FBMNUT: Nutrition Concepts

Module code: FBMNUT

Module provider: Food and Nutritional Sciences; School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Professor Jeremy Spencer, email: j.p.e.spencer@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module introduces you to fundamental concepts of nutrition, including – but not limited to – macro- and micronutrients, water, alcohol, anti-nutrients and bioactives, the development of dietary reference values and recommendations and techniques used in nutrition research. It will also introduce current research topics in the area of nutrition and health.  You will develop a thorough understanding of nutritional concepts including metabolism and how nutrition can affect human health. A further aim of the module is for you to become familiar with current research and research methodology in nutrition. You will also develop an understanding of major issues of nutrition during the life cycle and have an appreciation of the scientific base of nutritional recommendations and controversial topics in nutrition research. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Provide a clear and accurate assessment of how macro- and micronutrients impact of human health. 
2. Considering the evidence-base, produce a concise report on how diet can affect health and how nutritional research can influence recommendations and policy 
3. Critical appraisal and evaluation of research from publications and seminars 

Module content

The module will introduce the fundamental concepts of the following: 

1. Nutrition and its relationship to health, including macro- and micronutrients, water, alcohol and non-nutrients.   
2. Detailed insights into macronutrient energy metabolism. 
3. The role of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) on human health and wellbeing. 
4. The role of nutrition and diet in primary healthcare and preventative medicine, particularly with respect to cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration and ageing generally.   
5. Emerging results from current research in nutritional sciences will be used across all topics. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be delivered via lectures and practical sessions. Parts of core content will be delived by pre-lecture screencasts and short videos 

Study hours

At least 50 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

For accredited programmes, students need to achieve 50% in each assessment.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs