Best Online Programs for Health Professional Careers: Comparing UNE Online’s 4 Distinct Options

Are you interested in a career in the health professions, but not sure how to get there? Whether you need to complete your bachelor’s, need a few or all your medical school prerequisites, or are looking to bolster your academic record for med school applications, we have something for you!

UNE Online has 4 distinct programs that can elevate you to complete your academic goals, launching you into your career in the health professions: Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences Completion Degree (BSHS), Science Prerequisites for Health Professions (SPHP), Post-Bacc Pre Health Certificate Program (PBPH), and Master’s of Biomedical Science (MBS). You’re probably wondering what the differences are and which one is right for you. You’ve come to the right place! In this blog we will go over each program’s distinctions and what type of student is best for each program. 

Let’s begin with our Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences Completion Degree

Do you have dreams of going into health and medicine but still need to finish your bachelor’s? At UNE Online we have the perfect program for you. This fully online bachelor’s competition degree allows you to transfer up to 90 credits (with a minimum of 30 transferable credits required to enroll) towards your bachelor’s degree. The number of credits accepted depends on accreditation, course equivalencies, and degree requirements. Start your application and fill out our Transfer Credit Evaluation Form for a preliminary credit review. 

Complete your bachelor’s in as few as 4 months with this streamlined approach. Our program is flexible so you can complete your degree when it is convenient for you. Choose between 6, 8, and 12 week course options, and begin the program in the fall, spring, or summer. 

Our BSHS program will prepare you to move to the next level in your health professional journey with our comprehensive curriculum rooted in building a strong foundation in the health sciences.

Science Prerequisites for Health Professions courses

Do you already have most of the prerequisite courses to apply for medical school or to pursue your health profession of interest? UNE Online’s Science Prerequisites for Health Professions courses (SPHP) might be perfect for you! 

These fully online, upper level undergraduate courses (300 level or above) are designed for students who need 5 or less prerequisite courses to apply to medical school or other professional health programs. We offer 37 courses in math, sciences, and more to fulfill all of your prerequisite needs. 

These science prerequisite courses are also self-paced, meaning you can complete the course work at a pace that works best for, as long as you complete the course by the end of the 16 weeks. 

Some of these courses have a lab component that is also completed online. No campus visits required! Just make sure you check with the school of your choice to make sure online distance credits are accepted as transfer credits. 

The Post-Bacc Pre Health Certificate program

Did you major in a non-health-related field for your Bachelor’s, but have decided you want to go to Medical school or another professional health program? Do you need 18-30 credits worth of prerequisites to apply to your program of choice? If you said yes to both of these, our Post-Bacc Pre Health (PBPH) program might be the best fit for you!

This fully online certificate program allows students to customize their curriculum so they only need to take the courses they still need to apply for their chosen professional health program. 

We offer tracks for Osteopathic Medicine, Dental, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Veterinary, and Nurse Practitioner school. Students work with our Pre-Health advisors to create a curriculum that meets the needs of their chosen path.

In addition, eligible students may be awarded a committee letter at the successful completion of the Post-Bacc program to assist with entry and acceptance into medical school.

Master of Biomedical Science

Do you need to bolster your academic record before applying to medical school or another health profession program? Would you like to gain more experience and feel more prepared before going into your chosen health profession? Have you already taken 8 credit hours of undergraduate biology, 8 credit hours of general chemistry, and 4 credit hours of organic chemistry with biochemistry as a recommended elective? 

If you said YES to these questions, our Master of Biomedical Science program (MBS) might be the best choice for you! MBS is a great option for ambitious students aspiring to enter doctorate-level programs or advance their careers in healthcare. 

These courses not only provide a solid foundation in biomedical sciences, but also enhance graduates’ competitiveness in medical school applications and open doors to various career opportunities. This program also offers valuable resources for students’ future endeavors. This includes a capstone experience focused on building graduate school applications or professional career pathways, pre-health advising, career support services, and standardized test preparation for admissions exams such as the MCAT, GRE, DAT, and others.

What do they all have in common?

Each of the 3 programs are great options to prepare students who want to pursue the health professions. While there are subtle differences between each, there are some similarities across programs.

1. Fully online

You might have noticed already that all of the programs are fully online and do NOT require any on campus visits. Even labs can be completed at home!

2. Asynchronous 

All of the lectures for these programs are pre-recorded and there are NO scheduled meeting times. This allows for students to complete the coursework when it works for their schedule. We understand that our students have busy lives and are juggling many responsibilities!

3. Can be taken part-time or full-time

We understand many of our students are working full-time AND have additional academic and career goals they want to achieve. This is why taking a part-time course load is always an option here at UNE Online.

4. Student support and resources

Whether you are a graduate student with us for MBS or a non-matriculated student just taking the last prerequisites you need to apply for medical school, we offer a plethora of support to our students. Every UNE Online student gets assigned a Student Support Specialist to help with questions and offer support along the way. Additionally, our admissions advisors are always available to answer any questions students may have. For a full list of student resources, see here.

5. Prepare you for your future

At UNE Online we understand that everyone’s path to the health professions looks different. That’s why we offer 4 distinct options to accommodate our student’s variety of experience. No matter which program is the best fit for you, each one will prepare you for your future in the health professions.  

Still not sure which program is best for you? 

We just gave you a lot of information about our 4 health profession prep programs. If you are still not sure if you are a better fit for the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences Completion Degree, Science Prerequisite courses for Health Professions, Post-Bacc Pre Health Certificate Program, or our Master of Biomedical Science, reach out to our admissions advisors today. Our team is here to help you every step of the way, from finding the program that aligns with your needs through completion of your program. You can reach them at (855) 325-0896 and onlineadmissions@une.edu. 

We can’t wait to embark on this journey with you.