Biology 1 vs Biology 2: what each covers, and which to take first

No. Neither course has a prerequisite, so you can take them in either order, or both at the same time. If you are new to biology, taking Biology 1 first is recommended, because it covers the cells, chemistry and genetics that the rest of biology builds on.

No. Both are lecture courses with no laboratory or in-person part. If your program needs a lab science, see lab vs non-lab science credit and ask your school whether a non-lab course meets that requirement.

Yes, they are two separate courses, each with its own ACE ID (UPIS-0009 and UPIS-0027) and its own 3-semester-hour recommendation. Your school decides which requirement each one meets, so ask before you enroll.

Intro to Biology 1 (Biology 100) covers the chemistry of life, cells and membranes, metabolism, respiration and photosynthesis, genetics, gene expression and evolution. Intro to Biology 2 (Biology 200) covers viruses, microbes, fungi, plants and animals, how animal body systems work, reproduction, and ecology from populations to ecosystems.

Intro to Biology 1: NCCRS recommends 3 semester hours, lower division, in Biology I and II among other subjects; ACE recommends 3 (ACE ID UPIS-0009). Intro to Biology 2: NCCRS recommends 3 semester hours, lower division, in Biology I and II among other subjects; ACE recommends 3 (ACE ID UPIS-0027).

Both are recommended in the same subjects: Biology I and II, Ecology, Natural Science, or Integrated Science. Your college decides which requirement each one fills.

Intro to Biology 1: 15 chapters and 66 instructional hours. Intro to Biology 2: 16 chapters and 73 instructional hours. Both are self-paced, so you finish as fast or as slow as you want.

Intro to Biology 1: 118 multiple-choice questions, 50% of the grade. Intro to Biology 2: 100 multiple-choice questions, 50% of the grade.

Both use one split: quizzes 20%, the assignment 30%, the final exam 50%. A pass is 70 or more.

Intro to Biology 1: Clark, Mary Ann, Matthew Douglas, and Jung Choi. Biology 2e. OpenStax, 2018. Intro to Biology 2: Clark, Mary Ann, Matthew Douglas, and Jung Choi. Biology 2e. OpenStax.

Intro to Biology 1: yes, ACE ID UPIS-0009, 3 semester hours. Intro to Biology 2: yes, ACE ID UPIS-0027, 3 semester hours. ACE listings run three years and UPI Study renews them as they end; credit you have earned stays valid for 10 years.

Environmental Science. In the “General biology” order on the Science and labs courses page, it follows Intro to Biology 2. Your program may set its own order.

Yes, online: under light proctoring (no camera) if you already have 70% before it, otherwise under full proctoring. The quizzes and the assignment are open-book; the Intro to Biology 1 final is not.

On upistudy.com: the Intro to Biology 1 syllabus opens after a free sign-in. It lists all 15 chapters, the grading and the credit recommendation, so you can send it to your registrar.

ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities. Search your school in Find My College and ask your registrar which course each one counts as. For the registrar: Intro to Biology 1's NCCRS recommendation lists Biology I and II and Intro to Biology 2's NCCRS recommendation lists Biology I and II.