Online Class: Biology 360 — From Molecules to Ecosystems

Our online biology course with certificate encompasses all the principles of biology from the structure and function of the cell to the complexities of current Ecological issues.

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  • 30
    Lessons
  • 31
    Exams &
    Assignments
  • 4,935
    Students
    have taken this course
  • 14
    Hours
    average time
  • 1.4
    CEUs
 
 
 

Course Description

What if you could uncover the secrets of life itself-learn the intricate dance of molecules, cells, and ecosystems, and come to see the world around you with new eyes? Imagine the thrill of understanding not just how life works, but why it matters. Welcome to Biology 101, a transformative adventure into the wonders of the living world-a course designed to inspire, educate, and empower you.

Biology isn't just another subject; it's the story of life in all its glory. It's the heartbeat of medicine, the foundation of environmental science, and the key to unlocking humanity's greatest challenges and opportunities. This course isn't just about learning biology-it's about experiencing it.

From the moment you begin, you'll be drawn into a world of discovery. Together, we'll travel from the tiniest cell to the vast complexity of entire ecosystems. You'll uncover the mysteries of DNA-the blueprint of all living things-and explore the interconnectedness of life in ways that are both awe-inspiring and deeply practical.

This is not a passive learning experience. Biology 101 is designed to engage you at every step, sparking curiosity and critical thinking. We've stripped away the dryness of textbooks to create a course that is alive with vivid storytelling, rich visuals, and real-world applications. Whether you're unraveling the complexities of biochemistry or marveling at the elegance of genetic inheritance, you'll find yourself immersed in content that feels less like a lecture and more like an exploration.

What makes Biology 101 unique? It's not just the depth of knowledge-it's the personal transformation it offers. This course isn't just about facts; it's about perspective. You'll come away not only understanding biology but seeing your place in the web of life with newfound clarity and purpose.

Whether you're preparing for academic success, pursuing a career in science, or simply satisfying a thirst for knowledge, this course adapts to you. It's designed for learners of all levels, with tools that empower you to progress at your own pace and deepen your understanding at every turn.

But this isn't just an intellectual journey-it's an emotional one. Biology 101 will awaken your sense of wonder, challenge you to think critically, and inspire you to see the beauty and complexity of life all around you.

So, are you ready? Ready to unlock the mysteries of life, broaden your horizons, and ignite a lifelong passion for discovery? Biology 101 isn't just a course-it's an opportunity. An invitation. A life-changing decision.

Don't just learn biology-experience it. Join us, and let the adventure begin.

Course Motivation

Biology is the study of life in all its forms, from the origins of existence to the structure, growth, and interactions of living organisms. While its vastness can seem intimidating, this course breaks it down into clear, foundational concepts that make learning approachable and engaging.

Designed for college, pre-college students, and anyone with a curiosity about life, Biology 101 offers a self-paced, easy-to-follow curriculum supported by vivid visuals, critical thinking exercises, and comprehensive reviews. No prior scientific background is needed-just a willingness to explore!

With 24/7 enrollment and all materials included, this course is accessible and affordable, eliminating the need for costly textbooks. By the end, you'll gain a solid understanding of biology's core principles and be prepared to excel in further scientific studies or simply appreciate the science of life.

Start learning today-no prerequisites, no waiting, just discovery at your own pace.

  • Completely Online
  • Self-Paced
  • 6 Months to Complete
  • 24/7 Availability
  • Start Anytime
  • PC & Mac Compatible
  • Android & iOS Friendly
  • Accredited CEUs
Universal Class is an IACET Accredited Provider
 
 

Course Lessons

Average Lesson Rating:
4.36 / 5 Stars (Average Rating)
"Extraordinarily Helpful"
(4,302 votes)

Lesson 1: Introduction to the Study of Biology

11 Points
Biology, the study of life in all its manifestations, initially focused mainly upon disease and its treatment.
  • Lesson 1 Video
  • Lesson discussions: Reasons for Taking this Course
  • Complete Assignment: Why this Course?
  • Assessment: Introduction to the Study of Biology Exam

Lesson 2: The Scientific Method

10 Points
All through history, individuals have employed methodologies of science in their attempts to discover new facts about nature. It is generally accepted that science is based upon a productive kind of methodology called the scientific method.
  • Lesson 2 Video
  • Assessment: The Scientific Method Exam

Lesson 3: Characteristics of Living Things

10 Points
Life cannot be defined in such terms as weight, volume, or wavelength, nor can it be said that life is a liquid, solid, or gas. No doubt this baffling nature of life contributes in large measure to the fascination biology holds for many individuals.
  • Lesson 3 Video
  • Assessment: Characteristics of Living Things Exam

Lesson 4: The Role of Chemistry in Biology

10 Points
One of the longest standing debates in biology is the question of whether proteins or nucleic acids came first in the evolution of the first forms of life.
  • Lesson 4 Video
  • Assessment: The Role of Chemistry in Biology Exam

Lesson 5: Chemistry Basics

10 Points
To start from the very beginning, the entire universe is made up of what are referred to as atoms.
  • Lesson 5 Video
  • Assessment: Chemistry Basics Exam

Lesson 6: Biochemistry and other Bio-Sciences

10 Points
Biochemists focus solely on the chemical attributes of biology in trying to explain various biological phenomena, whereas biologists study biological systems more broadly.
  • Lesson 6 Video
  • Assessment: Biochemistry and other Bio-Sciences Exam

Lesson 7: Comparison of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cell Structures

10 Points
The term prokaryote ("before nucleus") currently is used in reference to bacteria and a group of simple photosynthetic cells called blue-green algae. Cells of all other organisms contain nuclei and are termed eukaryotes ("true nucleus").
  • Lesson 7 Video
  • Assessment: Comparison of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cell Structures Exam

Lesson 8: Energy Conversion in Eukaryotic Cells

10 Points
Whether potential energy is made available for work by a reaction, or work is done to transform some other kind of energy into potential energy, some energy is always lost in the process.
  • Lesson 8 Video
  • Assessment: Energy Conversion in Eykaryotic Cells Exam

Lesson 9: Mendel's Laws and Modern Genetic Terminology

10 Points
The observations of Gregor Mendel on heredity in the edible garden pea represent the first disciplined, analytical inquiry into the mechanism of inheritance.
  • Lesson 9 Video
  • Assessment: Mendel's Laws and Modern Genetic Terminology Exam

Lesson 10: Patterns of Inheritance

10 Points
Mendel was the first to present evidence for the existence of genes as particulate or material entities.
  • Lesson 10 Video
  • Assessment: Patterns of Inheritance Exam

Lesson 11: Molecular Genetics

10 Points
It was in 1884 that Eduard Strasburger, Oscar Hertwig, and Walter Flemming first developed the idea that genetic material was carried in what are called chromosomes.
  • Lesson 11 Video
  • Assessment: Molecular Genetics Exam

Lesson 12: How DNA and RNA Work

10 Points
Transcription is the process by which RNA is created. As it has been previously stated, while DNA can self-replicate, RNA cannot.
  • Lesson 12 Video
  • Assessment: How DNA and RNA Work Exam

Lesson 13: Why Genes Matter to You

10 Points
Your genetic sequence is entirely unique. There is no one else in the world, nor has there been anyone in the history of the world, with the exact genetic sequence you have in your DNA.
  • Lesson 13 Video
  • Assessment: Why Genes Matter to You Exam

Lesson 14: Introduction to the Study of the Origins of Life

10 Points
There are many different theories about the origin of life, ranging from life originating from spontaneous generation to life beginning in deep sea thermal vents or bacterial life arising from different parts of the universe.
  • Lesson 14 Video
  • Assessment: Origins of Life Exam

Lesson 15: Fundamentals of Life Origins

10 Points
The theory of spontaneous generation proposes that life originated from inanimate matter other than seeds, eggs or parents.
  • Lesson 15 Video
  • Assessment: Fundamentals Exam

Lesson 16: Other Considerations in the Search of Life

85 Points
Scientists always look for water when they search for life on Earth and in space.
  • Lesson 16 Video
  • Assessment: Other Considerations Exam
  • Assessment: MidTerm Exam

Lesson 17: The Development of an Evolutionary Principle: A Selective Overview of the History

10 Points
Aristotle first developed his natural philosophy, the precursor to science.
  • Lesson 17 Video
  • Assessment: The Development of an Evolutionary Principle Exam

Lesson 18: How Evolution Works

10 Points
Darwin's concept of natural selection provided the framework for how evolution did not occur randomly.
  • Lesson 18 Video
  • Assessment: How Evolution Works Exam

Lesson 19: Speciation

10 Points
When evolutionary changes become so substantial that, by comparative anatomy, two groups of one species become too distinct to be placed in the same category, this results in speciation.
  • Lesson 19 Video
  • Assessment: Speciation Exam

Lesson 20: Accompanying Evolutionary Concepts

10 Points
When a particular trait within an organism proves beneficial in the face of the pressures of natural selection, this is called adaptation.
  • Lesson 20 Video
  • Assessment: Accompanying Evolutionary Concepts Exam

Lesson 21: Modern Evidence for Evolution and Common Ancestry

10 Points
Gregor Mendel and the rise of the science of genetics was perhaps the greatest boost to evolutionary theorists, as the study of genetics provided an explanation of how evolution actually worked.
  • Lesson 21 Video
  • Assessment: Modern Evidence for Evolution and Common Ancestry Exam

Lesson 22: Why We're Here Today

10 Points
Human beings evolved, just like every other organism on the planet, from ancestor organisms.
  • Lesson 22 Video
  • Assessment: Why We're Here Today Exam

Lesson 23: Dynamics of Population

0 Points
When we talk about studying the dynamics of population, we're talking about quantifying the way population changes, both in the long and in the short term.
  • Lesson 23 Video

Lesson 24: Human Population Dynamics

0 Points
Because humans are far more unpredictable, it's more difficult to predict human population growth and decline than it is to predict animal or plant population growth or decline.
  • Lesson 24 Video

Lesson 25: Ecosystem Structure

10 Points
Studying the relationship between organisms and their abiotic environment helps us understand different kinds of adaptational processes.
  • Lesson 25 Video
  • Assessment: Ecosystem Structure Exam

Lesson 26: The Flow of Energy in Ecosystems

10 Points
When describing good webs, we must make some boundary to the system of interest, otherwise the entire planet will be united in a single web.
  • Lesson 26 Video
  • Assessment: The Flow of Energy in Ecosystems Exam

Lesson 27: Major Ecosystems

10 Points
This lesson explores the major ecosystems; marine, aquatic, estuarine, and terrestrial.
  • Lesson 27 Video
  • Assessment: Major Ecosystems Exam

Lesson 28: Biochemical Cycles

10 Points
As energy flows through a food web, it is involved in chemical reactions at each trophic level, whereby atoms are combined, separated, and recombined.
  • Lesson 28 Video
  • Assessment: Biochemical Cycles Exam

Lesson 29: Succession

10 Points
If left alone, the fresh scar of bare earth left by a landslip will gather a mantle of green as grasses and herbs sprout.
  • Lesson 29 Video
  • Assessment: Succession Exam

Lesson 30: Other Topics in Ecology

69 Points
Mankind has introduced harmful elements into our ecological environment.
  • Lesson 30 Video
  • Lesson discussions: Final Course Poll - Your Opinion; Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course); Course Comments; Course Comments
  • Assessment: Other Topics in Ecology Exam
  • Assessment: Final Exam
415
Total Course Points
 

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  • Describe the study of biology.
  • Define scientific method.
  • Define characteristics of living things.
  • Define the role of chemistry in biology.
  • Describe chemistry basics.
  • Summarize biochemistry and other bio-sciences.
  • Recognize the comparison of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structures.
  • Describe energy conversion in eukaryotic cells.
  • Define Mendel's Laws and modern genetic terminology.
  • Describe patterns of inheritance.
  • Describe molecular genetics how DNA and RNA work.
  • Determine why genes matter to you.
  • Summarize study of the origins of life.
  • Describe other considerations in the search of life.
  • Summarize the development of an evolutionary principle.
  • Describe how evolution works.
  • Define speciation.
  • Describe dynamics of population.
  • Identify human population dynamics.
  • Describe ecosystem structure.
  • Define major ecosystems.
  • Summarize biochemical cycles and succession.
  • Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
 

Additional Course Information

Online CEU Certificate
  • Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
  • Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
  • Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
  • View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
  • Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media
Document Your CEUs on Your Resume
 
Course Title: Biology 360: From Molecules to Ecosystems
Course Number: 7550569
Lessons Rating: 4.36 / 5 Stars (4,302 votes)
Languages: English - United States, Canada and other English speaking countries
Availability: With online access available nationwide, this course reaches all U.S. states, including California, Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, and Georgia. Additionally, it’s open to learners in English-speaking countries such as the UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
Last Updated: July 2024
Course Type: Self-Paced, Online Class
CEU Value: 1.4 IACET CEUs (Continuing Education Units)
CE Accreditation: Universal Class, Inc. has been accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).
Grading Policy: Earn a final grade of 70% or higher to receive an online/downloadable CEU Certification documenting CEUs earned.
Assessment Method: Lesson assignments and review exams
Instructor: UniversalClass Instructional Team
Syllabus: View Syllabus
Course Fee: $120.00 U.S. dollars

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Student Testimonials

  • "Instructor was great, and I learned a great deal on the course. I didn't have many issues with it, and overall I leaned a lot." -- Justine C.
  • "A helpful instructor who provided a quick turnaround when grading assignments." -- Frieda F.