Global Utilities

La Trobe University
University Handbook 2010

Undergraduate courses offered by the Faculty

Bachelor of Human Nutrition (SBNS) – Melbourne (Bundoora)

The interdisciplinary nature of nutritional science is reflected in the subjects comprising this three-year degree course. The core nutrition subjects in the second and third years are strongly supported by the other core subjects in basic sciences: biochemistry, physiology and psychological sciences.

The course is designed to provide a structure which, in the third year, allows for specialisation in areas such as eating disorders, dietary management, advanced topics in nutrition and disease, nutrition and performance, management of dietary behaviour and anthropological and public health aspects of nutrition.

Graduates may apply to the Nutrition Society of Australia for accreditation as a Registered Nutritionist.

Seminar program

Students in all three years are expected to attend the seminar programs arranged in both first and second semesters. Details will be provided during the year. Attendance at seminars and tutorials on library use and those given by the Language and Academic Skills Unit is a requirement of the course.

Course structure

The course is of three years duration and is taken on a full-time or equivalent part-time basis and requires the completion of 360 credit points. The course structure is summarised below. Elective subjects will normally be chosen from those listed, but permission to take alternative electives may be given by the course adviser prior to the start of the academic year.

First year (120 credit points)

Core subjects (105 credit points)

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 General Principles of Chemistry CHE1GEN 15
TE-SEM-1 Organisation and Function of Cells and Organisms BIO1OF 15
TE-SEM-1 Psychology 1A PSY1PYA 15
TE-SEM-1 or TE-SEM-2 Statistics for Life Sciences STA1LS 15
TE-SEM-2 Applications of Chemistry CHE1APL 15
TE-SEM-2 Genetics, Human Biology and Evolution BIO1GEN 15
TE-SEM-2 Public Health for Nutrition Studies PHE1BHN 15

The remaining 15 credit points can be chosen from any first year level subject for which pre-requisites have been obtained. The following subjects are recommended:

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Animal Diversity, Ecology and Behaviour BIO1AD 15
TE-SEM-2 Mathematical Applications in Biology MAT1MAB 15
TE-SEM-2 Plant Science BIO1PS 15
TE-SEM-2 Psychology 1B PSY1PYB 15
Second year (120 credit points)

Core subjects (100 credit points)

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology A BCH2BMA 20
TE-SEM-1 Human Physiology A HBS2HPA 20
TE-SEM-1 Principles of Nutrition AGR2PNU 20
TE-SEM-2 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology B BCH2BMB 20
TE-SEM-2 Human Physiology B HBS2HPB 20

The remaining 20 credit points can be chosen from any second year level subject for which pre-requisites have been obtained. The following subjects are recommended:

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-2 Animal Nutrition AGR3ANN 20
TE-SEM-2 Animal Physiology ZOO2APH 20
TE-SEM-2 Australian Ecology and Systematics BOT2AES 20
TE-SEM-2 Developments in Chemistry CHE2DEV 20
TE-SEM-2 Ecological and Evolutionary Genetics GEN2EEG 20
TE-SEM-2 Medical and Veterinary Microbiology MIC2MVM 20
TE-SEM-2 Organisational Psychology of Health PHE2OPH 20
Third year (120 credit points)

Core subjects (60 credit points)

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Advanced Topics in Nutrition NUT3ATN 30
TE-SEM-2 Community and Cross Cultural Perspectives on Human Nutrition NUT3CPN 30

The remaining 60 credit points must be chosen from the following subjects:

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Advanced Physiology A – Cell Communication Systems and Pharmacology HBS3APA 30
TE-SEM-1 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 3A BCH3BMA 30
TE-SEM-1 Human and Molecular Genetics GEN3HMG 30
TE-SEM-1 Zoology A ZOO3EPA 30
TE-SEM-2 Advanced Physiology B – Normal Function, Drugs and Disease HBS3APB 30
TE-SEM-2 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 3B BCH3BMB 30
TE-SEM-2 Plant Biotechnology BOT3PB 30
TE-SEM-2 Zoology B ZOO3EPB 30

Honours

Honours degree students are selected based on their performance in the final year of the pass degree course. Students must obtain a minimum average of 60% across all of their third year subjects and obtain at least 65% in subjects germane to the Honours discipline to the value of 60 credit points. An Honours year may be taken in any of the departments contributing to the third year of the pass degree course or in the interdisciplinary program, Nutrition Honours NUT4HNA and NUT4HNB. Students must consult the course coordinator prior to enrolment to obtain approval for the proposed program.

For a full description of subjects, including the subject name, subject code, credit points, campus/location, subject coordinator, class requirements, assessment, prerequisites and readings, students should access the Subject Database at www.latrobe.edu.au/udb_public.