2024-2025 Catalog

Bachelor of Fine Arts, BFA

All BFA degree programs require the successful completion of the following:

  • Core Requirements: 13-15 courses, 49-58 credits

  • Minimum Total Credits Required for Degree Conferral: 124 credits

First-Year Experience: 2 courses, 6 credit

Please note that not all courses are offered each semester. Students should contact their advisor to learn about current course offerings.

Students with 15+ transfer credits of college or university work are exempt.

Students must attend expanded advising sessions and community meetings in addition to the following courses:

ADF-S1662D/Color

3

Choose one of the following:

ADF-S171Creativity and Innovation: Integrated Studio I

3

ADI-S110Digital Orthographics

3

First-Year Seminar: 1 course, 4 credits

Students with 15+ transfer credits of college or university work are exempt. Please note that not all courses are offered each semester. Students should contact their advisor to learn about current course offerings.

Choose one First-Year Seminar course from those listed below:

SF-101Fixing the World- Energy and Water: The Science of Solutions

4

SF-116Enlightened Insanity

4

SF-126The Boston Theatre Scene: the Inside Experience

4

SF-132The Beatles: Here, There and Everywhere

4

SF-151Getting Over It: Dealing With the Aftermath of Group Conflict/Mass Atrocity

4

SF-156The Mask Behind the Face

4

SF-174Tragedy and Literature

4

SF-178Sacred Hoops and Sneaker Pimps: Understanding the American Hoop Dream

4

SF-182Heroes, Antiheroes and Outsiders: Reading the Graphic Novel

4

SF-183Politics, Power and the Media

4

SF-189American Gothic: Edgar Allan Poe, Flannery O'Connor and Annie Proulx

4

SF-191Film Adaptation

4

SF-1129Beacon Hill: Fact, Fiction, and Fantasy

4

SF-1134The Meaning of Life

4

SF-1141Classical Civilizations: Pathways to Wisdom

4

SF-1143In the First-Person: Storytelling in the 21st Century

4

SF-1148Brave New Worlds

4

SF-1161The Playwright and the Stage

4

SF-1162Space Missions: From Moon to Mars and Beyond

4

SF-1165History of Boston

4

SF-1166Cinema-Monde: Global Challenges on Film

4

SF-1167Fantasy Fiction: Imaginary Worlds

4

SF-1169Immortality: Real and Imagined

4

SF-1172The United States Mexican Border

4

SF-1173Understanding the Vast Sweep of Chinese Culture

4

SF-1176What Is a Fact?

4

SF-1179Writing Stories of Self in Society

4

SF-1180Nasty Women in American Literature

4

SF-1181Mad Criminals

4

SF-1182Curators, Collections and Exhibits

4

SF-1183Revenge!

4

SF-1185Socially-Conscious Storytellers in a Political World

4

SF-1187The Psychology of Nutrition

4

SF-1189Urban and Contemporary Art

4

SF-1190Black Lives Matter: Past, Present, Future

4

SF-1191Writing Your Future: Genes and Gene Editing

4

SF-1192Dark Ecologies

4

SF-1194Power: What Is How to Get It

4

SF-1195Understanding Global Public Policy

4

SF-1196Human Rights in the 21st Century

4

SF-1197The History of Rap, Hip Hop and Popular Culture

4

SF-1198True Crime

4

SF-1199Death, Dying, & Grieving in America (settlement to 1870)

4

SF-1200Quantum Reality, Information, and Computing

4

SF-1201Sinatra: Voice of the 20th Century

4

SF-1202Our Plastic Problem

4

SF-1203Generals, Explorers, and Smokejumpers: Disaster Leadership

4

SF-1204The Age of Renaissance and Reformation

4

SF-1205Diversity and Inclusion: a View From the Arts and Media

4

SF-1206Technology, Globalization, and Sustainable Development

4

SF-1207American Popular Culture

4

SF-1208Social Meanings of Money

4

SF-1209Video Games As Expressive Art

4

SF-1210Data Visualization: Seeing Is Believing

4

SF-1211Boston in Film and Literature

4

SF-1212Socialism v. Capitalism

4

SF-1213I Fought the Law and I Won: Debating 21st Century Civil Rights in the Law

4

SF-1214Boston and Book History

4

SF-1215Philosophy in the City

4

SF-1216Gender and Media: Taylor Swift

4

Students in the CAS Honors Program should choose one First-Year Seminar course from those listed below:

SF-H116Honors Enlightened Insanity

4

SF-H132Honors The Beatles: Here, There and Everywhere

4

SF-H182Honors Heroes, Antiheroes and Outsiders: Reading the Graphic Novel

4

SF-H189Honors American Gothic

4

SF-H1134Honors The Meaning of Life

4

SF-H1148Honors Brave New Worlds

4

SF-H1167Honors Fantasy Fiction: Imaginary Worlds

4

SF-H1180Honors American Women Writers and the Struggle For Equality

4

SF-H1181Honors Mad Criminals

4

SF-H1182Honors Curators, Collections and Exhibits

4

SF-H1188Honors Attention in the Age of Distraction

4

SF-H1196Honors Human Rights in the 21st Century

4

SF-H1202Honors Our Plastic Problem

4

SF-H1210Honors Data Visualization: Seeing is Believing

4

SF-H1211Honors Boston in Film and Literature

4

SF-H1214Honors Boston and Book History

4

First-Year Writing: 1-3 courses, 4-12 credits

A student may be assigned to a first Writing course other than WRI-101.  Qualified students are invited to take WRI-H103.  Students not eligible for direct entry into WRI-101 must complete WRI-100+ prior to enrolling in WRI-101.  Through directed self-placement, a student may also opt to complete the developmental writing course WRI-100 before enrolling in WRI-101.

Students must complete one of the following tracks:

Track 1: 2 courses, 8 credits

WRI-101First-Year Writing I

4

WRI-102First-Year Writing II

4

Track 2: 3 courses, 12 credits

WRI-100+Developmental Writing - Tutorial Section

4

WRI-101First-Year Writing I

4

WRI-102First-Year Writing II

4

Track 3: 3 courses, 12 credits

WRI-100Developmental Writing I

4

WRI-101First-Year Writing I

4

WRI-102First-Year Writing II

4

Track 4: 1 course, 4 credits

WRI-H103Honors Advanced First-Year Writing

4

Note: WRI-H103 is by invitation only.

Creativity and Innovation: 1 course, 3 credits

In this course, students will be introduced to the practice of creativity as a rigorous approach to problem solving requiring research, persistence and grit. Students will work collaboratively to effectively synthesize existing ideas, images, and skill sets in original ways. They will embrace risk and support divergent thinking. In the process, they will become more confident life-long learners.

The Creativity and Innovation requirement is satisfied by the completion of the BFA Foundation Studies requirement of ADF-S171 or ADF-S172:

ADF-S171Creativity and Innovation: Integrated Studio I

3

ADF-S172Creativity and Innovation: Integrated Studio II

3

Math: 1 course, 4 credits

Choose one Math course from those listed below:

MATH-128Math for the Modern World

4

MATH-130Topics in Finite Mathematics

4

MATH-134Calculus for Management and Social Sciences

4

MATH-165Calculus I

4

MATH-166Calculus II

4

Social, Cultural, and Global Perspectives: 1 course, 3-4 credits

Choose one SCGP course from those listed below:

ADPR-217Gay and Lesbian Studies

4

ARH-203Arts of Asia

4

ARH-206Global Cross-Cultural Perspectives in Art

4

ARH-321Women, Art and Society

4

AS-100Introduction to Asian Studies: Culture, People, Ideas

4

BLE-325Global Business Ethics

3

BLKST-395From \ck to Africa\ to \ack Lives Matter\: A Global History of Panafricanism

4

CJN-216Intercultural Communication

4

CJN-225World Cinema

4

CJN-232Gender, Sexuality, and Communication

4

CJN-281Asian Popular Culture

4

CJN-301Documentary Film and the Image of Conflict in the Middle East

4

CJU-218Crime and Law in Indian Country

4

CJU-275Women and Crime

4

EAP-104Foundations of Reading and Writing II

4

EDUC-310Culturally Sustaining Practices

4

EDUC-315Strategies for Working With Emergent English Learners

4

ENG-123Great Books of the World I

4

ENG-135World Literature in English

4

ENG-163Latinx Literature Today

4

ENG-221Tactical Rhetoric: Advocacy & Activism, Propaganda & Power

4

ENG-357African-American Literature

4

ENT-352Green and Sustainable Business

3

FR-210Business French in a Communicative Context

4

HST-100Introduction to Asian Studies: Culture, People, Ideas

4

HST-103Cultures and Social Transformations in Asia

4

HST-236Public History in Practice

4

HST-241Narrating the Past With Digital History

4

HST-251Modern East Asia

4

HST-268History of the Mediterranean

4

HST-275Women in 20th-Century Europe

4

HST-296Building Urban America: City Design and Architecture From 1700-1880

4

HST-321History of Islam

4

HST-340Europe in the 20th Century

4

HST-356World War II: the Global War

4

HST-371U.S. Women's History Colonial to 1865

4

HST-374The Early American Republic: Politics and Culture in the New Nation

4

HST-465Monumental Women: Female Public Space

4

LAWU-280Domestic Violence, Abuse and Neglect

4

P.AD-201Social Change

3

P.AD-H201Honors Social Change

3

PHIL-120Ethics and Civic Life

4

PHIL-228Feminist Philosophy

4

PHIL-251Philosophy of Race and Gender

4

PHIL-262Buddhism

4

PHIL-265Women in Spirituality

4

PHIL-267Chinese Philosophy

4

POLS-115Evolution of the Global System

4

POLS-208Politics and Religion

4

POLS-359Global Politics of Sport

4

POLS-467Comparative Social Movements

4

PSYCH-243Organizational Psychology

4

RS-111Introduction to World Religions: Western Traditions

4

RS-112Introduction to World Religions: Eastern Traditions

4

SIB-550Global Travel Seminar

3

SF-178Sacred Hoops and Sneaker Pimps: Understanding the American Hoop Dream

4

SF-1166Cinema-Monde: Global Challenges on Film

4

SIB-321Introduction to International Business

3

SOC-228Cultural Diversity

4

SOC-257Death and Dying

4

SOC-303Native Women's Health

4

SOC-329Sociology of Globalization

4

SPAN-202Intermediate Spanish II

4

SPAN-290Advanced Composition and Conversation

4

SPAN-300Intro to Cultural Texts

4

SPAN-315Spanish for the Professions

4

THETR-160From Oedipus to Hamilton: Shaping Society Through Theatre

4

THETR-260Broadway Musicals

4

THETR-267Introduction to Theatre: Contemporary American

4

WGS-111Women, History, and Culture

4

WGS-113Women, Science, and Society

4

WGS-115Introduction to Gender Studies

4

WGS-225From Prophetess to Poetess: African Women Since 1800

4

WGS-325Global Women's Fiction

4

WGS-335Queer Narratives

4

WGS-338Re-Imagine the World: Transnational Feminism in Film

4

Courses that fulfill the Creativity and Innovation, First-Year Seminar, Humanities/History, Language, Literature, Quantitative Reasoning, Social Science, or VPATH requirements may double count to fulfill the Social, Cultural, and Global Perspectives (SCGP) requirement.

Science, Technology, and Engineering (STE): 2 courses and corresponding laboratories where applicable, 8 credits

Choose two STE courses (and corresponding laboratory where applicable) from those listed below. Courses do not need to be in a sequence. In the case of a course that is a lecture plus a lab, the student must complete both components to earn credit for the STE requirement.

Biology:

BIO-105Humans and the Evolutionary Perspective

4

BIO-111Introduction to the Cell

3

BIO-L111Introduction to the Cell Laboratory

1

BIO-114Organismal Biology

3

BIO-L114Organismal Biology Laboratory

1

BIO-201Biology's Big Questions

4

Chemistry:

CHEM-111General Chemistry I

3

Computer Science:

CMPSC-F107Ants, Rumors and Gridlocks

4

Environmental Science:

UES-107Introduction to Drones

3

UES-L107Introduction to Drones Lab

1

UES-111Environmental Science

3

UES-L111Environmental Science Lab

1

UES-211Environmental Science II

3

UES-L211Environmental Science II Lab

1

UES-225Geographical Information Science

3

UES-L225Geographic Information Science Lab

1

Physics:

PHYS-111College Physics I

3

PHYS-L111College Physics Lab I

1

PHYS-151University Physics I

3

PHYS-L151University Physics Lab I

1

PHYS-152University Physics II

3

PHYS-L152University Physics Lab II

1

Science:

SCI-101Introduction to Forensic Biology

3

SCI-L101Introduction to Forensic Biology Lab

1

SCI-102Introduction to Forensic Chemistry

3

SCI-L102Introduction to Forensic Chemistry Lab

1

SCI-103Environmental Science

3

SCI-L103Environmental Science Lab

1

SCI-104Food Chemistry

4

SCI-108Introduction to Cancer Care

4

SCI-H108Honors Introduction to Cancer Care

4

SCI-109Service Learning-Introduction to Community Cancer Care

4

SCI-H109Service Learning-Honors Introduction to Community Cancer Care

4

SCI-111Introduction to Astronomy

3

SCI-L111Introduction to Astronomy Lab

1

SCI-112Structure of the Universe

3

SCI-L112Structure of the Universe Lab

1

SCI-120Everyday Chemistry

4

SCI-165Inner Workings of the Physical Universe

4

SCI-171The Built World: How Humans Engineer Environments

4

SCI-H171The Built World: How Humans Engineer Environments- Honors

4

SCI-173Mapping Our World The Power of Digital Maps

3

SCI-L173Mapping Our World Lab

1

SCI-181Science and Life in the 21st Century

4

SCI-184Contemporary Science and Innovation

4

SCI-201Physics for Future Presidents

4

SCI-288Measuring the World

4

Some Science division courses may have Math or Computer Science prerequisites; many have other Science prerequisites.

Studies in Literature: 1 course, 4 credits

Choose one Studies in Literature course from those listed below:

ENG-120Ireland to America (and Back Again): Irish and Irish-American Literature

4

ENG-130Introduction to Literature

4

ENG-135World Literature in English

4

ENG-141Studies in British Literature

4

ENG-142Studies in American Literature

4

ENG-150Mysteries

4

ENG-152Horror Fiction

4

ENG-153Literature of War

4

ENG-154Bob Dylan and the Beat Generation

4

ENG-155Young Adult Literature

4

ENG-156Immigrant Stories

4

ENG-158Rebels and Renegades in American Women's Writing

4

ENG-160School Stories: Narratives of Power and Class

4

ENG-162Shakespeare From Stage to Screen

4

ENG-163Latinx Literature Today

4

ENG-172Sports and Literature

4

ENG-213English Literature I

4

ENG-214English Literature II

4

ENG-217American Literature I

4

ENG-218American Literature II

4

ENG-313Sex and Power in the Middle Ages

4

ENG-314Medieval Monsters, Monks, and Maidens

4

ENG-317Classical Mythology

4

ENG-34720th Century Female Gothic

4

ENG-H347Honors 20th Century Female Gothic

4

ENG-348Jane Austen

4

ENG-356Whitman and Dickinson

4

ENG-358Women Writing the American West

4

ENG-361Contemporary American Fiction

4

ENG-412Women in Classical Antiquity

4

ENG-430Literature of the Vietnam War and the Post 9/11 Wars

4

PHIL-424Philosophy and Literature: Feodor Dostoevsky and the Great Philosophical Novel

4

SPAN-426Latin American Theater and Society

4

WGS-211Heroines, Hotties and Hubris: Adolescent Girl's Books

4

WGS-240Feminist Literature

4

WGS-325Global Women's Fiction

4

Ethical and Philosophical Inquiry: 1 course, 4 credits

Choose one Ethics course from those listed below:

PHIL-119Global Ethics

4

PHIL-120Ethics and Civic Life

4

PHIL-123Social Ethics: The Good Life

4

PHIL-127Contemporary Moral Issues

4

Human Behavior and Societies: 1 course, 4 credits

Choose one Human Behavior and Societies course from those listed below:

Advertising and Public Relations:

ADPR-285Media and Pop Culture I

4

Communication:

CJN-255Introduction to Media

4

CJN-336Social Identity and Intergroup Relations

4

Economics:

EC-101Applied Microeconomics

3

EC-102Global Macroeconomics

3

EC-103Using Big Data to Solve Economic and Social Problems

4

Environmental:

ENVS-101Environmental Studies

4

Political Science:

POLS-110Introduction to American Politics

4

POLS-115Evolution of the Global System

4

Psychology:

PSYCH-114General Psychology

4

PSYCH-249Introduction to Lifespan Development

4

Sociology:

SOC-113Introduction to Sociology

4

SOC-116Social Justice

4

SOC-221Environment and Society

4

Women's and Gender Studies:

WGS-113Women, Science, and Society

4

Social and Intellectual History/Visual and Performing Arts Theory and History: 1 course, 4 credits

The Social & Intellectual History/Visual & Performing Arts requirement is satisfied by the completion of the BFA Art History requirement.

ARH-321Women, Art and Society

4

BLKST-395From \ck to Africa\ to \ack Lives Matter\: A Global History of Panafricanism

4

CJN-218Photojournalism

4

CJN-352Visual and Global Contexts

4

ENG-162Shakespeare From Stage to Screen

4

HST-239Getting Started With Oral History

4

HST-319The History of Black Music in America

4

HST-356World War II: the Global War

4

HST-392An Enduring Conflict: the American Civil War

4

POLS-275Ancient and Medieval Political Theory

4

POLS-276Modern Political Theory

4

THETR-160From Oedipus to Hamilton: Shaping Society Through Theatre

4

THETR-265Introduction to Theatre: Prehistory to Melodrama

4

WGS-225From Prophetess to Poetess: African Women Since 1800

4

Students in the Honors Program have the option of completing the Honors version of a course.