Course Syllabus

Explore fundamental concepts of molecular biology, including the four essential macromolecules for life (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids) and other essential compounds. This course covers the cell membrane and transport, cell division, gene expression, and cellular metabolism.

This course includes the following units:

• Unit 1: Introduction to Biology
• Unit 2: Basic Chemistry
• Unit 3: Biological Molecules
• Unit 4: Cells and Cell Membranes
• Unit 5: Enzymes, Metabolism, Cellular Respiration
• Unit 6: Photosynthesis
• Unit 7: Cellular Reproduction: Mitosis
• Unit 8: Cellular Reproduction: Meiosis
• Unit 9: Mendelian Genetics and Chromosomes
• Unit 10: Gene Expression

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain and characterize biological concepts and properties common to living organisms;
• Describe how molecular and cellular metabolism affect environmental and biological processes;
• Discuss applying the scientific method to problem-solving and gaining information through testable evidence;
• Describe physical and chemical principles in metabolic processes of biological organisms;
• Describe the structure and function of biological macromolecules and how they contribute to overall health;
• Describe the structure and function of cellular components common to living organisms and outline differences among cell types;
• Explain how living systems store and transform matter and energy, maintaining the laws of Thermodynamics;
• Compare anabolic and catabolic biochemical pathways within living organisms and in their environment and their role in sustaining life;
• Differentiate how organisms reproduce cells and the functional differences in types of cell division;
• Apply genetic principles to solve problems in Mendelian and molecular genetics and predict future populations based on genetic traits;
• Explain how biological systems store, copy, transfer, maintain, and express information; and
• Identify important scientific contributions using testable scientific research and discovery.

Throughout this course, you will also see learning outcomes in each unit. You can use those learning outcomes to help organize your studies and gauge your progress.

This course's primary learning materials are articles, lectures, and videos.

All course materials are free to access and can be found in each unit of the course. Pay close attention to the notes that accompany these course materials, as they will tell you what to focus on in each resource and will help you understand how the learning materials fit into the course as a whole. You can also see a list of all the learning materials in this course at this link.

Some parts of this course may have been created or reviewed with the support of artificial intelligence (AI). To make sure you receive accurate, high-quality, and academically sound learning materials, all AI-assisted content is carefully checked and approved by Saylor Academy's faculty and subject matter experts.

Only the final exams are considered when awarding you a grade for this course. To pass this course, you will need to earn a grade of 70% or higher on either the Certificate Final Exam or the Saylor Direct Credit Final Exam.

Your score on each exam will be calculated as soon as you complete it. There is a 7-day waiting period between each attempt of the Certificate Final Exam, and a 14-day waiting period between each attempt of the Saylor Direct Credit Final Exam. Be sure to study between each attempt!

If you wish to receive an ACE transcript to earn transfer credit toward degree programs at our Degree Completion Partners, you may choose to take the optional Saylor Direct Credit Final Exam. This exam will be password-protected and requires a proctor. The proctoring fee is $5. You may only attempt the Saylor Direct Credit Final Exam a maximum of three times. If you do not pass the exam after three attempts, you will not be able to receive an ACE transcript.

There are end-of-unit assessments in this course that are designed to help you study and do not factor into your final course grade. You can take them as many times as you want until you understand the concepts they cover.

You can see all of these assessments at this link.

This course is eligible for college credit via Saylor Academy's Direct Credit Program. If you are seeking to earn college credit, you must take and pass the Saylor Direct Credit Final Exam. That exam will be password protected and require the presence of a proctor. Upon passing the Saylor Direct Credit Final Exam, you will receive a Proctor-Verified Course Certificate, and will be eligible to earn an Official Transcript. For more information about applying for college credit, review the Guide to College Credit Opportunities. Be sure to check the section on proctoring for details on fees and other technical requirements.

Note: There is a 14-day waiting period between attempts of the Saylor Direct Credit Final Exam. There is no imposed wait period between attempting the certificate-bearing final exam and the Saylor Direct Credit Final Exam. Some Saylor Direct Credit Final Exams have a maximum number of attempts allowed, which will be detailed on the exam's instructions page.

The certificate earned by passing this self-paced course displays the program hours you completed and continuing education credits (CEUs). CEUs document successful completion of courses that are designed to improve the knowledge and skills of working adults. Many industries value CEUs, and now your certificate reflects them clearly, and they may be used to support career advancement or to meet professional licensing standards. This course contains 3.6 CEUs.

BIO101: Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology is a self-paced course, meaning you can decide when to start and complete the course. We estimate the "average" student will take hours to complete. We recommend studying at a comfortable pace and scheduling your study time in advance.

Learning new material can be challenging, so here are a few study strategies to help you succeed:

• Take notes on terms, practices, and theories. This helps you understand each concept in context and provides a refresher for later study.
• Test yourself on what you remember and how well you understand the concepts. Reflecting on what you've learned improves long-term memory retention.

This course is delivered entirely online. You will need access to a computer or web-capable mobile device and consistent internet access to view or download resources and complete auto-graded assessments and the final exam.

To access the full course, including assessments and the final exam, log into your Saylor Academy account and enroll in the course. If you don't have an account, you can create one for free here. Note that tracking progress and taking assessments require you to log in.

For more details and guidance, please review our complete Technical Requirements and our student Help Center.

Optional Saylor Academy Mobile App

You can access all course features directly from your mobile browser, but if you have limited internet connectivity, the Saylor Academy mobile app provides an option to download course content for offline use. The app is available for iOS and Android devices.

This course is entirely free to enroll in and access. All course materials, including textbooks, videos, webpages, and activities, are available at no charge. This course also contains a free final exam and a free course completion certificate.

The Saylor Direct Credit Final Exam requires a proctoring service for identity verification. The cost of proctoring this optional exam is $5 per session.

This course is available for transfer credit through the American Council on Education (ACE)®. For more information on taking this course for credit, please visit our ACE® web page.