Online Class: Marine Biology 101

no certificate
with CEU Certificate*
-
17Lessons
-
26Exams &
Assignments -
3,045Students
have taken this course -
9Hours
average time -
0.9CEUs
Course Description
When you look at a globe, you can see that nearly three quarters of the Earth's surface is covered with water. Scientists believe life on Earth got its start in the ocean, and gradually adapted to life on land. Some land-based organisms eventually returned to the water, like dolphins and whales. Tiny ocean plants, called phytoplankton, produce most of the oxygen in the air we breathe. When producing oxygen, these plants soak up carbon dioxide, removing this gas from the air.
The ocean is always in motion: currents move water around the globe. Water evaporates and rises into the atmosphere where it will eventually fall as rain and snow. Cold water sinks in the ocean, warm water rises, and this constant movement distributes heat and nutrients around the globe.
In this course, you will learn about life in the ocean depths, at the Polar extremes, in coral reefs, estuaries, and in the open sea. You will learn about plants large and small, marine birds, reptiles, invertebrates and fish. You will learn how all these organisms connect with each other in the marine biome, and what threats are facing these ecosystems.
Course Motivation
Not all organisms can live in a high salinity environment. People, for example, can't survive in saltwater. Since you have no special adaptations to remove salt, if you drink too much seawater, your kidneys will try to flush the excess salt out as quickly as possible through urine, and you would lose more water than you originally drank, leaving you dehydrated. If you didn't correct the situation by replacing fluids with fresh (non salty) water, your organs would eventually shut down and you would die.
Living in the ocean requires special adaptations, like a tolerance for salt or a way to remove the excess effectively, the ability to move through the water, find food, hide from predators, and locate a mate.
According to the theory of evolution, as generations passed, the descendants changed, or evolved, until they did not resemble one another at all. Once these distant relatives weren't able to reproduce with one another, they became entirely different species. Scientists study all the different organisms existing today and analyze the traits that they have in common to group them into families. Although scientists argue about how evolution happens and how long the process takes, they do agree that change is constant and that it's going on right now. Species which did not change, or adapt, to changing circumstances eventually died out and became extinct.
Understanding the relationships between species has helped scientists derive useful medicines from natural sources, like a substance in horseshoe crabs that is now used in leukemia treatments.
- Completely Online
- Self-Paced
- 6 Months to Complete
- 24/7 Availability
- Start Anytime
- PC & Mac Compatible
- Android & iOS Friendly
- Accredited CEUs

Course Lessons
Lesson 1: Introduction
Lesson 1 Video
Lesson discussions: Marine Biology; Reasons for Taking this Course
Complete Assignment: An Introduction
Assessment: Lesson 1: Introduction
Lesson 2: Geology and the Ocean
Lesson 2 Video
Complete: Lesson 2 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 2: Geology and the Ocean
Lesson 3: Currents and Tides
Lesson 3 Video
Complete: Lesson 3 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 3: Currents and Tides
Lesson 4: What's in a Name?
Lesson 4 Video
Complete: Lesson 4 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 4: What's in a Name?
Lesson 5: Invertebrates
Lesson 5 Video
Complete: Lesson 5 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 5: Invertebrates
Lesson 6: Vertebrates
Lesson 6 Video
Assessment: Lesson 6: Vertebrates
Lesson 7: Marine Fish
Lesson 7 Video
Complete: Lesson 7 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 7: Marine Fishes
Lesson 8: Marine Mammals
Lesson 8 Video
Complete: Lesson 8 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 8: Marine Mammals
Lesson 9: Marine Ecosystems
Lesson 9 Video
Assessment: Lesson 9: Marine Ecosystems
Lesson 10: Life at the Shore
Lesson 10 Video
Lesson discussions: Tide Pools
Assessment: Lesson 10: Life at the Shore
Lesson 11: Estuaries
Lesson 11 Video
Assessment: Lesson 11: Estuaries
Lesson 12: Coral Reef Biology
Lesson 12 Video
Assessment: Lesson 12: Coral Reef Biology
Lesson 13: Coral Reef Ecosystems
Lesson 13 Video
Assessment: Lesson 13: Coral Reef Ecosystems
Lesson 14: Life in the Polar Oceans
Lesson 14 Video
Complete: Lesson 14 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 14: Life in the Polar Oceans
Lesson 15: The Open Sea
Lesson 15 Video
Assessment: Lesson 15: The Open Sea
Lesson 16: Life in the Ocean's Depth
Lesson 16 Video
Lesson discussions: Marine Organisms
Assessment: Lesson 16: Life in the Ocean's Depth
Lesson 17: Oceans in Jeopardy
Lesson 17 Video
Lesson discussions: Ocean Challenges; Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course); Course Comments
Assessment: Lesson 17: Oceans in Jeopardy
Assessment: The Final Exam
Learning Outcomes
- Define what marine biology is and why it is important to study.
- Describe geology and the ocean, currents and tides.
- Understanding the nomenclature of marine biology
- Identify invertebrates of the marine environment.
- Identify vertebrates of the marine environment.
- Identify marine fish.
- Identify marine mammals.
- Describe marine ecosystems.
- Summarize what estuaries are and why they are important.
- Summarize coral reef biology and ecosystems.
- Describe life in the polar oceans and the open sea.
- Describe life in the ocean's depth and its future with the human race.
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
Additional Course Information

- Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
- Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
- Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
- View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
- Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media

Choose Your Subscription Plan
No Certificate / No CEUs
This course only
Includes certificate | X |
Includes CEUs | X |
Self-paced |
![]() |
Instructor support |
![]() |
Time to complete | 6 months |
No. of courses | 1 course |
Certificate & CEUs
This course only
Includes certificate |
![]() |
Includes CEUs |
![]() |
Self-paced |
![]() |
Instructor support |
![]() |
Time to complete | 6 months |
No. of courses | 1 course |
Certificates & CEUs
Includes all 600+ courses
Includes certificate |
![]() |
Includes CEUs |
![]() |
Self-paced |
![]() |
Instructor support |
![]() |
Time to complete | 12 Months |
No. of courses | 600+ |
Certificates & CEUs
Includes all 600+ courses
Includes certificate |
![]() |
Includes CEUs |
![]() |
Self-paced |
![]() |
Instructor support |
![]() |
Time to complete | 24 Months |
No. of courses | 600+ |
Student Testimonials
- "I thoroughly enjoyed the course and I have learned a lot. I will most definitely recommend the course to all of my friends that want to improve their knowledge on marine biology or just want to learn more about our oceans." -- Carmen T.
- "The Instructor was very responsive and prompt with feedback. The study material was detailed and well-organized. As a senior citizen (age 76) I really welcomed a challenge. I have studied Ecology, Chemistry, and Geology with this instructor." -- Judith J.
- "The instructor was prompt and the course was challenging and interesting." -- Abby H.
- "Love the course material and the instructor was also helpful and fast to grade." -- Francinne A.
- "I thoroughly enjoyed all the information that was presented in the course." -- Kathy W.
- "Outstanding course. I really enjoyed taking it." -- Matthew G.
- "Really enjoyed the course and learnt a lot." -- Ann R.
- "VERY good instructor and course." -- Ruth M.
- "Great instructor!" -- Melanie H.
- "This was a very interesting course. I enjoyed learning about marine biology. I would sit at dinner with my husband and children and tell them an interesting fact I had learned that day." -- Victoria L.
Related Courses
-
18 hours 1.8 CEUs Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology $95.00
-
8 hours 0.8 CEUs Geology 101 $95.00
-
14 hours 1.4 CEUs Ecology 101 $95.00
-
7 hours 0.7 CEUs Astronomy 101 $95.00
-
33 hours 3.3 CEUs Comprehensive Medical Terminology 1 & 2 $115.00
-
35 hours 3.5 CEUs Biology 101 $95.00
-
7 hours 0.7 CEUs Concussions 101 $95.00
-
9 hours 0.9 CEUs Marine Biology 101 $95.00
-
30 hours 3.0 CEUs Microbiology 101 $110.00
-
20 hours 2.0 CEUs Chemistry 101 $95.00
-
7 hours 0.7 CEUs Geography 101 $95.00
-
7 hours 0.7 CEUs How to Run a Dog Day Care $95.00
-
9 hours 0.9 CEUs Meteorology Fundamentals $95.00
-
21 hours 2.1 CEUs Anatomy and Physiology 101 $95.00