Course Outline

NUT700 Sport and Exercise Nutrition Research Project

Course Coordinator:Gary Slater (gslater@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Nutrition and Dietetics

2026Session 3

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 develop professional competencies relevant to research practice. You will collect, analyse, and interpret data relevant to your research project. You will present your research project in a report, and undertake an oral presentation to transmit your research findings. This course will develop skills to facilitate continuing professional education as a nutrition and dietetic professional.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – A combination of pre-recorded videos, readings and associated activities 2hrs Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) 4 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Online 2hrs Week 1 4 times
Independent Study/Research – Regular meetings with research supervisor during allocated research blocks. 1hr Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) 6 times
Independent Study/Research – Work on individual research project as required. 65hrs Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) Once Only

Course Topics

  • Data collection, analysis and interpretation 

  • Project management and completion 

  • Reporting research 

  • Disseminating research 

What level is this course?

700 Level (Specialised)

Demonstrating a specialised body of knowledge and set of skills for professional practice or further learning. Advanced application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts.

What is the unit value of this course?

36 units (taught over 3 delivery periods)

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Dietitians Australia
1 Design and implement a research project that demonstrates competence in research methodology, methods, data collection, analysis and synthesis using specialist knowledge within the field of research and in accordance with ethical principles and procedures, and valuing traditional ways of knowing and doing. Empowered
Problem solving
3.1
2 Critically evaluate research results and discuss their theoretical and applied implications to the practice of sports nutrition and dietetics. Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
1.2
3 Interpret research findings and their theoretical and applied implications in the field of research and communicate to specialist and non-specialist audiences through multiple communication mediums. Engaged
Communication
4.2.1, 4.1, 4.3
4 Demonstrate participation in research professional practice with research supervisor and research teams in accordance with the dietetic student placement code of conduct. Empowered
1.5

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Dietitians Australia
1.2 Professional Practice: Demonstrates ethical and legal practice
1.5 Professional Practice: Demonstrates cultural safety and responsiveness
3.1 Research Practice: Conducts research, evaluation, and quality management processes
4.2.1 Builds capacity of and collaborates with others to improve nutrition and health outcomes: Shares information with and acts as a resource person for colleagues, community and other agencies
4.1 Collaborative Practice: Communicates appropriately with people from various cultural, socioeconomic, organisational and professional backgrounds
4.3 Collaborative Practice: Collaborates within and across teams effectively

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

NUT503 and enrolled in MC001

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 reviewing literature, research methodologies, and written and oral communication skills.

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

Early feedback will be provided through formative Task 1a, in which students will submit a research progress report that they will receive feedback on to inform remaining tasks.

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 - Professional, and Written Piece Individual 0%
2-4 A4 pages and a separate timeline
Delivery Period 1 - Week 4 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 1b Oral Individual 0%
10 minute presentation with 5 minutes of questions
Delivery Period 1 - Week 8 In Class
All - Assessment Task 1a:Research Progress Report 1
Goal:
You will provide a report documenting your progress to date relating to your research project, including data collection, analysis and interpretation. This will include a brief self-reflection on your progress and a timeline with input from your supervisor and evaluation of performance against the student code of conduct from your supervisor over the period since you commenced NUT700.
Product: Artefact - Professional, and Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Maximum of 4 A4 pages, consisting of 1-2 page report and 1-2 page Gantt chart (timeline). Submission will occur midway through the teaching session.


Delivery Period 1: Week 4 Session 3
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Formulates a report that outlines plans and progress of research data collection, analysis, and synthesis
1
2
Reflects on impacts of research plans and progress on self, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities of other marginalised identities
1
3
Creates professional report in a timely manner and in accordance with national statements on human ethics.
1
4
Demonstrates collaboration with research supervisor and team.
4
Generic Skills:
Communication, Organisation
All - Assessment Task 1b:Oral Defence
Goal:
You will provide a verbal report of your progress to date relating to you research project including data collection, analysis and interpretation. This will include a brief self reflection on your progress on the research project and alignment of your performance with the student code of conduct.
Product: Oral
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Oral presentation with no more than 3 slides. Submission will occur during the final week of the teaching session.

Delivery Period 1: Week 8 Session 3
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Demonstrates research project progress in accordance with ethical principles including traditional values of knowing and doing research.
1
2
Demonstrates collaboration with research supervisor and team and alignment with student code of conduct
4
Generic Skills:
Communication, Organisation

Assessment to competency mapping

Programme Delivery Mode Assessment Type Title Competency Teaching Methods
National Competency Standards for Dietitians in Australia (2021)
All delivery modes Artefact - Professional Manuscript 1.5.1 Practiced, Assessed
2.1.1 Practiced, Assessed
3.1.1 Practiced, Assessed
3.1.2 Practiced, Assessed
3.1.3 Practiced, Assessed
3.1.4 Practiced, Assessed
3.1.5 Practiced, Assessed
Artefact - Professional, and Written Piece Research Progress Report 1 1.4.1 Practiced
3.1.1 Practiced
Oral Oral Defence 1.4.1 Practiced, Assessed
3.1.1 Practiced, Assessed
3.1.2 Practiced, Assessed
Final oral defence 3.1.1 Practiced, Assessed
3.1.2 Practiced, Assessed
3.1.3 Practiced, Assessed
3.1.4 Practiced, Assessed
3.1.5 Practiced, Assessed
4.1.2 Practiced, Assessed

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

There are no required/recommended resources for this course.

Specific requirements

Not applicable

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is 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

This course contributes to the minimum of 100 days of professional placement in total to meet the Dietitians Australia National Competency and Accreditation Standards for Dietetic Education. Your research supervisor and course coordinator will evaluate your performance. This will determined against the student code of conduct. If you fail to meet the Student Code of Conduct, you can be withdrawn from the research activity immediately, as per the UniSC Workplace and Industry Placement - Procedures.

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

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: