Registration Guide: Archaeological & Environmental Sciences

CAS AR 190 Introduction to Archaeology (offered either semester): Foundational training in how archaeologists study past peoples and cultures via field, museum, and laboratory methods. Apply theoretical frameworks to archaeological themes and datasets. Relate archaeological outcomes to the present day through real-world examples from around the globe. 

• AR 190 fulfills a single requirement in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Social Inquiry I, Research and Information Literacy.

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CAS EE 107 Introduction to Climate and Earth System Science (offered either semester): Introduction to the Earth as an integrated system composed of interacting biosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere, and atmosphere subsystems. Major themes include earth system stability, instability and capacity for change on all time scales, including human-induced climate change.

• If taken at BU, EE 107 fulfills a single requirement in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Quantitative Reasoning I, Research and Information Literacy.

CAS BI 107 General Biology 1 (offered fall only): All Archaeological & Environmental Sciences majors should take CAS BI 107. If you are registering for the fall semester, you are strongly encouraged to pick this as your second course, unless you have Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) or other external credit awarded for it.

• If taken at BU, BI 107 fulfills a single requirement in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Quantitative Reasoning I, Critical Thinking, Research & Information Literacy
• If taken as AP credit, BI 107 fulfills a single requirement in Scientific Inquiry I (with a score of 4) or a single requirement in each of the following: Scientific Inquiry I, Scientific Inquiry II (with a score of 5).
• If taken as IB credit, BI 107 fulfills a single requirement in each of the following: Scientific Inquiry I, Scientific Inquiry II.

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Chemistry Course

Please note: you are strongly encouraged to take BI 107 as your second course. However, if you are registering in the spring (when BI 107 is not offered), or if you already have AP/IB credit for BI 107, you can consider one of the following chemistry courses instead:

1. CAS CH 171 Principles of General Chemistry (offered fall semester only)
2. CAS CH 101 General Chemistry 1 (offered either semester)

*If you have an extensive high school chemistry background, you may take a higher-level chemistry course; please review General Chemistry Advising for more information about chemistry levels and recommendations.

CAS Language Course: CAS students must exhibit proficiency through the fourth-semester level of a language other than English. If you have not already done so, please review the full language policy here.

If you will fulfill this requirement through coursework at BU, then your next course should be a language. If you’re new to the language, you’ll start with the first-semester level (usually coded as 111 – for example, Spanish 1 is LS 111, Arabic 1 is LY 111, etc.). If you have previously studied the language, you will need to take a placement test to determine what level to start with (for instance, LS 112 Spanish 2, LY 211 Arabic 3, LK 212 Korean 4, etc.). Please review the CAS Language Requirement page for detailed information about placement tests and appropriate levels.

If you will fulfill your language requirement through advanced credit (such as AP/IB scores) or through native proficiency of another language, you have fulfilled your language requirement and can instead take a chemistry course or a course of interest (as seen below).

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Chemistry Course

Archaeological & Environmental Sciences majors must take a semester of chemistry. If you have already fulfilled your language requirement and you did not select a chemistry course for Course #2, you may pick one of the following chemistry courses:

1. CAS CH 171 Principles of General Chemistry (offered fall semester only)
2. CAS CH 101 General Chemistry 1 (offered either semester)

*If you have an extensive high school chemistry background, you may take a higher-level chemistry course; please review General Chemistry Advising for more information about chemistry levels and recommendations.

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Course of Interest: Select a course that interests you – perhaps based on subjects you’ve enjoyed in the past or a new subject you’re excited to try for the first time! If you’re not sure where to start, you can review our Registration Instructions for tips on browsing by topic or Hub requirement.

For your writing course, you will take one of the following:

• If you did not apply to BU with a TOEFL/IELTS score, you can take either:
  • CAS WR 120 First-Year Writing Seminar. Each section of WR 120 focuses on a specific topic/theme so you should register for a section that pairs with your interests.
  • CAS CC 101 Core Humanities 1: Ancient Worlds: (offered Fall only): An interdisciplinary study of the origins of civilization, from Mesopotamia and the Hebrew Bible to the development of Greek civilization through Homer, Greek tragedy, and the philosophy of Plato. You should enroll in CAS CC 101 if you are considering the Core Curriculum. This course fulfills a single requirement in each of the following Hub areas: Aesthetic Exploration, First-Year Writing Seminar, Creativity/Innovation.

• If you applied to BU with a TOEFL/IELTS score, you should take the Multilingual Writer Placement (instructions will be sent via email) before you register for a writing course. The writing placement is a suggestion, but it will help you make an informed decision about the most appropriate level for you. Depending on what level WR course you register for, you will fulfill the following Hub requirements:
  • CAS WR 111 Academic Writing for ESL Students 1 – fulfills The Individual in Community Hub
  • CAS WR 112 Academic Writing for ESL Students 2 – fulfills Global Citizenship & Intercultural Literacy Hub
  • CAS WR 120 First-Year Writing Seminar – fulfills First-Year Writing Seminar Hub (If you place into WR 120, you are welcome to take CC 101 Core Humanities 1 instead to fulfill your FYW Hub.)

First-Year Seminar: FY 101 (offered fall only, 1 unit) – Optional

 

FY101 is an optional one-unit course that serves as a semester-long introduction to BU and college life. Each section is taught in combination by a BU administrator and a student peer mentor.  You will meet with a small community of peers who will serve as conversation partners as together you learn how to leverage BU’s resources to create a more successful and meaningful college experience. Through discussions, activities, class field trips and program-wide events, you will investigate the social, academic and cultural dimensions of student life at Boston University, while making deep connections with your fellow students, your peer mentor, and a BU staff member.

 

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First-Year Career Development Seminar: FY 102 (offered spring only, 1 unit) – Optional

 

FY102 will help first-year students get started on utilizing the Career Development Cycle to maximize their time at BU. During this course students will create a plan of action towards choosing a major, creating a resume, finding an internship, and preparing for a career that they will love. Seminars are offered in various fields of interest and include guest speakers from different industries.