BIOSCI 358 : Nutritional Science
Science
2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
This course focuses on the scientific basis of nutrition in an interdisciplinary manner, covering the biochemistry and physiology linking diet to health and disease. Nutritional aspects of macro- and micronutrients will be integrated within the exploration of nutritionally-related conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The course is structured into six themes, each consisting of a block of lectures followed by a theme tutorial. Course content will be focused on recent research and developments in the field, and as such, students will have the opportunity to critique and debate contemporary issues in nutritional science. Throughout the semester, students will also participate in a number of interactive laboratory sessions, where they will not only acquire practical skills related to dietary analysis but also, as the subjects of their own analyses, gain insight into their own nutritional status!
BIOSCI 358 is a required course in the BSc specialising in Food Science and Nutrition (Nutrition pathway), and also of interest to any students planning further study or a career in the areas of food, nutrition and metabolism, dietetics, health and/or biomedical science or bioscience enterprise.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | People and Place |
| Capability 2: | Sustainability |
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
| Capability 7: | Collaboration |
| Capability 8: | Ethics and Professionalism |
Learning Outcomes
- Recognise, describe and explain the importance of nutrition to health, and relationship between diet and various diseases. (Capability 3, 4 and 6)
- Describe and explain differences in nutritional needs both within and between populations. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8)
- Engage in group discussions and critical interactions. (Capability 1, 4, 6, 7 and 8)
- Acquire practical skills and knowledge of the assessment of diet and dietary biomarkers. (Capability 3, 5, 7 and 8)
- Communicate concise information on the relationship between diet and disease. (Capability 1, 3, 4 and 6)
- Critically evaluate research literature. (Capability 2, 3, 4 and 6)
- Formulate, present, and defend their own opinion on a contemporary nutritional debate, in the context of existing scientific evidence. (Capability 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Final Exam | 45% | Individual Examination |
| In-Course Theory Test | 25% | Individual Test |
| Laboratory Worksheets | 15% | Individual Coursework |
| Research Editorial | 13% | Individual Coursework |
| Theme Quizzes (Formative) | 2% | Individual Coursework |
| 5 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
| In-Course Theory Test | ||||||||||
| Laboratory Worksheets | ||||||||||
| Research Editorial | ||||||||||
| Theme Quizzes (Formative) | ||||||||||
Tuākana
Tuākana Science is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials,
one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/pacific-in-our-faculty.html
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-in-our-faculty.html
Key Topics
- Energy balance & body weight regulation
- Diet & cardiometabolic disease
- Methods in nutritional science
- Nutrition & metabolism across the lifespan
- Functional foods and nutraceuticals
- Nutrition and gastrointestinal health
Special Requirements
- Attendance at laboratories is compulsory.
- All tests and tutorials will take place during class-time, on campus, with the exception of one laboratory which will be held during class-time at the University of Auckland's Human Nutrition Unit (located in Mt Eden).
- Important information regarding the structure of the course, and the health and safety requirements for the laboratories will be presented in the first lecture session. All students are therefore required to attend this session.
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures, 3 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 2.5 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation per week. A 3 hour laboratory is held every 2 weeks.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at scheduled activities including labs to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be taught on campus and available as recordings. Other learning activities may be available as recordings when possible - however, please note that due to the nature of our course workshops these interactive discussions will not be available as recordings and therefore attendance on campus for these sessions is strongly encouraged.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Health & Safety
During the laboratory sessions, students will have the opportunity to vary their diet and analyse its effects on their own urine and blood samples (collected via a small finger-prick). Associated risks will be minimised as students will handle their own samples. All associated laboratory procedures have been approved by the University of Auckland Human Participants Ethics Committee.
Student Feedback
During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.
At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.
Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.
Staff welcome feedback on the course throughout the semester, including the SET evaluations. Please contact your course coordinator or student representative at any time with your feedback.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Copyright
The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.
You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.
The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.