Nutrition (NUTR) 406

Overview

The course provides an in-depth understanding of topics valuable to a well-rounded understanding of nutrition and presents recent developments in the field. In addition, students will enhance their ability to write a critical evaluation of topics in nutrition.

Outline

The major part of this reading course will be from Nutritional health: Strategies for disease prevention, edited by Norman J. Temple, Ted Wilson, and David Jacobs. Topics covered include:

• health promotion
• the effect on health of the dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids, fish oil, phytochemicals, antioxidants, and alcohol
• the role of diet in cancer, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension
• herbs
• the role of maternal and fetal nutrition in disease in later life
• nutritional epidemiology
• genetic engineering
• the marketing of dietary supplements
• the food industry and political influence
• nutrition information using the Internet.

Students will also read a number of research articles, complete three assignments, and write a final examination. In order to complete the assignments students require access to either the Internet or a research library, preferably both.

Evaluation

To receive credit for NUTR 406 you must:

• Submit all three assignments and obtain a mark of at least 60 percent on each;
• Obtain at least 55 percent on the examination;
• Obtain an overall course mark of at least “C-” (60 percent).

The final examination for this course must be taken online with an AU-approved exam invigilator at an approved invigilation centre. It is your responsibility to ensure your chosen invigilation centre can accommodate online exams. For a list of invigilators who can accommodate online exams, visit the Exam Invigilation Network.

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbook

Other Materials

The course materials also include a student manual/study guide and a reading file.

Challenge for Credit Course Overview

The Challenge for Credit process allows students to demonstrate that they have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university level course.

Full information for the Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Policy
• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Procedures

Challenge Evaluation

To receive credit for the NUTR 406 challenge registration, you must complete two essays, achieve a grade of at least 60 per cent on each and 60 per cent on the examination, and obtain a course composite grade of at least “C-” (60 percent).

Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form

• Challenge for Credit Form