Full course description
This online course aims to introduce you to the fascinating biology of honey bees while highlighting key aspects of pollinator conservation.
Course Goals
In this course, you will:
- Explore the basic biology of honey bees, from their intricate colony structure to how they communicate through pheromones, as well as their complex behaviors throughout the life cycle of a colony.
- Learn about bee nutrition, foraging resources, and ways to create pollinator-friendly landscapes that support bee populations.
- Discover the diverse relatives of honey bees, such as bumble bees and solitary bees, and the crucial roles they play in the ecosystem.
This course provides the fundamental knowledge of honey bee biology but does not address the technical practices of beekeeping.
Participants will receive a certificate of participation after completing this course.
There are NO refunds issued for this course.
Course Format
This course will be open from March 30, 2025, through May 31, 2025. Enrollment must be complete by April 20, 2025.
This course will be fully online. You can start at anytime and work through it independently at your own pace during the active course window.
This course is comprised of the following modules:
- MODULE 1: Bee Basics, Elements in a Honey Bee Colony
- MODULE 2: Colony Reproduction
- MODULE 3: Chemical and Behavioral Communications
- MODULE 4: Bee Diversity and Sociality
- MODULE 5: Foraging Resources and Planting for Pollinators
- MODULE 6: Pollinators in the Anthropocene
Course modules include recorded lectures, reading materials, graded knowledge checks and optional activities which will help you to achieve the learning objectives outlined in the modules. Successful completion of this course requires passing scores on the graded knowledge checks and completion of a course evaluation survey. A course certificate will be issued to participants upon completion of these requirements.
Technology Requirements
- For best performance, a computer or tablet that supports the most recent web browser versions can play mp4 files. It is recommended to use a computer five years old or newer with at least 1GB of RAM and high-speed internet connection. Some features may not be compatible with mobile devices.
- Adobe Acrobat Reader. Can be downloaded here for free.
- The recommended web browsers are Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Microsoft Edge.
Contact Us
If you have questions about the course, contact Chia Lin at Lin.724@osu.edu.
First Time ScarletCanvas Users: After you enroll, you will receive two automated emails, one with the subject "Please confirm your email address - Ohio State ScarletCanvas." Use the link in that email to set up the password you would like to use for your account.
For technical assistance with the ScarletCanvas platform, including logging in and password concerns, please contact CFAES Online Outreach team at faes-onlineoutreach@osu.edu (preferred) or call and leave a voice message at 614-292-5213. Please allow at least 24 hours for a reply during business hours, 72 hours over holidays and weekends.