This is the first of a series of two courses in Anatomy and Physiology. This course is structured to teach the anatomy and physiology of the human body by organ systems and includes a laboratory component that reinforces concepts learned in the theory component of the course, while simultaneously providing opportunities to master skills that are commonly used in healthcare practice. Emphasis is placed on clinical applications, structure and function, integration of body systems, homeostasis, and critical thinking. Topics covered in this course include an overview of anatomy concepts, levels of organization of the human body (molecules to organismal), histology, integumentary system, skeletal system, muscular system, human development, and reproductive system. Delivery method: fully online. Desirable background: Basic biology and chemistry.
This is the second of a series of two courses in Anatomy and Physiology. This course is structured to teach the anatomy and physiology of the human body by organ systems and includes a laboratory component that reinforces concepts learned in the theory component of the course, while simultaneously providing opportunities to master skills that are commonly used in healthcare practice. Emphasis is placed on clinical applications, structure, and function, integration of body systems, homeostasis, and critical thinking. Topics covered in this course include the nervous system, cardiovascular system, Immune system, respiratory system, digestive system, urinary system, fluid, electrolyte and acid balance, metabolism, and nutrition. Delivery method: fully online. Desirable background: A&P I
Cultural Anthropology 1011 introduces you to the study of human cultural patterns and learned behavior. You will explore the discipline through weekly topics that include linguistics and religion, social and political organization, race and ethnicity, culture and personality, culture change and applied anthropology. The study of cultural anthropology helps to provide you with a more open and sensitive attitude towards persons of other cultures and ethnic backgrounds by exploring commonalities of belief and life intention and reflecting on the role of enculturation in shaping the lives of societies and individuals.
Biology I is a four credit course incorporating an at-home laboratory component. Biology I can be both a standalone course or a precursor to Biology II (BIO 1011) with an emphasis on providing a conceptual framework for understanding the basics of modern biology, the scientific method, the chemical basis of life, cell biology and reproduction, and genetics so that the student will be well equipped to apply this knowledge in his or her further studies.
Biology II is a four-credit course incorporating an at-home laboratory component. Biology II can be both a standalone course or a continuation of Biology I (BIOL 1010) with an emphasis on providing a conceptual framework for understanding the basics of modern biology, evolution, ecology, biodiversity, anatomy, and physiology so that the student will be well equipped to apply this knowledge in their further studies.
This course explores the animal branch of the family tree of all living things, focusing especially on vertebrates. We will learn what makes animals different from other organisms like plants or fungi, and also how the various animal species differ from each other. Major themes running through the course include: phylogenetics (how animal species are related to each other); evolution (how we got all the different kinds of animals); metabolism (how different animals survive and regulate their bodies); reproduction strategies (how animals make more animals); and ecology (how animals interact with other living things and their environments).
Topics covered in this course include: the history of microbiology, microbial morphology and physiology, bacterial metabolism, genetics, ecology, and the classification of microorganisms, particularly bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Therapeutic agents used to disrupt and control microbial growth are considered and a body systems approach is utilized in the coverage of diseases.
This course provides a broad overview of the most common and important human diseases. Throughout the 6-week summer term, we will address aspects of disease epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment. The course will begin with an overview of foundational vocabulary and concepts, as well as a broad analysis of the most common and significant diseases. We will then establish a framework for the basic disease processes before moving on to discussions of specific organ systems. The course will conclude with a consideration of diseases that impact multiple organ systems.
This course will introduce and explore basic concepts and theories of cell biology with an emphasis on its application in understanding human health. Topics include an introduction to cell theory, the chemical composition of cells, cellular functions and cell signaling, reproduction and genetics. Each of these topics will be explored through course readings, video lectures/demonstrations, discussions, and a variety of experiential activities, including a course project. Students will demonstrate their mastery of cell biology concepts through quizzes and a cumulative final exam. Students will also have the opportunity to apply the concepts learned in this course to evaluate a human disease.
This course will introduce and emphasize on the basic concepts of molecular biology and the application of these concepts in the medical field. The knowledge attained in the course will be used to understand human diseases. Topics include knowing about biomolecules like DNA, RNA and proteins, central dogma, DNA replication, DNA repair and regulation of gene expression. Each of these topics will be explored through course readings, video lectures, case studies, journal clubs, discussions forums and digital concept mapping. Students will demonstrate their knowledge of molecular biology concepts through quizzes and a cumulative final exam.
This immunology course provides students with an in-depth understanding of the human immune system. It first introduces students to the structure, functions and capabilities of immune cells, tissues, and organs. Globally, the course informs students of different modes of action and the ability of immune effector populations in combating various types of infections. This course will also emphasize current immunological techniques such as recombinant antibody, flow cytometry, and ELISPOT technology. Further, issues related to vaccine development and therapeutics will also be included in the course. Finally, students will develop disciplinary appreciation through reviews of case studies, research articles, and current perspectives in the field of immunology.
Basic concepts of business finance will be explored to provide the student with an understanding of the tools used by financial professionals to make decisions about cash flow, capital budgeting, and risk management.
General Chemistry I with Lab is designed to give the student an introduction to general chemistry and chemistry lab techniques. The concepts covered in this course include components of matter, atomic theory, stoichiometry, chemical reactions and bonding, thermochemistry, quantum theory, electron configuration, models of bonding, theories of covalent bonding, shapes of molecules, and gasses. Labs are performed concurrently with lecture topics, with an emphasis on reinforcing topics covered in the textbook and learning basic lab procedures. The hands-on labs will be performed in the home of the student using a designated lab kit. Course Pre Req: One semester of College Algebra.
Online General Chemistry II with Lab is designed to give the student an introduction to general chemistry and chemistry lab techniques. The subjects covered in this course include properties of liquids and solids, solutions, kinetics, equilibrium, acids and bases, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, organic nomenclature, and nuclear chemistry. Labs are performed concurrently with lecture topics, with an emphasis on reinforcing topics covered in the textbook and learning basic lab procedures. The hands-on labs will be performed in the home of the student using a designated lab kit. Course Pre-req: One semester of College Chemistry and College Algebra.
This course is designed to give the student a general understanding of how science contributes to their future profession and will prepare students for entrance exams in the health professions. In addition, this course will lay the groundwork for more advanced understanding of the chemical reactivity topics covered in Online Organic Chemistry II and/or Biochemistry courses required for health-care professions.
This course is designed to give the student, interested in the health professions, the depth of a second semester of organic chemistry exploring reactivity and synthesis. The goals of this course are to provide students with the logic and foundation to organic chemistry topics that will be needed in his/her professional studies. Students will be introduced to a wide range of organic chemistry reactions. Students will learn to predict reaction outcomes and build an understanding of how molecules are synthesized. The course also incorporates a laboratory experience that places an emphasis on understanding the concept of the labs and the scientific method, since today’s healthcare professionals are expected to have a general understanding of how science and the scientific method contribute to their profession. The course and labs will introduce the student to important laboratory techniques covered on most professional entrance exams. Course Prerequisite: One semester of college level organic chemistry with lab.
This online course serves as an introduction to the fundamental principles of biochemistry, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the chemical processes that occur within living organisms. Students will explore the structure, function, and regulation of biological molecules, including proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. This course will cover topics including metabolic pathways, enzymology, metabolism, and the integration of biochemical processes in cellular functions.
This public speaking course will examine the core principles and contexts of communication, specifically in oral presentations. You will learn to recognize the interrelationships among speaker, listener, context, organization, language, and delivery. The course will include information on proper techniques for rhetorical persuasion strategies, research, writing, and delivering oral presentations, as well as the preparation of audio visuals to enhance presentations. Students will also learn and demonstrate skills in rhetorical reasoning, argumentation, listening, and critical thinking.
This course provides a thorough introduction to microeconomic theory. This course begins with an analysis of opportunity costs and trade offs. These concepts are then used as the foundation for studying producer and consumer behavior. Next, consumer and producer behavior theory are combined and used as the building blocks for an analysis of supply, demand, consumer surplus, producer surplus, and elasticity. The course concludes with an overview of the four market structures commonly studied in microeconomics and how they rely on the concepts and theories that have provided the foundation for the course. Recommended prerequisite: College Algebra.
This course introduces students to macroeconomics, the study of the economy as a whole. Students will learn about the key macroeconomic indicators of GDP, unemployment, and inflation, and then apply these concepts to analyze economic behavior. The topics covered in this course include choice and scarcity; supply, demand, and its applications; GDP and economic growth; unemployment and inflation; the aggregate demand-aggregate supply model; Keynesian economics and Neoclassical economics; fiscal policy; money and banking; monetary policy; policy applications; globalization and trade; exchange rates and international finance; and Inequality, Poverty and Discrimination.
English Composition I is a three-credit college writing course to prepare students for the fundamental knowledge and skills of college-level expository writing and critical thinking. Areas of focus include idea presentation and organization, audience, point of view, authorship, paragraph and essay coherence, and technology-mediated evaluation of grammar, mechanics, and originality. Students are introduced to strategies for rhetorical writing, writing-as-process and product, and thinking-as-writing. An introduction to argument structure and writing from sources culminates in an academic essay as a comprehensive course assignment.
This course is an introduction to environmental challenges and opportunities which emphasizes that humans are part of ecosystems within interdependent cycles which involve other organisms, air, water, chemicals, and energy. The course examines the relationships of humans to their environment from historical, economic, scientific, aesthetic, and ethical perspectives. As we progress through this course you become more environmentally aware: more aware of your own actions and the impact they have on the environment, more aware of human actions and the impact on the environment and more aware of the need for human activity to shift on a global scale to sustain our Earth and all of its inhabitants.
A theme-based exposure to the earlier periods of US history. Possible themes could include paradox or irony in US history, US history as the construction of empire, US history as progress or regression, US history as escape from the past. A variety of primary and secondary sources will be employed.
A thematic exposure to the latter century and a half of US history. Possible themes could include the paradox of race in US history, the architects and managers of the American Century, or consensus and conflict in US history. A variety of primary and secondary sources will be employed.
This course examines how drugs have shaped societies and cultures in the Americas—from the United States to the southern mountains of Peru and Bolivia—in the last hundred or so years. We will begin by considering the social and cultural origins of drugs, as well as how societies have applied and regulated them, before proceeding to assess their social, cultural, and political implications.
This course asks students to step away from their everyday routines to imagine the origins and course of civilization, from the first hunter gathers to the complex states and societies of the 16th century. We will make connections between peoples and cultures in what we today call Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Topics will include: the development of agriculture and cities, the origins of religion, the expansion of empire, the role of art, writing and thinking in the development of civilization, among others.
This course serves as an introductory course for pre-health professions students and non-science majors, covering basic chemical principles of general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry. This foundational course is a systematic survey of measurements, atomic structure, periodic table trends, chemical bonding and equations, nomenclature, structures of organic compounds, and biochemicals. Altogether, this course will develop the critical thinking skills and self-confidence within the introductory sciences that come with foundational understandings.
This course is designed for students needing to review essential mathematical concepts and skills. Topics include basic arithmetic operations on real numbers, systems of measurements, use of formulas, conversions, dimensional analysis, percents, decimals, fractions, ratio and proportion, linear and exponential equations and graphing, geometry, and basic trigonometry.
This course was designed to provide students with the quantitative skills necessary to model and analyze real-world problems. With just a handful of different algebraic tools and modeling techniques, students will be able to interpret, visualize, and describe a vast array of mathematical relationships that arise in ecology, economics, medicine, and many other fields. This course will emphasize using algebraic principles to strengthen problem-solving skills and enhance communication of quantitative concepts. Topics include polynomial functions, rational functions, absolute value functions, piecewise functions, logarithmic and exponential functions, solving systems of equations and inequalities, and elementary mathematical modeling and applications.
Precalculus was intentionally designed to prepare students for subsequent college level Calculus courses. This course will review a variety of the prerequisite mathematical concepts necessary for Calculus. Topics include rational functions, trigonometric functions, polar coordinates, sequences and series, probability, and a brief introduction to continuity. Each of these topics will be applied to real-world situations that can be modeled mathematically. In this course, students will practice communicating the realistic applications of each of these topics.
This course focuses on single variable calculus through graphical, analytical, and numerical techniques. Differentiation and its applications are thoroughly discussed. Basic integration techniques are introduced. Mathematical manipulation and computational competence is equally weighted with the ability to analyze, evaluate, synthesize and form accurate decisions using relevant information in applied settings.
This course continues the study of calculus. More techniques of integration will be investigated in this course. The concepts of limits, differentiation, and integration will be applied to problems in differential equations, sequences, series, and Taylor series. Parametric equations, polar coordinates, and vectors will also be introduced. (Calculus 1 is a prerequisite for this course).
This course introduces the students to both descriptive and inferential statistics. Emphasis is placed on the practical use of statistics in the collecting, organizing, analyzing and interpreting of data. Students will learn standard topics such as sampling, bias, organization of data, measures of central tendency and dispersion, correlation and regression, probability, normal and standard normal distributions, confidence intervals and hypothesis testing.
In this course, students apply principles of research design and statistics to analyze and interpret data and draw conclusions about experimental situations relevant to the sciences. Topics include random sampling, graphic and numeric descriptive data analysis, the normal distribution, hypothesis testing, t-tests, analysis of variance, correlation, and regression. Students will use statistical software to examine data graphically and perform statistical analyses.
This online course is a 3-credit hour course delivered at a distance and designed to provide the student interested in health care, health care delivery, or graduate study in some aspect of medicine or health care a broad and comprehensive understanding of the unique language of medical terminology.
This online course introduces students to how the nervous system works, with a primary emphasis on neurophysiology—how neurons generate electrical signals, communicate across synapses, and function together in systems that support sensation, movement, stress responses, and everyday behavior.
This is a fast-paced, science-oriented, introductory course that focuses on basic principles of human nutrition. Emphasis is placed on the nutrient requirements of healthy individuals, nutrient categories and their characteristics, physiological functions, metabolism, and food sources. The role of nutrition in health promotion and disease prevention will be discussed in relation to personal health choices and with applications for students contemplating careers in health professions.
This interprofessional course provides an introduction to the science of nutrition. Attention is given to the nutrient groups (carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water) with respect to physical and chemical aspects of food digestion, absorption and metabolism. Students will explore the role of nutrition as it relates to health through the lifespan. Informed choices about foods that reduce the risk of developing or contributing to health problems as a result of poor nutrition are highlighted. Implications for different health professions are explored.
This course will examine public health principles and concepts. It will provide a broad framework for understanding public health’s role in community health, prevention, and medicine. Using the five core public health knowledge areas and the ten essential public health services as a foundation, students will explore public health infrastructure, surveillance, social determinants of health, policy, environmental factors, and emerging issues.
This course will prepare students to read and understand health reports and charts, as well as communicate with consumers of health care on individual, group, and population levels. Students will interpret medical terminology, develop strategies to effectively communicate using principles of health literacy, and will apply important concepts of language, cultural humility, compassionate communication, public speaking, and assertive communication.
What is it to have a good life? What kind of life do you want for yourself or those whom you care about? What is it to be a good person? What is happiness and how can we obtain it? These are questions that any reflective human being should find compelling. Philosophers in the Ancient and Medieval periods offered insightful and important answers to these questions that are still relevant today. In this course, we’ll carefully read texts from these philosophers, discuss them, and reflect on what we can learn from them.
What advice do the great creative traditions of human history have to share with us about how to live? We all must make our way in a world that is not ours fully to command, and whatever path we choose we will come by grief and love, and meet triumphs and setbacks, all while aiming to more fully understand ourselves, and the possibilities of being human.
This course introduces the major theories of normative ethics, with emphasis upon consequentialism, non-consequentialism, and virtue ethics. Further emphasis is given to application of these theories to perennial ethical dilemmas such as abortion, the death penalty, euthanasia, and war. Students will complete weekly discussions, a midterm examination, and final project. Upon completion of the course students should be able to navigate the various ethical theories, apply them critically, and articulate a vision of ethics, happiness, and the good life.
In this course, learners will be introduced to core concepts that shape our knowledge of the workings of the human body. Cell-cell communication and membrane dynamics will first be studied as central themes that govern coordination in individual cells and tissues, and within and between organ systems. Structure/function correlates will introduce the study of each system and the regulation of each system will be illustrated via lecture presentations, laboratories, discussions, and journal clubs. Students will learn to address problems in physiology, and to apply their knowledge and new understandings to case studies similar to those they may encounter in clinical settings.
This is a one-semester course, with a laboratory. Topics to be covered include kinematics, vectors, Forces, Newton’s Laws (including Gravitation), Energy, Work, Momentum, Conservation Principles, Fluid and Thermodynamics. A successful completion of this course will help students to develop mathematical fluency, problem solving skills, and a greater understanding of the mysteries behind everyday life and how it works.
This algebra-based online course is a four credit-hour course that includes a hands-on physics laboratory. The overall goal of this online course is to provide the student with a continuing introduction to physics that emphasizes additional concepts than those covered in PHYS 1010 that are the foundation of science and which the students may encounter in their professional studies. These topics include thermodynamics, waves and sound, electrostatics, circuits, magnetism, light and optics, and atomic and nuclear phenomena. Course pre-req: one semester of college algebra. PHYS 1010 or equivalent physics course is highly recommended.
This course will offer an in-depth exploration the role of law in the design and implementation of public health programs and the protection of the health interest of individuals and groups in society. It is designed for students who do not have prior experience or education in law, and covers the structure, concepts, and process of decision-making on health matters in legislative, administrative and judicial bodies.
PSYO 1010 provides a general introduction to the concepts and theories of psychology. Emphasis will be placed on thinking critically about psychology and applying its principles to life situations. Classical approaches will be tied in with current research to provide a holistic understanding of human behaviors.
This course will explore basic concepts and theories of human development with a focus on the nine major periods of life from prenatal development to death and dying. The nature of interactions between an individual’s biology and their environment will be examined by integrating information from a wide array of research studies. These studies consist of, but are not limited to, ground-breaking historic studies to recent studies of physical, neurological, and cognitive development.
This abnormal psychology course will explore basic concepts and theories related to abnormal psychology and how psychopathology is classified. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the history of abnormal psychology, the negative impact of stigma related to the diagnosis of mental health disorders, strategies for clinical assessment, the biopsychosocial model for explaining mental illness, as well as the classification, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of the major disorders. Upon completion, students should be able to distinguish between normal and abnormal behavior patterns as well as demonstrate knowledge of etiology, epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders.
This course provides students with information regarding the symptoms, causes, and treatment of what is generally recognized as abnormal behavior. Students will be expected to think critically about the research evidence with regard to various explanations and treatments of mental illness, and to develop clinical rationale for diagnostic choices they might make as a hypothetical treatment provider. Additionally, students will become familiar with the major assessment index for psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers (DSM-5-TR) and learn how to apply its categories to several client cases discussed in class.
Most introductory courses on the sociology of crime and deviance begin by posing the question “what is deviance”? At a very basic level, deviance is simply a departure from a given ‘norm’; exactly what or who is considered deviant depends on which ‘norms’ we are talking about. Those who ‘transgress’ norms are the source of much interest and fascination, and provoke a number of concerns and questions about what causes these deviations.
Food is essential to human existence, and therefore is a central part of sociology. This course explores the relationships between what we eat, our health, and the health of society. What we eat as a society has social impacts, particularly on human and environmental health. We will use the “sociological imagination” to explore the following issues related to food: First, we will begin by examining current Obesity trends and how government policy can impact the health status of a society. Then we will explore Food Justice, and discuss food insecurity and poverty as food issues related to our health. Next we will explore the role of Fast Food in culture, and how it influences individual eating choices. After a brief discussion of childhood marketing, we will then explore several environmental health issues. Finally, social movements related to food will be discussed as a mechanism for positive change locally and globally.
Illness and death are not random occurrences, but, rather, they occur in specific societal, historical, and cultural contexts. Different cultures and societies, in other words, produce different patterns of death and illness, demonstrating that illness/wellness cannot be reduced to individual pathology or misfortune, but are in part social and cultural phenomena. Sociological inquiry considers the importance of social and cultural factors in determining health, and, using a range of methodologies (including comparative, epidemiological, narrative, etcetera) investigate how social and cultural forces have concrete consequences for everyday people; including: their health, their sense of self, their understanding and experiencing of their bodies, their interactions with healthcare systems, and more.
The main objective of this course is for students to develop what C. Wright Mills called a ‘sociological imagination’. Having a sociological imagination entails connecting ‘personal troubles to public issues’, and thus this course will focus on the relationship between the individual and society. To that end, the course introduces students to a broad range of sociological theory and research to think through the impact of society on individuals (and vice versa) as we consider the role of social structures, culture, institutions, social relations, social interaction, and so forth. The course examines key themes addressed by contemporary sociologists, including: social inequality, poverty, race, gender, globalization, deviance, the media, health care, and more.
Earn credits this summer—on your schedule. UNE Online offers fully online undergraduate courses in Health Sciences, Physical Sciences, Humanities, and more. Designed for flexibility, these condensed 6-week or 12-week courses allow you to balance your studies with other commitments while benefiting from strong instructor support and peer engagement.
Course Dates:
No application is required—enroll anytime through the self-service registration portal. Tuition payment is due in full at registration, along with a $45 registration fee per course.
Browse our 6-week and 12-week summer course offerings below.
How to Register:
To register, select “Accelerated Courses” from the dropdown menu on the course selection page in the registration portal.
Didn’t find the course you were looking for? Check out our 16-week online course options that start every two weeks throughout the summer.
For assistance, contact an Enrollment Services representative at summersessiononline@une.edu or call (855)-325-0894.
UNE is Maine's largest private university, the #1 provider of health professionals for Maine, and the Brookings Institute's #1 Maine college for increasing career earnings. We provide life-changing, hands-on learning to two coastal Maine campuses, online, and our study-abroad campus in Morocco. UNE students graduate with career-ready skills acquired through internships, research, global adventures, and unparalleled student support. Reach out to learn more!
© 2026 University of New England | Privacy Policy