Coursera

Biology Everywhere Foundations (Coursera)

Offered by University of Colorado Boulder,
Biology Everywhere Foundations (Coursera)

In this course, we will explore the nature of science and biology. We will discuss what the “biology everywhere” philosophy means and the history of the “biology everywhere” project. We will also discuss what science (and biology) are as a discipline of inquiry and how chemistry is foundational to understanding biology.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

What You Will Learn

  • Describe the biology everywhere philosophy.
  • Explain how the process of science works and identify common misconceptions.
  • Explain and critique the criteria for identifying living and non-living entities.
  • Explain the relationship between chemistry and biology.

Course 1 of 4 in the Biology Everywhere Specialization

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Why biology everywhere?
In this module, we'll explore the principles behind biology everywhere and Dr. Peffer's motivation for writing Biology Everywhere:How the science of life matters to everyday life and the creation of this Coursera specialization.

WEEK 2
...because Science
In this module, we'll discuss the foundations of what science is (and isn't)

WEEK 3
What is life and consequently biology?
In this module we'll discuss what it means to be alive.

WEEK 4
Chemical basis of biology
Chemistry is foundational to understanding biology. In this module, we'll explore the chemical basis of biology.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

eHealth: More than just an electronic record (Coursera) Coursera
The University of Sydney

eHealth: More than just an electronic record (Coursera)

Health & Society

The MOOC, "eHealth: More than just an electronic record!", is multidisciplinary in nature, and aims to equip the global audience of health clinicians, students, managers, administrators, and researchers to reflect on the overall impact of eHealth on the integration of care. It explores the breadth of technology application, current and emerging trends, and showcases both local and international eHealth practice and research.

Aug 17th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Health Healthcare eHealth
Details
Epidemiology: The Basic Science of Public Health (Coursera) Coursera
University of North Carolina

Epidemiology: The Basic Science of Public Health (Coursera)

Health & Society Medicine & Pharmacology

Often called “the cornerstone” of public health, epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of diseases, health conditions, or events among populations and the application of that study to control health problems. By applying the concepts learned in this course to current public health problems and issues, students will understand the practice of epidemiology as it relates to real life and makes for a better appreciation of public health programs and policies. This course explores public health issues like cardiovascular and infectious diseases – both locally and globally – through the lens of epidemiology.

Aug 17th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Health Epidemiology Epidemics
Details
Case Studies in Personalized Medicine (Coursera) Coursera
Vanderbilt University

Case Studies in Personalized Medicine (Coursera)

Health & Society Medicine & Pharmacology

Learn how advances in biomedicine hold the potential to revolutionize drug development, drug treatments, and disease prevention: where are we now, and what does the future hold? This course will present short primers in genetics and mechanisms underlying variability in drug responses. A series of case studies will be used to illustrate principles of how genetics are being brought to bear on refining diagnoses and on personalizing treatment in rare and common diseases. The ethical and operational issues around how to implement large scale genomic sequencing in clinical practice will be addressed.

Aug 17th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Medicine Health Genetics
Details
Disease Screening in Public Health (Coursera) Coursera
University of Geneva

Disease Screening in Public Health (Coursera)

Health & Society Medicine & Pharmacology

Current and future public health is characterized by the increase of chronic and degenerative diseases, corresponding to the worldwide ageing of the population. The increasing prevalence of these conditions together with the long incubation period of the chronic diseases and the restless technological innovations, offer new opportunities to develop strategies for early diagnosis.

Aug 17th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Health Healthcare Cancer
Details
Schizophrenia (Coursera) Coursera
Wesleyan University

Schizophrenia (Coursera)

Health & Society Social Sciences

The main goal of this class are to gain an introductory exposure to the nature of the psychiatric disorder known as schizophrenia as revealed by the scientific method. We will discuss a broad range of findings from the scientific investigation of biological and psychological factors related to schizophrenia and its treatment.

Aug 17th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Health Psychology Psychotherapy
Details
Training and Learning Programs for Volunteer Community Health Workers (Coursera) Coursera
Johns Hopkins University

Training and Learning Programs for Volunteer Community Health Workers (Coursera)

Health & Society

Volunteer community health workers (CHWs) are a major strategy for increasing access to and coverage of basic health interventions. Our village health worker training course reviews the process of training and continuing education of CHWs as an important component of involving communities in their own health service delivery. Participants will be guided through the steps of planning training and continuing education activities for village volunteers. The course draws on real-life examples from community-directed onchocerciasis control, village health worker programs, community case management efforts, peer educators programs and patent medicine vendor training programs, to name a few.

Aug 17th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Health Education Learning
Details
Epidemics (Coursera) Coursera
University of Hong Kong

Epidemics (Coursera)

Health & Society Medicine & Pharmacology

“If history is our guide, we can assume that the battle between the intellect and will of the human species and the extraordinary adaptability of microbes will be never-ending.” Despite all the remarkable technological breakthroughs that we have made over the past few decades, the threat from infectious diseases has significantly accelerated. In this course, we will learn why this is the case by looking at the fundamental scientific principles underlying epidemics and the public health actions behind their prevention and control in the 21st century.

Aug 17th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Health Pharmaceutical Risk Management
Details
Medical Neuroscience (Coursera) Coursera
Duke University

Medical Neuroscience (Coursera)

Health & Society Medicine & Pharmacology

Medical Neuroscience explores the functional organization and neurophysiology of the human central nervous system, while providing a neurobiological framework for understanding human behavior. In this course, you will discover the organization of the neural systems in the brain and spinal cord that mediate sensation, motivate bodily action, and integrate sensorimotor signals with memory, emotion and related faculties of cognition. The overall goal of this course is to provide the foundation for understanding the impairments of sensation, action and cognition that accompany injury, disease or dysfunction in the central nervous system. The course will build upon knowledge acquired through prior studies of cell and molecular biology, general physiology and human anatomy, as we focus primarily on the central nervous system.

Aug 17th 2026
13-24 Weeks
Neuroscience Medicine Health
Details
Curanderismo: Global & Cultural Influences of Traditional Healing (Coursera) Coursera
University of New Mexico

Curanderismo: Global & Cultural Influences of Traditional Healing (Coursera)

Health & Society

As the last of four courses on Curanderismo, the art of Hispanic/Latino traditional medicine, this course focuses specifically on traditional healing using different techniques of many countries around the world. As an educational and cultural platform, this course will share a number of traditional global perspectives.

Aug 17th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Health Mexico Latin America
Details