Thursday 17 May 2012

Learn Biochemistry Online: Overview of Biochemistry Study Options

Students can enroll in online biochemistry classes as stand-alone courses or as part of online or hybrid degree options at colleges or universities. Non-credit self-directed study options are also available through OpenCourseWare programs.

Certificate and Degree Options

While online biochemistry certificate and degree options are rare, it is possible to fulfill some completion requirements for a certificate, associate's, bachelor's or master's degree program with an online biochemistry class. Certificate and degree fields can vary widely among areas that include biochemistry, ranging from chemistry to liberal arts to forensic science.

Audience

Online biochemistry classes and course materials may be intended for specialized audiences. For example, pre-healthcare students preparing for careers such as a physician assistant or medical doctor can enroll in a human medical biochemistry class. Students enrolled in a degree program may be able to take a biochemistry class online to fulfill degree requirements, although this might not apply to students who are biochemistry majors. Teachers may be able to access free OpenCourseWare materials to prepare for state subject exams.

Prerequisites

In many cases, students have to take prerequisite classes prior to enrolling in online biochemistry classes. Prerequisites can include biology, chemistry and organic chemistry. These courses may or may not be available online.

Online Course Delivery Options

Biochemistry students typically access course materials through online course management systems. Learning is usually asynchronous, although all students have the same course start and end date. Course materials can include video lectures, online problems, assigned readings and quizzes. Exams are generally offered on-campus or through off-campus arrangements where proctors supervise student test-taking.

OpenCourseWare (OCW)

In some cases, students may be interested in non-credit online study choices in biochemistry. Some universities participate in the OpenCourseWare Consortium. They make course materials from previously offered on-campus classes available to online learners for free. Students undertake self-directed learning activities using the class syllabus, lecture notes, reading assignments and similar materials. For example, a biochemistry course might include lecture notes on topics like chemical thermodynamics and the properties of reactions. OCW classes do not result in academic credit or grades, and students do not have the opportunity to interact with faculty or other students.

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