Diploma in General Science

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The free online Diploma in General Science course from ALISON is ideal for anyone who wants to gain a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of key subjects in biology, chemistry and physics. In biology you will covers subjects such as cell theory, genetics and evolution; in chemistry you will cover subjects such as atoms, molecules and the periodic table; and in physics you will cover subjects such as magnetism, electricity and sound. This Diploma course will be of great interest to those who want to further improve their knowledge and understanding of general science, and will greatly enhance your career prospects.

CERTIFICATION

To qualify for your official ALISON Diploma, Certificate or PDF you must study and complete all modules and score 80% or more in each of the course assessments. A link to your Diploma certificate will then appear under the My Certificates heading of your My Account page.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this course you will increase your understanding of aspects in biology such as organisms, nutrients, digestion, cell theory, enzymes, inorganic material, plant biology, gene technology and much more. It will help you to understand chemistry aspects such as atoms, molecules, acid bases, seperation techniques, chemical equilibrium, chemical reactions, industrial chemistry, periodic table, atomic theory, food chemistry and many other important topics. In physics, you will learn about electricity, circuits, capacitors, transducers, converting AC to DC, sound, motion, gravity, magnetism, materials, Hooke's Law, light and the photoelectic effect.

Organisms, Nutrients and Digestion
Cell theory
Main activities and principles of cells
Types of Cells
Cellular Respiration
Molecules found in cells
Enzymes
Inorganic material
Passage Through Membranes
Life Cycle
Basal Metabolic Rate
Regulation of Body Temperature in Animals
Responses to Environmental Effects
Surface Area to Volume Ratio
Homeostasis - Feedback Mechanisms
Photosynthesis
Disease
Transmission of Pathogens and Parasites in Animals and Plants
Plant Hormones and Their Actions
Experimental Method and Design
Nervous System
Natural Selection
Evolution
Human evolution
Patterns of evolution
Phylogenetic trees
Relative dating
Biology: Meiosis
Mitosis
Mitosis videos
Population genetics
Pedigrees
Inheritance
Genetic inheritance
Mendel's work
Incomplete (partial) dominance
Inheritance at one gene locus
Test crosses
Punnett square method of calculation
Chromosomes and coding instructions
Protein synthesis
Mutations and mutagens
DNA Science
Gene expression
Gene mapping
Gene technology
Tools and techniques of the biotechnologist
Implications and Issues
The implications of gene technology
Karyotyping
Linkage
Cytokinesis
The periodic table
Using symbols
Atoms
Molecules
Elements and compounds
Chemical bonds
Chemical reactions
Reactions
Atoms and molecules - summary
Atoms and molecules glossary
Ions
Particles
Gases, liquids and solids
Mixtures
Acids
Bases
pH scale
pH meters
Acid-base indicators
Acids and bases - summary
Chromatography
Solidification
Decanting to separate liquids
Dissolving and precipitation
Evaporation and distillation
Evaporation
Filtration
Detecting gases
Separation techniques
Sublimation
The MOLE concept
Volumetric analysis
Analysis by chemical reaction
Analytical chemistry
Equilibrium
Chemical equilibrium
Equilibrium in living systems
Dissociation constants of weak acids
Functional groups and homologous series 1
Functional groups and homologous series 2
Le Chatelier's principle
Precipitation reactions
Preparation of ethanoic acid from ethane
Rate of reaction
Rate of reaction revision questions
Reaction between ethanol and ethanoic acid to form the ester
Redox reactions
Structural isomers
Substitution reactions
Water Kw and the use of the pH scale
Sulfuric acid
Gravimetric analysis
Spectroscopic techniques
Spectroscopic techniques in chemical analysis
Chromatography
Chromatography - activity
Industrial chemistry
The petrochemical industry
The petrochemical industry - activity
The origins of the elements
The periodic table: an overview of chemistry
Trends in the periodic table
Elements of the first transition series
History and development of atomic theory
Electrons
Isotopes and relative atomic mass
Nuclear fission and fusion
Thermochemical equations
Electrochemistry
Electrolysis
Fuel cells
Aqueous solution or molten salt - the production of aluminium
Production of chlorine and sodium hydroxide: The chloralkali industry
Energy conversions
Supplying and using energy
The nitrogen cycle
Digestion
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Fats and vegetable oils
The role of water
Food chemistry
Energy content of foods
The relative energy content of foods
Calorimetry
Food additives
The energy consumed in food production
The denaturation of proteins
Introduction to electric systems
Circuits
Electric systems, circuits
Capacitors
Converting AC to DC
Transducers
Exploring sound
Sound - Standing waves
The wave equation
Sound diffraction
Intensity of sound
Speed of sound
Motion: Normal reaction
Motion: Force and acceleration
Motion: Collisions
Motion: Constant and vertical circular motion
Motion: Projectile motion
Motion: Momentum and impulse
Motion: Work energy and power
Motion: Orbits
Motion: Formulae for calculating motion in one and two dimensions
Introduction to gravity
Gravity: Weightlessness
Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation
Energy transfers in space
Magnets and magnetism
Structures
Materials
Hooke's Law
The wave like nature of light
The photoelectric effect
Emission and absorption spectra
Electric fields and the electron
Assessment