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Overview

Course Prescription

The scientific basis of nutrition focusing on its biochemistry and physiology in health and disease. Nutritional aspects of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins and trace nutrients are covered in an integrated manner. The methodologies which underpin nutritional science and its applications are included. Reference will be made to a broad range of examples, and a number of specific nutritional topics of current interest will also be included.

Course Overview

This course dives into the dynamic world of nutritional science, exploring how food fuels, shapes, and transforms the human body. Through an integrated approach combining biochemistry, physiology, and molecular biology, students will investigate how nutrients influence metabolism, health, and disease -from cellular energy production to whole-body regulation. The course is structured into six themes, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of nutritional science and spanning topics such as obesity, mitochondrial function, gastrointestinal health, nutrient sensing, functional foods, and nutrition across the lifespan. Throughout the semester, students will engage with cutting-edge research, critically evaluate contemporary nutritional debates and, as the subjects of their own analyses, apply practical laboratory techniques to gain insight into their own nutritional status!

BIOSCI 358 is a required course in the BSc specialising in Food Science and Nutrition (Nutrition pathway), and also of interest to any students planning further study or a career in the areas of food, nutrition and metabolism, dietetics, health and/or biomedical science or bioscience enterprise.

Key Topics

  • Energy balance & body weight regulation
  • Mitochondrial Function
  • Nutrition and gastrointestinal health
  • Nutrient Sensing
  • Functional foods and nutraceuticals
  • Nutrition & metabolism across the lifespan

Course Contacts

Course Director: Jennifer Miles-Chan (j.miles-chan@auckland.ac.nz)

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures, 3 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 2.5 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation per week. A 3 hour laboratory is held every 2 weeks.

Course Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

Prerequisite

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
City

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including labs to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be taught on campus and available as recordings. Other learning activities may be available as recordings when possible - however, please note that due to the nature of our course workshops these interactive discussions will not be available as recordings and therefore attendance on campus for these sessions is strongly encouraged.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

The majority of this course will be based on research literature published in peer-review journals rather than text books. Information and links to these journal articles will be provided during lectures and in lecture material posted on Canvas. 

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license. You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Health and Safety

During the laboratory sessions, students will have the opportunity to vary their diet and analyse its effects on their own urine and blood samples (collected via a small finger-prick). Associated risks will be minimised as students will handle their own samples. All associated laboratory procedures have been approved by the University of Auckland Human Participants Ethics Committee.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5
6

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Additional Information on Assessment

Students must pass the practical (laboratory worksheets) and the theory (quizzes, test, research editorial and exam) independently to pass the course overall.

Special Requirements

  • Attendance at laboratories is compulsory. 
  • All tests and tutorials will take place during class-time, on campus, with the exception of one laboratory which will be held during class-time at the University of Auckland's Human Nutrition Unit (located in Mt Eden). 
  • Important information regarding the structure of the course, and the health and safety requirements for the laboratories will be presented in the first lecture session. All students are therefore required to attend this session.

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type123456

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

Staff welcome feedback on the course throughout the semester, including the SET evaluations. Please contact your course coordinator or student representative at any time with your feedback.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Additional Information on Tuākana

For more information and to find contact details for the School of Biological Sciences Tuākana coordinator, please see https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-and-pacific-at-the-faculty/tuakana-programme.html 

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor. Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.