PGCert in Biology, General

The Department of Biological Sciences runs this graduate certificate, which can be completed fully online with no set meeting times. It is meant for students preparing applications to professional schools, advancing in a career, meeting accreditation needs or moving toward further graduate work in biology. Courses sharpen scientific reasoning and add knowledge in areas such as cell biology, genetics, viruses, cancer, immune function, microbes, biochemistry and the nervous system. Electives touch on statistics, evolution, plant-based therapies and toxicology. Students finish with an assessment exam. The schedule is unusually flexible. A learner can begin in any of four terms, beginning in the winter, spring, summer or late fall, and can choose a quick or a relaxed pace. A portion of the credits may later count toward the master's degree in biology, so a student can earn both credentials with a modest total number of hours.