell
structure, photosynthetic ability, flowering, specialized structures allowing water and nutrient
absorption and transport, defense strategies against predators, etc.) allows them to perform their
diverse functions. Additional topics will include strategies that plants employ for adapting to
environmental stresses such as pollutants and changing climate, as well as the development of
transgenic strains of crop plants.

BIOL 3330 Biostatistics (Fall: 3 )

Course Description

This course trains students to comprehend, critique, and communicate research findings from
biomedical literature. Topics from statistics include elementary probability theory, standard
distributions (binomial, geometric, normal, exponential, Poisson), random variable, expectation,
variance, hypothesis testing, significance tests, confidence intervals, regression, correlation, and
statistical learning theory.

BIOL 4010 Environmental Biology (Spring: 3 )

Course Description

This course provides an interdisciplinary environmental science background with an emphasis on

biology, covering topics that include: impacts of human populations on air, water, soil, and
wildlife; mechanisms by which environmental contaminants can cause cancer, reproductive
failure, and other outcomes; and key scientific findings influencing past, present and probable
future environmental policies. Controversial issues such as climate change, alternative sources of
energy, and methods of improving the global food supply will be discussed. Important historical
writings as well as some of the most recent publications in the field will aid discussions of some
of the most crucial unanswered problems.

BIOL 4030 Deep Sea Biology (Spring: 3 )

Course Description

Roughly 80% of habitable space on this planet is in the ocean below 1000 meters where sunlight
never reaches. In this course we will dive into this rarely visited habitat that occupies the
majority of our biosphere. We will take an interdisciplinary approach, as studying the deep
requires the integration of geology, chemistry, ecology, physiology, and engineering. We will
investigate fundamental aspects of biology such as how organisms adapt to challenges posed by
their environment. Students will also gain an appreciation for how much of the planet remains
unexplored and learn how scientists study the inaccessible ecosystems of the deep.
BIOL 4050 Evolution and Development (Spring: 3 )

Course Description

We see incredible biodiversity on earth, and biologists are now learning how some of this
diversity emerges. The field of Evolutionary Development (Evo Devo) asks how development
can be modified during evolution to produce the incredible variation observed in Nature. How
are animal body plans formed, and how can those plans be changed? How do developmental
processes constrain adaptive changes in multicellular organisms? What genetic pathways has
evolution targeted to modify phenotypes? The course will address these and other fundamental
questions through readings, discussion, and case studies. Students will be introduced to the
diversity of multicellular organisms and their evolutionary history, and some of the methods and
interpretations of modern developmental, molecular, and evolutionary biology.

BIOL 4060 Research in Microbial Ecology (Spring: 3 )

Course Description

As we become more and more aware of the myriad roles that microbes play in everything from
global biogeochemical cycles to human health and disease, we realize the importance of
understanding how biotic and abiotic factors affect different microbial communities. In this
course we will study microbial communities through a combination of lab-based experiments,
local field work, and computational analyses of genetic sequence data (bioinformatics). Students
will work in teams to come up with and test novel hypotheses throughout the semester related to
these fundamental microbial ecology questions: Who is there? What are they doing? Why are
they doing it? Our research will focus on carbon (in particular methane) cycling in freshwater
wetlands near campus. However, students will also likely have the opportunity to investigate
other ecosystems of their choice. In addition to generating new data, students will read and
discuss papers from the primary literature and will investigate data from other microbial
communities available in public databases.

BIOL 4070 Ecology of Plants (Spring: 4 )

Course Description

An introduction to the study of plants and their ecology. Students develop the framework for
plant identification and an understanding of ecological and evolutionary concepts at various
scales. Angiosperms (flowering plants) will be emphasized with study of plant-plant and plant-
animal interactions, plant reproduction, biomes, plant biogeography, and conservation. The
BIOL4080 laboratory introduces students to inquiry-based observations and experiments in plant
ecology. Students gain hands-on skills in plant identification, plant biology and plant ecology
through field and laboratory/greenhouse exercises. In groups, students design/implement an
ecological experiment that is conducted over the course of the semester in the greenhouse.

BIOL 4110 Ornithology (Fall: 3 )

Course Description

This course will review the evolution, functional morphology, physiology, ecology, and behavior
of birds. Topics covered include dinosaur ancestry, adaptations for flight, breeding behaviors,
migration, and conservation. Students will also review the biodiversity and natural history of
extant birds and learn to identify common local birds using morphology and vocalizations.

BIOL 4320 Developmental Biology (Fall: 3 )

Course Description

Developmental biology is in the midst of a far-reaching revolution that profoundly affects many
related disciplines, including evolutionary biology, morphology, and genetics. The new tools and
strategies of molecular biology have begun to link genetics and embryology and to reveal an
incredible picture of how cells, tissues, and organisms differentiate and develop. This course
describes both organismal and molecular approaches, which lead to a detailed understanding of
(1) how it is that cells containing the same genetic complement can reproducibly develop into
drastically different tissues and organs, and (2) the basis and role of pattern information in this
process.

BIOL 4422 Plant Biology (Spring: 3 )

Course Description

This course focuses on the critical importance of plants on Earth and how their physiology (cell
structure, photosynthetic ability, flowering, specialized structures allowing water and nutrient
absorption and transport, defense strategies against predators, etc.) allows them to perform their
diverse functions. Additional topics will include strategies that plants employ for adapting to
environmental stresses, such as pollutants and changing climate, as well as the development of
transgenic strains of crop plants.
BIOL 4441 Ecology Laboratory (Fall: 1 )

Course Description

A laboratory course designed to introduce students to the core techniques and experimental
strategies of ecology. Through field and greenhouse experiments students are introduced to the
basics of field observation, species identifications, competition experiments, population studies
and predator-prey interactions. Students learn to construct hypotheses, design experiments, and
critically analyze experimental results. Weekly lab meets in the field, lab and/or greenhouse.

BIOL 4560 Insect Ecology (Spring: 3 )

Course Description

Advanced course in ecology of the world's most diverse group of organisms. The course focuses
on the diverse ecological interactions amongst insects and other organisms, including herbivory,
predation, parasitism, and pollination. Lectures also cover insect behavior, population dynamics,
current theories in insect ecology, and applications of insect ecology to society, including
agriculture.

BIOL 4860 Methods in Community Ecology Lab (Fall: 3 )

Course Description

This laboratory introduces students to original research in community ecology. Students will
learn ecological experimental design and the application of statistical analysis in community
ecology. Specific topics will focus on multi-trophic interactions. Research will include the use of
the scientific literature, online databases and the generation of publication quality data. Students
will be expected to generate a poster presentation on their work and be able to discuss their
research with peers. This course is recommended for students who are interested in pursuing
advanced research.

BIOL 5050 Microbiomes: Invisible Ecosystems (Fall: 3 )

Course Description
Microbiomes (the microscopic organisms in a particular environment) play important roles in
human health, agriculture, industry, ecosystems, and climate. In this course we will read and
discuss papers from the scientific literature detailing new discoveries that include topics as
diverse as cancer treatment, evolutionary history, mining, and pollution remediation. Students
will investigate and eventually present topics of their choice. By the end of the course we will
have a better appreciation for, and understanding of, the multitude of invisible ecosystems within
and around us, as well as how much about these microbiomes remains unknown.