Key facts

UNE unit code: NUTR511

*You are viewing the 2027 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.

Start
  • Not offered in 2027
24/7 online support
  • Yes
Intensive schools
  • No
Supervised exam
  • No
Credit points
  • 6

Unit information

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This unit explores the role of nutrition in maintaining health and preventing disease across all life stages, from conception and pregnancy to infancy, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. You will examine how changing nutritional needs influence health outcomes, as well as the relationship between diet, health, and disease. Key topics include the impact of inadequate nutrition on disease onset, factors affecting health across different population groups, and strategies for the prevention and management of both chronic and acute diseases.

By understanding how nutrition requirements vary across the lifespan and within diverse populations, you will gain insights into the broader role of diet in supporting lifelong health and wellbeing.

Intensive schools

There are no intensive schools required for this unit.

Enrolment rules

Pre-requisites
candidature in a postgraduate award
Co-requisites
None
Restrictions
NUTR311
Combined units

Notes

Students should have previous knowledge on the basic nutrition science and physiology of human body to understand the relationship between nutrition, health and disease.

Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.

Unit coordinator(s)

profile photo of Vandana Gulati
Vandana GulatiSenior Lecturer, Biomedical Sciences and Medicine (Joint Medical Program of UNE with University of Newcastle) - Faculty of Science, Agriculture, Business and Law; School of Science and Technology

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. Critically evaluate and synthesise evidence on the complex interplay of nutrition and diet as determinants of health, developing comprehensive frameworks that account for multifaceted physiological and societal impacts;
  2. synthesise multifaceted evidence on physiological adaptations and nutritional requirements throughout the lifespan to design and justify evidence-informed solutions for optimising health and development;
  3. critically appraise the current evidence base and methodological approaches used to investigate the influence of genotype, diet, lifestyle, and environmental/biological stressors on health and disease, identifying key limitations and proposing innovative research directions;
  4. analyse nutritional losses associated with chronic and acute conditions and infections, and evaluate the impact of social and psychological considerations on nutritional status and risk in affected individuals; and
  5. apply an advanced understanding on nutrition in health to evaluate and synthesise evidence on interactions between nutrients, diet and diseases to communicate findings effectively.

Assessment information

Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

TitleMust CompleteWeightOfferingsAssessment Notes
Assessment 1 Research ProjectYes20%All offerings

Conducting a research project on their choice of disease or nutrient to develop the relationship between nutrient and disease.

No. Words: 1500 words

Assessment 2 Abstract FormationYes20%All offerings

Students will develop and communicate a 250 to 300 words to be submitted for a nutrition/public health conference for a relevant nutritional recommendations based on evidence-based approach for different population groups.


No. Words: 300 words

Assessment 3 Development of a Scientific Research proposal Yes20%All offerings

Students will develop a research proposal, read the literature, identify a knowledge gap and develop the proposal based on current literature on answerable research question with appropriate health outcome measures. This can be a further progress to assessment 1 to build an advanced scientific knowledge in the field.


No. Words: 2000 words

Assessment 4 Poster PresentationYes40%All offerings

Students will develop a conference poster based on assessment 1, 2 and 3 and thus this will be a further progress to the research project they have decided to take in this unit demonstrating their advanced understanding on metabolic pathway for a nutritional intervention to understand the interaction between nutrient and/or dietary molecule or a specific diet with health and disease and can choose a specific population group if they would like to choose.

No.Words: 2000 words

Learning resources

Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

Textbook information will be displayed approximately 8 weeks prior to the commencement of the teaching period. Please note that textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.

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