MSc Nutrition

Year 1

(Award available for year: Master of Science)

Learning outcomes

On completion of the programme students should have shown evidence of being able to:

- demonstrate an advanced understanding of concepts, information and techniques in the field of nutrition as informed by recent research/scholarship in the discipline, including knowledge of:
> the effect of food processing on nutritional quality and understanding of the role of processed foods in the diet
> the biochemical and physiological basis underlying the link between diet/nutrients, health and disease
> the scientific principles underlying nutrient requirements of individuals at different stages of the life cycle and the concept of personalised nutrition
> the factors that influence food consumption
> the scientific, social and economic principles which inform the development of policy and the drivers and barriers that affect policy implementation;

- exhibit competence in the exercise of generic and subject-specific intellectual abilities, including the ability to:
> critically evaluate current research, research and advanced scholarship relevant to nutrition using concepts from scholarly reviews and primary sources of information
> and use this information to write an original review of the literature and identify research needs;

- demonstrate an understanding of the provisional nature of information and allow for competing and alternative explanations;

- demonstrate an understanding of the scientific method of enquiry and understand the principles of hypothesis-lead research; apply this understanding to the planning and implementation of an individual research project in a relevant research area;
- apply their knowledge and understanding to solving complex problems by collecting and evaluating appropriate information, and use it creatively to suggest innovations or make decisions;

- demonstrate ability in the use and evaluation of research methods and techniques standard to the nutrition discipline, including a theoretical and practical understanding of:
> the principles of nutritional epidemiology and survey-type approaches to investigate food and nutrient consumption, nutrient intakes, dietary habits and health/nutritional status of individuals and populations
> laboratory methods and database methods used in understanding nutrient content of foods and diets, and the effect of processing on nutrient content
> laboratory methods used in biomarker analysis as relevant to nutrition
> anthropometric methods as relevant to nutritional/health assessment
> Health and Safety practices, including risk assessment in laboratory settings
> ethical considerations in relation to nutritional research;

- apply research skills to generate complex primary data as part of an individual research project.

- take a proactive and self-reflective role in working and to develop professional relationships with others, including self-evaluation of skills and competences leading to a personal development plan in terms of:
> generic graduate skills
> subject specific skills and competences as specified by the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists, including an understanding of legal and ethical boundaries of the profession.

Transferable (key) skills

Masters (Taught) students will have had the opportunity to acquire the following abilities as defined in the modules specified for the programme:

- the skills necessary to undertake a higher research degree in nutrition or other relevant disclipline and/or for employment in a higher capacity in the food/health/leisure industry or as a professional nutritionist, including demonstration of:
> autonomy, self direction, initiative and effective decision making in complex and unpredictable situations
> effective self-planning in order to prioritise and manage time and resources effectively
> effective team work and leadership where applicable
> effective communication with individuals or groups using a range of methods and media
> effective use of ICT methods for gathering, evaluating, analysing and presenting information and data, as relevant to the nutrition discipline
> effective dissemination of research findings though an individual dissertation thesis, an oral presentation and an oral examination;

- evaluating their own achievement using reflective practice;
- independent learning and the ability to work in a way which ensures continuing professional development;
- critical engagement in the development of professional/disciplinary boundaries and norms, particularly though a review of the literature in a relevant subject area, and the undertaking of an independent research project.

Assessment

Achievement for the degree of Master (taught programme) will be assessed by a variety of methods in accordance with the learning outcomes of the modules specified for the year/programme and will involve the achievement of the students in evidencing an ability to conduct independent in-depth enquiry within the discipline.

This will be evidenced through:
- the undertaking of an independent research project
- demonstrating the ability to apply breadth and/or depth of knowledge to a complex specialist area
- drawing on a range of perspectives on an area of study
- evaluating and criticising received opinion
- making reasoned judgements whilst understanding the limitations on judgements made in the absence of complete data
- generation, analysis and evaluation of complex research primary data, assessed though the writing of an individual research thesis, an oral presentation and an oral examination.