Syllabus
UNE Summer Session
NUTR 220: Nutrition (Summer 2025)
Credits - 3
Description
This interprofessional course provides an introduction to the science of nutrition. Attention is given to the nutrient groups (carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water) with respect to physical and chemical aspects of food digestion, absorption and metabolism. Students will explore the role of nutrition as it relates to health through the lifespan. Informed choices about foods that reduce the risk of developing or contributing to health problems as a result of poor nutrition are highlighted. Implications for different health professions are explored.
Materials
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Describe the impact of nutrition on overall health, physical and mental performance.
- Identify regulatory agencies that maintain the safety of our food supply, microorganisms that cause foodborne illnesses and best practices for food safety.
- Describe the characteristics and biological roles of macronutrients and selected micronutrients
- Understand digestion and metabolism of each macronutrient
- Identify pathological conditions associated with excesses and deficiencies of each macronutrient or micronutrient
- Understand hormonal control of hunger and satiety
- Identify and describe the method of appropriate management and referral for clients/patients with disordered eating or eating disorders in a manner consistent with current practice guidelines
- Analyze and interpret the Nutrition Facts on a food label
- Complete an analysis and interpretation of written diet records
- Design a healthy eating plan that includes macronutrients, micronutrients, and food groups
- Discuss recommended dietary intakes for macronutrients and micronutrients, and the current food guide.
- Apply knowledge of basic nutrition to specific populations and conditions: children, seniors, athletes, obesity, pregnancy, heart disease
- Understand the environmental impact and importance of choosing plant-based diets for sustainable food systems.
- Develop an informed, ethical foundation for assessing how personal actions impact the health of individuals, communities and the natural environment
Assignments
- NUTRITION FACT PROJECT: Choose a packaged food item from home, and answer the provided questions on a food label.
- DIET ANALYSIS PROJECT: Using the recommended analysis software, breakdown a provided patient’s food log and complete a reflection based on the results.
- NUTRITION MYTHBUSTERS PART 1: Find a social media post, video or advertisement and use evidence-based sources to develop a response video.
- FOOD GUIDE PROJECT: Create a visually appealing and easy to read food guide for a population of your choice, such as school age children, female soccer players, or adults with diabetes.
- NUTRITION MYTHBUSTERS PART 2: Select a popular diet and develop a visually appealing, educational poster on your diet using evidence based sources to determine the pros and cons.
- POSITION PRESENTATION: Select a nutrition topic to explore, and pick a side, for or against, using evidence-based information. Compile a position presentation that includes two points supporting your position and one against your position.
- QUIZZES: Students are to complete weekly multiple choice quizzes based on class readings and presentations.
Grading Policy
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Grade Breakdown
| Assignment | Percentage of Final Grade |
|---|---|
| Quizzes (one per week) | 40% |
| Assignments (weekly discussions and assignments listed below): | 60% |
| Week 1 Discussion: Introduce Yourself | |
| Week 1 Assignment: Nutrition Facts Project - Understanding Food Labels | |
| Week 2 Assignment: Diet Analysis Project - Understanding the Data Behind Our Food Choices | |
| Week 3 Assignment: MythBusters - Nutrition Edition Part 1 | |
| Week 3 Discussion: Nutrition Mythbusting | |
| Week 4 Assignment: Food Guide Project - Turning Nutrition Science into Real-Life Guidance | |
| Week 5 Assignment: Mythbusters Part II - Diet Investigation Poster | |
| Week 5 Discussion: Diet Investigation (Mythbusters Part 2 – Peer Exchange) | |
| Week 6 Assignment: Position Presentation |
Schedule
|
Week |
Content |
Objectives |
Assignments |
|
1 |
Introduction and Key Nutrition Concepts |
1, 2, 6, 8 |
Discussion Board post 1 Read Chapters 1 & 2 Nutrition Facts Project Quiz 1 |
|
2 |
Nutrition and Human Health |
2, 4, 9 |
Read Chapters 3 & 12 Diet Analysis Project Quiz 2 |
|
3 |
Macronutrients |
3, 11 |
Discussion Board post 2 Read Chapters 4,5 & 6 MythBusters Part 1 Quiz 3 |
|
4 |
Micronutrients & Malnutrition |
3, 4, 13 |
Read Chapters 8, 9 & 13 Food Guide Project Quiz 4 |
|
5 |
Fitness and Energy Balance |
7, 11 |
Discussion Board post 3 Read Chapters 7, 10 &11 MythBusters Part 2 Quiz 5 |
|
6 |
Nutrition Through the Lifespan |
12, 14 |
Read Chapters 14, 15 & 16 Position Presentation Quiz 6 |
Student Resources
Summer Session Online Student Support
Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.
Questions? Email: summersessiononline@une.edu.
Instructor and Support Contact Information
Check Brightspace for specific instructor and support specialist contact information.
UNE Libraries
- Library Access for all students: Your library login ID and password are the same as the ones you use to log into Brightspace.
- Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.
Further Assistance
Your student support specialist monitors course progression and provides assistance or guidance when needed. They can assist questions regarding ordering course materials, University policies, billing, navigating the course in Brightspace, and more.
To request an accommodation a student needs to go through the process with our UNE office. If the student has a current/already established accommodation in place with UNE it is the responsibility of the student to notify the program at summersessiononline@une.edu to ensure it is applied properly.
If you need to inquire about a possible accommodation, please reach out to the Student Access Center by calling 207-221-4418 or send an email to pcstudentaccess@une.edu.
Policies
ASSIGNMENTS:
References for assignments should include scholarly citations. These include articles that are published in reputable journals or websites that are sponsored by professional societies or associations. References must be cited in AMA or APA Style format. For more information go to the UNE Library Services page https://www.une.edu/library/gethelp/writing or https://une1.sharepoint.com/sites/SASC/SitePages/Editing-%26-Using-Sources.aspx
BRIGHTSPACE POLICY
Course materials will be posted to Brightspace including assignments and slides from lectures. Updates and information will also be posted to announcements within the Brightspace course. You are responsible for all materials and information posted to Brightspace and should check Brightspace regularly.
AI GUIDELINES
AI tools are an important resource in the modern workplace, and your familiarity with such tools will be valuable for your future. Nevertheless, assignments in this course will benefit your learning more when you complete them independently, without the use of AI tools. AI tools can help with brainstorming topics, developing an outline, clarifying concepts, and spelling & grammar checking. However, you cannot use AI to write your paper or project, just like you cannot copy from a webpage or other source. You must use your own words. Student work will be run through https://gptzero.me/. Please use your own words.
Note: AI has been found to use unreliable or non-existent sources. If you use AI tools to find sources, you should verify the sources yourself. Your sources will be checked to confirm they are valid, reliable sources.
DEADLINES
Assignments should be completed in a timely manner. Late assignments will be dropped by 5 percentage points per day late, unless other arrangements have been made in advance with the professor. In advance means one week before the due date, unless there are extenuating circumstances.
Summer Session & Academic Engagement Policy
Online students are required to submit a graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm EDT of the first week of the term. If a student does not submit a posting to the graded assignment/discussion by 11:59 pm EDT on Sunday of the first week, the student will be automatically dropped from the course for non-participation. Review the Student Summer Session Manual for full details.
Proctored Examinations
Your course may have proctored exams. Please see the course for the exact exam requirements, test-taker guidance, proctoring format, and allowances (such as calculators or whiteboards, as indicated in the course).
Information about exam attempts can be found in your course.
Technology Requirements
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Programs: Technical Requirements.
Course Length
A schedule of lectures and assignments is included in this syllabus.
Courses in the program are equivalent to one-semester courses designed to be completed in 6 or 12 weeks.
- Enrollment in the course begins the day your section opens which is listed in the Academic Calendar.
- Course due dates, start and end dates are in respect to Eastern Time.
Withdrawal and Refund Policies
Please review the policies in your confirmation email. Contact summersessiononline@une.edu with any questions.
Grade Policy
Students are expected to attempt and complete all graded assignments and proctored exams by the end date of the course.
Transcripts
Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, only the student may request official transcripts. This may be done online by going to the University of New England Registrar website and following the directions on the page.
Academic Integrity
The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
- Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
- Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
- Multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
- Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.
Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the College. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.