Syllabus

Master of Science in Applied Nutrition

APN 620 Nutrition Education and Health Behavior Change – Spring A 2019

Credits - 3

Description

Health behavior theories and practices utilized to facilitate healthful behavior change in a variety of nutrition counseling and clinical settings are examined. Topics include motivational interviewing, practice of professional and engaged verbal and nonverbal communication, active listening, practitioner directed goal setting and group counseling.  The design and evaluation of nutrition counseling practices are explored.

Materials

Textbook: Bauer, Liou, Sokolik, Nutrition Counseling and Education Skill Development, 3rd Ed., Cengage Learning, 2016. (ISBN-13: 978-1-305-25248-6)

E text can be purchased here: https://www.cengage.com/c/nutrition-counseling-and-education-skill-development-4e-bauer/9780357367667PF/

 

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Program Objectives

The course will satisfy the following program objectives. You will learn how to:

  • Develop and utilize nutrition concepts and best-practices for nutrition and health promotion initiatives
  • Apply core research principles to measure the nutrition status and environment of individuals and communities
  • Develop communications and collaboration strategies with representatives from government, non-profit, community, and business entities regarding nutrition initiatives
  • Interpret and modify explanations of complex nutrition concepts for various audiences
  • Research, develop and disseminate evidence-based and theory driven educational materials and work-products at an audience appropriate level for topics related to nutrition and health promotion

 

Assignments

Key Assessments:

  • The Food and Culture Fact Sheet: You will create a fact sheet intended to educate a general audience about a culturally-specific diet.
  • Fact Sheet Readability Assessment: You will analyze your fact sheet for readability.
  • Fact Sheet Presentation: You will record an oral slideshow presenting the information in the Fact Sheet.
  • Therapeutic Relationship Report: You will complete a report detailing a particular therapeutic approach and the importance of motivational interviewing.

Smaller Assignments: You will complete smaller assignments that will help you complete the larger assignments. These smaller assignments include a Theory of Change paper and a cultural competency quiz.

Case Studies: You will complete two case studies.

Discussion Board:

You will be required to participate in discussions. Initial posts are due on Sundays, and responses are due by Tuesday.Please be sure to follow the individual directions provided with each Discussion Board Prompt, as the requirements may vary from Discussion Board to Discussion Board.If the initial post and response are not submitted within the discussion week you will be given a zero. Posts submitted after the discussion week will not be graded. 

Your success in the course relies on robust discussion, critical thinking, and peer-response. Weekly posts responding to prompts posed are meant to facilitate a deeper understanding of the broader themes of the course as well as enrich the readings, handouts, and lectures. Your initial response should be no less than 400 words. Peer-responses should be no less than 200 words and must be thoughtful, contain compliment as well as constructive criticism, and maintain a professional tone.

Furthermore, in regard to all assignments, please observe the following:

  • All assignments must be completed using AMA formatting where appropriate.
  • All times refer to Eastern Time (ET).
  • All questions about assignments, and all questions in general, should be sent through email.

Writing Statement

As professionals in the field, you will consistently be expected to clearly and concisely articulate advanced concepts for diverse audiences at a variety of educational levels.

Graduate students are expected to produce their best quality work, including screening their work prior to submission for clarity, grammatical, spelling, formatting and mechanical issues.

While there is often a portion of each assignment’s rubric dedicated specifically to grammar, spelling, mechanics, and formatting, it is critical to understand that failure to submit work that has been adequately proofed may result in a reduction of points in other areas of the rubric. These may include, but are not limited to metrics rating professionalism or content knowledge and synthesis; work submitted in graduate courses should provide evidence of strategic reading, writing, and academic speaking skills essential for success in the discipline.

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

Food and Culture Fact Sheet15
Fact Sheet Readability Assessment12
Therapeutic Relationship Report15
Fact Sheet Presentation10
Case Study Activities10
Theory of Change Paper10
Discussion Board21
Course Reflection/-Portfolio Piece4
Student Syllabus Contract1
DUNE Copyright Agreement & Abstract2
Total100

Grade Scale

Grade Points Grade Point Average (GPA)
A 94 – 100% 4.00
A- 90 – 93% 3.75
B+ 87 – 89% 3.50
B 84 – 86% 3.00
B- 80 – 83% 2.75
C+ 77 – 79% 2.50
C 74 – 76% 2.00
C- 70 – 73% 1.75
D 64 – 69% 1.00
F 00 – 63% 0.00

Schedule

Weekly Schedule:

Week One: 1/2 – 1/8

Week Two:  1/9 – 1/15

Week Three: 1/16 – 1/22

Week Four: 1/23 – 1/29

Week Five: 1/30 – 2/5

Week Six: 2/6 – 2/12

Week Seven: 2/13 – 2/19

Week Eight: 2/20 – 2/24

Major Due Dates

Case Study #1

1/15

Theory of Change Paper

1/29
Key Assessment, Part One: Food and Culture Fact Sheet 2/3
Key Assessment, Part Two: Readability Assessment 2/5
Key Assessment, Part Three: Fact Sheet Presentation 2/10

Case Study #2

2/12
Key Assessment, Part Four: The Therapeutic Relationship Report 2/17
Course Reflection/E-Portfolio   2/24
Discussion Board Posts and Responses Every Sunday and Tuesday

 

Note: To access Modules 1 and 8 you will need to complete a brief survey.

Week One: Nutrition Education

Weekly Learning Outcomes

  • Analyze diet-health experience
  • Identify the basics of nutrition education

Lectures

  • What Is Nutrition Education?

Required Readings

  • Chapter 1 in textbook
  • See course for additional readings

Assignments

  • No assignment this week.

Discussions

  • Discuss experiences with diet-health relationship.

 

Week Two: Effective Communication

Weekly Learning Outcomes

  • Assess the hallmarks of effective communication
  • Identify barriers to communication
  • Identify ways to overcome communication barriers

Lectures

  • What Is Effective Communication?

Required Readings

  • See course for readings

Assignments

  • Case Study #1

Discussions

  • Discuss past or current interpersonal conflicts.

 

Week Three: Theories of Learning

Weekly Learning Outcomes

  • Assess various learning methods and how they apply to nutrition education

Lectures

  • What Is Learning?

Required Readings

  • Chapters 2, 11 in textbook
  • See course for additional readings

Assignments

  • No formal assignment. Work on upcoming key assessment assignments. 

Discussions

  • What do you do in your everyday work to promote learning?

 

Week Four: Patient-Centered Counseling

Weekly Learning Outcomes

  • Assess theories of patient-centered counseling
  • Articulate an opinion related to theory of change
  • State what you believe is most important in being an agent of change

Lectures

  • Patient-Centered Counseling

Required Readings

  • Chapters 4, 7 in textbook
  • See course for additional readings

Assignments

  • Theory of Change paper

Discussions

  • What theory resonates most with you?

 

Week Five: Cultural Competence

Weekly Learning Outcomes

  • Assess your level of cultural competence
  • Identify areas for improving cultural competency

Lectures

  • Cultural Competence

Required Readings

  • Chapter 9 in textbook
  • See course for additional readings

Assignments

  • Key Assessment Parts One: Food & Culture Fact Sheet
  • Key Assessment Part Two: Readability Assessment
  • Submit DUNE Copyright Agreement and Abstract

Discussions

  • Discuss the results of your cultural competency quiz.

 

Week Six: Motivational Interviewing

Weekly Learning Outcomes

  • Implement motivational interviewing techniques
  • List the hallmarks of motivational interviewing 

Lectures

  • Motivational Interviewing

Required Readings

  • Chapters 2,3, 4 in textbook
  • See course for additional readings

Assignments

  • Key Assessment Part Three: Fact Sheet Presentation
  • Case Study #2

Discussions

  • DB1: Discuss the spirit of motivational interviewing
  • DB2: Discuss how you would apply the spirit of motivational interviewing to sample case study

 

Week Seven: Health at Every Size

Weekly Learning Outcomes

  • Discuss the philosophy and science behind HAES
  • Communicate scientific findings related to HAES to medical practitioners

Lectures

  • Healthy at Every Size

Required Readings

  • See course for additional readings

Assignments

  • Key Assessment, Part Four: Therapeutic Relationship Report

Discussions

  • DB1: Find a current news article that discusses HAES.
  • DB2: Respond to a physician’s assessment of a diabetic patient.

Week Eight: Wrapping Up

Weekly Learning Outcomes

  • Identify the hallmarks of group education
  • List the benefits of group education

Lectures

  • Group Education
  • Tying It All Together

Required Readings

  • Chapter 10 in textbook
  • See course for additional readings

Assignments

  • Reflection/E-Portfolio

Discussions

  • How has this class changed your views on promoting health behavior change?

Student Resources

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? Visit the Student Support Applied Nutrition page

UNE Libraries:

UNE Student Academic Success Center

The Student Academic Success Center (SASC) offers a range of services to support your academic achievement, including tutoring, writing support, test prep and studying strategies, learning style consultations, and many online resources. To make an appointment for tutoring, writing support, or a learning specialist consultation, go to une.tutortrac.com. To access our online resources, including links, guides, and video tutorials, please visit:

Information Technology Services (ITS)

  • ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673

Accommodations

Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.

Online Peer Support

Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.

Information Technology Services (ITS)

Students should notify their Student Support Specialist and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.

ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673.

Career Ready Program

The College of Professional Studies supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!

The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.

Policies

AMA Writing Style Statement

In keeping with the requirements of the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, the American Medical Association (AMA) Manual of Style, 11th edition is the required writing format for this course and is available at both UNE libraries under the title "AMA Manual." Additional support for academic writing and AMA format is provided throughout the coursework as well as at the UNE Portal for Online Students.

Online resources: AMA Style Guide

Turnitin Originality Check and Plagiarism Detection Tool

The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.

Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in AMA citation and academic writing.

You can learn more about Turnitin in the guide on how to navigate your Similarity Report.

Late Policy

Assignments: Assignments submitted after the due date and time will receive a deduction of 10% of the total possible grade for each day it is late. After three days, the assignment will not be accepted. No assignments will be accepted after the course ends.

Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, acceptance of the discussion board is at the discretion of the faculty. Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded (does not apply to practicum).

Students are encouraged to make every effort ahead of time to contact their instructor and their student support specialist if they are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements

Course Evaluation Policy

Course surveys are one of the most important tools that University of New England uses for evaluating the quality of your education, and for providing meaningful feedback to instructors on their teaching. In order to assure that the feedback is both comprehensive and precise, we need to receive it from each student for each course. Evaluation access is distributed via UNE email at the beginning of the last week of the course.

Attendance Policy

8 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.

16 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.

Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures

The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.

UNE Online Student Handbook

UNE Course Withdrawal

Please contact your student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course.

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. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. 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 Program Director. 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.