Explore UCD

UCD Home >

HNUT40250

Academic Year 2026/2027

Clinical Nutrition O/L (HNUT40250)

Subject:
Human Nutrition
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Agriculture & Food Science
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Professor Sharleen O'Reilly
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
Online
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module provides an integrated study of the role of diet in the cause and treatment of disease. It will explore the interaction of disease and diet in various areas of metabolism and specific disease states. It will examine the use of diet in treatment of certain diseases and examine methods of nutritional assessment. This knowledge is integrated with an understanding of the medical aspects of common disease states.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module you will be able to discuss critically:
● the changes in nutritional requirements in various disease states
● the evidence linking foods, nutrients and dietary patterns to the aetiology of major diet-related diseases
● the role of diet in management and prevention of various disease
● various methods of nutritional assessment in the context of different disease states
and
● understand and compile therapeutic diets for various diseases states.

Indicative Module Content:

This module will cover: the principles of clinical nutrition, nutritional assessment, nutritional support, nutritional management of disease, dietary management of overnutrition, dietary management of diabetes, dietary management of undernutrition in older people, allergies, paediatrics, coeliac disease and irritable bowel syndrome, and cardiovascular disease.

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Competent

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Proficient

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Not addressed

Strategic

 The ability to collectively develop and implement innovative actions that further sustainability at the local level and further afield. Not addressed

Integrated Problem Solving

 The overarching ability to apply different problem-solving frameworks to complex sustainability problems and develop viable, inclusive and equitable solution options that promote sustainable development, integrating the competencies in this list. Competent

Self-awareness

 The ability to reflect on one’s own role in the local community and (global) society; to continually evaluate and further motivate one’s actions; and to deal with one’s feelings and desires. Not addressed

Normative

 The ability to understand and reflect on the norms and values that underlie one’s actions; and to negotiate values, principles, goals, and targets, in a context of conflicts of interest and trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions. Competent

Anticipatory

 The ability to understand and evaluate multiple scenarios for the future – possible, probable and desirable; to create one’s own visions for the future; to apply the precautionary principle; to assess the consequences of actions; and to deal with risks and changes. Competent

Digital Literacy and Judgement

 The ability to access, evaluate, create and communicate information in digital environments; to engage critically, ethically and responsibly with digital technologies and digital information; to understand their opportunities, limitations, risks and impact on individual’s digital identities; and to exercise informed judgement in digital participation and decision-making. Competent

AI Literacy & Agency

 The ability to understand, critically evaluate and responsibly engage with artificial intelligence; to recognise how AI systems are shaped by human values; to assess their ethical, social and environmental implications; and to exercise human judgement, agency and accountability in AI-related contexts. Not addressed

Wellbeing

 Wellbeing is having the resources and skills to meet life's challenges, including attributes such as personal development skills, resilience, stress management, strengths, lifestyle skills, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, alcohol/substance use, academic skills, time management, goal setting, interpersonal skills, group work, communication. Advanced Beginner

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


Goal Name Description Coverage

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture 1

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages 1
 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

101
Lectures

24
Total

125

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Weekly online lectures will be supported with regular tutorials with active learning incorporated. Group and peer work is incorporated into an assessment task plus the critical writing assignment involves group sharing and integration of knowledge. Reflective learning is built into assessments as students will be asked to self assess using a defined rubric, this will then be used to tailor feedback post-assessment. The case study assignment is case-based learning that will require complete integration of clinical nutrition knowledge which is then applied to a case.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Pre-requisite:
HNUT40070 - Nutrients in theLifeCycle(O/L), HNUT40090 - Pathways to Health (O/L)

Incompatibles:
DIET20010 - App Clin Nutrit for Healthcare, PHPS20030 - App Clin Nutrit for Healthcare


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Clinical case study Week 12 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
50
 No
Group Work Assignment: Fact sheet on clinical condition Week 8, Week 9, Week 10 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
30
 No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: MCQs on lecture content Week 3, Week 6, Week 9, Week 11 Alternative non-linear conversion grade scale 50% No
20
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback
• Peer review activities
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

The MCQs will provide students with online automated feedback on their understanding of learning materials as the semester progresses. The Fact Sheet and associated Presentation will provide peer review activities within the process of preparing the fact sheet and associated presentation. Post-assessment students will receive group-level feedback. The Case Study will have self-assessment as part of the final assessment submission. Post-assessment the student will receive individual and group-level feedback.

Name Role
Professor Clare Corish Tutor
Ms Nicola Dervan Tutor
Dr Fiona Lalor Tutor
Print this page
Fill in the following details:
Enter the body of your query here.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.