This course provides students with the key concepts underlying public health as a system and social endeavor. It will explore pressing public health challenges, including communicable diseases, environmental health, social inequalities in health, health care, public responses to emergencies, and reduction of unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, drinking, and violence.

Students will learn and apply basic concepts of epidemiology, using collaborative learning through project activities, case students, peer discussion, and independent research. Students will examine the impact of social conditions and identify factors that account for adverse health at the population level, and use epidemiology to promote positive health outcomes.

Emphasizes social determinants of physical and mental health and cross-cultural experiences of illness and seeking care. Pays special attention to the unequal distribution of health and illness in the U.S, the role of culture in our understandings of health and illness, and the social organization of health care.

Examines health and illness from a global perspective. Current public health dilemmas are analyzed, highlighting the role of colonialism, culture, development, and public health policies. Case studies will focus on how health issues are handled in different parts of the world, highlighting the roles of culture and political economy.

Consent of instructor required. Normally open only to senior public health majors. Addresses the history of public health, discusses the current fields of public health and offers the student the opportunity to explore and learn about employment and graduate opportunities through readings, video and film, guest speakers, field trips, presentations, and other activities.

Explores argument forms and the nature of validity and deductive reasoning, including proof procedures, truth tables, syllogisms, quantification, and predicate logic.

Examines moral questions concerning rights and responsibilities in professional biomedical relationships. Includes issues such as truth-telling, informed consent, privacy, confidentiality, patient self-determination, reproductive technologies, euthanasia, eugenics, and broader questions of justice in health care.

Examines philosophical themes and issues found in major works of literature and film. Based on a realization that meaning and truth arise through reflection upon everyday lived reality, we explore how one lives, struggles, and creates meaning in one's search for identity, wholeness, and truth by examining works of literature and film through various lenses of critical analysis.

Explores the nature of human consciousness and the self. Focuses on the views of contemporary philosophers, psychologists, and Asian religious thinkers; readings include classical authors such as Descartes as well as contemporary philosophers such as Daniel Dennett.

Explores philosophies from different cultural traditions and historical periods on the nature of the self and self-knowledge. Examines philosophical issues including the definition of personal identity, the existence of the soul, the mind-body relation, the role of society in defining the individual, and the limits to knowledge of the self.

Teaches the fundamentals of physics for students with preparation in algebra and trigonometry. Topics drawn from mechanics, energy, torque, and momentum. Three hours or lecture, a three-hour laborator, and one-hour interactive problem-solving session per week.

First course in Physics for science majors (calculus based). Concentrates on the subjects of mechanics: motion, mass, force, energy, momentum, and torque and static equilibrium. Additional material includes fluids and simple harmonic motion. Three hours of lecture, a one-hour, guided-inquiry learning session and a three hour lab per week. t.

Students will have the opportunity to build research skills in the laboratory and theoretical sciences by becoming involved in active research projects in the Department of Chemistry and Physics. Undergraduate students in all majors are encouraged to participate.

 Introduces fundamental topics of 20th century physics, including special relativity, wave-particle duality, solutions of the Schrodinger equation in one dimension, and the formalism and postulates of quantum mechanics. Focuses on wave properties common to both optics and acoustics and then extends these topics to introduce key ideas in modern physics. Completes a general background in physics and is recommended, along with PHYS114 and 115, as preparation for the MCAT exam.

Students will have the opportunity to build research skills in the laboratory and theoretical sciences by participating in a research project in the Department of Chemistry and Physics. Undergraduate students in all majors are encouraged to participate. Projects may be proposed by students in a faculty member's area of expertise or students may join an active research project in a faculty member's laboratory. Earns 1 credit hour for 25 hours of laboratory work per semester. Speak with a Chemistry faculty member about opportunities to participate in a research project. Offered every semester.

Treats in detail the states of matter and the laws of thermodynamics (with applications to chemical and phase equilibria and electrochemistry) and reaction kinetics and mechanisms. Three hours of lecture and a four-hour laboratory per week.

Students will have the opportunity to build research skills in the laboratory and theoretical sciences by designing and running a research project in the Department of Chemistry and Physics. Projects may be proposed by students in a faculty member's area of expertise or students may join an active research project in a faculty member's laboratory. Earns 1 credit hour for 25 hours of laboratory work per semester. Speak with a faculty member in the Chemistry Department about opportunities to design and run a research project. Offered every semester. Upon completion of the first 4-credits students may elect to complete a second 4-credit CHEM 350/ PHYS 350 or apply to switch into CHEM 355/ PHYS 355 in the Spring Term of their capstone experience, if they wish to complete a thesis. Grade of S or U assigned until completion of the capstone, if taken as a senior, at which time a grade is posted and full credits are earned.

Student-designed research project, including scientific literature review and laboratory work to solve the defined problem, culminating in a senior capstone thesis. Eight to twelve hours of laboratory work and a one-hour meeting with a faculty mentor per week. Results after the conclusion of 8 (up to 16 total) credits reported in a final thesis, which is submitted to the faculty of the Department. Students may elect to defend to a thesis committee of three faculty members.

Provides a supervised professional experience off campus. Potential sites include clinical settings, government agencies, biomedical research labs, hospital laboratories and pharmaceutical companies. Placement is the student's responsibility, with the support of the Career Education Center and the approval of the department. Arrangements for satisfying this independent learning requirement should be made with the student's advisor before the end of the junior year.

Capstone course to accompany students enrolled in CHEM350, CHEM370 or CHEM355. The Fall offering objectives focus on attending professional scientific presentations by eminent researchers in STEM and a thorough literature review resulting in a 10-15 page paper. The Spring offering objectives focus on further development of presentation and writing skills. Results from the CHEM350, CHEM355 or CHEM370 experience will be presented in oral format in the final weeks of the semester. Students also have the opportunity to create and deliver a poster presentation at a conference (UG Symposium, Regional or National Conference). Grade of S or U assigned until completion of two semesters, at which time a grade is posted and two credits are earned

Introduces students to the fundamentals of American government and analyzes important and controversial political issues. Through lecture, discussion, and readings, examines: the Congress, the presidency, the courts, voting behavior, political participation, interest groups, political parties, social movements, civil rights, and civil liberties. A special focus will be on applying theories to current events in American politics.

This course introduces students to major topics in international relations: power politics, IR theories of the origins of conflict, war, and cooperation, international trade and markets, international organizations and law, North-South relations, global environmental problems, the commons, globalization, and terrorism. The course will cover contemporary issues in interstate relations.

Introduces political theory and its contributions to the study of politics by considering problems of citizenship in different regimes. Examines both classic texts of political philosophy (including Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Marx) and the writings and speeches of political actors (both real and in fiction and film).

Prepares students for direct involvement in the political process with legislators or nongovernment organizations involved in policy formation. Provides an overview of the Massachusetts political system through classroom study, speakers, and site visits. Focuses on "hands-on" skills: oral briefings, political research, and writing for policymakers. This course is required for participation in the Barbara Lee Family Foundation internship program.

Analyzes the Supreme Court's decisions in recent decades, with emphasis on the constitutional rights that individuals have against states and the federal government. Considers the court's impact on debates over privacy, race and sex discrimination, freedom of expression, and religion.

Examines the changing patterns of incorporation of ethnic and racial minorities in American politics in the post-civil rights era. Considers the relationships between racial minority groups, levels of representation, levels of political participation, the possibilities for coalition-building between racial minority groups, and economic and social policy issues that affect minority and ethnic politics.

Examines political parties and their relationship to political competition in the U.S. Considers the function of parties, alternative mechanisms of interest representation, and recent American electoral events.

Introduces questions of how politics is gendered, and how gender is political. Explores the development of the contemporary feminist movement; what masculinity means today; how transgender politics have uprooted traditional understandings of gender; why marriage equality has come to define gay rights; how race and class are relevant to gender; and the possibility of gender equality in the United States.

4 sem. hrs. Compares national liberation and terrorist groups from around the world in order to understand the modus operandi, goals, and tactics of terrorist organizations. Examines the differences between national liberation groups and terrorist cells as well as the evolution of terrorism from Marxist inspired groups to religious extremism.

Examines the origins of the Cold War in the dramatically altered balance of international forces at the end of World War II. Considers the historic impact of Third World revolutions and the surge toward détente, investigates the sudden termination of the Cold War in the Gorbachev era and the emergence of China as a great power. Also explores the contemporary unraveling of the US-led international order.

This course explores Russian domestic politics and foreign policy in comparative perspective. A century after the revolution, Moscow appears to have traded its Soviet and democratic experiments for a more enduring form. This course begins with Russia, and then draws comparisons to other states, such as Afghanistan and Turkey.

Consent of department required. Open to students in political science wishing to do advanced work with a member of the department.

This course is about the carceral system in political thought.  Drawing heavily on the writings of incarcerated people in the US, we will consider continuities between slavery and prisons; the ways prisons figure prominently into the society from which they are isolated; and how they function today as a racial regime. 

Surveys contemporary approaches to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Covers topics from neurons to neuroses, including perception, memory, social interaction, personality, and mental disorders.

Considers some of the ways behavior and experience are related to biological processes. Classroom and laboratory topics include brain structure and function, drugs and addiction, brain damage, sleep and consciousness, stress, memory and amnesia, and mental illness. Includes lectures and laboratory sessions.

An introduction to methodologies and statistical analyses used in psychological research, including surveys, observation, correlation, and experiments. Lectures and lab activities emphasize critical-thinking in the evaluation of scientific evidence.

Is happiness achievable? Explore the science of happiness and learn to apply evidence-based strategies for improving happiness, meaning, and personal fulfillment. Through engaging discussions and active learning exercises, discover what truly brings happiness, challenge common misconceptions, and gain practical tools to lead a more fulfilling life.

Explores the origins and implications of similarities and differences between women and men. Examines concepts of sex and gender as they relate to social roles, stereotypes, identity, mental health, and sexuality in social and cultural contexts.

Explores the nature and dynamics of psychological disorders including anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, mood disorders, and addiction. Emphasizes the issue of individual psychological growth and the interrelationship of normal and abnormal phenomena.

Explores the biological, psychological, and social factors related to health and illness. Includes discussion of the biological factors involved in prevention and treatment; the role of personal factors such as lifestyle choices, stress, addictions, and coping mechanisms; and social factors related to compliance and health care delivery.

Considers the theoretical approaches and methodological issues involved in understanding normative development from conception to adolescence. Examines the origins and progression of biological, perceptual, cognitive, social, and emotional systems, as well as the complex interactions among them, via lecture, discussion, demonstration, and observation. Childrearing and education implications are discussed.

This course section is open to NURS majors only. Students cannot have taken PSYC-235. Explores the development of the individual from birth to death using psychological theory and research. Stresses the interaction of social, cognitive, and biological factors in human development; the interaction between the person and the environment; and the transitions across the lifespan.

(Previously Memory, Thought, and Language) Examines the mental processes that underlie perception, attention, memory, language, and reasoning from the perspective of psychological theory, experimental findings, and everyday experience.

Explores the psychological, biological, and societal factors that influence drug use. Focuses on the neurochemical bases of drug action and the experimental paradigms used in studying the behavioral effects of drugs. Topics include illegal and legal drugs, including medications for mental illness.

How does music "play" the brain? Students will examine the neural mechanisms underlying the perception of the elements of music (e.g., pitch, melody, rhythm) and the effects of music on emotion, movement, cognition, social connection, and brain health.

Consent of instructor required. Surveys the methods psychologists use to investigate personality. Topics include how theories of personality guide hypothesis development, research ethics and design, data collection and analysis, and the presentation of research findings. Students will gain direct experience in conducting a research project in personality psychology. Includes a laboratory component.

Consent of instructor required. Discusses research methods in social psychology and the application of social psychological findings to various human environments. Students will participate in conducting all phases of a research project from design to data collection and analysis.

This course will introduce students to current research that explores drivers of behavioral health disparities, with a focus on the Boston community. Students will connect class readings and discussions with service learning at the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program.

Consent of instructor required. Considers issues related to psychopathology in children and adolescents and the causes of such disorders. Discusses theories, research, and therapies related to these conditions. Includes lectures, discussion, and research projects.

Consent of instructor required. Normally open only to senior Psychology majors. Addresses the intellectual history of controversial themes that cut across the psychology curriculum, such as mind vs. body, nature vs. nurture, and normal vs. abnormal. Challenging readings reveal the basis for our modern theories and practices, highlighting the connections between other courses in the major.

Consent of instructor required.

Consent of instructor required. Provides staff-supervised experience to seniors in a variety of service and research settings. Involves exposure to activities such as counseling, psychological testing, special education, human resources, interviewing, psychotherapy, and laboratory research.