The lone online biology Ph.D. program in the United States is offered by the University of Minnesota's Stem Cell Institute (stemcell.umn.edu). The program does not even technically offer a full doctorate; it is available only as a minor for students in relevant Ph.D. programs such as neuroscience or pharmacology. Students pursuing this minor online will have to complete their main research project at the Stem Cell Institute.
Science students who speak Spanish may opt to enroll in the online Ph.D. program offered by the Universidad de Costa Rica (ucr.ac.cr). The school offers Web-based degrees in biological science at both the master's and doctoral level. Students will have to travel to San Jose (Costa Rica's capital city) periodically, but the program can be completed mostly online under the guidance of an academic adviser.
The Universiti Sains Malaysia (pppjj.usm.my) established its School of Distance Education in 1971 to assist working adults in getting a part-time education. Through its School of Biological Sciences, doctoral candidates can utilize streaming media, live video conferencing and other Web-based means to pursue their degrees. All doctoral students must complete a research project under the supervision of an academic adviser.
Costa Rica's Empresarial University (unem.edu.pl) offers an online doctoral program in biology via Web-based instruction in both Spanish and English. There is a residency requirement for completion but it is minimal for online students.