HNUT10020 Human Nutrition I - Understanding Nutrition

Academic Year 2023/2024

This module is designed to give a comprehensive introduction to nutrients and human nutrition. We will look at individual macronutrients (protein, carbohydrate, fat and alcohol) and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals and trace elements), the functions of each and what happens if a person is deficient in any one of these. We will also look at the food sources of nutrients, our requirements across the life span and the national food based dietary guidelines recommended to ensure adequate intakes. Tutorial classes will introduce you to nutrition research, how and where research is published, and how to refer to nutrition research when writing about nutrition. The tutorial classes are mandatory and will cover your continuous assessment for this module.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:
Interpret and use dietary recommendations
Identify and consider nutrition research methodologies
Describe the function and dietary sources of macronutrients
Describe the function and dietary sources of vitamins, minerals and trace elements
Demonstrate a knowledge of deficiencies associated with macronutrients and micronutrient

Indicative Module Content:

Functions, requirements, food sources of carbohydrate, protein and fat
Introduction to macronutrient metabolism
Functions, requirements, food sources of vitamins and minerals
Introduction to micronutrient deficiency diseases and disease related to micronutrient status
Introduction to nutrition research

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Tutorial

12
Autonomous Student Learning

70
Total

106
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
There are 10 weeks of teaching on this module.

Your have two 1-hour face-to-face lectures each week on Tuesday and Thursday morning at 9am. You will be given access to lecture materials in BrightSpace before each lecture. I encourage students to review the lecture material before coming to the face-to-face lecture so that lectures can be more discussion orientated. This format makes lectures more interesting and benefits your learning.

You have a one 2-hour face-to-face tutorial on Friday from 11am-1pm. The tutorials will be built around as series of tasks that are designed to introduce human nutrition research. Tutorial time will also be dedicated to revising some of the difficult lecture content. Your engagement in tutorials and the completion of the tutorial tasks will contribute to your final grade (25%).

You will have 3 short question online exams distributed throughout the semester worth 25% each. These exams supervised in a dedicated PC lab in UCD (location TBC). 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

FDSC10010


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
HNUT10010 - Human Nutrition I - Food Sci, PHPS20030 - App Clin Nutrit for Healthcare

Equivalents:
Human Nutrition I (FDSC10020)


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Examination: 3. Online short question exam including multiple choice, true/false, and short answer questions. Unspecified No Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

25
Continuous Assessment: Tutorial research assignments Throughout the Trimester n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

25
Examination: 1. Online short question exam including multiple choice, true/false, and short answer questions. Unspecified No Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

25
Examination: 2. Online short question exam including multiple choice, true/false, and short answer questions. Unspecified No Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

25

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Online automated feedback will be given following all MCQ/Short question mid-semester exams. Self assessment, group and individual feedback will be built into the tutorials.

Gibney MJ, Lanham-New SA, Cassidy A, Vorster HH. Introduction to Human Nutrition, 2nd Edition: John Wiley & Sons, 2009.

Gropper SS, Smith JL. Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism, 6th Edition, International Edition: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2013.

Whitney E, Rolfes SR. Understanding nutrition, 13th Edition: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2013.

Lanham-New SA, Macdonald IA, Roche HM. Nutrition and Metabolism, 2nd Edition: John Wiley & Sons, 2011.
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Autumn
      
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 12 Fri 11:00 - 12:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 Fri 11:00 - 12:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 5 Fri 11:00 - 12:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 9 Fri 11:00 - 12:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: Weeks 2-12 Thurs 09:00 - 09:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: Weeks 2-12 Tues 09:00 - 09:50
Autumn