Online inexpensive science course

Good evening:

I am looking for the wisdom of the board...

I am looking for an inexpensive online science course for my 17 yr old son: Here are the requirements:

Not Biology - since he is enrolled currently at Clovis Community College

Not Chemistry - he hated with a passion the chem in his bio course

Not Physics - Math is not his best subject

I know that we could "Cram and CLEP" - but I would rather have him take a course. I'd like to get one more college science course if this possible. Thanks in advance!

Shawn

 

Not Biology, Not Chemistry, Not Physics.

Are you looking for these?
Political Science
Physical Science
Computer Science

 

Hi Shawn - You've got to give us more help!

Not Biology - does that mean that Botany is out?
Not Physics - does that mean Astronomy is out?
How about Geology? How about Entomology?
Where I come from Biology, Chemistry and Physics are the cornerstones of science. You can't have science without them. What's left?

 

A few other ideas that might be more teen-friendly
Nutrition (biology dept)
First Aid/CPR/Health
Astronomy
Weather Forecasting
Ecology
Geology
Physical Archeology
Physical Anthropology (sometimes social science/sometimes science)
Environment and Sustainability


If he is up for a challenge (and Dad is up for the $), here is the list from Harvard Extension for the Spring distance courses. Lots of science.
(no degree needed- open enrollment)

http://www.extension.harvard.edu/2008-09/courses/

 

Some of the above suggestions might not fit the Science category so be sure to check with your son's college.

Are you looking for LD or UD?

The folowing are usually not too deep in math, physics, and chemistry (at least at the LD level);
Oceanography or marine science
Intro to earth science
Intro to astronomy
History of science (check for acceptability as a science course)
Various classes in biology/botany such as bird watching, local fauna & fauna, and similar (these are offered by my local UC university as 1 credit weekend courses - unfortunately not DL - but shows such subjects are available).

At the moment I am taking Geol 101 at Coastline Community College and it does not involve any math or phy/chem to any great extent - it is mostly reading and remembering physical changes in the earth's histoty .

 

Louisiana State University

Several DL science courses are available here
http://is.lsu.edu/courselist.asp?level=CO&online=0&nid=102
Cost is very reasonable
$80 per unit plus $20/course.
http://www.is.lsu.edu/uipolicies.asp?nid=402#6

 

UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley offers on-line courses.

Here is an intro to physics for non-science majors
http://www.unex.berkeley.edu/cat/course354.html

Contemporary environmental issues
http://www.unex.berkeley.edu/cat/course27.html

Marine Biology
http://www.unex.berkeley.edu/cat/course107.html

UCB is expensive but prestigous.

 

Jen,

Exactly the kind of list I'm looking for... I'm not the science type, sorry :-(

PS - Dad is a teacher at a community college. I have 7 kids...I can't afford Harvard Extension, but I appreciate the listing

Shawn

 

Ian,

Thank you for your suggestions as well! I have some fresh ideas now. Thanks!

Shawn

 

Ehm sorry to jump in here, just a quick question:
UC Berkeley says: 1 semester unit = 1 ½ quarter units. How is there the "conversion rate" to "normal" credit counting.

 

I'm not sure I understand your question.
Some colleges operate on the quarter system of ten weeks, and some on the semester system of 15 weeks. Hence a quarter unit = 2/3 of a semester unit.
I've earned both types of units and never had a problem transferring them between schools.
(The class lesson, homework, and reading times for both units are regulated by the regional accreditation agencies.)

 

Thx Ian, exactly what I was asking for!