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

    Nutritional Biochemistry and Pathophysiology
  • Unit Code

    NUT5115
  • Year

    2025
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    4
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Ms Catherine PROPERZI

Description

The study of nutritional biochemistry and pathophysiology provides a strong foundation for the professional role of a dietitian and is closely aligned with dietetic competency. This unit explores the biochemical pathways of macro and micronutrients in relation to their role in human nutrition. An advanced biochemical study of lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals will elucidate their role in energy utilisation, regulation and control of human metabolism. Nutrients will be studied in relation to their role in health outcomes and the pathophysiology of selected disease states.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded NUT4449

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Critically analyse the effects of nutrients on integrated metabolism within the human body to inform the process of nutritional decision making.
  2. Evaluate the links between biochemical pathways, human nutrition, metabolism and pathophysiological changes to inform the application of medical nutrition therapy.
  3. Communicate the effects of various disease states on integrated metabolism to diverse audiences.

Unit Content

  1. Major metabolic pathways of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins.
  2. Regulation and integration of metabolism.
  3. Micronutrient metabolism and integration with major metabolic pathways.
  4. Relationships between pathophysiology and metabolism in selected disease states.

Learning Experience

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

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Trimstr 111 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered
Trimstr 111 x 3 hour tutorialNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit uses interactive teaching methods such as case studies, group work and discussions to enhance student learning. Critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills are developed through the application of biochemical knowledge. Students undertake test-based formative assessment and receive feedback to scaffold their learning, from simple knowledge, through understanding, to application of biochemistry in nutrition-based scenarios, prior to final assessment. Oral communication skills, analytical and evaluation skills are developed in preparing the literature review and presentation task.

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
TestNutritional biochemistry quizzes25%
Tutorial PresentationLiterature review and presentation30%
Test ^End of trimester scenario assessment 45%

^ Mandatory to Pass


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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