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, and alcohol
• the role of diet in cancer, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension
• 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

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.

Materials

Other Materials

All other materials will be available to students online; including a student manual and study guide.

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.

Evaluation

To receive credit for the NUTR 406 challenge registration, you must achieve a minimum grade of C– (60 percent) on each Challenge Essay and on the Challenge Examination.

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