MEDSCI 709 : Nutrition in Health and Disease

Medical and Health Sciences

2022 Semester One (1223) (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

This course provides students with the theoretical knowledge and skills to evaluate and disseminate evidence-based
research on the role of nutrition in health and disease, with a focus on health at each stage of life and common non-communicable diseases.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Course Contacts

Course Director - Dr David Musson
email: d.musson@auckland.ac.nz
https://unidirectory.auckland.ac.nz/profile/d-musson

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Graduate Profile: Master of Health Sciences

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Understand and critically evaluate the impact of nutrition throughout life (Capability 1.2 and 2.2)
  2. Develop an understanding of how nutrition may modulate risk of non-communicable diseases (Capability 1.2)
  3. Appreciate the complexity of nutrition in action from the individual to the community, nationally and internationally (Capability 1.2)
  4. Identify and analyse different study designs, and their strengths and weaknesses (Capability 1.2 and 2.1)
  5. Demonstrate an understanding of bias in research (Capability 1.2, 2.1 and 4.1)
  6. Critically review and communicate findings presented in relevant scientific literature (Capability 1.2, 2.1, 3.1 and 4.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Article critique 10% Individual Coursework
Presentation 25% Individual Coursework
Poster presentation 25% Individual Coursework
Essay 40% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Article critique
Presentation
Poster presentation
Essay

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 24 hours of lectures, 24 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 72 hours of work on assignments.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled seminars.

Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will also be available as recordings.

The course will include live group discussions and presentations. Attendance is required for these activities.

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.

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 work place 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. 
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
ISBN: 1743071469 

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.

Based on last year's student feedback there will be more tutorials offered in the second half of the semester to support the final assessments.


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.

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.

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.

Published on 24/02/2022 11:12 a.m.