Terms of Use and FAQs
Who can take this course?
Our courses are for anyone in the world to take. We have had students from many different countries. Many of the examples in the lessons are US-centric simply because we are a US-based organization, but we try to choose themes that are universal. It is probably going to make the most sense to people who have science training — either working as researchers, or studying science at the college level, or working in a professional field in the sciences — engineering, teaching, healthcare, etc. High school students are welcomed to try it, but some of the lessons might be a bit advanced depending on the student.
What does the certificate mean?
Every person who passes our courses will receive a certificate.
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit scientific research institute. Because we are scientists, the content has been reviewed by our network of experts and is informed by research. But we are not a school and we don’t grant degrees. Students, be aware that this course will not automatically transfer to your degree audit. It is up to you to follow your own institution’s rules to see if this “counts.”
The certificate is like the kind you would get for any other outside training — it says you have successfully completed the requirements of the course, and is signed by a real person who has graded your work. It also contains our contact information if someone needs to reach us to verify that you did indeed take this course and pass, or if they have questions about our curriculum.
How many credits is it worth?
The definition of a “credit” varies from country to country, even between institutions. Depending on the course you've signed up for, see how many hours it is, and do your own calculation based on what a credit means where you live.
Since we are not a university or degree-granting institution, you should make sure to verify with your institution what they accept if you are attempting to use this course to earn formal credits in school or for professional development.
If you are interested in taking any of our courses for school credit, it is up to you to make sure your school will accept it. The same applies if you are doing this for your job. They are welcomed to contact us directly at [email protected] if they need clarification on any of this.
What job can I get with this certificate?
SCI 101 provides initial training and guidance for science-trained professionals and students who want to become freelance science writers.
ETH 101 provides an overview of major ethical frameworks and case studies for how they apply to certain science problems that affect human societies.
However…
Some careers have required certifications, licenses, etc to be eligible to work those jobs. This is NOT a certification (such as what you’d get for a medical, law, teaching, or IT job). A certification and a certificate are not the same thing.
The certificate is official proof that you have completed the course. This course does NOT guarantee you a job or path to a career. It is for your own professional development, education, and knowledge.
SCI 101 will help you improve your writing so that you are more qualified for popular science freelance writing opportunities. Some pay and some do not. Even with that, it is still up to you to do your own networking into those opportunities and continue to practice and develop these writing skills on your own beyond the course.
No one will offer you a writing opportunity simply because you have taken this course. You still have to meet the publication’s standards.
ETH 101 will help you have a baseline foundation for continued study of ethics for your own professional development, education, and knowledge. It will not make you a professional ethicist, qualify you for graduate school, or an ethics career. This course is meant to be the first stepping stone on a longer journey that is your job to pursue.