An online Biology degree course will provide students with the necessary foundational knowledge for further education in the medical field. It will will equip candidates with both scientific skills, as well as those all important transferable “graduate skills” which are highly valued by employers throughout the world.

Due to the hands on nature of this subject, online courses in this field used to be rare, but are now becoming more common. They have now become a reality from many reputable and accredited universities. Although for practical reasons certain modules cannot be done online, for instance say lab work, there are still many other modules that can be taught, studied and learnt over the Internet.

Introductory biology courses and modules are suitable for young students new to the subject, graduates who want to prepare for PhD programs or postgraduate study, as well as experienced professionals who want to top up or continue their education. They are also ideal for people who are taking a part time biology degree at a traditional brick and mortar campus, but who could do with some extra tuition at the weekend or evening. Its a good option for students looking to pursue advanced training in biology using a non-thesis option. Another prospective group for this program are healthcare workers who, to advance their career need to pursue a master’s degree in this subject.

Remember that one of the main benefits of a distance learning course is that you can control how, when and where you study.

Online Biology degree overview

Online courses provide a workable solution for students or employed professionals who are unable to attend university in person. Those who enroll will have the opportunity to learn about plant, animal, and human biology, and will be able to specialize in a particular field, such as biochemistry, bioengineering, microbiology, zoology, and biophysics. Studies tend to focus on living organisms themselves, and how they interact with each other and the environment.

As it is a hand’s on subject some topics cannot be taught online because the module may require laboratory tasks and working with physical objects. However, portions of a subject such as math and natural sciences classes and other general education units, can be taken over the Internet. All of these can count towards the overall course requirements.

How online Biology degree courses are delivered
This can vary from university to university. Classes tend to be a combination of text-based tuition, Flash graphics and animation, learning tips, insights, voice-overs and video modules. Some online tutorials may be delivered in the evenings when it is most convenient for students to fit around family and work commitments.

Typical modules and subjects that students can learn about

  • Advanced
  • Aquatic Ecology
  • Anatomy
  • Bacteriology
  • Biotechnology
  • Cell Biology
  • Ecology
  • Ecology and Evolution
  • Evolution
  • Evolution in Action
  • Evolution and Human Behaviour
  • Fundamental Human Biology
  • Genetics
  • Human Evolution
  • Human Histology
  • Introductory Biology
  • Infection and Immunity
  • Organic Evolution
  • Plant Biology
  • Parasitology
  • Physiology
  • The Microbial World
  • Zoology

Students will learn how to

  • Conduct medical research.
  • Develop new medicines and vaccines.
  • Ensure the safety of our food.
  • Ask questions, make observations, evaluate evidence, and solve problems.
  • Protect the planet’s biodiversity.

Student requirements
Due to the nature of the subject this course is normally only available to people with an existing bachelor’s degree, biology background or prior experience of the subject.

Career prospects for Biology graduates
Biology degrees can serve as a stepping stone to lucrative careers in the fields of medicine, quality control, Health & safety, production, project management, and clinical trial monitoring. It can be the basis for careers in roles such as;

  • Animal training
  • Biology Teacher
  • Biochemists
  • Doctor
  • Environmental scientist
  • Geneticist
  • Geoscience and soil science
  • Healthcare profession
  • Marine biologist
  • Medical technology
  • Research Associate
  • Scientists
  • Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
  • Wildlife biologist
  • Wildlife biology

Biochemists and biophysicists
The United States Bureau of Labour Statistics has predicted employment of biochemists and biophysicists to increase by 31 percent between 2010 to 2020, this is greater than the average for many other occupations . Click here Bureau of Labor Statistics for more information.

About this page
This is a resource page that will give you basic information about what you can expect to learn on an online biology degree course. It will also give you links to established US and UK universities that run these courses (at present it is the United States of America and the United Kingdom where most English language Internet courses are run from). Through the links on this page you will find out about the:
Course cost (tuition).
Course length.
Modules..
Admission requirements.
Enrolment dates .
Financial aid packages (if any) available to students.

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