Course Outline

NUT202 Nutrition Assessment

Course Coordinator:Jeffrey So (jso@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Nutrition and Dietetics

2025Semester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

This course will introduce you to the nutritional assessment of patients. We will cover the assessment, interpretation and analysis of body composition, biochemical, clinical and dietary intake data in clinically and culturally diverse populations. Additionally, you will also undertake several simulated activities with volunteer and/or mock clients when practising various nutrition assessment skills.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Online materials & associated pre-class learning materials. Content delivered online 2hrs Week 1 13 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Face-to-face workshops 2hrs Week 1 13 times
Fieldwork – Engaging with participants from local retirement villages on the Sunshine Coast to perform / practice routine nutrition assessment activities (e.g. collection of diet histories, anthropometric assessments, malnutrition screening) 2hrs Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) Once Only

Course Topics

  • Nutrition Care Process
  • Dietary assessment methodologies 
  • Calculation of dietary intake data using qualitative and quantitative approaches 
  • Assessment of individual energy requirements
  • Malnutrition screening and assessment
  • Body composition assessment, techniques and methodologies 
  • Biochemical and clinical assessment
  • Drug-nutrient interactions
  • Nutrition assessment in chronic disease

 

What level is this course?

200 Level (Developing)

Building on and expanding the scope of introductory knowledge and skills, developing breadth or depth and applying knowledge and skills in a new context. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally, undertaken in the second or third full-time year of an undergraduate programs.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Demonstrate knowledge and skills of relevant nutrition assessment data in dietetic practice Knowledgeable
2 Collect, analyse, monitor and evaluate all relevant nutrition assessment data used in dietetic practice Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
Engaged
Communication
3 Effectively communicates and collaborates with a range of key stakeholders on nutrition assessment outcome measures Empowered
Communication
Collaboration
4 Identify malnutrition risk using appropriate screening and assessment tools in both community and acute care settings Knowledgeable

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

NUT212 and NUT201 and enrolled in SC302 or SC406

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

You will be required to have knowledge of the various macro and micronutrients in food, and nutrition requirements across the lifecycle

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Students will receive continuous, ongoing formative feedback from the practical activities which occur throughout the weekly tutorials in preparation for assessment tasks 1 and 2. Specifically, this will include interviewing skills and nutrition assessment techniques.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Case Study Individual 20%
Students to undertake nutritional assessment of the patient using a case study template.
A summary report of less than 800 words will be required for submission
Week 6 Online Submission
All 2 Examination - not Centrally Scheduled Individual 40%
90-minutes
Week 13 In Class
All 3 Oral and Written Piece Individual 40%
1-hour
Refer to Format To be Negotiated
All - Assessment Task 1:Case Study Report
Goal:
The goal of this task is to create an authentic experience in the form of a patient case-study scenario and to assess the students understanding of key elements related to nutrition assessment in the Nutrition Care Process. Students will be required to interpret anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, and dietary intake data. As a component of the case study, students will also be required to prioritise the patients nutritional problems and identify nutritional goals for monitoring and evaluation of the patient
Product: Case Study
Authorship Statement:
Format:
A case study template will be provided at the beginning of semester which is to be used for competition of the task.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Report writing skills (communication)
1 2 3
2
Appropriate and accurate assessment, evaluation and interpretation of relevant nutritional assessment data, including anthropometric, biochemical, clinical and dietary data
1 2
3
Qualitative and Quantitative dietary assessment
2
4
Presentation and formatting that meets academic requirements
1 3
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Examination
Goal:
You will be expected to sit an examination in week 13 of the semester that will assess the theoretical knowledge acquired throughout the semester.
Product: Examination - not Centrally Scheduled
Authorship Statement:
Format:
The exam will be undertaken in week 13 during your normal tutorial time. The exam will cover all theoretical content covered throughout the semester and consist of a combination of knowledge-based, applied-based and case-study scenario questions. The exam will be 90 minutes in duration and is a closed-book examination.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Recall important factual information identified in the NUT202 teaching materials
1 2
2
Analyse information and explain important elements of nutrition assessment
2 4
3
Apply knowledge to solving problems based on material covered in the course
1 2 4
Generic Skills:
Problem solving, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
Goal:
The OSCE will assess your ability to undertake and interpret a range of nutrition assessment related information including anthropometric, biochemical, clinical and dietary. You will be provided with multiple opportunities during the scheduled tutorials throughout the semester to practice these skills.
Product: Oral and Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format:
The OSCE will assess your ability to undertake and interpret a range of nutrition assessment related information including anthropometric, biochemical, clinical and dietary. You will be provided with multiple opportunities during the scheduled tutorials throughout the semester to practice these skills. This task will involve both a written and oral / interview component.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Conduct the interview professionally, in a manner that establishes and maintains rapport, sets context to the interview, is structured logically and closes the interview appropriately
1 2
2
Accurately collects, clarifies and interprets nutrition assessment information
1 2 4
3
Accurately collects a diet history, including an accurate estimation of food portion size, type, frequency of consumption, discretionary food, supplement use, target key nutrients and food patterns linking to disease status or stage of life
1 2
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Information literacy

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Rowan Stewart 0 Handbook of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics 7th Edition n/a

Specific requirements

UniSC dietetic uniforms for simulations and field trips

How are risks managed in this course?

Risk assessments have been performed for all studio and laboratory classes and a low level of health and safety risk exists. Some risk concerns may include equipment, instruments, and tools; as well as manual handling items within the laboratory. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au