Science Prerequisites for the Health Professions

The mission of the Science Prerequisites for Health Professions program is to provide rigorous courses that help non-matriculated students develop a strong understanding of the content, oral and written communication skills, and critical and innovative thinking skills that provide the foundation for entry into, and successful completion of, graduate programs, particularly in the health sciences.

The Science Prerequisites for the Health Professions (SPHP) program is primarily for students who have completed a baccalaureate degree and wish to enter a graduate program, but lack the necessary prerequisite courses. Many students enrolled in these courses will be working professionals. Students may enroll in SPHP courses at any time and from almost anywhere in the world. The courses are designed to be completed in sixteen (16) weeks, but they are self-paced, so students may complete the courses at an accelerated pace in order to meet their personal academic needs.

All of the courses in the SPHP program are included in UNE's regional accreditation by the New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE), the highest standard of academic accreditation possible.

Many institutions accept these courses, but we encourage you to check with specific schools to verify that the courses are transferrable before you apply and/or register.

For more information on the courses offered within the SPHP program, including prerequisites, registration information, and a description of laboratory components, please call 1 (855) 325-0894 or email prehealth@une.edu.

Courses in the SPHP program are equivalent to semester-long courses, designed to be completed in sixteen (16) weeks.

Enrollment in the course begins the day your section opens, which is listed in the Science Prerequisites for Health Professions Academic Calendar.

Students must wait until the following term to retake a course. If a student wishes to retake a course within the same term, they need permission from the program.

Upon completion of a course, the course instructor submits a grade for each student. Students can typically request an e-transcript within twenty-four (24) hours of course completion.

Technology requirements may differ by course. Please visit the course webpage and/or review the course syllabi.

Students take proctored exams online using Proctor U. This requires the student to allow an online proctor remote access to the student's computer. UNE holds academic integrity in the highest regard, so exams that are not proctored in their entirety are not credited. For instructions on creating an account and testing your equipment, please visit ProctorU. For detailed information about the mandatory, UNE-approved webcam and whiteboard needed for all proctored exams, please visit the SPHP technical requirements webpage.

Attendance Policy

Students who are taking Science Prerequisite Health Professions (SPHP) courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively withdrawn for non-participation if a gradable assignment has not been submitted on or before the last day to withdraw (ten (10)) weeks from the start date) with a grade of AW (Administrative Withdrawal), which will appear on the student’s official transcript, but will not have a grade point average.

Students who are administratively withdrawn will not be issued a refund.

Note: All deadlines, procedures, and policies related to course withdrawal are subject to the guidelines specified on the UNE Academic Calendar.

Course Withdrawal Policy

Add/Drop Period

A student may add or drop a course during the time frames published on the UNE Academic Calendar. Courses dropped during the add/drop period will not appear on a student’s official transcript.

Course Withdrawal Period

A student may withdraw from a course after the add/drop period has ended through the designated withdrawal deadline, which is approximately at the 60% point of the course's length. The withdrawal period for each semester and session is published on the UNE Academic Calendar.

Grade for the Course Withdrawal

A course withdrawal during the withdrawal period results in a grade of W, which will appear on a student’s official transcript. The grade of W is awarded only if a student has submitted a completed Course Withdrawal Form to the Registrar’s Office by the deadline. A W grade does not impact the term or cumulative GPA.

Consultation Before a Course Withdrawal

Before deciding to withdraw from a course, students must consult their Program/Academic Director and are encouraged to discuss the situation with the instructor. 

International students must obtain the approval of the Office of Global Education, as withdrawals may affect visa status.

Students are strongly urged to consult with Student Financial Services, as course withdrawals may affect financial aid or Veterans benefits. 

Course Withdrawal Process

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must submit the signed Course Withdrawal Form to the Registrar’s Office before the Course Withdrawal deadline.

Ceasing to attend classes or notifying the instructor does not constitute an official withdrawal.

Late Withdrawal

Requests to withdraw from a course after the withdrawal period will only be considered in extreme circumstances. To request a late withdrawal, a student must consult with their Program/Academic Director and submit a completed Academic Petition stating the extenuating circumstances and a letter of support from an advisor, faculty member, or Program/Academic Director to the College’s Dean’s Office offering the course for consideration. 

If approved, a W grade will appear on the transcript, not impacting the GPA calculations.

Late withdrawal petitions must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office by the last day of the class.

Note: All deadlines, procedures, and policies related to course withdrawal are subject to the guidelines specified on the UNE Academic Calendar.

Refund Policy

To learn about the refund policy, please refer to the Student Policies section of the Science Prerequisites website.

Audit Policy

Students taking online Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Health (PBPH) undergraduate courses or Science Prerequisite for the Health Professions (SPHP) courses through the College of  Professional Studies may, with prior consent of the Dean’s office and/or Program Director, enroll in a course for an audit grade (AU).  An auditor is expected to participate in classes, engage in discussions and course activities, and complete assignments as determined by the instructor, but is not required to take examinations. Auditing a course does not count towards enrollment status (i.e., part-time, full-time, etc.) and therefore cannot be considered for financial aid purposes, veterans benefits, etc. Audit courses carry zero credit and are charged full tuition. 

Enrolling in a course for an audit grade (AU) may be done at the time of registration, or as a result of an approved Enrollment Status Change request which must be accompanied by a signed approval from the CPS Dean’s Office and/or Program Director. An Enrollment Status Change request must be done prior to the completion of the course’s final exam or final evaluation and cannot be retroactively requested once the course, final exam, or final evaluation is completed. Reversal or change of an audit grade is not possible (i.e., once enrolled for AU the grade becomes permanent on a student's academic record). The student who wishes later to be graded for such a course must re-enroll in and pay for graded credit. 

Students may enroll for a course at any time through the self-service registration portal, as long as prerequisites are met for the individual course. Students may take as many courses as needed to meet the prerequisite requirements for the health professions program to which they are applying, but are encouraged to limit enrollment to a maximum of two (2) courses simultaneously. If students wish to take more than two (2) courses at a time, please email the student support team at prehealth@une.edu.

We do not accept any type of financial aid or payment plan at this time, with the exception of military assistance. Students are expected to make payment in full at the time of checkout.