New to this, where to start?

[saskgui]

Hello everyone,

I am an individual that is near to the end of my career however I am interested in learning biology and other life sciences, for now just to satisfy a personal interest. I was tempted to just sign up for the numerous courses one finds on the Internet (free or paid) but I am not sure on the quality of content. Also while I am not sure at this time if I will ever pursue a degree and I would like to have have the option of using the courses that I complete to possibly contribute to a future degree. 

However in all my searching I can't seem to find online biology degrees or even online college courses that count toward a degree. By browsing this forum I see people talking about taking courses through Sophia, Study.com and StraighterLine. Is it possible to take an entire degree through these courses, or are most people doing this to supplement their bricks and motar college classes/degree? When I was young the idea of taking higher education through "correspondence" (before the internet) was considered a joke. Is there still this stigma that taking courses online through some of these alternative schools is not legitimate learning or or where you credentials are not recognised?

[ctcarl]

Good questions, all.

You can get a fully accredited AAS with all low-cost or no-cost online courses, but that won't be, strictly speaking, a Biology degree, it would be an Associates of Applied Science with an Area of Emphasis in Biology, Natural Sciences, or something similar.

You can get a fully accredited BS in any of a number of programs, using many of the same low- and no-cost courses for your general education courses. The upper-level courses you'll need for your BS will cost more, but can likely still be completed online at a reasonable cost.

Depending on which degree program you choose, you'll also need a cornerstone and/or a capstone, much more expensive courses you generally have to take directly from your school. There may be others, like a basic English course, that your school wants you to take with them.

Your best bet is to pick a degree program and put together a degree plan, so you don't waste time, money and energy taking courses that won't apply to your degree. Then you can start taking courses in the order and pace that you like.

No need to actually enroll and start paying student fees until you're almost ready to graduate.

[k-k-k-katy]

Hello everyone,

I am an individual that is near to the end of my career however I am interested in learning biology and other life sciences, for now just to satisfy a personal interest. I was tempted to just sign up for the numerous courses one finds on the Internet (free or paid) but I am not sure on the quality of content. Also while I am not sure at this time if I will ever pursue a degree and I would like to have have the option of using the courses that I complete to possibly contribute to a future degree. 

However in all my searching I can't seem to find online biology degrees or even online college courses that count toward a degree. By browsing this forum I see people talking about taking courses through Sophia, Study.com and StraighterLine. Is it possible to take an entire degree through these courses, or are most people doing this to supplement their bricks and motar college classes/degree? When I was young the idea of taking higher education through "correspondence" (before the internet) was considered a joke. Is there still this stigma that taking courses online through some of these alternative schools is not legitimate learning or or where you credentials are not recognised?

Doane University has some great biology and science courses but they are expensive compared to Sophia and study.com

[saskgui]

Good questions, all.

You can get a fully accredited AAS with all low-cost or no-cost online courses, but that won't be, strictly speaking, a Biology degree, it would be an Associates of Applied Science with an Area of Emphasis in Biology, Natural Sciences, or something similar.

You can get a fully accredited BS in any of a number of programs, using many of the same low- and no-cost courses for your general education courses.  The upper-level courses you'll need for your BS will cost more, but can likely still be completed online at a reasonable cost.

Depending on which degree program you choose, you'll also need a cornerstone and/or a capstone, much more expensive courses you generally have to take directly from your school.  There may be others, like a basic English course, that your school wants you to take with them.

Your best bet is to pick a degree program and put together a degree plan, so you don't waste time, money and energy taking courses that won't apply to your degree.  Then you can start taking courses in the order and pace that you like.

No need to actually enroll and start paying student fees until you're almost ready to graduate.


Thanks for this, what does AAS stand for? Are there coaches or advisors that can point you done the right road to do what you have just detailed? 

---

Hello everyone,

I am an individual that is near to the end of my career however I am interested in learning biology and other life sciences, for now just to satisfy a personal interest. I was tempted to just sign up for the numerous courses one finds on the Internet (free or paid) but I am not sure on the quality of content. Also while I am not sure at this time if I will ever pursue a degree and I would like to have have the option of using the courses that I complete to possibly contribute to a future degree. 

However in all my searching I can't seem to find online biology degrees or even online college courses that count toward a degree. By browsing this forum I see people talking about taking courses through Sophia, Study.com and StraighterLine. Is it possible to take an entire degree through these courses, or are most people doing this to supplement their bricks and motar college classes/degree? When I was young the idea of taking higher education through "correspondence" (before the internet) was considered a joke. Is there still this stigma that taking courses online through some of these alternative schools is not legitimate learning or or where you credentials are not recognised?

Doane University has some great biology and science courses but they are expensive compared to Sophia and study.com

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Thanks, are Sophia and study.com actually recognised as legitimate post secondary institutions? Oh and I just checked Doane and the cost is $1658 for one Biology course!!!

[bjcheung77]

Do you have any commitments in life that may take your time away from your studies? How about a budget/fund to complete this educational journey of yours? I suggest taking small steps at a time, you may want to get a Pierpont BOG AAS by taking alternative credits through Sophia.org for Lower Level and when you get to the Bachelors, Study.com for Upper Level... I suggest getting a second monitor for multi-tasking.

An option if you want to splurge a little, is to go for an Associates/Bachelors combo, a self paced one at a Big 3 - COSC, Excelsior, TESU or if you like competency based programs and have the time, you can try a Walden/WGU/UMPI etc. Since you have a Biology degree in mind, you might want to do an Associates in Biology and ladder that up to a Bachelors of Liberal Arts with a Natural Science & Math - using mainly CS/CIS computer courses.

[SteveFoerster]

Thanks for this, what does AAS stand for? Are there coaches or advisors that can point you done the right road to do what you have just detailed? 

Associate of Applied Science. But as with most degrees, the first word is the one that matters.

That's a good question about coaching. I'd think if you hang around here and keep asking questions and you should be able to sort it out. But if someone offers that sort of thing for money I suppose they'll chime in?

Thanks, are Sophia and study.com actually recognised as legitimate post secondary institutions? Oh and I just checked Doane and the cost is $1658 for one Biology course!!!

Their courses are evaluated by the American Council on Education (ACE) as equivalent to courses from regionally accredited institutions. ACE also evaluates credit from sources like CLEP and AP, if you're familiar with those. Colleges and universities vary a lot on whether they accept ACE-evaluated credit in transfer, and if so how much of it they'll take. So around here, we focus on those accredited schools that accept the most, because that's the way to save tens of thousands of dollars.

I mean, if you're reasonably diligent, you can get two years' worth of credit for what you'd pay for the one course from Doane.

[rachel83az]

I do not know if Pierpont has a Biology concentration for their free AAS, but it would at least be a good way to consolidate biology courses. You'd start by taking 27 credits from Sophia.org to fill the GE requirements as outlined here: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Pierpont_C%26TC Take Algebra & Environmental Science to meet the GE requirements.

You'd then need 15 or more credits in Biology to possibly get an area of emphasis. Some options include:
Biology - Organisms & Ecosystems @ OnlineDegree.com
Human Biology @ Sophia.org
Biology 101L: Intro to Biology w/ Lab @ Study.com
Biology 102: Basic Genetics @ Study.com
Biology 103: Microbiology @ Study.com
Biology 105: Anatomy & Physiology @ Study.com
Biology 106: Paraphysiology @ Study.com
Introduction to Life Processes @ Coopersmith

If you decided to take ALL of the above, you'd be at 54 credits and would only need 6 more credits to meet the Pierpont credit requirement.

If you want an actual Associate in Biology (and not just a AAS with an "emphasis" in biology), TESU has the ASNSM Biology. You would need Biology II w/ Lab from somewhere. NMJC has this and it would be cheaper than at Geneva. Even if they make you take Biology I w/ lab first. NMJC is $89 per credit + fees. Bio I & II w/ labs would probably cost less than $1k.

But! Don't stop at just the Associate. Use the biology courses to get a BALS (liberal studies) degree with a Natural Sciences & Math concentration. For your UL credits, you'd probably take:
Physiologyical Psychology @ Coopersmith
Clinical & Exercise Physiology I @ Coopersmith
Clinical & Exercise Physiology II @ Coopersmith
Pathyophysiology UExcel exam
Bioethics Uexcel Exam

If you graduate with BOTH the BALS and the ASNSM at the same time, there is no extra fee for the ASNSM. If this sounds attractive to you, we can help you with a full degree plan.

[k-k-k-katy]

Good questions, all.

You can get a fully accredited AAS with all low-cost or no-cost online courses, but that won't be, strictly speaking, a Biology degree, it would be an Associates of Applied Science with an Area of Emphasis in Biology, Natural Sciences, or something similar.

You can get a fully accredited BS in any of a number of programs, using many of the same low- and no-cost courses for your general education courses.  The upper-level courses you'll need for your BS will cost more, but can likely still be completed online at a reasonable cost.

Depending on which degree program you choose, you'll also need a cornerstone and/or a capstone, much more expensive courses you generally have to take directly from your school.  There may be others, like a basic English course, that your school wants you to take with them.

Your best bet is to pick a degree program and put together a degree plan, so you don't waste time, money and energy taking courses that won't apply to your degree.  Then you can start taking courses in the order and pace that you like.

No need to actually enroll and start paying student fees until you're almost ready to graduate.


Thanks for this, what does AAS stand for? Are there coaches or advisors that can point you done the right road to do what you have just detailed? 

---

Hello everyone,

I am an individual that is near to the end of my career however I am interested in learning biology and other life sciences, for now just to satisfy a personal interest. I was tempted to just sign up for the numerous courses one finds on the Internet (free or paid) but I am not sure on the quality of content. Also while I am not sure at this time if I will ever pursue a degree and I would like to have have the option of using the courses that I complete to possibly contribute to a future degree. 

However in all my searching I can't seem to find online biology degrees or even online college courses that count toward a degree. By browsing this forum I see people talking about taking courses through Sophia, Study.com and StraighterLine. Is it possible to take an entire degree through these courses, or are most people doing this to supplement their bricks and motar college classes/degree? When I was young the idea of taking higher education through "correspondence" (before the internet) was considered a joke. Is there still this stigma that taking courses online through some of these alternative schools is not legitimate learning or or where you credentials are not recognised?

Doane University has some great biology and science courses but they are expensive compared to Sophia and study.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks, are Sophia and study.com actually recognised as legitimate post secondary institutions? Oh and I just checked Doane and the cost is $1658 for one Biology course!!!

One of the people in my study group is looking into a biology degree from TESU and there are plenty of lower level science/biology credits for a relatively affordable amount of money but once you get to the upper level requirements, the price goes up and the courses are harder to find.  Sorry, didn't  mean to scare you off, and I knew that the "experts" would be chiming in with practical information.  :-)  I'd be very interested to see an actual degree plan using alternative credits for the TESU biology degree.

[rachel83az]

One of the people in my study group is looking into a biology degree from TESU and there are plenty of lower level science/biology credits for a relatively affordable amount of money but once you get to the upper level requirements, the price goes up and the courses are harder to find.  Sorry, didn't  mean to scare you off, and I knew that the "experts" would be chiming in with practical information.  :-)  I'd be very interested to see an actual degree plan using alternative credits for the TESU biology degree.

Pathophysiology from UExcel

• Cellular Biochemistry (BIO 360E) from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (Get the prerequisite organic chem somewhere else cheaper - NMJC or Luna maybe?) "Competitive Pricing: New students are eligible to receive a 50% reduction in the cost of tuition for one self-paced, online prerequisite course. The discount is not available for semester-based, on-campus prerequisite courses. Please complete the request discount form to receive the discount code." That would bring the cost down to $690
  
• Pathophysiology UExcel
  
• 2 or 3 courses from Doane https://www.doane.edu/lp/prereqs.html - Approx $2-3k + textbooks & fees. 
  
• Man's Best Friend: The Biology and Behavior of Dogs (BIO-310) from TESU - possibly as part of a 16-credit term. Skip if decide to get 3 courses from Doane.
  

It's not a cheap degree, to be sure, but it does look like it can be done for around $10-12k (very rough estimate). Not completely unreasonable. I could draw up a degree plan for it on the wiki since OP and your associate aren't the first to be interested in such a degree.

[rachel83az]

Okay, definitely not going to be cheap, but here we go: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...egree_Plan