Human Nutrition is one of the most important determinants of individual and public health. It is a rapidly evolving science that requires skilled personnel to progress our knowledge of why and how nutrition can influence health. The BSc Human Nutrition programme is aimed at students who wish to obtain an education in nutrition science and the role of nutrition in human health. This accredited programme provides students with the core knowledge and skills to understand detailed nutrient metabolism and how this influences health and disease. In addition, it draws on key facets of public health nutrition, clinical nutrition and nutrition communication to enable students to devise dietary advice based on current scientific evidence and to communicate nutrition science to different audiences both in written language and verbally. We value our students as active, motivated, autonomous learners and to think critically in terms of nutrition and its translation in health and disease. We aim to provide learning environments that will integrate teaching, research, assessment and learning, individually and through group activities so as to develop leadership, critical and reflective practice, effective communication and inquiry skills. The diversity of learning environments and methods ensures that students have a stimulating learning experience. As a result, a multifaceted learning approach is employed incorporating a diverse range of teaching and assessment methods, such as case studies, group work, project work and professional work placements. Throughout all levels, we draw heavily on research-teaching linkages, giving students access to cutting edge knowledge.
- School
- School of Agriculture and Food Science
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Level
- Undergraduate
- NFQ Level
- 8
- Award
- Bachelor of Science
- Mode of Delivery
- On Campus
- Programme Director
- Assoc Professor Breige McNulty
- Overall Programme Credits:
- 240
- Programme Credits:
- Stage 1
Core/Option: 55 Electives: 5
Stage 2
Core/Option: 50 Electives: 10
Stage 3
Core/Option: 60 Electives: 0
Stage 4
Core/Option: 50 Electives: 10 - Major/Minor Core & Option Credits:
- Stage 1: 55
Stage 2: 50
Stage 3: 60
Stage 4: 50
Curricular information is subject to change.
Nutrition is the interaction between food and our health and is becoming increasingly important in our society. The Human Nutrition programme in UCD provides a comprehensive education in nutritional sciences, from biochemistry to molecular and public health nutrition, nutrition communication and food regulatory affairs. You will gain knowledge of biological systems and their application to human nutrition, allowing you to apply your skills in a variety of areas in the food and health industry. Join us at UCD, where building a healthy world is a core strategy and our internationally recognised strength in food, nutrition, and health research sets us apart.
2 - Critique detailed nutrient metabolism and translate to health and disease
3 - Communicate, devise and design dietary advice based on current scientific evidence
4 - Communicate nutrition science to different audiences in written language and verbally.
5 - Develop research skills in nutrition and disseminate outcomes effectively
6 - Recognise and value the role of a nutritionist in different sectors and in society.
7 - Contribute to food related policy in different sectors and in society.
8 - Demonstrate an ability to be independent, self-directed learners
9 - Critique core and advanced concepts in human nutrition
10 - Use critical and creative thinking to motivate themselves and others and to progress understanding in nutrition
11 - Critique the role of nutrition in human health
Nutrition, the interaction between food and health, is becoming increasingly important in our society today. This programme will aim to give you a holistic understanding of food and health, underpinned by a strong scientific background.
Graduating as a nutritionist, you will have the skills to apply your knowledge to promote an understanding of the effects of diet and lifestyle on health and well-being in people. UCD will have this BSc accredited with the Nutrition Society. Thus all graduates will have professional accreditation as a nutritionist.
Stage 1 focuses on understanding the essential core sciences, and students will also take an Introduction to Food, Diet and Health Module. Having this core basis will aid in understanding the complex metabolic processes associated with food and health.
STAGE 2
You will undertake more general food and health-related modules, where you will begin to build your knowledge of biological systems and their application to the practice of human nutrition. You will also undertake a wide range of topics including areas of food chemistry and production, sensory analysis and human nutrition.
STAGE 3
This is a full Professional Work Experience stage, which can be completed in a number of different areas, including food companies, research institutes or other health-related bodies with an interest in nutrition.
During Stage 3, you will complete a research project and will gain invaluable experience, allowing you to graduate from UCD well prepared for the workforce.
STAGE 4
The final stage of this degree will focus on more specific areas of human nutrition including Molecular Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition and Clinical Nutrition. You will consolidate your understanding of all core sciences into a professional understanding of human nutrition.
PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
A dedicated year of Professional Work Experience in Stage 3 provides a unique opportunity to graduate, ready and equipped to enter the working world.
This work placement also provides an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience and broaden your appreciation of the food industry or of nutrition-related employment.
You can expect to be placed in national and international companies and government departments associated with the food industry or nutrition or world-class research groups in universities all over the world and at home in Ireland.
A 10-month PWE programme allows you to graduate with the skills necessary to enter the working world.
Opportunities for international study exist through the PWE component and, upon graduation, through world-class research groups in international universities.
Graduates have found employment in:
- The food industry
- Nutrition research
- Health promotion
You can do further study and/or applied practice training to become a public health nutritionist. Another graduate study opportunity is to apply to the popular MSc in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics programme at UCD.
Building a healthy world is one of UCD’s core strategies and many of our graduates have been recruited into PhD and MSc related research posts due to our internationally recognised strength in food, nutrition and health research.
Stage 1
In addition to 55 credits of core and option modules, students must take an elective module amounting to 5 credits.
Stage 2
In addition to the 50 credits of core modules, students must take elective modules amounting to 10 credits.
Stage 3
Students must take HNUT30170 (60 credits)
Stage 4
In addition to 50 credits of core modules students must take elective modules amounting to 10 credits.
Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.
Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.
Trimester | Credits | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Stage 1 Core Modules |
HNUT10020 | Human Nutrition I - Understanding Nutrition | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
MATH10230 | Mathematics for Agriculture I | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
MICR20010 | Agricultural Microbiology | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
RDEV10020 | Information Skills | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
FDSC10010 | Food Diet and Health | Autumn and Spring (separate) | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
BIOL10110 | Cell Biology & Genetics | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
BMOL10030 | Biomedical Sciences: Understanding Human Disease. | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
CHEM10010 | Introduction to the Chemistry of Biomolecules | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
HNUT10030 | Physiology for Nutrition | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
PHYC10190 | Aspects of Physics for Ag. Sci | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - 1 of: Students must select either Introductory Chemistry (Agriculture) CHEM 00020 or The Molecular World CHEM 10040. Students without an honours grade in higher level Leaving Certificate Chemistry are recommended to take CHEM 00020. |
CHEM00020 | Introductory Chemistry | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - 1 of: Students must select either Introductory Chemistry (Agriculture) CHEM 00020 or The Molecular World CHEM 10040. Students without an honours grade in higher level Leaving Certificate Chemistry are recommended to take CHEM 00020. |
CHEM10040 | The Molecular World | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
FDSC20010 | Food Macronutrients | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
HNUT20020 | Nutrition and Health | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
HNUT20070 | Population Nutrition Research | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
STAT10050 | Practical Statistics | Autumn and Spring (separate) | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
BMOL30020 | Molecular basis of disease | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
FDSC20020 | Nutritional Energy Metabolism | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
FDSC20030 | Food Analysis | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
HNUT20060 | Human Nutrition II - Nutrients in Life Stages | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
HNUT20080 | Laboratory Nutrition Research | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Core Modules |
RDEV20140 | Health, Welfare & Safety in Agriculture | Spring | 5 |
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of: Choose your electives from any available modules across UCD or, if you prefer something related to Human Nutrition these modules are available |
FDSC20240 | Professional Skills Developmen | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of: Choose your electives from any available modules across UCD or, if you prefer something related to Human Nutrition these modules are available |
FDSC20110 | Food Diet and Health II - Making Healthy Food Choices | Autumn and Spring (separate) | 5 |
Stage 3 Core Modules |
HNUT30170 | Professional Work Experience | Year-long (12 months) | 60 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
DIET40030 | Project (Human Nutrition) | 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr) | 15 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
HNUT40020 | Nutritional Metabolism | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
PHPS40610 | Risk Analysis in Food Safety | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
PHPS40740 | Public Health Nutrition | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
DIET40020 | Nutrition & Communication | Spring | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
DIET40040 | Molecular Nutrition | Spring | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
HNUT40220 | Clinical Nutrition | Spring | 5 |
Stage 4 Core Modules |
HNUT40240 | Food Regulation | Spring | 5 |
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 0 of: Choose your electives from any available modules across UCD or, if you prefer something related to Human Nutrition these modules are available: |
FDSC30040 | Food Chemistry I | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 0 of: Choose your electives from any available modules across UCD or, if you prefer something related to Human Nutrition these modules are available: |
RDEV30160 | Food Poverty and Policy | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 0 of: Choose your electives from any available modules across UCD or, if you prefer something related to Human Nutrition these modules are available: |
PERS30010 | Appl Nutr Health Ex & Sp Perf | Spring | 5 |
Module Weighting Info
Award | GPA | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Programme | Module Weightings | Rule Description | Description | ||
BHLSC005 | Stage 4 - 70.00% Stage 2 - 30.00% |
Standard Honours Award | First Class Honours | 3.68 |
4.20 |
Second Class Honours, Grade 1 | 3.08 |
3.67 |
|||
Second Class Honours, Grade 2 | 2.48 |
3.07 |
|||
Pass | 2.00 |
2.47 |