Course Outline

NUT205 Public Health Nutrition

Course Coordinator:Alyse Davies (adavies@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Nutrition and Dietetics

2025Semester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

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

In this course you will be introduced to the discipline and practice of Public Health Nutrition (PHN). You will develop values, knowledge and skills needed for work in this field, with a focus on evidence based practice and the first phase of the PHN intervention management cycle. A socio-ecological lens will underpin practice frameworks to provide the basis for exploring PHN, needs assessment, determinant and stakeholder analysis, and community engagement. 

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Workshop 2hrs Week 1 13 times
Learning materials – A combination of pre-recorded videos, readings and associated activities. 2hrs Week 1 13 times

Course Topics

  • Introduction to public health nutrition practice theory 
  • Orienting practice within the socio-ecological framework 
  • Evidence based practice in public health nutrition 
  • Analysis of and intelligence gathering for public health nutrition issues 
  • Determinant analysis, stakeholder analysis and community engagement 
  • Needs assessment process in public health nutrition practice

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 Apply theory underpinning public health nutrition practice and examine the multidimensional determinants of public health nutrition issues Knowledgeable
Empowered
2 Apply systems thinking to examine factors that impact the nutrition and health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Empowered
Ethical
Engaged
3 Design a search strategy and systematically acquire and appraise research relevant to a specific public health nutrition issue Creative and critical thinker
4 Apply appropriate methods at a population level to evaluate community needs and prioritise public health nutrition practice Empowered
Engaged
5 Demonstrate effective communication skills and competently integrate the use of appropriate technologies Communication
Applying technologies

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

(NUT211 or NUT102) and PUB112

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

It is assumed that students will have prior knowledge of sociocultural aspects of nutrition, Australian food systems, and public health theory & methodology.

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

In week 3 of this course, your PICO question for Task 1 will be peer reviewed during your tutorial. In week 11/12 of this course, your group for Task 3 will engage in an online consultation and feedback session with your tutor to discuss and gain feedback on your progress with the needs assessment report. 

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 1a Artefact - Technical and Scientific, and Written Piece Individual 0%
Approximately 30 words
Week 3 In Class
All 1b Artefact - Technical and Scientific, and Written Piece Individual 30%
500 words
Week 5 Online Submission
All 2 Examination - not Centrally Scheduled Individual 35%
90 minutes
Week 9 Online Test (Quiz)
All 3 Written Piece Group 35%
3000 words
Week 13 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1a:PICO
Goal:
You will develop a PICO question to inform your search strategy.
Product: Artefact - Technical and Scientific, and Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Your PICO question for Task 1 will be peer reviewed during tutorial in week 3.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Design a search strategy and systematically acquire research relevant to a specific public helath nutrition issue
3
Generic Skills:
Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 1b:Evidence synopsis
Goal:
You will follow the evidence based practice cycle to ask, acquire and appraise scientific research studies relating to a specific public health nutrition issue
Product: Artefact - Technical and Scientific, and Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format:
500 word report plus appendices
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Design a search strategy and systematically acquire research relevant to a specific public health nutrition issue
3
2
Appraise scientific research studies relating to a specific public health nutrition issue
3
Demonstrate effective communication skills and competently integrate the use of appropriate technologies
Generic Skills:
Problem solving, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Mid-Semester Exam
Goal:
You will demonstrate your understanding and application of the foundational knowledge and skills needed for public health nutrition practice.
Product: Examination - not Centrally Scheduled
Authorship Statement:
Format:
The mid-semester exam will comprise of a combination of multiple choice and short answer questions, including case-based questions.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Eamine the multi-dimensional, multi-factoral determinants of public health nutrition problems
2
Describe the theory underpinning community and public health nutrition practice and current public health nutrition issues within Australian communities
1
3
Collect, assess and interpret information for PHN practice
5
4
Apply systems thinking to examine factors that impact the nutrition and health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
2
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies
All - Assessment Task 3:Needs Assessment
Goal:
You will analyse and interpret data to assess the needs of a target population and report on your findings.
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format:
3000 word written piece
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Describe and evaluate methods used for assessing population needs in relation to public health nutrition issues
4
2
Assess the needs of a community or subpopulation in relation to public health nutrition issues
5
3
Demonstrate effective communication skills and competently integrate the use of appropriate technologies
Generic Skills:
Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation

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
Recommended Roger Hughes 2011 Practical Public Health Nutrition n/a John Wiley & Sons

Specific requirements

There are no specific requirements.

How are risks managed in this course?

Risk assessments have been performed for all laboratory classes and a moderate level of health and safety risk exists. Moderate risks are those associated with laboratory work such as working with chemicals and hazardous substances. You will be required to undertake laboratory induction training and it is also your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety 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