Course Syllabus

Summer 2023 | BIO-1030-VU01 - Introduction to Nutrition

In Person Class

Standard courses meet in person at CCV centers, typically once each week for the duration of the semester.

Faculty

Mary Kathryn Edwards
View Faculty Credentials

Hiring Coordinator for this course: Jennifer Guarino

General Education Requirements

Natural Science

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

This course introduces students to the physiological basis of nutrition and evaluates dietary requirements. Emphasis is placed on metabolism, digestion, and nutrients used in the human body and the nutrition involved in health, disease, and aging.

Essential Objectives

1. Utilize the scientific method to distinguish between well-researched evidence on nutrition and some of the basic fallacies and myths in this field.
2. Discuss how Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) are established and how they compare for individuals based on nutrition, disease, and aging.
3. Outline dietary strategies now recommended to minimize the risks of disease and describe the nutritional and caloric needs of individuals throughout the lifecycle.
4. Describe the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids with an emphasis on organs, hormones, and enzymes.
5. Evaluate and discuss the biological role of vitamins and minerals in maintaining homeostasis.
6. Analyze how carbohydrates, fats, and proteins are broken down to harvest energy and describe the conditions by which each of these molecules is metabolized.
7. Examine, record, and evaluate diets for nutritional and caloric adequacy and safety.
8. Demonstrate proficiency in understanding, interpreting, evaluating and applying quantitative data and information.
9. Explain how knowledge created in the natural sciences has contributed to the creation, maintenance and dismantling of social inequalities and discuss the impacts of diversity and inclusion on scientific research and practice.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV IT Support page. https://support.ccv.edu/general/computer-recommendations/

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

This course only uses free Open Educational Resources (OER) and/or library materials. For details, see the Canvas Site for this class.

Methods

The teaching methods for this course will vary by class but it will be a combination of:

• multimedia presentations and resources
• small and large group discussions
• interactive projects and/or activities
• readings, writing, and inquiry-based research
• professional work-based learning experiences

Evaluation Criteria

This course will be graded using specifications grading. This system allows students to determine the assignments they want to spend time on and gives you (the student) control over your grade.

In specifications grading there are no points – just a two-level grading structure that will be categorized as satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Assignments will come with a set of specifications that define what satisfactory work looks like and then when the work is handed in, I will use a rubric to classify the work as either satisfactory or unsatisfactory. There is no partial credit. You, the student, can take the feedback given on any assignment and you can revise any 2 assignments based on the feedback provided and turn the work again for revised acceptance.

Final grades are still assigned an A, B, C, D, F overall course grade but each letter grade is earned differently in this structure. Letter grades are earned by bundles of assignments that increase in size and scope as the targeted grade goes higher. Therefore, students who just want to earn a “C” in the course know that they are signing up for, and those wanting a “B” will have to do that same amount of work plus additional assignments, and the same for an “A.” Grading bundles are listed below.

It is my job to provide you with a clear understanding of what is expected for each assignment, and it is your job to produce work in a timely manner that meets those expectations based on what grade you want to earn in the class.

Grading Components:

10% Participation, Attendance, & Discussion Posts (12 available)

10% Reading labels (5 components)

20% HW Quizzes (12 available)

20% Reflections (6 available)

15% Diet Composition Analysis (5 components)

5% Diet Fad Poster Presentations (3 minutes)

10% Exam 1

10% Exam 2

Assignment Descriptions:

Participation, Attendance, & Discussion Posts

There are weekly discussion posts that will be available online. Please either post a unique comment or reply to a comment made by one of your classmates. Online forums are not a place to air personal grievances and should remain professional and appropriate. This is a way to participate in our class without speaking in class. Please use these discussion topics to engage each other in meaningful and fun nutrition related conversations. The hope is that you will be able to pull information we are learning in class to these posts.

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student’s failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

- In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness, or early departure may jeopardize a student’s ability to learn and earn a satisfactory final grade.

- Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting.

- Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student’s final grade.

Reading Labels

Pick 3 foods that have a nutrition label and compare the items on the label. In the submission, include each of the components listed on the assignment. Details to follow.

HW Reading Quizzes

HW quizzes are due by midnight the following Monday after class. These quizzes will be based on the week’s reading assignments and review key concepts. You will have TWO CHANCES to complete each quiz for full credit.

Reflections

Everyone must submit Reflection #1. This will give me an opportunity to give feedback and help guide your additional submissions. Reflections will require you to listen to a podcast, watch a video, or read an article and reflect on the content. There will be specific questions to help you frame your writing. This is not a time for summarizing the content. It is a chance to think critically about nutrition today. These assignments are designed to encourage critical thinking around current issues in nutrition and allow for analysis of current dietary patterns. Write 500-700 words to answer the prompts. Use outside sources and citations (if needed).

The list of reflection resources will be available in class.

Topics include:

- Reflection 1: Nutrition & Mental Health

- Reflection 2: Microbiome

- Reflection 3: Obesity Epidemic/The Biggest Loser

- Reflection 4: Supplements & Safety

- Reflection 5: Minnesota Starvation Study

- Reflection 6: Fad diets

Diet Composition Analysis

You have two options for this assignment:

OPTION 1:

You will capture 2 weekdays and 1 weekend day of YOUR diet or someone you know. Using an online tool (to be discussed in class) you will evaluate your macronutrients and micronutrient intakes. Compare your diet to the DGA RDA’s for protein, fats, carbs, vitamins and minerals. Discuss why you did/did not meet recommendations. Add suggestions or a plan for meeting recommendations.

OPTION 2:

You will pick a fad diet and develop a meal plan for 2 weekdays and 1 weekend day of this fad diet. Using an online tool (to be discussed in class) you will evaluate the diet’s macronutrients and micronutrient intakes. Compare the fad diet to the DGA RDA’s for proteins, fats, carbs, vitamins, and minerals. Discuss why this diet did/did not meet the recommendations. Add suggestion or a plan for meeting those recommendations.

Fad Diet Poster Presentation

This 3-minute presentation of a visual representation of a fad diet (which can be the same diet you used for the Diet Composition Analysis assignment). The presentations will be completed during the final class. Elements to include on the poster include: the name of the diet, what a typical day of meals would like, and the desired macronutrient percentages. Other items to consider include: when it was developed, why it was developed, and celebrities that endorse the diet. Specific details to follow.

Exams

Exams will be cumulative, open book, open note, online exams consisting of multiple choice, short answer, and fill in the blank. It will also include 10 points of extra credit. Use the study guide and the weekly reading quizzes to guide your study habits.

Grading Packages:

To achieve the desired grade goal, complete the following for each of the grading components:

Grade Goal	Participation, Attendance & Discussion (total #)	Reading Labels (# of parts)	HW Quizzes (total #)	Reflections (total #)	Diet Composition Analysis (# of parts)	Exams (average exam grade)
A	10	5	11	5	5	90-100%
B	8	4	9	4	4	80 -89%
C	6	3	7	3	3	65 -79%

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Weekly Schedule

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Missing & Late Work Policy

Missing, Unsatisfactory, and Late Work Policy

“LIFE HAPPENS”

You will have two “life happens” extensions for assignments. If you choose to use your “life happens” extensions, please send me an email letting me know using the words “Life Happens” in the subject line. For missing or late work, you have a 3-day extension from the due date. For unsatisfactory work, you will have 3 days from the date it is returned to you to redo and resubmit the work for full credit.

If you need more than a “life happens” extension, late work is accepted on a conditional basis. Please reach out to me if you are not able to turn in your work on time. Extensions will be granted only in extenuating circumstances.

Students who know they will not have access to the course materials for any reason should make arrangements with me to complete assignments.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity