Syllabus

Master of Biomedical Science

MBS 670: Medical Physiology (Fall 2025)

Credits - 4

Description

This course offers a thorough examination of human physiology, with an emphasis on medical physiology. Both molecular and cellular mechanisms will be studied, as will the interaction of organs and body systems. In addition to examining normal physiological functions, the disruption of homeostasis in disease states and the body’s compensatory responses will also be covered.

An array of teaching and learning methods will be used throughout the course, including reading assignments, online activities and assignments, discussions, quizzes, and exams. By evaluating and discussing clinical case studies, students will apply physiological concepts to real-life conditions. Upon completion of the course, students will have a solid understanding of medical physiology which will provide them with a strong foundation for a future career in health care or related fields.

Materials

Widmaier, E. P., Raff, H., Strang, K. T., and Vander, A. J. (2022) Vander’s Human Physiology, The Mechanisms of Body Function. 16th Edition. McGraw-Hill Education.

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Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Course Outcomes:

  1. Utilize fundamental concepts of human physiology.
  2. Describe the functions, regulatory processes, and interactions of the body’s various organ systems.
  3. Explain how various physiological processes contribute to the maintenance of homeostasis.
  4. Analyze physiological activities at various levels of organization, highlighting how these activities maintain overall physiological function.
  5. Apply physiological concepts to clinical case studies.

Assignments

Weekly Quizzes

Quizzes will include questions and activities related to the content for the week.

Assignments

In most weeks, you will complete assignments in Connect. You will also complete in-depth assignments in Weeks 2, 7, and 14. In Week 10, you will create an infographic.

Discussions

Weekly discussions will provide opportunities to connect with peers about course concepts. 

Midterm and Final Exam

This course includes a Midterm and a Final Exam. The midterm exam covers concepts from chapters 1-11. The final exam covers concepts from chapters 12-18.

You will have two attempts for the Midterm and Final Exams. The first attempt of the midterm must be taken by the due date, while second attempt may be taken at any time before the end of the course. However, it is encouraged to take the second attempt soon after the first, as this material is fundamental to the remaining units.

Optional and nongraded activities

Each week, you will also have access to lots of ungraded activities. Completing these activities is highly suggested but they are optional and not graded.

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

Discussions (12)16816.8%
Watch and Learn Quizzes (12)606%
Assignments36036%
In-depth Assignments (Weeks 1, 2, and 4)909%
Week 10 Infographic Assignment121.2%
Midterm Exam15015%
Final Exam15015%
Academic Integrity101
Total1000100%

Grade Scale

Grade Points Grade Point Average (GPA)
A 94 – 100% 4.00
A- 90 – 93% 3.75
B+ 87 – 89% 3.50
B 84 – 86% 3.00
B- 80 – 83% 2.75
C+ 77 – 79% 2.50
C 74 – 76% 2.00
C- 70 – 73% 1.75
D 64 – 69% 1.00
F 00 – 63% 0.00

Schedule

Course Schedule:

Fall AB Session: August 27 – November 30

Week 1: Wednesday – Sunday
Week 2: Monday – Sunday
Week 3: Monday – Sunday
Week 4: Monday – Sunday
Week 5: Monday – Sunday
Week 6: Monday – Sunday
Week 7: Monday – Sunday
Week 8: Monday – Sunday
Week 9: Monday – Sunday
Week 10: Monday – Sunday
Week 11: Monday – Sunday
Week 12: Monday – Sunday
Week 13: Monday – Sunday
Week 14: Monday – Sunday

TOPICS ASSESSMENTS DUE

Week 1:

Physiologic Concepts, Cellular Biology, and Biochemistry

  • Week 1 Discussion: Introductions
  •  Week 1 Discussion 2: Homeostatic Regulation
  • Week 1 Assignment: Multiple-Choice and Interactive Questions
  • Week 1 Watch & Learn Quiz
  • Week 1 Activities
  • Discussions – Initial post by Friday, responses by Sunday
  • All other items due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET

 

Week 2:

Transport Processes and Signal Mechanisms

 

  • Week 2 Discussion: Transport Mechanism
  • Week 2 Assignment: Multiple-Choice and Interactive Questions
  • Week 2 Assignment 2
  • Week 2 Watch & Learn Quiz
  • Week 2 Activities
  • Discussions – Initial post by Friday, responses by Sunday
  • All other items due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET

Week 3:

Nervous System

  • Week 3 Discussion: Nervous System Case Study
  • Week 3 Assignment: Multiple-Choice and Interactive Questions
  • Week 3 Watch & Learn Quiz
  • Week 3 Activities
  • Discussions – Initial post by Friday, responses by Sunday
  • All other items due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET

Week 4:

Sensation and Higher Brain Functions

  • Week 4 Discussion: Sensory Processing and Perception
  • Week 4 Assignment: Multiple-Choice and Interactive Questions
  • Week 4 Watch & Learn Quiz
  • Week 4 Activity
  • Discussions – Initial post by Friday, responses by Sunday
  • All other items due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET

Week 5:

Muscular Physiology and Coordination

  • Week 5 Discussion: Body Movement Case Study
  • Week 5 Assignment: Multiple-Choice and Interactive Questions
  • Week 5 Watch & Learn Quiz
  • Week 5 Activities
  • Discussions – Initial post by Friday, responses by Sunday
  • All other items due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET

Week 6:

Endocrine Physiology

  • Week 6 Discussion: Endocrine Disorders
  • Week 6 Assignment: Multiple-Choice and Interactive Questions
  • Week 6 Watch & Learn Quiz
  • Week 6 Activities
  • Discussions – Initial post by Friday, responses by Sunday
  • All other items due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET

Week 7:

Case Study and Midterm Exam

  • Week 7 Assignment
  • Midterm Exam
  • Assignment and Exam due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET

Week 8:

Cardiovascular Function, Regulation, and Integration

  • Week 8 Discussion: Cardiovascular System Case Study
  • Week 8 Assignment: Multiple-Choice and Interactive Questions
  • Week 8 Watch & Learn Quiz
  • Week 8 Activities
  • Discussions – Initial post by Friday, responses by Sunday
  • All other items due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET

Week 9:

Respiratory System

  • Week 9 Discussion: Gas Exchange
  • Week 9 Assignment: Multiple-Choice and Interactive Questions
  • Week 9 Watch & Learn Quiz
  • Week 9 Activities
  • Discussions – Initial post by Friday, responses by Sunday
  • All other items due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET

Week 10:

Urinary System and Homeostasis

  • Week 10 Discussion: Kidney functions
  • Week 10 Assignment: Multiple-Choice and Interactive Questions
  • Week 10 Assignment 2: Infographic
  • Week 10 Watch & Learn Quiz
  • Week 10 Activities
  • Discussions – Initial post by Friday, responses by Sunday
  • All other items due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET

Week 11:

Digestive System and Metabolic Homeostasis

  • Week 11 Discussion: Gastrointestinal handling factors
  • Week 11 Assignment: Multiple-Choice and Interactive Questions
  • Week 11 Watch & Learn Quiz
  • Week 11 Activities
  • Discussions – Initial post by Friday, responses by Sunday
  • All other items due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET

Week 12:

Reproductive Function and Regulation

  • Week 12 Discussion: Chapter 17 Case Study
  • Week 12 Assignment: Multiple-Choice and Interactive Questions
  • Week 12 Watch & Learn Quiz
  • Week 12 Activities
  • Discussions – Initial post by Friday, responses by Sunday
  • All other items due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET

Week 13:

Immunity

  • Week 13 Discussion: Chapter 18 Case Study
  • Week 13 Assignment: Multiple-Choice and Interactive Questions
  • Week 13 Watch & Learn Quiz
  • Week 13 Activities
  • Discussions – Initial post by Friday, responses by Sunday
  • All other items due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET

Week 14:

Case Study and Final Exam

  • Week 14 Assignment
  • Final Exam
  • Assignment and Final Exam due Friday at 11:59 PM ET

 

Student Resources

Online Student Support

Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.

UNE Libraries:

UNE Student Academic Success Center

UNE's Student Academic Success Center (SASC) offers a range of free online services to support your academic achievement. Writing support, ESOL support, study strategy and learning style consultations, as well as downloadable resources, are available to all matriculating students. To make an appointment for any of these services, go to une.tutortrac.com. For more information and to view and download writing and studying resources, please visit:

Accommodations

Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.

Online Peer Support

Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.

Information Technology Services (ITS)

Students should notify their Student Support Specialist and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.

ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673.

Career Ready Program

The College of Professional Studies supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!

The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.

Policies

Use of Artificial Intelligence

Generative AI (GenAI) applications (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, and similar tools) are increasingly used in academic and professional environments. In the MBS program, AI tools may be used in limited and transparent ways that support learning. They may not substitute for independent scientific reasoning, writing, analysis, or demonstration of mastery of course learning outcomes.

The use of AI in academic work falls under the MBS Academic Integrity Agreement and must align with our commitment to honest, responsible, and professional scholarship. Students should always be able to demonstrate the originality of submitted work if improper use of AI is suspected.

In situations where AI tools are used as a resource, students must:

  • Ensure that all submitted academic work demonstrates their own learning and mastery of course objectives.
  • Acknowledge every instance of AI use in-text at the point where it was used. AI use should not be listed in the References section.
  • Include a brief description of how the AI tool was used, followed by the AI tool name, model/version (if available), manufacturer/owner, and date used in parentheses. Students should consult the AI citation section of the AMA style guide for additional details.
  • Take full responsibility for the accuracy, interpretation, and conclusions presented in their work.
  • Critically evaluate AI output for errors, bias, and potential risks to vulnerable or underrepresented populations.
  • Follow any additional course or assignment-specific AI restrictions provided in assignment instructions.

Failure to acknowledge AI use in submitted work constitutes a violation of academic integrity and will be treated as plagiarism under the MBS Academic Integrity Policy and Student Handbook.

Penalties for AI misuse will follow the MBS program's academic integrity escalation structure. A first offense will result in a zero on the assignment with no opportunity for resubmission. Additional or severe violations may result in course failure and/or referral for program-level review, which may include dismissal from the program.

Turnitin Originality Check and Plagiarism Detection Tool

The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.

Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in AMA citation and academic writing.

You can learn more about Turnitin in the guide on how to navigate your Similarity Report.

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements

Course Evaluation Policy

Course surveys are one of the most important tools that University of New England uses for evaluating the quality of your education, and for providing meaningful feedback to instructors on their teaching. In order to assure that the feedback is both comprehensive and precise, we need to receive it from each student for each course. Evaluation access is distributed via UNE email at the beginning of the last week of the course.

Late Policy

Assignments: Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted.

Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.

Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.

Attendance Policy

6- to 8-week courses: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.

10+ -week courses: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.

Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures

The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.

UNE Online Student Handbook

UNE Course Withdrawal

Please contact your Enrollment and Retention Counselor if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. Tuition charges may still apply. Students are strongly urged to consult with Student Financial Services, as course withdrawals may affect financial aid or Veterans benefits.

Academic Integrity

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.