Food Metabolism and Human Well-being

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

The course aims to explore the fundamental concepts of food, its metabolic processes, and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle. It considers the different nutrients, promoting a broader understanding of both essential nutrients and the positive impact of physical activity. Furthermore, it provides a clear context of a nutritious diet and evaluates the necessary nutritional values, considering key variables aimed at improving overall wellness.

Course objectives: 

1. To formulate a broad understanding of the key fundamental points of nutrition to help sustain daily life activities, promote good health, and improve the lifestyle.

2. To confidently assess nutritional reading material and read scientific literature with critical thinking focused on understanding and communication.

3. To encourage to put into practice the knowledge acquired by making better and healthier choices.

Classes will take place once a week for ten weeks and will consist of lectures followed by, analysis of published research, case studies, group activities, and practical workshops, with ample scope for discussion and questions.

These courses facilitate student engagement and promote the development of fluency within a nurturing and collaborative atmosphere. Utilising visual pedagogical methods and diverse practical activities, students will engage in describing and analysing specific nutritional behaviours, as well as critically evaluating contemporary nutritional paradigms propagated by mass media.

Students are advised to obtain access to the recommended books that will help to bring a clearer understanding to each session. Reading material will be provided during the lessons.

By the end of the course students will be expected to:

1. Acquire an understanding of the nutrients essential to the human body and their main role;  

2. Understand how to analyse the composition and content of a healthy diet, and learn to utilise the components of proven nutrition best practices;

3. Understand relevant research articles and display critical thinking skills.

The formative and summative assessments will measure the student’s ability to identify important and relevant literature and make an informed evaluation of its significance and key arguments.

• Formative assessments: Students will be assessed throughout the course utilising multiple-choice quizzes (Week 4 and 7), based on the content of the previous lessons. These assessments will not count towards the final examination. All students are encouraged to participate. Feedback will be provided to help students prepare for the final summative assessed piece(s) of work at the end of the course.

• Summative assessments

Either

Option A: Write three brief written assignments (each c. 500 words). The students will choose topics from a predetermined list of titles based on metabolic process, this will be provided during lectures together with guidelines. To ensure alignment with course objectives, students need to submit an outline, abstract, or plan of their proposed written pieces for the tutor's review and approval before Week 7).

Or

Option B: Write a single assignment (c. 1,500 words) in the form of an essay, addressing a chosen topic, with a specific emphasis on recent relevant research. The topics are chosen from a pre-approved list that will be discussed during lectures. (Alternatively, students may propose suitable topics in consultation with the tutor, providing an outline and abstract of the proposed essay for approval before Week 7).

Through the essay, the student has to demonstrate not only knowledge and understanding of the material, but also offer a critical evaluation of a topic.

Coursework is an integral part of all weekly classes and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework in order to benefit fully from the course. Only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work the required standard.

Students must submit a completed Declaration of Authorship form at the end of term when submitting your final piece of work. CATS points cannot be awarded without the aforementioned form - Declaration of Authorship form

The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, i.e. first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.

Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS)

To earn credit (CATS points) you will need to register and pay an additional £30 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enroling online. Students who register for CATS points will receive a Record of CATS points on successful completion of their course assessment.

Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process can either register for CATS points prior to the start of their course or retrospectively from the January 1st after the current full academic year has been completed. If you are enroled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.