School: Medical and Health Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Nutrition in the Life Cycle
  • Unit Code

    NUT2210
  • Year

    2025
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    3
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Kanita KUNARATNAM

Description

This unit examines the nutrient needs of individuals for each of the major stages of the life cycle. Through a practical application of the recommended dietary intakes, diets are planned for each stage and the particular nutritional problems common to each stage, are explored. Students build competence and knowledge of how contemporary lifestyle impacts nutrition-related diseases and plan, collect, present, analyse and interpret nutrition data using FoodWorks dietary software. Content includes the principles and types of interventions to address sociocultural and behavioural factors influencing individual and population group food choices.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must have passed NUT1121

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Investigate new and emerging issues relating to nutritional needs across the stages of the life cycle in the global, national and local level context.
  2. Evaluate, interpret and communicate dietary information using digital literacy skills.
  3. Apply knowledge of food and nutrition environments and how these impact health to inform dietary improvements.
  4. Plan and recommend dietary improvements to optimise healthy eating patterns in people from diverse cultures.

Unit Content

  1. Diets to optimise conception.
  2. Physiological changes during pregnancy and lactation and their nutritional implications.
  3. Growth and nutrient needs in infancy, childhood and adolescence.
  4. Food and nutrition environments and how these impact nutrition-related diseases.
  5. Physiological changes and nutrient needs during adulthood, older adulthood and the elderly.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 113 x 2 hour labNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

The unit presentation includes lectures, eLearning activities, audio-visual and multimedia activities which involve case studies, group-based food preparation and recipe modification activities, culturally appropriate menu design and analysis, and discussion groups about emerging nutrition issues. Students learn how to evaluate the diet of a community client and plan and recommend dietary improvements to optimise healthy eating patterns. Application of knowledge to complex case studies and interpretation of new and emerging trends are assessed through tests and exams.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
TestLifestyle, cultural and ethical aspects of life course nutrition20%
Case StudyDietary assessment of community client40%
ExaminationEnd of semester examination40%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

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