UDHUMNUT - BSc Human Nutrition

The teaching and learning strategies applied in the BSc aim to stimulate the student’s interest in skills and knowledge in human nutrition and provide an appropriate intellectual challenge at BSc level. The course will also promote the student’s self-management and a reflective approach to their learning with a view to future continued professional development. Teaching and learning are integrated with the assessment within the School’s learning and teaching strategy. Delivery is through a combination of lectures, practical sessions, seminars, tutorials, case studies and workshops allowing students to be actively involved in the learning process and develop their own learning style. Students will be encouraged to engage meaningfully with personal development planning (PDP) through the curriculum, to enable them to reflect on, plan and review their own personal and academic skills. PDP will enable students to develop well supported claims to achievements and be able to articulate these to others and the University will enable students to recognise and record their achievements.

Our Education for Social Justice Framework is embedded within our inclusive curriculum to eliminate the wicked problem of differential outcomes between student groups and align with the principles of equity. Our values based approach addresses the challenges faced by our students in London, supporting them to succeed through equipping them with the skills and abilities to fight health inequalities faced by the diverse populations they will go onto serve.

Students are expected to complement formal teaching with self-directed reading. Kitchen, laboratory and nutrition practical sessions are carried out in the Science Centre utilising the Nutrition Clinic, the Nutritional Physiology Lab, the Superlab and the Food Technology Lab. Students will also be given opportunities to use appropriate resources and technology available both within and outside the institution (e.g. nutritional databases, nutrition-specific software, internet applications).

The aims of this course are aligned with the qualification descriptors within the Quality Assurance Agency’s Framework for Higher Education Qualifications and they aim to provide a sound scientific base in all those subjects necessary for the understanding of Human Nutrition. This course also aims to align with the requirements of the professional body for nutritionists – The Association for Nutrition, such that graduates will be eligible to join the register as a Registered Associate Nutritionist. The course will build upon the principles of nutrition science and develop areas particularly in public health nutrition, placing emphasis on the issues relevant for a population approach to improvements in nutrition. The course also aims to adopt a quantitative approach to the discipline, developing skills in mathematics, statistics and data analysis as well as to develop throughout the curriculum a range of professional and transferable skills and attributes characteristic of a competent graduate. To emphasise throughout the course the importance of IT as part of this process. The course will develop an appreciation and understanding of the importance of nutrition research in the development of the discipline and develop an understanding of the wider context of public health nutrition. The course will provide students with the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of some personal responsibility; decision making in complex and unpredictable contexts; and the learning ability needed to undertake appropriate further training of a professional or equivalent nature.

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

knowledge and understanding:

1. demonstrate an understanding of the basis of nutrition science and the nutrient composition of food, the links between diet and disease and health and the social/ethical factors which impinge on diet and health
2. explain the principles of cellular metabolic processes, the structure and function of the various physiological systems and the principles of biological chemistry
3. understand the determinants of nutritional status, its underlying physiology and assessment and explain how this can be affected by disease and health over the lifespan and in different contexts
4. demonstrate an understanding of the psychological, social and cultural factors that influence food, dietary and lifestyle choices in individuals, groups, communities and populations

cognitive intellectual skills:

5. critically evaluate scientific research from a variety of sources in relation to nutrition and health through working with others, communication, self-management and problem solving and reflect on the various components
6. undertake research and scholarly activities that involve both theoretical and practical aspects of science including the ability to use knowledge to provide analysis and evaluation

transferable skills including those of employability and professional practice:

7. communicate ideas and information clearly and effectively both to individuals and to groups using both oral and written means and work effectively both as part of a team and independently utilising both collaborative and organisational skills
8. analyse scientific data using computer software and information from a wide variety of sources and situations using both numerical and statistical techniques to provide relevant meaning
9. utilise the methods of data analysis using computer software and be able to apply these methods to analyse data obtained from a wide variety of sources and situations
10. competence in IT skills including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentation software and information retrieval through paper and electronic sources
11. demonstrate skills to support the enhancement of employability including those requiring the exercise of some personal responsibility; decision making in complex and unpredictable contexts; and the learning ability needed to undertake appropriate further training of a professional or equivalent nature

subject-specific practical skills:

12. communicate effectively to groups and individuals to promote the benefits of a healthy balanced diet throughout the lifespan and for sports performance
13. demonstrate the ability to use scientific laboratory skills and have the ability to assess diet, food and nutrient intake and the consumption of food constituents in individuals and groups; to construct menus and meal plans to meet healthy eating guidelines
14. assess the nutritional status of individuals and groups using basic and advanced methodologies
15. determine energy and nutrient requirements of individuals and groups
16. critically apply knowledge of diet and health to evaluate, communicate and comment on dietary or health information both from scientific sources and that which is available to the public
17. think critically by questioning given information, hypotheses formulation and testing; formulate suggestions with awareness of the ethical and social issues that are involved in diet and health

University learning outcome

18. Demonstrate confidence, resilience, ambition and creativity and will act as inclusive, collaborative and socially responsible practitioners/professionals in their discipline.

Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Food, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences (Jul-2016)

A range of assessment tools is used in the BSc, with the choice of assessment instrument chosen to test the specified learning outcomes and to support student’s different learning styles. These methods are aligned with the School’s assessment strategy and the assessment is the responsibility of the academic staff delivering the module.

Inclusive assessment and feedback is part of the learning process and confirms the outcomes of the learning process. It also provides formative feedback on curriculum design and delivery and, via the ongoing iterative and reflective process of module and course monitoring, makes a significant contribution to the continued development and improvement of the courses that links in with the school’s learning and teaching strategy.

In light of this, a variety of assessment methods will be used (see syllabi) including unseen written examinations and individual and group assignments.
Laboratory and computer-based investigations, poster and oral presentations and the Level 6 Human Nutrition Project give students the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge, understanding and skills they have developed.

DT6W50 Empowering London: Working within the Community - a module has been developed to allow students to work intensively with a London community project/organisation in order to identify (in partnership with them) a challenge they are faced with and work towards positively addressing this challenge This innovative module is an exciting opportunity to work at a grass-roots level to effect change and to learn about the key issues currently affecting London and other large cities.

An optional Level 6 module (MN6W50 Creating a Winning Business 2) are provided.

Year 1
BE4052 Biochemistry for Nutritionists
BE4053 Cell Biology for Nutritionists
NU4056 Health, Society and Behaviour (for Nutritionists)
NU4057 Applied Health Psychology (for Nutritionists)
NU4055 Essentials of Human Nutrition
NU4054 Introduction to Human Nutrition

Year 2
BC4058 Anatomy and Physiology 1
BC4059 Anatomy and Physiology 2
NU5057 Micronutrients for Health
NU5080 Food Science
NU5081 Applied Food and Nutritional Science
NU5051 Energy and Macronutrients

Year 3
NU5050 Metabolic Biochemistry for Nutrition
NU5053 Techniques in dietary assessment
NU5054 Techniques in Nutritional Research
NU5079 Public Health Nutrition
NU6056 Nutrition through the Lifecycle
NU6058 Global Health Nutrition

Year 4
NU6051 Sports and exercise nutrition
NU6057 Diet and Disease
NU6W51 Work-related Practice for Nutritionists
NU6P01 Human Nutrition project
WL6W50 Empowering London, Working within the Community
Optional modules: BE6063 Energy Metabolism OR MN6W50 Creating a Winning Business 2

Standard regulations apply.

Enhancement of undergraduate skills will be articulated to students as the programme progresses through feedback from tutors and peers, enabling them to reflect on their progress based on the evidence available. Activities outside of the academic aspect of university life will also contribute to aspects of undergraduate skills. Students will be encouraged to develop their personal portfolio to critically review their learning experiences, set their future personal and academic goals and evaluate their progress towards these goals.

PDP will be embedded within each module and across the course with students given time to reflect on their learning. Students will take part in tutorials at all levels designed to facilitate discussion on what has been learnt in order that reflective learning will contribute to identifying objectives, success criteria, and action plans that can be included in PDPs.

There is one module at each level (NU4056 Health, Society and Behaviour (for Nutritionists) - Level 4), (NU5054 Techniques in Nutritional Research - Level 5), (WL6W50 - Empowering London: Working within the Community) where PDP and employability (including CV, job application, careers and interview technique) are specifically developed for all students. In addition, at Level 6 in the project module (Human Nutrition Project) the supervisor will initially assist with clarifying the terms of the research project, establishing a timetable for the research and subsequent meetings, directed background reading as well as report format and writing, and statistical analysis. Students will also develop their graduate statement.

Nutritionists create, disseminate and apply scientific knowledge to promote an understanding of the role of diet on health and well-being of populations and individuals. There are varied career opportunities for graduates. Most food manufacturers and retailers employ nutritionists. Other posts in the private sector include work in marketing, public relations or in the media. There are also career opportunities in the public sector. In local and national government, nutritionists work in health or food departments and in health promotion. Nutritionists are increasingly being employed in community weight management programmes. They also work in health or science education in schools, colleges or universities. There may be opportunities for suitably qualified nutritionists to work in community development, in programme design and management or health service management, at home and abroad. Experienced nutritionists can also work freelance, as independent consultants. Research opportunities may arise in any sphere but research careers occur mainly in universities, specialist institutions and hospitals.

On graduation, you'll be eligible to join the Association for Nutrition as a Registered Associate Nutritionist (ANutr).

You'll complete the course equipped to pursue a career as a public health nutritionist in the public sector, in local and national government, in the charity sector or in the academic and research sector.

Previous graduates have gone on to work at organisations such as Nestlé Health Science, the NHS, The Nutrition Society, the World Obesity Federation. Others do consulting and contract work as nutritionists.

This course is also excellent preparation for further research or study.

In addition to the University's minimum entry requirements, you should have:

• a minimum of grades CCC in three A levels including a minimum grade C in Biology (or a minimum of 96 UCAS points from an equivalent Level 3 qualification, eg Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Applied Science with MMM)
• English Language and Mathematics GCSEs at grade C/grade 4 or above, (or equivalent).

Entry from appropriate foundation and access courses will also be considered. We accept a broad range of equivalent level qualifications, please check the UCAS tariff calculator or contact us if you are unsure if you meet the minimum entry requirements for this course. We encourage applications from international/EU students with equivalent qualifications.

If you don't have traditional qualifications or can't meet the entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, you may still be able to gain entry by completing our Human Nutrition (including foundation year) BSc (Hons).

To study a degree at London Met, you must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. If you require a Tier 4 student visa you may need to provide the results of a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

If you need (or wish) to improve your English before starting your degree, the University offers a Pre-sessional Academic English course to help you build your confidence and reach the level of English you require.