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HNUT40280

Academic Year 2026/2027

Nutritional Physiology (HNUT40280)

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 is for students taking the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or MSc in Food, Nutrition and Health.
This module will provide students with the fundamentals of human physiology across the main body's systems (cardiovascular, renal, muscular, nervous, immune, respiratory, and gastrointestinal) with a special emphasis on nutritional relevance. This module will provide the foundational knowledge required in the later study of the control and integration of body systems with nutrition in health and disease states. Students are encouraged to note that the assessment approach . The module covers a large amount of content; it requires ongoing participation and engagement across the trimester to support engagement with this learning.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

At the completion of this Module, successful students can:
1. Identify and outline the major human body systems and explain how their structure and function
directly impact nutritional needs and nutrient utilisation.
2. Describe and analyse the processes of digestion, absorption, transportation, and storage of
macronutrients.
3. Explain the relationship between different physiological systems in maintaining metabolic homeostasis
and evaluate how disruptions affect nutritional requirements across the lifespan.
4. Apply knowledge of normal physiological function to interpret basic indicators of nutritional status and
predict physiological responses to dietary changes.

Indicative Module Content:

The module will cover: core concepts in physiology including homeostasis, the upper and lower gastrointestinal system, urinary system, endocrine system, nervous system, immune system, cardiovascular system, and respiratory system.

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. Proficient

Critical Thinking

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

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. Advanced Beginner

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. Competent

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. Not addressed

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. Competent

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. Novice

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

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

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

12
Tutorial

12
Specified Learning Activities

26
Autonomous Student Learning

50
Total

100

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module will be delivered entirely online.
Lectures will be recorded and uploaded weekly and live tutorials will be held weekly throughout the trimester. The assessments will require peer and group work and reflective learning in addition to critical writing, student presentations, and case based learning.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Pre-requisite:
FDSC40530 - Principles of Biochemist (O/L)

Co-requisite:
HNUT40060 - Intro to Nutrition (O/L)

Incompatibles:
HNUT10030 - Physiology for Nutrition


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Critical review Week 7, Week 12 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
60
 No
Participation in Learning Activities: Contribution to online discussion boards Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
40
 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
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn 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
• Peer review activities
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

AT1 will provide feedback individually to students and class feedback post assessment as well as self-assessment and peer review activities. AT2 will provide peer review activities as part of the discussion board activities and class feedback post assessment.

Name Role
Dr Fiona Lalor Tutor
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