MEDSCI 709 : Nutrition in Health and Disease

Medical and Health Sciences

2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

The influence that dietary patterns, foods and food components have on the promotion and protection against the common nutrition-related diseases in New Zealand. The relevant epidemiological, clinical, and biochemical/physiological aspects of each disease are covered.

Course Overview

The aim of the course is to provide an understanding of the causes and development of nutrition-related diseases and to consider the strength of the evidence from experimental science, epidemiology and human intervention trials. The course includes the following: The influence that dietary patterns, foods, and food components have on the promotion and protection against the common nutrition-related diseases in New Zealand and the relevant epidemiological, clinical, and biochemical/physiological aspects of each disease. 

Students are expected to attend all 12 face-to-face sessions. The two-hour sessions will consist of lectures, poster presentations (one session), two tutorials and one in-class assessment. 

Students will be assessed through skill-based assessments. Participation in tutorials will assist students to develop the skills required. Assessment guidelines and online resources will be provided. The purpose of the assessments is to assess knowledge and develop skills relating to scientific writing, presentation, and independent thinking.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: University

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Evaluate the causes and development of nutrition-related diseases. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6)
  2. Compare and contrast evidence generated from different research methodologies on the role of diet and nutrition in health and chronic disease. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6)
  3. Analyse diet and health related statements and communicate these statement in formats suitable for the public. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  4. Analyse diet-health related evidence and interpret and communicate this evidence in a format suitable for a general scientific audience. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 4)
  5. Synthesise and critique evidence from peer-reviewed published literature on the impact of processed meat consumption on disease risk and/or progression. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 4)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Test 10% Individual Test
Assignments 20% Individual Coursework
Presentation 30% Individual Coursework
Essay 40% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Test
Assignments
Presentation
Essay

Assignment 3: Marks will be awarded for the poster design and content, and for the short oral presentation. Marking will be performed by academic staff and your peers.

Learning Resources

The intention is to provide an up-to-date view based on the most current research and to enhance skills that will be useful in the workplace and for further studies.  No single textbook covers the scope of the course, and it is intended that individual lecturers refer students to 2-3 current articles on their topic. These would probably but not necessarily be review articles. 
For those students who do not have the suggested academic background (PopHlth 206, MedSci315 or BioSci358), the following book would be useful background reading: 
"Wardlaw’s Nutrition" (for the New Zealand and Australian environment) By Gordon Wardlaw, Anne Smith, Louise Brough, Cristina Cruz  

Course Contacts

Course Administrator: Ganan Jeyakumar  ganan.jeyakumar@auckland.ac.nz 
Course Director: Chris Hedges c.hedges@auckland.ac.nz>

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend a minimum of 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 18 hours of lectures, 2x 2 hour tutorials, 24 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 80 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Digital 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.

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 against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

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 at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Student Disability Services provides guidance to the Course Director with regards to the needs of the student. Please contact the Student Disability Services early in the semester.

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.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester 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 and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

General course satisfaction rated more highly than the rating for the School, the Faculty, and the University as a whole.

Student comments in response to "What was most helpful for your learning?":
"I like the specialist guests that Karen bought in on selected topics. 
Karen is always available to help with any queries, which helps me"
"The fast marking and the constant delivery of the feedback"
"The feedback, tutorials and going through past examples of good and bad work. As someone who has not done nutrition before the support in resources was helpful. I like how the workload was spread out during the semester and that the marking was focused on the practical aspects of science."

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 you may be asked to submit your 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. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 18/02/2020 02:53 p.m.