Abbreviations and Symbols

Following is the system of abbreviations and symbols used in the course listings that appear throughout this Bulletin.

Part of each course number is an alphabetical prefix that indicates the University school, college, or program (first three letters) and the department (next two letters) in which the course originates. For example, CAS HI 102 indicates a course in the College of Arts & Sciences, Department of History. The alphabetical prefixes used in this Bulletin are explained in a table below.

The number indicates the course’s level of difficulty. A general guide follows. Should a school or college attach more specific meanings or stipulations to the numerical level, these will be explained in that school’s section of the Bulletin.

000–099
Nondegree, no units
100–199
General undergraduate
200–299
Intermediate undergraduate
300–399
Advanced undergraduate
400–599
Advanced undergraduate and/or graduate level
600–799
General graduate
800–899
Advanced graduate
900–999
Graduate directed study, research, continuing study status

An X after a course number indicates that the course is given off campus.

Course descriptions usually offer a brief outline of the content of the course, any prerequisites or corequisites, the instructor, unit value, and term the course is offered. Abbreviations frequently used are:

Prereq
Prerequisite
Coreq
Corequisite

Not offered means that the course is not offered during the current academic year but may be offered in the future.
Offered irregularly means that the course is offered only if there is sufficient demand.

As of the 2024/2025 Bulletin, the terms below have been updated:

Former usage Current usage
Credit(s) Unit(s)
Semester(s) Term(s)
Hub unit(s) Hub requirement(s)
Degree Advice Degree Progress Report

Abbreviations used in degree programs

/
Joint Degree
ArtDp
Artist Diploma
BA
Bachelor of Arts
BFA
Bachelor of Fine Arts
BLS
Bachelor of Liberal Studies
BS
Bachelor of Science
BSBA
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
CAGS
Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study
Dip
Graduate Diploma
DBA
Doctor of Business Administration
Deg Cand
Degree Candidate
DMA
Doctor of Musical Arts
DMD
Doctor of Dental Medicine
DMin
Doctor of Ministry
DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
DrPH
Doctor of Public Health
DSc
Doctor of Science
DScD
Doctor of Science in Dentistry
EdD
Doctor of Education
EdM
Master of Education
JD
Juris Doctor
LLM
Master of Laws
MA
Master of Arts
MAT
Master of Arts in Teaching
MBA
Master of Business Administration
MCJ
Master of Criminal Justice
MCP
Master of City Planning
MD
Doctor of Medicine
MDiv
Master of Divinity
MEng
Master of Engineering
MFA
Master of Fine Arts
MLA
Master of Liberal Arts
MLS
Master of Liberal Studies
MMEDIC
Modular Medical Integrated Curriculum
MMH
Master of Management in Hospitality
MMT
Master of Mathematics for Teaching
MPH
Master of Public Health
MS
Master of Science
MSD
Master of Science in Dentistry
MSIM
Master of Science in Investment Management
MSL
Master in Study of Law
MSM
Master of Sacred Music
MSMF
Master of Science in Mathematical Finance
MSOT
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy
MSW
Master of Social Work
MTS
Master of Theological Studies
MUA
Master of Science in Urban Affairs
MusB
Bachelor of Music
MusM
Master of Music
OpIns
Opera Institute
OTD
Doctor of Occupational Therapy
PerfDip
Performance Diploma
PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
ScD
Doctor of Science
STM
Doctor of Sacred Theology
ThD
Doctor of Theology

Abbreviations used in course numbers

CAS
College of Arts & Sciences and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences

AA
African American & Black Diaspora Studies
AH
History of Art & Architecture
AI
Asian Studies
AM
American & New England Studies, including Preservation Studies
AN
Anthropology
AR
Archaeology
AS
Astronomy
BB
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
BI
Biology
CC
Core Curriculum
CG
Modern Greek
CH
Chemistry
CI
Cinema & Media Studies
CL
Classical Studies
CS
Computer Science
EC
Economics
EE
Earth & Environment
EI
Editorial Studies
EN
English
FR
French Studies (International Programs only)
FY
First Year Experience
HI
History
HU
Humanities
ID
Interdisciplinary Studies
IN
Internships
IP
International Programs
IR
International Relations
IT
Italian Studies (International Programs only)
JS
Jewish Studies
LA–LZ
Modern Languages, including Linguistics

LA
Hausa
LC
Chinese
LD
Amharic, Igbo, Mandinka/Bambara, Setswana/Sesotho, isiZulu, Other African Languages and Linguistics
LE
Swahili (Kiswahili)
LF
French
LG
German
LH
Hebrew
LI
Italian
LJ
Japanese
LK
Korean
LL
Language Learning
LM
isiXosha
LN
Hindi-Urdu
LO
Yoruba
LP
Portuguese
LR
Russian
LS
Spanish
LT
Turkish
LU
Pulaar
LW
Wolof, Akan Twi
LX
Applied Linguistics
LY
Arabic
LZ
Persian (Farsi)
MA
Mathematics & Statistics
ME
Middle East & North Africa Studies
MR
Marine Science
MS
Medical Science
MU
Music
NE
Neuroscience
NG
Nigerian Studies (International Programs only)
NS
Natural Sciences
PH
Philosophy
PO
Political Science
PS
Psychological & Brain Sciences
PY
Physics
QU
Spanish Studies (Quito only)
RN
Religion
RO
Romance Studies
SO
Sociology
SP
Special Programs
SS
Social Sciences
SY
Senior-Year Development
TL
Literary Translation (Note: TL are CAS courses and degree is GRS)
WR
Writing
WS
Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies
XL
Comparative Literature
CDS
Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences

BF
Bioinformatics
CD
Data Science
DX
Online Data Science course
CFA
College of Fine Arts

AR
Visual Arts
TH
Theatre
FA
CFA Courses
ME
Music Education
ML
Applied Lessons
MP
Performance
MT
Music Theory
MU
Music
PS
Child Growth & Development
CGS
College of General Studies

HU
Humanities
MA
Mathematics
NS
Natural Science
RH
Rhetoric
SS
Social Science
COM
College of Communication

CI
Cinema & Media Studies
CM
Mass Communication, Advertising & Public Relations
CO
Core Courses
EM
Emerging Media Studies
FT
Film & Television
JO
Journalism
ENG
College of Engineering

BE
Biomedical Engineering
BF
Bioinformatics
EC
Electrical & Computer Engineering
EK
Engineering Core
ME
Mechanical Engineering
MS
Materials Science & Engineering
SE
Systems Engineering
GMS
Graduate Medical Sciences

AN
Anatomy and Neurobiology
BC
Healthcare Emergency Management
BI
Biochemistry
BN
Behavioral Neuroscience
BT
Biomedical Laboratory & Clinical Sciences
BY
Biophysics
CI
Clinical Investigation
FA
Forensic Anthropology
FC
Foundations Curriculum
FS
Biomedical Forensic Sciences
GC
Genetic Counseling
GE
Genetics and Genomics
HS
Health Professions
IM
Bioimaging
MA
Medical Anthropology & Cross-Cultural Practice
MH
Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine
MI
Microbiology
MM
Molecular Medicine
MS
Medical Sciences
NU
Nutrition & Metabolism
OB
Oral Biology
OH
Oral Health Sciences
PA
Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
PH
Physiology
PM
Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics
HUB
BU Hub – General Education Program

CC
Cocurricular
FY
First-Year Experience
IC
Interdisciplinary Course
RL
RIL with Honors Thesis or Directed Study
SA
Study Abroad Experience
SJ
Social & Racial Justice
XC
Cross-College Challenge
KHC
Kilachand Honors College
LAW
School of Law

AM
American Law
BK
Banking
JD
Juris Doctor
XB
Business Law
TX
Tax Law
MED
Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
MET
Metropolitan College

AD
Administrative Sciences
AH
Art History
AN
Anthropology
AR
Arts Administration
AT
Actuarial Science
BI
Biology
BT
Biomedical Laboratory & Clinical Sciences
CH
Chemistry
CJ
Criminal Justice
CM
Communications/Advertising
CS
Computer Science
EC
Economics
EN
English
ES
Earth Sciences
HC
Health Communication
HI
History
HU
Humanities
IS
Interdisciplinary Studies
LD
Leadership
LX
Linguistics
MA
Mathematics, Statistics
MG
Management
ML
Gastronomy
PH
Philosophy
PO
Political Science
PS
Psychology
PY
Physics
SO
Sociology
UA
Urban Affairs
OTP
Officer Training Program (ROTC)

AS
Aerospace Studies (Air Force)
MS
Military Science (Army)
NS
Naval Science (Navy)
Questrom
Questrom School of Business

AC
Accounting
BA
Business Analytics
DS
Doctoral Dissertation Section
ES
Executive Skills
FE
Finance
FI
MSIM
HF
Humphrey Scholars
HM
Health Sector
IM
International Management
IS
Management Information Systems
LA
Law
MF
Math Finance
MG
Ethics
MK
Marketing
MO
Organizational Behavior
MS
Management Studies
OM
Operations & Technology Management
PL
Markets, Public Policy & Law
QM
Quantitative Modeling
SI
Strategy & Innovation
SM
Management Core
SAR
Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences

HP
Health Professions
HS
Health Sciences
OT
Occupational Therapy
PT
Physical Therapy
RS
Rehabilitation Sciences
SH
Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences
SDM
Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine

EN
Endodontics
GD
General Dentistry
MB
Molecular Biology
MD
Dental Medicine
OB
Oral Biology
OD
Oral Diagnosis
OP
Operative Dentistry
OR
Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics
OS
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
PA
Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology
PD
Pediatric Dentistry
PE
Periodontology
PH
Dental Public Health
PR
Prosthodontics
RS
Restorative Dentistry
SHA
School of Hospitality Administration

HF
Hospitality
SPH
School of Public Health

BS
Biostatistics
EH
Environmental Health
EP
Epidemiology
GH
Global Health
LW
Health Law, Bioethics & Human Rights
MC
Maternal & Child Health
PH
General Public Health
PM
Health Policy & Management
SB
Social & Behavioral Sciences
SSW
School of Social Work

CP
Clinical Practice
ET
Ethics
FE
Field Education
HB
Human Behavior
IS
Integrative Seminar
KC
PhD Proseminar
MP
Macro Practice
SR
Social Work Research
WP
Social Welfare Policy
STH
School of Theology

DM
Doctor of Ministry
TA
Sacred Music and the Arts
TC
Preaching, Worship, Administration, Evangelism, and Spirituality
TE
Religious Education
TF
Interdisciplinary Studies
TH
History of Christianity
TJ
Practical Theology
TM
Mission Studies
TN
New Testament
TO
Hebrew Scripture
TR
Sociology of Religion
TS
Ethics
TT
Philosophy and Systematic Theology
TX
Cross Listed
TY
Pastoral Psychology and Psychology of Religion
TZ
Research Methods and Professional Development
SUM
Summer Term
WED
Wheelock College of Education & Human Development

AP
Policy, Planning & Administration
BI
English as a Second Language
CE
Counseling & Counseling Psychology
CH
Childhood Education
CL
Latin & Classical Studies Education
CT
Curriculum & Teaching
DE
Deaf Studies
DS
Human Development & Education
EC
Early Childhood Education
ED
Education Core
EM
Educational Media & Technology
EN
English & Language Arts Education
HD
Human Development
HE
Health Education
HR
Human Resource Education
IE
International Education
LC
Independent Study
LR
Reading (formerly RE Reading Education)
LS
Language & Literacy Studies
LW
Writing Education
ME
Mathematics Education
PE
Physical Education & Coaching
RS
Research
SC
Science Education
SE
Special Education
SO
Social Studies Education
TL
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) & Modern Foreign Language Education
WL
World Language
YJ
Youth Justice
XAS
Marine Program/Semester at Sea

NS
SEA Semester, Marine Science
XRG
Cross-registration outside the University

AN
with Andover Newton Theological School through the Boston Theological Institute
BC
with Boston College School of Theology and Ministry & Theology Department through the Boston Theological Institute
BD
with Brandeis University
ED
Episcopal Divinity School through the Boston Theological Institute
GC
Gordon Conwell Theological School through the Boston Theological Institute
HB
Hebrew College Rabinical School through the Boston Theological Institute
HC
with Holy Cross through the Boston Theological Institute
HD
Harvard Divinity School through the Boston Theological Institute
HU
with Hebrew College
SJ
Saint John’s Seminary through the Boston Theological Institute
TF
with Tufts University