units

NUT2103

Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

18 September 2017 25 April 2024

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This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2016 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

Monash University

18 points, SCA Band 2, 0.375 EFTSL

Undergraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Organisational Unit

Department of Nutrition and Dietetics

Coordinator(s)

Dr Ricardo Costa and Dr Julia Choate

Offered

Clayton

  • Second semester 2016 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit will focus on developing students' fundamental scientific knowledge in the areas of biochemistry, physiology, anatomy and immunology as the basis for nutrition and dietetics practice. The areas of pharmacology and genetics will be included as the role of nutrition in these sciences is increasingly emphasised. The key theme explored in this unit is Theme 3: Nutrition Fundamentals of Health and Disease coupled with partial integration of content and application from Theme 1: Personal Development and Professional Practice and Theme 4: Food from Science to systems. This unit will take a scientific approach to understanding the anatomy and physiology of the human body in growth and development and the impact of dietary input on cellular and metabolic processes whilst recognising the neuroendocrine control of nutrients within the body and the role of essential micronutrients in immune function. Teaching will focus on a case based learning approach to knowledge application.

Outcomes

  1. Explain the key structures and functions of the gastrointestinal system, and interpret the effects of nutrition, health or disease on its function;
  2. Explain the key structures and functions of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, and interpret the effects of nutrition, health or disease on its function;
  3. Explain the key structures and functions of the innate and adaptive immune systems, and interpret the effects of nutrition, health or disease on its function;
  4. Explain the key structures and functions of the musculoskeletal system, and interpret the effects of nutrition, health or disease on its function;
  5. Explain the key physiological and biochemical systems and processes, and their interactions within the whole body approach;
  6. Describe the organisation and function of the central and peripheral nervous systems, and discuss neuroendocrine control of the body;
  7. Describe the role of innate and acquired immunity in health and disease;
  8. Evaluate the role of food components (nutrients and non-nutrients) in physiological and biochemical systems and processes as it related to health and disease;
  9. Describe the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of common drugs, and their interaction with nutrients;
  10. Define nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics, and its role in nutritional screening;
  11. Explain how the individual genome can change requirements for specific nutrients;
  12. Critically discuss the integration of physiological and biochemical systems and processes within significant nutrition issues relating to health and disease;
  13. Apply scientific knowledge of the integration of body systems to nutrition related scenarios;
  14. Interpret data and demonstrate skills in the conduct and reporting of laboratory experiments;
  15. Demonstrate the ability to clearly communicate complex scientific concepts.

Assessment

5 x Practical reports (500 words each) (20%)
Case study (group presentation) and wiki resource (1000 words)) (10%).
Critical appraisal report (3000 words) (10%).
2 x Mid semester exams (MCQ) (2 hours each) (20%)
2 x End of semester exams (3 hours each) (40%) (Hurdle)

Hurdle: End of semester examinations are a hurdle requirement

Workload requirements

6 x 2 hours per week lectures/tutorials on campus.
1 x 3 hours practical on campus.
21 hours self study and assessment related work.

See also Unit timetable information

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Ricardo Costa and Dr Julia Choate

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Nutrition and dietetics

Prerequisites

NUT1010, NUT1101, NUT1102 and NUT2001.

Co-requisites

Must be enrolled in courses 3404, 4530 or 3956.