Nutrition, Society and Health (8259.2)

Please note these are the 2027 details for this unit
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Nutrition, Society and Health
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods On-campus
 Bruce, Canberra
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Health
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Nutrition & Dietetics Level 3 - Undergraduate Advanced Unit Band 2 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 3 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
This unit explores the factors influencing food habits and food choice in different populations, including attitudes to food and health, religion, culture and the environment. The social, economic, political and ecological influences on food supply and food policy, food consumption trends and food and nutrition monitoring and surveillance will also be examined.

This unit is co-taught with unit 6476 Nutrition, Society and Health G.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Describe the history and future of food use in Australia and across the globe;

2. Discuss the sociological factors, such as culture, religion, and socio-economic status, affecting food intake of individuals, groups, communities and populations;
3. Outline the factors affecting attitudes to food and health;
4. Analyse the role that the environment plays in lifestyle development across the lifecycle;
5. Compare and contrast basic food consumption trends in Australia with trends in other countries;
6. Describe the food habits of ethnic sub-groups (including the Australian indigenous population);
7. Evaluate the impact of changes to traditional food habits on health outcomes; and
8. Analyse the influences of food policy, food marketing, food technology, politics, economics, ecology and agriculture on the food system.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - use Indigenous histories and traditional ecological knowledge to develop and augment understanding of their discipline
Availability for enrolment in 2027 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 10 August 2026 On-campus Dr Nathan D'Cunha
2027 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 09 August 2027 On-campus Dr Nathan D'Cunha
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit timetable.

Required texts

Teaching in this unit will be based on the recommended textbook. However, given the broad topics covered in this unit, there is a need for further reading beyond the textbook. Extra readings will be available through Canvas. Tutorial information, readings and PDF files of lectures will be available on the unit website. 

Text: 

Germov J & Williams L. 2017, A sociology of food and nutrition: The social appetite, 4th Edition. South Melbourne: Oxford University Press. Call number: GT2850.S63 2017. Cost: approximately $106.95 or E-book $97.00

Purchasing the text is recommended but is not essential to be successful in the unit. There are two versions available at the UC Library; one for three-hour loan and one for three-day loan. 

The text can be ordered from https://theschoollocker.com.au/oxford-university-press-ebook-a-sociology-of-food-and-nutrition

Students who are new to the University or unfamiliar with the University Library resources and services are recommended to enrol in the student tours and other service familiarisation courses.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Instructions for admission of each assessment item for this unit will be placed on Canvas.

Artificial intelligence

Students are not permitted to use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in assessments for this unit.

GenAI may only be used in authorised ways when completing assessments at UC. This means that GenAI can only be used for an assessment when:

  1. the Unit Convener has authorised GenAI use for that assessment
  2. the student uses GenAI in the way that the assessment instructions allow
  3. the student fully acknowledges their use of GenAI, with proper citations, references and a GenAI Acknowledgement Statement in line with the assessment instructions.

Where the assessment instructions do not specifically state that GenAI may be used and how, then its use is not permitted for that assessment. Students must still provide the required GenAI Acknowledgement Statement to indicate whether GenAI has or has not been used in the preparation of the assessment. If unsure, students should seek advice from the Unit Convener.

The GenAI for StudentsLinks to an external site. Library Guide provides further information, including how to reference GenAI.

Special assessment requirements

To pass the unit, students must:

  • submit all assessments; and
  • attain at least 50% of the total possible marks.

Moderation of assessments will be conducted as per the Faculty of Health Assessment and Marking Moderation Guidelines.

Moderation:

Moderation of assessments will be conducted as per the Faculty of Health Moderation Guidelines.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Participation requirements

Students are expected to contribute and participate in their own learning by interaction with each other and the lecturer discussing the topics covered. Most tutorials will be conducted in a workshop manner. Students are expected to attend tutorials as these provide the opportunity to apply the knowledge gained from the lectures and texts. In addition these tutorials will provide information and preparation for assessment activities.

 

 

Required IT skills

No specialist IT skills are required. Students are expected to submit typed assignments e.g. presentation slides unless there are extenuating circumstances. 

In-unit costs

None

Work placement, internships or practicums

This unit does not have a work integrated learning component.

Additional information

You must indicate in any written work the exact source of your information. This is done by referencing using the Vancouver referencing style. Referencing system guides can be accessed from the library at: http://www.canberra.edu.au/library/research-gateway/research_help/referencing-guides

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