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HNUT10020

Academic Year 2025/2026

Human Nutrition I - Understanding Nutrition (HNUT10020)

Subject:
Human Nutrition
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Agriculture & Food Science
Level:
1 (Introductory)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Aifric O'Sullivan
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module is designed to give a comprehensive introduction to nutrients and human nutrition. We will look at individual macronutrients (protein, carbohydrate, fat and alcohol) and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals and trace elements), the functions of each and what happens if a person is deficient in any one of these. We will also look at the food sources of nutrients, our requirements across the life span and the national food based dietary guidelines recommended to ensure adequate intakes. Tutorial classes will introduce you to nutrition research, how and where research is published, and how to refer to nutrition research when writing about nutrition. The tutorial classes are mandatory and will cover your continuous assessment for this module.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:
Interpret and use dietary recommendations
Identify and consider nutrition research methodologies
Describe the function and dietary sources of macronutrients
Describe the function and dietary sources of vitamins, minerals and trace elements
Demonstrate a knowledge of deficiencies associated with macronutrients and micronutrient

Indicative Module Content:

Functions, requirements, food sources of carbohydrate, protein and fat
Introduction to macronutrient metabolism
Functions, requirements, food sources of vitamins and minerals
Introduction to micronutrient deficiency diseases and disease related to micronutrient status
Introduction to nutrition research

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Tutorial

12
Autonomous Student Learning

70
Total

106

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
There are 12 weeks of teaching on this module.

You have two 1-hour face-to-face lectures each week.
Lecture outlines will be available online in advance, but lectures will cover additional detail beyond the slides; attendance is essential for full understanding.

You have two 2-hour face-to-face tutorials.
The tutorials will be built around a series of tasks that are designed to introduce human nutrition research. Tutorial time will also be dedicated to revising some of the difficult lecture content. Your engagement in tutorials and the completion of the tutorial tasks will contribute to your final grade.

You will have 3 short question online exams distributed throughout the semester. These exams will be supervised in a dedicated PC lab in UCD (location TBC).

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

FDSC10010


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
DIET20010 - App Clin Nutrit for Healthcare, HNUT10010 - Human Nutrition I - Food Sci, PHPS20030 - App Clin Nutrit for Healthcare

Equivalents:
Human Nutrition I (FDSC10020)


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Report(s): 1. Tutorial report 1 Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
10
 No
Report(s): 2. Tutorial report 2 Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 10, Week 11 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
10
 No
Exam (In-person): 1. Short question exam including multiple choice, true/false, and short answer questions (supervised in UCD PC Lab). Week 5 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
10
 No
Exam (In-person): 2. Short question exam including multiple choice, true/false, and short answer questions (supervised in UCD PC Lab). Week 9 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
30
 No
Exam (In-person): 3. Short question exam including multiple choice, true/false, and short answer questions (supervised in UCD PC Lab). Week 12 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
30
 No
Report(s): 3. Tutorial attendance and engagement Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 10, Week 11 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
10
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Short question exams - students will receive online automated feedback on their grade post-assessment and can request indivdual feedback. Tutorials - students will be supported to assess their own learning and will receive group/class feedback on a draft prior to summative assessment in tutorial sessions. Students can also request individual feedback.

Gibney MJ, Lanham-New SA, Cassidy A, Vorster HH. Introduction to Human Nutrition, 2nd Edition: John Wiley & Sons, 2009.

Gropper SS, Smith JL. Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism, 6th Edition, International Edition: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2013.

Whitney E, Rolfes SR. Understanding nutrition, 13th Edition: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2013.

Lanham-New SA, Macdonald IA, Roche HM. Nutrition and Metabolism, 2nd Edition: John Wiley & Sons, 2011.

Name Role
Dr Janine Wirth Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Malak Ali Tutor
Ms Katie Davies Tutor
Clare Gollogly Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 Fri 11:00 - 12:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 12 Fri 11:00 - 12:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 5 Fri 11:00 - 12:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 9 Fri 11:00 - 12:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Mon 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Wed 14:00 - 14:50
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