Course Syllabus

HFST 2020 Nutrition Through the Life Cycle

Course Description

This course examines nutrition throughout the life cycle, which includes preconception, pregnancy, lactation, infant, toddler, preschooler, child, preadolescent, adolescent, adult, and older adult nutrition. Each stage of life will include the discussion of biological, cultural, psychological, and socioeconomic factors that influence eating behaviors and nutritional requirements.

Justification

Nutrition through the Life Cycle is an upper level class to the science of human nutrition. It is intended to transfer over to other schools in the state to fulfill this nutrition requirement. This course is designed to meet the advanced nutrition course requirements for students majoring in family and consumer sciences, food and nutrition, clinical nutrition, dietetics, education, food service systems management, food science, nursing, nutrition science, sports nutrition, public health nutrition, and nursing.

Nutrition through the Life Cycle serves as a prerequisite for programs at the four year schools in the state. This course is similar to NDFS 2020, Southern Utah University as NFS 2020, Weber State University as NUTR 2020, Utah Valley University as NUTR 2020, and Salt Lake Community College as HLTH 2020.

General Education Outcomes

1. A student who completes the GE curriculum has a fundamental knowledge of human cultures and the natural world. Students will examine each life cycle and the human body's nutritional needs through each stage. They will also demonstrate the basic principles of wellbeing. Students will gain this knowledge through reading the textbook, listening and participating during lessons, completing assignments, and taking exams.
   
2. A student who completes the GE curriculum can read and research effectively within disciplines. Students will complete several writing assignments that are required for the course. Assignments involve a variety of writing approaches, such as research, problem-solving and abstracting.
3. A student who completes the GE curriculum can draw from multiple disciplines to address complex problems. Students will participate in classroom disucssions and presentations throughout the course.
4. A student who completes the GE curriculum can reason quantitatively.  Students will have various mathematical analyses of nutritional adequacies performed throughout the semester. Examples include calculating RDA percentages consumed, comparison of energy intake and energy expenditure, BMR calculations, nutrient recommendation calculations, and energy nutrient ratios.
   
5.  Information and methodologies from chemistry, anatomy, physiology, biology, and microbiology will be implemented throughout the course in class lessons, discussions, and readings.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Determine nutrient needs, functions, and recommendations through each of the life cycles.
2. Provide diet and activity recommendations through each of the life cycles.
3. Discuss the impact of biological, socioeconomic, cultural, and psychological factors on eating behavior.
   
4. Explain the role of nutrition relative to the promotion of health and the prevention of chronic disease for each state of the life cycle.
5. Describe common nutrition-related conditions and concerns of each stage of the life cycle and appropriate assessment methods and interventions.
6. Utilize nutrition tools and resources for each life cycle stage.

Course Content

Nutrition basics, preconception nutrition, nutrition during pregnancy, nutrition during lactation, infant nutrition, toddler and preschooler nutrition, child and preadolescent nutrition, adolescent nutrition, adult nutrition, and nutrition and older adults.