Introduction to Honey Bee Biology and Apiculture 

 This course covers the main aspects of the life cycle of honey bees, focusing on their anatomy, basic physiology, behaviour, and ecological contributions. Additionally, this course will guide the users in learning the economic importance of bees and their role in agroecosystems and the environment. The course will also describe basic principles of beekeeping, including management and equipment. 

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • ✺

    Identify the anatomical structures of the honey bee, including workers, drones, and queens.

  • ✺

    Identify the main characteristics of the social organization of the honey bees, and the role of each caste.

  • ✺

    Describe the life cycle of a honey bee colony.

  • ✺

    Describe the life cycle of the individuals that conform a honey bee colony.

  • ✺

    Describe honey bee behaviours and ways of communicating, including foraging, defense mechanisms, and waggle dance.

  • ✺

    Recall the ecological and economic importance of honey bees.

  • ✺

    Identify beekeeping equipment and describe their function.

  • ✺

    Describe the main activities of a beekeeping calendar, including spring management, honey production, honey harvest, and overwintering.

What’s inside

Module 1

An introduction to honey bee biology and apiculture.

Module 2

What is a honey bee (Apis mellifera).

Module 3

The structure of a honey bee colony and their members.  

Module 4

The life inside a honey bee colony.   

Module 5

Swarming.    

Module 6

Honey bees communicate.

Module 7

Getting started in beekeeping.

Module 8

The mindful beekeeper: considering wellbeing, native bees, forage, and environment. 

Glossary

Definitions of words used in the science and practice of beekeeping.

Assessment 

Knowledge will be assessed through a variety of short quizzes. Upon successful completion a Badge certifying completion will be awarded.  

Free Sample Course 

Not sure if this course is for you? Try out the content for Free! We've created a Free Sampler course so you can see how the content is delivered and have confidence this course will work for you.

Enrolment

Tuition is a one-time fee of $250, granting you access to all course materials, interactive class discussion forums, and support from the TTP Lead, Nuria Morfin, along with technical assistance from our IT department.

Enrolment is open year-round to all individuals interested in exploring the world of beekeeping, with no prerequisites necessary. Our self-paced course offers flexibility, allowing you to tailor your learning experience to your schedule. Based on our estimations, dedicating 2-3 hours per week typically leads to completion within one month. However, students have four months from the date of enrolment to complete the curriculum, a time frame designed to accommodate your pace and commitments.

By investing in this course, you're not just enhancing your skills; you're contributing directly to the advancement of beekeeping in BC. All proceeds generated from our courses are reinvested into the BC Honey Producers’ Association and Technology Transfer Program, supporting further research initiatives aimed at supporting beekeepers across BC.

How to Register

To register, follow the enrolment link below. It will take you to our online learning platform, Moodle. Here you will create an account. An email asking you to confirm your information will be sent to the address you provided. Look for a message from Ken Monroe (via BC_TTP-BHPA). If the message does not arrive to your inbox, check your spam or junk folder. Click the link to validate your account.

From your account you can select the course you wish to enrol in. You will be directed to a payment link showing ‘Pay via Paypal’ where you can pay using either Paypal or a credit card if you do not have a Paypal account. After payment has been approved your course will show up in 'My Courses’ on your dashboard.

Contact us at info@ttp-bchpa.ca if you have questions

Enrol Now

Enrol Now

✺ Frequently asked questions ✺

  • The tuition is $250. The money goes directly to the BC Honey Producers’ Association and Technology Transfer Program for investment in further courses and programs to support honey producers in BC.

  • The course is self-paced. Based on our estimations, dedicating 2-3 hours per week typically leads to completion within one month. However, students have four months from the date of enrolment to complete the curriculum

  • Enrolment is open year-round to all individuals, so you can enrol anytime! The course is self-paced with a time frame of four months to complete the curriculum once you enrol.

  • We have created a Free Sampler course that allows you to see how the content is delivered so you can know if this learning is right for you. Try it now

  • No prerequisites or prior education is required. This course is suitable for anyone simply interested in learning more about Bees, beginner Beekeepers and those wishing to advance their knowledge in the industry.

  • Yes, our TTP Lead, Nuria will be available to answer questions about course content. And if you are having technical problems you can email Ken at learningsupport@ttp-bchpa.ca. There are also open class forums to discuss with other students

  • No. This course is for you to learn about honey bees and apiculture for your own purpose. Each module does have a quiz, but it has unlimited attempts. There are also self-knowledge checks throughout the course on what we consider to be important knowledge. Again, these allow unlimited attempts. So in the end, there are no grades, and once you complete the course and the end of course survey, you will receive an electronic badge indicating completion.