Introduction to Biology - Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity Coursera

Overview

Embark on a journey from the classroom to museums and nature reserves to gain a broad overview and appreciation of three important fields of biology with this Introduction to Biology - Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity course offered by Coursera in partnership with Rice University.

In this 3-course specialization, you will learn to see nature the way a biologist does. You will gain an understanding and appreciation for the incredible diversity of life and the interdependence of all living things. 

You will explore what we know about the origins of life and how biologists have advanced the science of evolution since Charles Darwin's lifetime, as well as the many applications of evolutionary biology to our everyday lives; you will examine the characteristics, functions, origins, and the roles of each major group of living things. 

You will also consider humans, including our origins, how we are impacting the natural world, and our future as a species. 

Key facts

This Introduction to Biology - Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity course offered by Coursera in partnership with Rice University was developed in collaboration with Houston area partners including Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston Zoo, Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, and Brazos Bend State Park. 

Applied Learning Project

There is a peer-reviewed final project at the end of each course. Learners will apply the skills they gained from the course, such as analyzing a living organism in an ecosystem near them or coming up with biological features of an imaginary species, to complete these final projects and provide feedback to each other through the review process.