Be You at BUA: Boston University Connections

you at BUA BE

Best of Both Worlds

Boston University Academy is the only high school in New England — and one of a small handful in the country — that is affiliated with a global research university.

Being a small school within a large university offers BUA students the best of both worlds: a small, close knit community of passionate learners and master teachers, along with the resources of a major urban university.

BU Course Catalog

When it comes time to choose courses at the University, there are over 2,000 available to BUA students. From Stellar and Galactic Astrophysics to the History of Piracy, Philosophy and Film to Foundations of Data Science, if a student is passionate about something, they will be able to pursue it. The active partnership we maintain with Boston University offers one-of-a-kind possibilities: BUA students have the opportunity to gain exposure to new disciplines as well as to follow their passions and pursue particular interests at advanced levels. All University courses are taken with Boston University faculty and students.

Laboratories

Because we’re part of a major research university, BUA students utilize resources that other high schoolers can only dream of. Our unrivaled access to Boston University’s professional laboratories and research facilities allows BUA students interested in STEM to explore their interests in actual—not virtual—reality.

Libraries

BUA students have more than 2.4 million physical volumes and 77,000 media titles available to them through BU’s library system. In addition to books, BU Libraries provide limitless search tools, access to

databases and global resources, research materials and tutorials, and specialty subject research guides developed in-house by librarian experts.

Athletics and Fitness

Students enjoy access to University resources both inside and out of the classroom. Our physical education classes take place at BU’s 270,000-square-foot Fitness & Recreation Center (FitRec), where students choose from more than 25 physical education electives. Students 16 and older are also able to work out independently at FitRec, where they have access to weight rooms; multipurpose fitness studios; aquatic facilities; and squash, racquetball, and basketball courts.

BUA’s 15 interscholastic and recreational sports also utilize BU’s world-class athletic facilities, from Nickerson Field for soccer, to sailing and rowing out of the DeWolfe Boathouse.

Dining Options

BUA students can opt to buy lunch from over a dozen options in BU’s George Sherman Union (GSU) next door — not your average high school cafeteria. Choices include sushi, fresh salads, global street food, gourmet sandwiches, and much more. Ninth and tenth graders eat in a reserved dining room, while eleventh and twelfth graders can explore the restaurants and cafes along Commonwealth Avenue.

BUA’s connection to Boston University opens all kinds of doors for our curious and motivated students. BU’s resources are our resources, including cutting edge-learning and athletic facilities, an expansive course catalog, and distinguished faculty.

Boston University Admission Agreement

All BUA students in good academic and disciplinary standing are ensured admission to most of BU’s four-year undergraduate programs with a financial aid package that meets 100% of their calculated need.

How’s that for a perk?

Imagine going into the competitive college application process with the certainty that you will be admitted to one of the nation’s top research universities. Of all our peer schools, Boston University Academy alone is able to offer this assurance to our students.

Tuition Remission for BU Employees

Boston University employees may be eligible to apply their tuition remission benefit toward a portion of their child’s tuition at Boston University Academy. Because seniors at BUA take the majority of their coursework at the University, BU allows employees to participate in the tuition remission program during this year. University families who enroll at BUA may also apply for need-based financial aid to assist in the cost of tuition for all four years.

Boston University Academy students must complete an application and submit all required testing in full if they wish to be considered for admission to BU. BUA students who apply to BU will be granted admission to most of BU’s undergraduate 4-year programs if they meet the following criteria:

Earn a 3.0 cumulative GPA in Academy and University coursework by the time of application

Have no grade of D or F in any BUA or University course(s)

Have no reportable disciplinary infraction(s)

Transferable College Credits

In eleventh and twelfth grade, students regularly complete up to 12 courses (equivalent to approximately 48 college credits) from the University’s undergraduate curriculum. These credits represent a value of $91,575, based on the current undergraduate tuition cost at BU, and thereby potentially minimize future college tuition costs.

University Coursework

The following is a complete list of the Boston University courses that BUA students enrolled in during the 2021–2022 academic year. Most students take as many as two University courses a semester as juniors and up to four classes a semester during senior year. BUA graduates are likely to have completed up to 12 courses for 48 college credits, some of which may be transferable to their selected college. All University courses are taken with Boston University faculty and students. Students graduate with transcripts from Boston University Academy and from Boston University.

The following are courses taken in BU’s College of Arts and Sciences

African American Studies

CAS AA 300 Topics in African American Studies

Anthropology

CAS AN 233 The Evolutionary Biology of Human Variation

CAS AN 260 Sex and Gender in Anthropological Perspective

CAS AN 263 Behavioral Biology of Women

Archaeology

CAS AR 100 Great Discoveries in Archaeology

Art History

CAS AH 395 History of Photography

CAS AH 527 Topics in Art and Society

Astronomy

CAS AS 101 The Solar System

CAS AS 102 The Astronomical Universe

CAS AS 202 Principles of Astronomy I

CAS AS 312 Stellar and Galactic Astrophysics

Biology

CAS BI 107 Biology I

CAS BI 108 Biology II

CAS BI 114 Human Infectious Diseases

CAS BI 126 Human Genetics

CAS BI 203 Cell Biology

CAS BI 211 Human Physiology

CAS BI 306 Biology of Global Change

Chemistry

CAS CH 102 General Chemistry II

CAS CH 109 General and Quantitative Analytical Chemistry

CAS CH 174 Principles of Organic Chemistry

CAS CH 203 Organic Chemistry I

CAS CH 204 Organic Chemistry II

CAS CH 211 Intensive Organic Chemistry I

CAS CH 212 Intensive Organic Chemistry II

CAS CH 232 Inorganic Chemistry

CAS CH 351 Physical Chemistry I

Cinema & Media Studies

CAS CI 268 Religion and Film

Classical Studies

CAS CG 211 Intermediate Modern Greek I

CAS CG 212 Intermediate Modern Greek II

CAS CL 102 Classical Civilization of Rome

CAS CL 211 Intermediate Latin I: Prose

CAS CL 212 Latin IV: Verse

CAS CL 213 Greek and Roman Mythology

CAS CL 229 Roman Comedy

CAS CL 261 Intermediate Greek III: Prose

CAS CL 262 Greek IV: Homer

CAS CL 351 Latin Seminar

CAS CL 391 Greek Seminar: Thucydides

Computer Science

CAS CS 111 Introduction to Computer Science I

CAS CS 112 Introduction to Computer Science II

CAS CS 131 Combinatoric Structures

CAS CS 132 Geometric Algorithms

CAS CS 210 Computer Systems

CAS CS 235 Algebraic Algorithms

CAS CS 330 Introduction to Analysis of Algorithms

CAS CS 332 Elements of the Theory of Computation

CAS CS 538 Fundamentals of Cryptography

Earth and Environment

CAS EE 100 Environmental Change and Sustainability

CAS EE 105 Crises of Planet Earth

CAS EE 150 Sustainable Energy: Tech, Resources, Society, and Environment

CAS EE 201 World Regional Geography

CAS EE 512 Urban Climate

Economics

CAS EC 101 Introductory Microeconomic Analysis

CAS EC 102 Introductory Macroeconomics Analysis

CAS EC 202 Intermediate Macroeconomics

CAS EC 203 Imperical Economics I

CAS EC 356 Economics of the Labor Market

CAS EC 403 Game Theory

English

CAS EN 127 Readings in American Literature I

CAS EN 130 Science/Fiction

CAS EN 141 Literary Types: Fiction

CAS EN 155 Myth of Family

CAS EN 162 The Ethics of Art

CAS EN 163 Readings in Shakespeare

CAS EN 176 Introduction to Film and Media Aesthetics

CAS EN 180 Post-Apocalyptic Narratives

CAS EN 202 Introduction to Creative Writing

CAS EN 220 Seminar in Literature

CAS EN 306 Writing of Plays

CAS EN 373 Detective Fiction

History

CAS HI 190 History of Boston

CAS HI 214 History of Piracy

CAS HI 218 Power and Authority in Europe Since WWI

International Relations

CAS IR 234 Fundamentals of Strategic Intelligence

CAS IR 354 Gender and Global Politics

Linguistics

CAS LX 250 Introduction to Linguistics

Mathematics and Statistics

CAS MA 113 Elementary Statistics

CAS MA 115 Statistics I

CAS MA 116 Statistics II

CAS MA 124 Calculus II

CAS MA 213 Basic Statistics and Probability

CAS MA 225 Multivariate Calculus

CAS MA 226 Differential Equations

CAS MA 231 Honors-Level Differential Equations

CAS MA 242 Linear Algebra

CAS MA 293 Discrete Mathematics

CAS MA 412 Complex Variables

CAS MA 531 Mathematical Logic

CAS MA 541 Modern Algebra I

CAS MA 542 Modern Algebra II

CAS MA 581 Probability

Neuroscience

CAS NE 101 Introduction to Neuroscience

CAS NE 102 Introduction to Cellular and Mollecular Biology

CAS NE 349 Neurotoxins in Biology, Medicine, Agro, and War Philosophy

CAS PH 100 Introduction to Philosophy

CAS PH 155 Politics and Philosophy

CAS PH 159 Philosophy and Film

CAS PH 247 Introduction to Chinese Philosophy

CAS PH 248 Existentialism

CAS PH 251 Medical Ethics

Physics

CAS PY 105 Elementary Physics

CAS PY 107 Physics of Food and Cooking

CAS PY 211 General Physics I

CAS PY 212 General Physics II

CAS PY 251 Principles of Physics I

CAS PY 252 Principles of Physics II

CAS PY 351 Modern Physics I

CAS PY 355 Methods of Theoretical Physics

CAS PY 371 Electronics for Scientists

CAS PY 408 Intermediate Mechanics

CAS PY 421 Introduction to Computational Physics

Political Science

CAS PO 171 Introduction to International Relations

Psychological & Brain Sciences

CAS PS 101 General Psychology

CAS PS 231 Physiological Psychology

CAS PS 241 Developmental Psychology

CAS PS 261 Social Psychology

CAS PS 339 Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience

CAS PS 371 Abnormal Psychology

Romance Studies

CAS LF 111 First Semester French

CAS LF 112 Second Semester French

CAS LF 211 Third Semester French

CAS LF 212 Fourth Semester French

CAS LF 307 French Arts and Society

CAS LF 309 French in the World

CAS LF 310 French for the Professions

CAS LF 313 French through Translation

CAS LF 323 Creative Writing in French

CAS LF 324 Advanced Spoken French

CAS LF 341 Topics and Culture in French

CAS LI 111 First Semester Italian

CAS LI 112 Second Semester Italian

CAS LP 211 Third Semester Portuguese

Boston University Connections

CAS LS 111 First Semester Spanish

CAS LS 211 Third Semester Spanish

CAS LS 212 Fourth Semester Spanish

CAS LS 306 Spanish Translation

CAS LS 307 Spanish Literature and Arts

CAS LS 308 Spanish Film & Media

CAS LS 310 Spanish for the Professions

CAS LS 311 Spanish through Performance

CAS LS 350 Intro to Analysis of Hispanic Texts

Sociology

CAS SO 100 Principles in Sociology

CAS SO 205 American Family

CAS SO 215 Sociology of Health Care

CAS SO 230 Crime and Justice

CAS SO 290 Topics in Sociology

World Languages and Literatures

CAS LC 116 Reading and Writing Chinese I

CAS LC 211 Third Semester Chinese

CAS LC 212 Fourth Semester Chinese

CAS LC 250 Premodern Chinese Literature

CAS LC 311 Third Year Modern Chinese

CAS LC 315 Classical Chinese

CAS LC 319 Practical Chinese: Chinese in Intercultural Communications

CAS LC 322 Business Chinese

CAS LG 111 First Semester German

CAS LG 305 Science and Culture

CAS LG 308 Food Culture in German-Speaking Countries

CAS LH 211 Third Semester Hebrew

CAS LH 212 Fourth Semester Hebrew

CAS LJ 111 Japanese I

CAS LJ 112 Japanese II

CAS LJ 211 Japanese III

CAS LJ 212 Japanese IV

CAS LJ 251 Modern Japanese Literature

CAS LK 111 First Year Korean for Heritage Speakers

CAS LK 212 Fourth Semester Korean

CAS LK 216 Second Year Korean for Heritage Speakers

CAS LK 313 Korean through TV Drama

CAS LN 111 Hindi-Urdu

CAS LN 112 Second Semester Hindi Urdu

CAS LR 250 Classics of Russian Prose

CAS LR 280 Dostoevsky (in English Translation)

CAS LR 281 Tolstoy (in English Translation)

Writing Program

CAS WR 120 First-Year Writing Seminar

CAS WR 152 Writing, Research, & Inquiry Communications

The following are courses taken in BU schools and colleges other than the College of Arts and Sciences

COM FT 201 Screen Language

COM JO 150 History and Principles of Journalism

COM JO 205 Visual Storytelling

Data Sciences

CDS DS 100 Data Speaks Louder Than Words

CDS DS 120 Foundations of Data Science

CDS DS 199 Computing and Data Science Workshop

Engineering

ENG BE 209 Principles of Molecular Cell Biology and Biotechnology

ENG EK 103 Computational Linear Algebra

ENG EK 125 Introduction to Programming for Engineers Fine Arts

CFA AR 131 Drawing I

CFA MU 092 Concert Band

CFA TH 120 Acting and Performance I

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences

GRS CH 642 Organic Reaction Mechanisms GRS CH 643 Synthetic Methods of Organic Chemistry Health & Rehabilitation Sciences

SAR HS 369 Gross Human Anatomy

Physical Development

PDP DA 240 Modern Dance

PDP DA 340 Modern Dance, High Intermediate School of Education

SED DE 381 American Sign Language I

SED DE 382 American Sign Language II

Research Opportunities

Being a part of a major research university means BUA students utilize resources that other high schoolers can only dream about. Our Junior Research Seminar exposes students to research at Boston University and provides students with the opportunity to begin initial research on their thesis work.

History, Arts, and Letters (HAL)

University professors share their approach to research, and students learn how to effectively initiate a research project, including using a variety of libraries, web-based resources, and bibliographies.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)

Students gain insight into scientific research by taking weekly tours of Boston University’s laboratories and examining current science periodicals during the fall and winter. In the spring, tours are replaced with laboratory rotations, which often develop into summer internships. The following is a list of participating labs during the 2021–2022 academic year.

Physical Sciences and Engineering

Astronomy

Professor JJ Hermes, Astronomy

Biology

Professor John Quackenbush, Biostatistics

Senior Thesis Project

Professor Randi Rotjan, Marine Biology Professor Preston Thakral, Neuroscience Chemistry/Biochemistry Professor Linda Doerrer, Chemistry Professor Sean Elliott, Chemistry Professor Daniel Segre, Biochemistry

Engineering

Dr. Drew Bennett, MIT Sea Grant, Engineering & Marine Biology

Environmental Science

Professor Cedric Fichot, Environmental Science Professor Dan Li, Environmental Science

Physics

Professor Karl Ludwig, Physics Professor Alex Sushkov, Condensed Matter Physics

Life Sciences

Medicine

Professor Andrew Henderson, New England Infectious Disease Lab Dr. Mark Poznansky, MGH Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center

A culminating experience for all BUA students, the Senior Thesis is an independent research project that provides students with the opportunity to follow an intellectual passion in depth with the guidance of a university professor.

The year-long project is designed to demonstrate students’ ability to read closely, research thoroughly, think analytically, and write coherently in a scholarly fashion. All students present their research to the BUA community prior to graduation. Thesis topics run the gamut of academic and artistic fields and disciplines, and reflect the many and varied interests and passions of BUA students.

List of senior thesis topics for the Class of 2022 (mind, prepare to explode!):

• The Application of Haptic Technology in Increasing Situational Awareness for the Visually Impaired

• The 2008 Housing Crisis: Why the American Financial System Collapsed and How it Affected American Households

• A Comparison of Two Contrasting Film Styles: The Films of Wilder and Bresson

Boston University Connections

• Hemingway and The Hunger Games: Exploring the Literary Merit and Popularity of Science Fiction

• Lead Optimization of CNS Drugs Using Computational Analysistogen

• A Case for Greater Globalized Influence to United States Healthcare Systems

Senior Thesis Projects

•

A Comparative Analysis of Race and Socioeconomic Status During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the US, UK, and Canada

• The Dunk Craze: How Social Media Influenced the Biggest Sneaker Trend Of 2020

• An Evaluation of Weak-Anion Exchange Solid Phase Extraction Cartridges for the Quantification of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) Compounds

• Increased Inflammation in Sleep-Relevant Nuclei is Associated with REM Sleep Behavior Disorder in Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy

• Chinese Character Effect on the Foreign Language Effect

• Doomsday

• Quantifying the Effects of Starvation, Thermal and Photosynthetic Stress, and Microplastics on Astrangia poculata to Understand the Anthropogenic Impacts on Temperate Corals

• A Study on Enterobacter RC202 and its Ability to Biodegrade Lignin, with Potential for Biofuel Production

• The Genetic Pathway of Artemisinin in the A. annua Plant

• Ergothioneine: Analysis of a Stroke Drug Candidate

• Using RGB Contrast Values in MATLAB® to locate Exfoliated Nano-Material Validation of a Robotic Bronchoscope

• Comparison of Mathematical Models for Epidemics to Historical Data

• Framing the Conversation: An Analysis of Public Discussion of Sexual and Reproductive Health

• A Stylistic Exploration of Egon Schiele

• The Effects of Reaganomics on Economic Inequality in America

• The Math of Magic and the Magic of Math

• The Efficacy of Urban Heat Mitigation Techniques in Boston

• The Role of Acculturation on Mental Health in Chinese Communities

• Applications and Optimizations of Bessel Beams for Confocal Microscopy

• Selling a Lifestyle: Thackeray’s Vanity Fair, Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Orange County, and Social Expectations

• Investigating the Effect of B Cell Treatment on Native B Cell Populations in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Via Waddington Optimal Transport Analysis

• Exploring Factors of and Solutions to Internet Facilitated Cybersex Trafficking and Prostitution in Underage Girls in Thailand

• Reviews of Soft Hand Based Exosuits for Osteoarthritis and Similar Conditions

• The Effects of Narcissistic Abuse on Adult Children of Pathological Narcissists

• Depictions of Fatherhood in American Media

• The Big Other: An Analysis and its Role in Neoliberal Capitalism

• Pagan Influence on Christianity, an Evolving View

• Approximation Algorithms for Dynamic Time Warping on Run-Length Encoded Strings

• Cryptocurrency Mining and its Environmental Impact

• Establishment of HIV Defective Proviruses and their Expression

• The ATD2021 Challenge: Detecting Anomalies and Patterns in Traffic Flow

• Sex-Linked Differences in Lung Adenocarcinoma (LUAD)

• Structure Determination of Indene via Cavity Fourier Transform Microwave Spectroscopy

• Testing the Linearity of Quantum Mechanics

• A Case Study of Venezuela and Norway: Is the Resource Curse Avoidable?

• An Urgent Need for Policy Change: the Cancer Susceptibility Mutation R337H with a Founder Effect in South and Southeastern Brazil

• Visual Analysis and Vetting Software for White Dwarf Binary Systems

• Moving MRI: Identifying and Mapping the Field Strength of an MRI Magnet

In our caring high-school community, students who love learning are challenged to think critically and read deeply, and to explore adventurously the wider world of learning at Boston University.

One University Road, Boston, MA 02215 P: 617-358-2493 | F: 617-353-8999 academyadmission@bu.edu