Course SyllabusBiology

General

How to create an account and enroll in the course?

Biology Homepage

Welcome to Biology, part of the series for the Pre-Health Sciences Training Certificate. This course and the Certificate are designed primarily for learners interested in preparing for and gaining entry to health-related programs, and to help address the prerequisites for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). This Biology course provides in-depth learning related to general biological concepts and techniques used in the bachelor’s-level study of natural, physical, behavioral, and social sciences. Participants will have the opportunity to review and gain biological knowledge on human biological systems and functions. The course explores important areas of biology such as Cells, Enzymes, Genetics, Reproduction, Embryogenesis, Organ Systems within the Human Body, and Evolutionary Concepts; these topics can all be applied in the fields of scientific inquiry.

The Biology course is sponsored in part by the International Development Research Center and by the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine. Like all NextGenU.org courses, it is competency-based, using competencies based on the Association of American Medical Colleges’ Medical College Admission Test. It uses learning resources from accredited, academic, professional, and world-class organizations and universities such as Rice University. This course was designed by Alixandria Ali BSc; Sherian Bachan MSc, BSc; Reisha Narine MSc, BSc; Aduke Williams BA; Sara Wildman BSc; Carolina Bustillos MD, DiplEd; Rhonda Prudent BSc; Maryam Musa MBBS; Pablo Baldiviezo MD, MSc, DiplEd; Joanne Krupa, Ph.D.; Tristan Aaron Wild, BMSc (Hons); Avani Krishnan, BSc., MSc. Candidate (Hons); Jinyuru (Donna) Yang, Bkin High, MSc Medical Science (Hons); Abrar Ahmed, BSc., MD Candidate (Hons); and Jenny Tang, BSc, Optometry Candidate (Hons).

For publications on NextGenU.org’s courses’ efficacy, see NextGenU.org’s publication page.

There are 16 modules to complete, which provide an introduction to:

Module 1: Introduction to the Living World
Module 2: The Cell
Module 3: Cellular Reproduction
Module 4: Enzymes and Energy
Module 5: Animal Reproduction
Module 6: Embryogenesis and Development
Module 7: Introduction to Genetics
Module 8: The Nervous System
Module 9: The Endocrine System
Module 10: The Respiratory System
Module 11: The Cardiovascular System
Module 12: The Immune System
Module 13: The Digestive System
Module 14: Homeostasis
Module 15: Musculoskeletal System
Module 16: Genetics and Evolution

The completion time for this course is estimated at 154 hours, comprising 41 hours of learning resources, 82 hours of studying and assimilation of the content, and 31 hours of participating in learning activities and quizzes to assist the learners in synthesizing learning materials. This course is equivalent to 3 credit hours in the U.S. undergraduate/bachelor’s degree system.

The course requires the completion of all quizzes, and discussion forums to receive a course certificate.

Practice quizzes are available throughout the course, composed of 10 Multiple-Choice Questions each. After you’ve completed each module, quiz, and learning activity, at the end of the course, you’ll have access to a final exam consisting of 40 multiple-choice questions, and a chance to evaluate this course.

Participants have up to three opportunities to take the final exam and achieve the required passing score of >=70%. Once you’ve passed the final exam and completed the evaluations, you will be able to download a certificate of completion from NextGenU.org and our course’s co-sponsoring organizations.

We keep all of your personal information confidential, never sell any of your information, and only use anonymized data for research purposes. Also, we are happy to report your testing information and share your work with anyone (your school, employer, etc.) at your request.

Engaging with this Course:

This free course is aimed at students who have graduated from high school and want to prepare to become a health professional, and/or pass the MCAT exam. You may also browse this course for free to learn for your personal enrichment; there are no requirements.

To obtain a certificate, a learner must first register for the course and then successfully complete:

Pre-test
All the reading requirements,
All quizzes and pass with 70% with unlimited attempts,
All discussion forums,
The final exam with a minimum of 70% and a maximum of 3 attempts, and
The self and course evaluation forms.

To obtain credit:

Complete all requirements listed above for the certificate, and
Your learning institution or workplace should approve the partner-university-sponsored NextGenU.org course for educational credit, as they usually would for their learner taking a course anywhere.

NextGenU.org is happy to provide your institution with:

A link to and description of the course training, so they can see all of its components, including the co-sponsoring institutions;
Your grade on the final exam;
Your work products (e.g., discussion forum responses) and any other required or optional shared materials that you produce and authorize to share with them;
Your evaluations -- course, and self-assessments;
A copy of your certificate of completion, with the co-sponsoring organizations listed.

To obtain a degree, NextGenU.org co-sponsors degree programs with institutional partners. To obtain a full degree co-sponsored with NextGenU.org, registrants must be enrolled in a degree program as a student of a NextGenU.org institutional partner. If you think your institution might be interested in offering a degree with NextGenU.org, contact us.

We hope you will find this a rewarding learning experience, and we count on your assessment and feedback to help us improve this training for future students.

Here are the next steps to take the course and earn a certificate:

Complete the registration form.
Take the pre-test.
Begin the course with Module 1: Introduction to the Living World. In each lesson, read the description, complete all required readings and any required activity, as well as take the corresponding quizzes.

Required readings

Optional readings

Peer Activities

Quizzes

Assignments

Discussions

Questionnare

Study Materials

We've utilized the Quizlet platform to create specialized flashcards designed to reinforce and test your knowledge throughout this course. Simply click the links to freely access them. Feel free to browse through our other sets of flashcards. Dive in and happy studying!

Module 1: Introduction to the Living World

Competencies covered in this module:

Biology as a science.
Classification of the biological world.

Required readings

Optional readings

Peer Activities

Quizzes

Assignments

Discussions

Questionnare

Module 1: Lesson 1: Building Blocks of life

Learning Objectives:

Describe the characteristics of Biology.
Describe and identify the levels of biological organization from molecules to the biosphere, noting the interrelationships between levels.

Approximate time required for the readings for this lesson (at 144 words/minute): 36 minutes.

General

How to create an account and enroll in the course?

Biology Homepage

Study Materials

Module 1: Introduction to the Living World

Competencies covered in this module:

Module 1: Lesson 1: Building Blocks of life

Learning Objectives:

Learning Objectives:

Module 1: Lesson 2: Classification of living Organisms

Learning Objectives:

Learning Objectives:

Module 2: The Cell

Competencies covered in this module:

Module 2: Lesson 1: Cell Theory, Microscopy and its Impact on Biology

Learning Objectives:

Module 2: Lesson 2: Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes

Learning Objectives:

Module 2: Lesson 3: Cellular Membrane and Transport

Learning Objectives:

Module 3: Cellular Reproduction

Competencies covered in this module:

Module 3: Lesson 1: Binary Fission

Learning Objectives:

Module 3: Lesson 2: Mitosis

Learning Objectives:

Module 3: Lesson 3: Meiosis

Learning Objectives:

Module 3: Lesson 4: Cancer and the Cell Cycle

Learning Objectives:

Module 4: Enzymes and Energy

Competencies covered in this module:

Module 4: Lesson 1: Overview of Metabolism

Learning Objectives:

Module 4: Lesson 2: Introduction to Bioenergetics

Learning Objectives:

Module 5: Animal Reproduction

Competencies covered in this module:

Module 5: Lesson 1: Human Male Reproductive System

Learning Objectives:

Module 5: Lesson 2: Human Female Reproductive System

Learning Objectives:

Module 5: Lesson 3: Human Gametogenesis

Learning Objectives:

Module 5: Lesson 4: Other Methods of Reproduction

Learning Objectives:

Module 6: Embryogenesis and Development

Competencies covered in this module:

Module 6: Lesson 1: Fertilization in Humans

Learning Objectives:

Module 6: Lesson 2: Embryogenesis

Learning Objectives:

Module 6: Lesson 3: Organogenesis

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Module 6: Lesson 4: Human Pregnancy

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Module 7: Introduction to Genetics

Competencies covered in this module:

Module 7: Lesson 1: DNA and RNA

Learning Objectives:

Module 7: Lesson 2: DNA Replication, Mutation and Repair

Learning Objectives:

Module 7: Lesson 3: Transcription and Translation

Learning Objectives:

Module 7: Lesson 4: Cell Differentiation

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Module 7: Lesson 5: Introduction to Mendelian Genetics

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Module 8: The Nervous System

Competencies covered in this module:

Module 8: Lesson 1: Cells of the Nervous System

Learning Objectives:

Module 8: Lesson 2: Transmission of Neural Impulses

Learning Objectives:

Module 8: Lesson 3: Organization of the Human Nervous System

Learning Objectives:

Module 8: Lesson 4: Relfexes and Senses

Learning Objectives:

Module 9: The Endocrine System

Competencies covered in this module: