Student Spotlight: Tola Ilegbusi, SPHP Program

Tola Ilegbusi, Science Prerequisites student
Tola Ilegbusi is a student in the Science Prerequisites for Health Professions (SPHP) program, taking online science prerequisites to prepare for his application to medical school. Here he talks about what encouraged him to choose UNE, what he intends to get out of his online courses, what keeps him focused, and what he plans for the future. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and where you’re from? I’m originally from Boston but I grew up in Florida. Shortly after graduating from the University of Florida, I moved to New York in order to start my career in healthcare working for a large hospital system. Shortly after this, I went back to school to complete my Master of… Read more >>

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NEW Online Science Courses: Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Immunology, & Pharmacology

Online science courses
UNE Online is pleased to announce the development of four new online science courses, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Immunology, and Pharmacology, that are now available for registration. Science Prerequisites for Health Professions (SPHP) courses are 100% online courses that are popular with students who may need one or two courses to fill a gap in their transcript. These courses can also be utilized for students either currently working in the field of healthcare or for career changers, such as people looking to get into a deeper or expanded healthcare role. SPHP students who successfully complete their prerequisite courses go on to apply to various health professions programs including Physician Assistant (PA), MD/DO, Nursing, Physical or Occupational Therapy, Veterinary, or other… Read more >>

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Spotlight on Kim Marshall, Pharmacist and Subject Matter Expert

Kim Marshall is the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for UNE’s latest online course, Pharmacology.
Kim Marshall is the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for UNE’s latest online course, Pharmacology. In addition to developing innovative new course content for the new BIOL 1070: Pharmacology course, Kim Marshall will also be using her skills on the front line, being one of the heroes that will be distributing a vaccine for COVID-19 to high-risk patients. How were you chosen to be among the first to administer the COVID-19 vaccine? I was in one of the first groups of pharmacists to become immunizers in the late 2000s, so I’ve been a vaccine pharmacist for a long time now. I had a former colleague get in touch with me regarding the opportunity through the Michigan Department of Health and … Read more >>

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Three New Math Courses: Calculus I, Calculus II, and College Algebra

Three new online math courses
UNE Online is pleased to announce the development of three new math courses, Calculus I, Calculus II, and College Algebra, that are now available for registration. Science Prerequisites for Health Professions (SPHP) courses are 100% online courses that are popular with students who need just a few college-level or post-baccalaureate-level science or math credits in order to apply for graduate school. In general, SPHP classes are stand-alone courses designed to be taken one at a time. They are mostly intended for students who wish to enter a health professions program but may need one or two courses to fill a gap in their transcript. SPHP students who successfully complete their prerequisite courses go on to apply to various health professions… Read more >>

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Student Spotlight: Meg Cotton, SPHP Program

Meg Cotton, deployed soldier and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Meg Cotton is an active duty service member, single mom, Registered Nurse, and an aspiring Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). As a deployed soldier, she has chosen to take UNE’s SPHP classes for the flexibility of schedule and ease of access. Here she talks about being a student while on deployment, her experience with the coursework, and her goals for the future. What motivated you to take science prerequisites courses? I started at UNE taking the Medical Biochemistry course in anticipation of entering a doctoral program to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). Why were you looking for online courses? I’m in the military, and it’s difficult to manage taking courses locally because of the uncertain nature of my… Read more >>

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New Online Psychology Courses Offered

Gail Callahan, MPH Alumni of University of New England 2018
UNE Online is excited to announce that three new online Psychology courses will be added to the CGPS course offerings. Science Prerequisites for Health Professions (SPHP) courses are 100% online, post-baccalaureate level courses. These courses are designed to be taken one at a time, and are mostly intended for students who wish to enter a health professions program but may need just one or two courses to fill a gap in their transcript. The majority of our SPHP students complete their prerequisite courses successfully and go on to apply for PA School or Nursing School – both BSN and MSN programs. Why offer online psychology courses? Through student surveys, CGPS keeps a pulse on what courses are in demand and… Read more >>

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Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Tim Bohinski, Science Prerequisites Program

Dr. Tim Bohinski, Medical General Chemistry II instructor in our Science Prerequisites for the Health Professions program
Dr. Tim Bohinski has a Doctorate in Physical Chemistry and is a Medical General Chemistry II instructor in our Science Prerequisites for Health Professions program. He has a deep interest in chemistry which he has applied in several different fields. Currently, he works with ultrafast lasers – and in a very recent development, a division of the company he works for was recently able to image the proteins of the coronavirus – which will lead to breakthroughs for a vaccine. Read on to learn more about Dr. Bohinski and his passion for teaching chemistry through real-world applications. Portland, ME (home of UNE) has a vibrant brewery community, with new breweries coming online all the time. Can you tell me a… Read more >>

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Meet our Team: Courtney Mejia

Courtney Mejia
Courtney Mejia works as a Student Service Advisor for our Science Prerequisite for Health Professions courses. Courtney is always willing to go the extra step for her students with her compassionate personality! She understands our non-matriculated student population, and to say Courtney is a problem solver is an understatement. At UNE Online, our students are our top priority, and their success is what drives each and every one of us to do what we do. We’d like to share a little bit about the people that are dedicated to making that happen every day. What do you do at UNE Online? I work with the Science Prerequisites for Health Professions program! I work to help students fill in the gaps… Read more >>

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Science Prerequisite Courses at UNE Online – An Overview

SPHP brochure cover
The Science Prerequisites for the Health Professions (SPHP) at UNE Online are a suite of a-la-carte courses offered 100% online. Our science prerequisites offer a convenient way for students to take the  courses they need to fulfill their goals. Many of our students are working toward acceptance into a graduate program in the health sciences or a program that encompasses these sciences. Complete course offerings and contact information can be found on our website. For a more casual look into our SPHP courses, we sat down with Program Director Barbara Fortier to talk about what she feels are the strengths of the course offerings. Can you talk a bit about the SPHP courses at UNE Online? The SPHP courses… Read more >>

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Program Director Spotlight: Barbara Fortier, Science Prerequisites Program

Barbara Fortier: Program Director Spotlight
Barbara Fortier is the Program Director for the Science Prerequisites for Health Professions program at UNE Online. We sat down with her recently to talk about why she loves science and education, and what she considers her top tips for student success in her courses. Can you tell me a bit about your background and what drew you to UNE Online? Science education is a huge passion of mine. I earned my undergraduate degree in Education, and then went on to earn a Master’s in Geosciences, and then a Master’s in Oceanography/Marine Science from right here at the University of New England. Both the Geosciences and Oceanography fields are very interdisciplinary sciences that encompass biology, chemistry, physics, and statistics,… Read more >>

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Microbiology at UNE Online: BIOL 1020

Post Baccalaureate Microbiology at UNE Online: BIOL 1020
Microbiology for Health Professions (BIOL 1020) is an online course taken by many post-grad students looking to fill a gap in their transcript. We spoke with course designer and instructor Dr. Marta Frisardi about the course standards, the types of schools that accept this UNE Online microbiology course as a prerequisite, and about some of the labs that students will be required to conduct. Can you tell me a little bit about the microbiology course? This is the sixth year we have offered microbiology at UNE Online. Initially, the course used a virtual lab, but we have since moved to a hands-on style of lab format. We’ve found that for this particular course it helps the students grasp the concepts… Read more >>

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Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Marta Frisardi – SPHP Program

Marta Frisardi Instructor for the Science Prerequisites for Health Professions program
Dr. Marta Frisardi is an instructor with UNE Online’s Science Prerequisites for Health Professions program. Here’s a little bit more about her professional experience, how she engages her online students, and how she feels that her courses prepare her students for life after school. Can you tell me a little bit about your background and what drew you to teaching at UNE Online? I have been teaching and consulting in biology, microbiology and genetics courses for universities, colleges, and community colleges for more than 27 years now. I initially got involved at UNE when I was asked by professors at the medical school to design a Microbiology course with a lab for the online program. What do you teach right… Read more >>

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Meet Our Team: Josh McFarland

Josh McFarland, Student Support Specialist
Note: As of April 2019, Josh is now the Marketing Manager for the Science Prerequisite Courses for Health Professions and our Graduate Programs in Education! While Josh continues to use his effervescent energy to raise awareness about our many online prerequisites courses, you can find the current Science Prerequisites Student Service Advisors on this page. Josh McFarland works as a student support specialist for our Science Prerequisite Courses for Health Professions. Josh is without a doubt, the happiest and most hydrated person in the office! He always has his massive bright blue water jug at his side and big smile on his face. Even the more challenging days at the office can seem like a breeze in the presence… Read more >>

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UNE Online Courses: Science Courses to Satisfy Health Prerequisites

Science Prerequisites
Many post-baccalaureate students use UNE Online courses as their required science prerequisites to get into health-related graduate programs. UNE Online Science Prerequisites for Health Professions courses are offered 100% online. UNE is regionally accredited through New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE). You may begin the class as long as you meet the prerequisites for the individual courses.  Simply log in, register for the class, pay, and begin on the first or third Wednesday of the month. All of our online prerequisites are instructor-led, high-quality courses. They are taken a la carte, as you need them, so you can do one class or as many UNE classes as you need. Fill transcript gaps with UNE Online science prerequisites UNE has… Read more >>

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About Science Prerequisites for Health Professions Courses

Lending a helping hand with an online science prerequisite course
UNE Online offers many great degrees and certificate programs; however, did you know that we also offer individual science prerequisite courses? If you’d like to learn more about Science Prerequisites for Health Professions Courses, read on. From Microbiology to General Chemistry, these courses can be taken anywhere in the world! Students who enroll in our science prerequisite courses are typically students who wish to enter a health professions program but need one or two courses to fill a gap in their transcript. Have we caught your attention? Keep reading to learn more! How are these courses set up differently than courses in matriculated programs? Our science prerequisite courses have a 16-week completion time and they have no due dates, meaning… Read more >>

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How to stay motivated in an online class

Staying Motivated in Online Classes
As human beings, our behaviors and our goals are bridged by many factors, a major one being motivation. In essence, the more motivated we are, the more likely we are to act towards the goal. Similarly, as motivation diminishes, so does performance. In the context of online learning, sustaining motivation is vital in committing to the assignments as well as optimizing the learning experience. As students identify motivating factors, their willingness and eagerness to tackle the classroom will likely follow accordingly. Research also shows the importance of motivation in the dynamic relationship between cognitive, emotional, and behavioral engagement. As a student, this means that staying motivated is a key element in not only completing coursework, but also in advancing your… Read more >>

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New and 100% online - Principles of Human Nutrition

New Online Course Principles of Human Nutrition
New online classes begin twice a month Registration deadlines for Principles of Human Nutrition and the entire suite of Science Prerequisite for Health Professions online classes are on the first and third Monday of each month. Secure your spot today! Register Now Not all online nutrition courses are the same. UNE Online has a brand new online nutrition course, 100% online, with fresh, custom-developed content. Principles of Human Nutrition is a 3-credit, science-oriented, introductory online nutrition course. Course content focuses on the role of nutrition in health promotion and disease prevention in relation to personal health choices. Emphasis is placed on the nutrient requirements of healthy individuals, nutrient categories and their characteristics, physiological functions, metabolism, and food sources. Who is… Read more >>

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Online Physics I for the Health Professions

New Physics I Class at UNE Online
UNE Online has a newly redesigned online Physics I course, 100% online, with fresh, custom-developed content. The new class has been designed to be especially relevant to students in the health professions. Geared toward health professions UNE’s new online physics course takes its examples from real life, and incorporates elements of how health science professionals actually use physics in their careers. As you work through the problems in each lesson, you will recognize a clear connection towards a practical application to the field of health care. For example, in the unit on energy, the examples refer to energy in the environment, while the segment on kinematics and rotational motion demonstrates a direct correlation to sports medicine. Prepare for the MCAT… Read more >>

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Undergraduate Genetics Lecture and Lab Offered Online

genetics online course
Genetics lecture and lab now offered online This new and academically-challenging undergraduate level online genetics course, BIOL 1040, with online lab will examine transmission genetics, molecular genetics, cytogenetics, evolutionary genetics, molecular medicine, and developmental genetics. Students will learn from examples drawn from the scientific literature, which stress modern technological and experimental methodologies used in studying the genetics and genomics of prokaryotes, higher plants, and animals. What distinguishes this course from other online genetics courses? Many students wish to enter a health professions program but may need just one or two online science prerequisites to fill a gap in their transcript. This science prerequisite course is taken individually, and does not require you to be enrolled in an overall program. Additionally,… Read more >>

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Skip the admissions process with these online courses

UNE classes with no admissions
When do you NOT need to go through admissions? UNE Online’s Science Prerequisites for Health Professions classes are our exception to the admissions process rule. They do not require an admissions process at all. Simply log in, register for the class, pay, and begin on the first or third Wednesday of the month.  All of our classes are instructor-led, high-quality courses. They are taken a la carte, as you need them, so you can do just one class or a couple of classes at once. You can take as many of these courses as you need over time. Filling gaps – efficiently UNE has a strong history of preparing students for the health professions, and we were finding that a… Read more >>

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