Nutrition (NUTR) 331

Nutrition for Health (Revision 11)

NUTR 331 Course Cover

Revision 11 is closed for registrations, see current revision

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Delivery Mode: Individualized study online (with eTextbook)

Credits: 3

Area of Study: Science

Prerequisite: Senior high school chemistry and biology courses are recommended but not required.

Precluded Course: NUTR 330 or NUTR 405 (NUTR 331 may not be taken for credit if credit has already been obtained for NUTR 330 or NUTR 405). Students who take NUTR 331 may NOT continue to NUTR 405.

Faculty: Faculty of Science and Technology

NUTR 331 has a Challenge for Credit option. Students who are challenging NUTR 331 and NUTR 330 will not be eligible for a refund of the learning resources.

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Overview

Nutrition 331: Nutrition for Health surveys the basic principles of human nutrition and the relationships between nutrition and chronic diseases. There is now a large body of evidence demonstrating that diet has a major impact on health. In this course, we examine all aspects of this subject.

For a student who plans to take only one nutrition course at Athabasca University, NUTR 331 is the best choice. It is also the best nutrition course for students with limited science background. Students wanting to study nutrition in more detail should take NUTR 330 followed by NUTR 405.

Outline

  • Unit 1: Overview of Nutrition; Assessment of Nutritional Status
  • Unit 2: General Principles of Research in Nutrition
  • Unit 3: Dietary Reference Intakes and Diet-planning Guides
  • Unit 4: Body Systems and Digestion
  • Unit 5: The Carbohydrates: Sugar, Starch, and Fibre
  • Unit 6: The Lipids: Fats, Oils, Phospholipids, and Sterols
  • Unit 7: Protein and Amino Acids
  • Unit 8: Metabolism of Nutrients and Energy Balance
  • Unit 9: The Vitamins
  • Unit 10: Water and the Minerals
  • Unit 11: Introduction to Chronic Diseases of Lifestyle, Obesity, and Diabetes
  • Unit 12: Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Unit 13: Diet and Cancer
  • Unit 14: Vegetarian Diets, Alcohol, and Caffeine
  • Unit 15: What Is the Healthiest Diet?

Evaluation

To receive credit for NUTR 331, you must submit both assignments and obtain a mark of at least “60” percent on assignment 1, obtain at least “55” percent on the final examination, and obtain a course composite grade of at least C- (60 percent). The chart below summarizes the course activities and the credit weight associated with each.

Activity Weighting
Assignment 1 25%
Assignment 2 15%
Midterm Exam 25%
Final Exam 35%
Total 100%

The midterm and final examinations 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

Textbooks

Registration in this course includes an electronic textbook. For more information on electronic textbooks, please refer to our eText Initiative site.

Sizer, F. S., Whitney, E., & Piché, L. (2018). Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies (4th Canadian Ed.). Toronto: Nelson.

McGuire, M. “S.”, Beerman, K. A., Dunford, J., & Doyle, A. (2014). Diet and Wellness Plus, 1st Edition [online software]. Cengage Learning.

A print version of the eText may be available for purchase from the publisher through a direct-to-student link provided on the course website; you can also acquire the textbook on your own if you wish.

Other Resources

All other learning resources will be available online.

Challenge for Credit Overview

The Challenge for Credit process allows you to demonstrate that you 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 about Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

Challenge Evaluation

To receive credit for the NUTR 331 challenge registration, you must achieve a minimum grade of C- (60 percent) on the challenge examination.

Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form

Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.

Opened in Revision 11, August 9th, 2018.

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