Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Community and public health nutrition is an important component of the studies of professionals who wish to work in either the nutrition, dietetics or more general public health areas. This unit builds on the foundations provided in earlier units and provides a critical and in-depth study of the basis and outcomes of public health nutrition issues in Australia. The unit also provides a focus for comprehensive understanding of the tools used to collect food and nutrition information as well as tools for affecting change. It is an essential component of your third year studies informing your move into professional placements in the area of community and public health nutrition.

Aims

The aim of the unit is to increase your knowledge, skills and confidence to work in the community and public health nutrition area.

Objectives

At the completion of this unit you should be able to:

1. Recognise and appraise different components of the food system, its monitoring and surveillance and relevance to community and public health nutrition;
   
2. Identify and critically discuss:
   
   • population level food and nutrition issues;
     
   • strategies to address them within a state, national and international context;
     
   • dietary intake methodologies in different settings
   
   
3. Understand and apply the program planning cycle as it relates to population and community nutrition
   
4. Effectively search and critically evaluate information from a variety of sources that is context specific;
   
5. Effectively communicate both orally and in writing to peers and staff;
   
6. Work both independently and collaboratively with other students to complete required tasks.

Content

Topics to be covered include:

• What is Public Health Nutrition (PHN);
  
• What and who are the relevant nutrition systems and bodies;
  
• The food & nutrition system in Australia;
  
• Monitoring and surveillance of the food and nutrition system;
  
• Program planning and evaluation;
  
• Current issues in community and public health nutrition;

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The unit is presented as one 2-hour lecture and one 2-hour tutorial/discussion block per week. A text, unit web site and other resource materials are available. It is assumed and expected that students will be familiar with these materials prior to the lectures. Conventional lectures, discussion forums, independent learning groups and self-directed learning activities will be used. It is hoped these will facilitate development of skills such as information literacy, communication, problem solving and team-work; provide a variety of learning experiences; encourage student responsibility for learning and foster a positive attitude to ongoing learning. An active, participative, questioning approach is recommended.

Assessment

Formative Assessment

Unit coordinator or tutors will be available in person at tutorials or via email to answer questions and provide feedback to students.



Summative Assessment

As detailed in Assessment Components

Assessment name: Debate
Description: Group presentations will be based on specific learning objectives for specified topics. One group activity plus presentations relating to the critique of media reports/articles and a topical debate the number and assessment of which to be negotiated.
Relates to objectives: 2-6
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Throughout Semester

Assessment name: Literature Review
Description: Completion of a literature review that informs the major assignment. Focus will be on critical, persuasive literature review around a designated public health nutrition issue.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Throughout Semester

Assessment name: Major Assignment
Description: The assignment will involve developing a program proposal a designated nutrition issue for a specific community. Students will be allocated a topic and community.
Relates to objectives: 1-6
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Recommended Text(s):



Hughes, R and Margetts, B. (2011) Practical Public Health Nutrition. Wiley-Blackwell, London.

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Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit

Substantial computer-based work will be required and you will need to take care that you are working in a safe and ergonomically-sound environment (that is, avoidance of eyestrain, headaches, and physical stress on neck, back, arms and hands). Please consider your seating (heights, angles and distances) and the lighting in your work area (to avoid glare). The physical placement and organisation of peripheral devices, cables and extension cords should be managed to reduce danger to persons or property. Do not use unsafe electrical cords.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 16-Nov-2012