Non-Majors Biology – A Free Course | Best Online Short Courses

This one-semester course will introduce you to the grand sweep of life on Earth and provide you with a basic understanding of the processes that shape and sustain it.

You will learn about the ecological ties that bind organisms to one another and to their environment and explore the promising, perilous dance of humans and nature.

Topics include the science of biology, the structure and function of cells, tissues and organs, cellular processes, cell division and the life cycle, principles of inheritance, evolution, the diversity of life, and ecology.

After completing this course, students should understand:

The scope and methods of biology
The internal organization of living organisms
The life cycle of cells
The flow of energy and matter through organisms and ecosystems
The evolution and diversity of life on Earth
The principles of ecology

Non-Majors Biology: Course Outline

Chapter 1: Concepts and Methods in Biology
1. Lesson 1: What is Science?
  1. Topic 1: Your Inner Scientist
  2. Topic 2: Kinds of Science
  3. Topic 3: Scientific Method
  4. Topic 4: Theories and Laws
  5. Topic 5: What Science is Not
Chapter 2: Biology: The Science of Life
1. Lesson 2: Biology
  1. Topic 1: Defining Biology
  2. Topic 2: Why Study Biology?
2. Lesson 3: Biology Now
  1. Topic 1: Biology in the News
  2. Topic 2: Global Challenges and Opportunities
Chapter 3: Requirements for Life
1. Lesson 4: Matter and Energy
  1. Topic 1: Matter
  2. Topic 2: Energy
  3. Topic 3: Laws of Thermodynamics
2. Lesson 5: Chemistry
  1. Topic 1: Basic Chemistry
  2. Topic 2: Carbon
3. Lesson 6: Properties of Water
  1. Topic 1: Water and Life
  2. Topic 2: Properties of Water
Chapter 4: Cellular Organization
1. Lesson 7: Cell Basics
  1. Topic 1: Cell Theory
  2. Topic 2: Cell Size
  3. Topic 3: Types of Cells
  4. Topic 4: Cell Specialization
2. Lesson 8: Plasma Membrane
  1. Topic 1: Plasma Membrane Structure
  2. Topic 2: Function of the Plasma Membrane
3. Lesson 9: Cytoplasm
  1. Topic 1: Cytosol
  2. Topic 2: Organelles
  3. Topic 3: Other Cell Structures
Chapter 5: Tissues, Organs, and Systems
1. Lesson 10: Tissues
  1. Topic 1: Tissues
  2. Topic 2: Animal Tissues
  3. Topic 3: Plant Tissues
2. Lesson 11: Organs and Systems
  1. Topic 1: Organs and Systems
  2. Topic 2: Plant Organs and Systems
  3. Topic 3: Animal Organs and Systems
3. Lesson 12: Homeostasis
  1. Topic 1: Homeostasis
  2. Topic 2: Homeostatic Mechanisms
  3. Topic 3: Examples of Homeostasis
Chapter 6: Cellular Energy
1. Lesson 13: Defining Cellular Energy
  1. Topic 1: Cellular Energy
  2. Topic 2: Energy Carriers
  3. Topic 3: Energy in Motion
2. Lesson 14: Energy Storage and Usage
  1. Topic 1: Energy Use and Storage
  2. Topic 2: Catabolism
  3. Topic 3: Anabolism
3. Lesson 15: Enzymes
  1. Topic 1: Role of Enzymes
  2. Topic 2: Enzyme Action
  3. Topic 3: Enzyme Regulation
Chapter 7: Energy Transformations
1. Lesson 16: Photosynthesis
  1. Topic 1: Photosynthetic Processes
  2. Topic 2: Photosynthetic Structures
  3. Topic 3: Light, Energy, and Pigments
2. Lesson 17: Chemosynthesis
  1. Topic 1: Chemosynthetic Process
  2. Topic 2: Chemosynthetic Organisms
  3. Topic 3: Environments and Energy Flow
3. Lesson 18: Cellular Respiration
  1. Topic 1: Cellular Respiration
  2. Topic 2: Aerobic Respiration
  3. Topic 3: Anaerobic Respiration
  4. Topic 4: Anatomy of Respiration
Chapter 8: The Life of a Cell
1. Lesson 19: Cell Cycle – Interphase
  1. Topic 1: Cell Cycle
  2. Topic 2: Interphase
  3. Topic 3: Apoptosis
2. Lesson 20: Cell Cycle – Cell Division
  1. Topic 1: Cell Division
  2. Topic 2: Cell Types and Cell Division
Chapter 9: Mitosis
1. Lesson 21: Process of Mitosis
  1. Topic 1: Preparation for Mitosis
  2. Topic 2: Mitosis
  3. Topic 3: Regulation of Mitosis
2. Lesson 22: Purpose of Mitosis
  1. Topic 1: Purpose of Mitosis
  2. Topic 2: Growth, Renewal, and Repair
  3. Topic 3: Asexual Reproduction
Chapter 10: Meiosis
1. Lesson 23: Process of Meiosis
  1. Topic 1: Preparation For Meiosis
  2. Topic 2: Meiosis I
  3. Topic 3: Meiosis II
2. Lesson 24: Purpose of Meiosis
  1. Topic 1: Meiosis and Sexual Reproduction
  2. Topic 2: Ploidy Control
  3. Topic 3: Genetic Variation
Chapter 11: Mendelian Inheritance
1. Lesson 25: Mendelian Inheritance
  1. Topic 1: Monkeying with Peas
  2. Topic 2: Mendel’s Laws
  3. Topic 3: Exceptions to the Rules
2. Lesson 26: Predicting Genetic Outcomes
  1. Topic 1: The Punnett Square
  2. Topic 2: A Case Study
Chapter 12: Genetic Code
1. Lesson 27: DNA and the Double Helix
  1. Topic 1: The Discovery of DNA
  2. Topic 2: DNA Structure and Function
2. Lesson 28: DNA Replication
  1. Topic 1: Replication
  2. Topic 2: Replication Errors
3. Lesson 29: Genes to Proteins
  1. Topic 1: Protein Synthesis
  2. Topic 2: Transcription
  3. Topic 3: Translation
  4. Topic 4: Analogy
Chapter 13: Genetic Engineering
1. Lesson 30: History of Domestication
  1. Topic 1: Domestication
  2. Topic 2: Genetics of Domestication
  3. Topic 3: Domestication Timeline
2. Lesson 31: Hybridization
  1. Topic 1: Hybridization
  2. Topic 2: Hybrids
3. Lesson 32: Principles of Cloning
  1. Topic 1: Cloning
  2. Topic 2: Types of Cloning
  3. Topic 3: Cloning Debate
Chapter 14: Human Genetics and Common Human Genetic Abnormalities
1. Lesson 33: Genetic Disorders
  1. Topic 1: Genetic Disorders
  2. Topic 2: Gene Defects
  3. Topic 3: Chromosomal Abnormalities
2. Lesson 34: Genetic Engineering for Human Health
  1. Topic 1: Genetic Engineering
  2. Topic 2: Genetic Engineering for Human Health
  3. Topic 3: Genetic Engineering of Humans
  4. Topic 4: Public Resistance to Genetic Engineering
3. Lesson 35: Genome Projects
  1. Topic 1: Genome Projects
  2. Topic 2: Human Genome Project
  3. Topic 3: After the Project
Chapter 15: Darwinian Evolution
1. Lesson 36: Theories of Evolution
  1. Topic 1: Science and Theory
  2. Topic 2: Early Ideas on Evolution
  3. Topic 3: Darwinian Evolution
  4. Topic 4: Evolution After Darwin
2. Lesson 37: Darwin’s Voyages
  1. Topic 1: Darwin’s Journey Begins
  2. Topic 2: Voyage of the Beagle
  3. Topic 3: A Revolution is Launched
Chapter 16: Origin of Species
1. Lesson 38: Natural Selection
  1. Topic 1: Natural Selection and Evolution
  2. Topic 2: Conditions For Selection
  3. Topic 3: Selection Patterns
  4. Topic 4: Genetic Drift
2. Lesson 39: Speciation
  1. Topic 1: Species
  2. Topic 2: Geographic Isolation
  3. Topic 3: Reproductive Isolation
  4. Topic 4: Polyploidy
Chapter 17: Taxonomy – How we Organize Life
1. Lesson 40: Binomial Nomenclature
  1. Topic 1: Taxonomy
  2. Topic 2: Binomial Nomenclature
  3. Topic 3: Taxonomic Groups
2. Lesson 41: Phylogeny
  1. Topic 1: Phylogeny
  2. Topic 2: Phylogeny vs. Taxonomy
Chapter 18: Microorganisms
1. Lesson 42: Prokaryotes
  1. Topic 1: Bacteria and Archaea
  2. Topic 2: Prokaryotes and People
2. Lesson 43: Protista
  1. Topic 1: Protista
  2. Topic 2: Algae
  3. Topic 3: Protozoa
  4. Topic 4: Fungi-like Protists
3. Lesson 44: Fungi
  1. Topic 1: Introduction to the Fungi
  2. Topic 2: Taxonomy and Phylogeny
  3. Topic 3: Fungal Ecology
  4. Topic 4: Fungi and People
4. Lesson 45: Viruses
  1. Topic 1: Acellular Particles
  2. Topic 2: Viruses
  3. Topic 3: Viroids
  4. Topic 4: Prions
Chapter 19: Kingdom Plantae
1. Lesson 46: Plants
  1. Topic 1: Plants
  2. Topic 2: Plant Morphology
  3. Topic 3: Nonvascular Plants
  4. Topic 4: Vascular Plants
2. Lesson 47: Monocots and Dicots
  1. Topic 1: Monocots and Dicots
  2. Topic 2: Economic Importance
Chapter 20: Kingdom Animalia
1. Lesson 48: Invertebrates
  1. Topic 1: Animals
  2. Topic 2: Asymmetrical Invertebrates
  3. Topic 3: Radially Symmetric Invertebrates
  4. Topic 4: Bilaterally Symmetric Invertebrates
2. Lesson 49: Vertebrates
  1. Topic 1: Vertebrates
  2. Topic 2: Fish
  3. Topic 3: Amphibians
  4. Topic 4: Reptiles
  5. Topic 5: Birds
  6. Topic 6: Mammals
Chapter 21: Ecosystems
1. Lesson 50: Biogeochemical Cycles
  1. Topic 1: Ecology
  2. Topic 2: Biogeochemical Cycles
  3. Topic 3: Human Impacts on Biogeochemical Cycles
Chapter 22: Energy Transfer in Communities
1. Lesson 51: Energy Transfer in Communities
  1. Topic 1: Energy Flow
  2. Topic 2: Trophic Levels
  3. Topic 3: Trophic Pyramids
  4. Topic 4: Food Chains and Food Webs
Chapter 23: Population Ecology
1. Lesson 52: Communities
  1. Topic 1: Communities
  2. Topic 2: Niches
  3. Topic 3: Interactions Within Communities
2. Lesson 53: Population Ecology
  1. Topic 1: Population Structure
  2. Topic 2: Population Growth
Chapter 24: Biomes of the World
1. Lesson 54: Biomes of the World
  1. Topic 1: Aquatic Biomes
  2. Topic 2: Freshwater Biomes
  3. Topic 3: Marine Biomes
  4. Topic 4: Biomes in Jeopardy
2. Lesson 55: Desert and Grassland Biomes
  1. Topic 1: Terrestrial Biomes
  2. Topic 2: Desert Biomes
  3. Topic 3: Grassland Biomes
  4. Topic 4: Biomes in Jeopardy
3. Lesson 56: Forest Biomes
  1. Topic 1: Forest Biomes
  2. Topic 2: Tropical Forest Biomes
  3. Topic 3: Temperate Forest Biomes
  4. Topic 4: Boreal Forest Biomes
  5. Topic 5: Biomes in Jeopardy
4. Lesson 57: Tundra Biomes
  1. Topic 1: Tundra Biomes
  2. Topic 2: Arctic Tundra Biome
  3. Topic 3: Alpine Tundra Biome
  4. Topic 4: Biomes in Jeopardy