Master of Human Nutrition

2020 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2020 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2020 course information
Award granted	Master of Human Nutrition
Course Map	These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2020: H714 Research Option A H714 Research Option B These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2020: H714 Research Option A H714 Research Option B These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 3 2020: H714 Research Option A H714 Research Option B Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
Campus	This course is only offered Online
Cloud Campus	Yes
Duration	Depending on your professional experience and previous qualifications, the Master of Human Nutrition is typically 1 or 1.5 years duration. 1 year full time (2 years part time) - 8 credit points 1.5 years full time (3 years part time) - 12 credit points Deakin courses can also be studied part time over a longer period.
Deakin course code	H714
Approval status	This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Learn the skills to work effectively as a nutritionist in a range of employment settings.

Deakin’s Master of Human Nutrition draws content from related disciplines such as food science, biochemistry, physiology, epidemiology, psychology, sociology and politics and policy.

In this course, you will develop an advanced understanding of the role of nutrition and diet in the health of individuals and the population. You will also learn about the biological, social and policy related aspects of human nutrition along with skills to evaluate the findings of human nutrition studies and undertaking research.

This course also provides you with the opportunity to undertake a diverse range of elective study options, giving you the ability to pursue topic areas that align with your interests and career aspirations. Students looking to pursue a specific nutrition career pathway should first visit the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences' Careers website to ensure the elective units they select will meet their career development needs.

Indicative student workload

As a student in a Cloud (online) course in the Faculty of Health you will be expected to spend 11-13 hours every week studying, interacting via CloudDeakin and completing assessment tasks for each unit in your course.

Professional recognition

Growing public interest in the relationship between diet and health is evident and, as a result, there are increasing demands from the public for reliable and trustworthy information. In response, the Nutrition Society of Australia (NSA) has developed a ‘Register of Nutritionists’ to establish a list of appropriately qualified nutrition professionals.

As a graduate of this course, you may be eligible for registration as an ‘Associate Nutritionist’. Following three years of relevant work experience, Associate Nutritionists are able to apply for ‘Registered Nutritionist’ status. Registration with NSA does not authorise registrants to obtain provider numbers with Medicare or Private Health Insurers. Please refer to the Nutrition Society of Australia website for further information or queries about registration.

You can find additional careers information about this course here

Career opportunities

Graduates will be equipped to find careers as a nutritionist, nutrition promotion officer and nutrition consultant.

Graduates can expect to gain employment in a wide range of organisations such as food industry, state or local government community settings, state and federal health departments, NGOs with a nutrition focus, media or the corporate sector.

Participation requirements

Students are required to complete core units in Trimester 3 of the course

Elective units may be selected that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. Click here for more information.

Mandatory student checks

Applicable only to students undertaking practicum units, who will therefore require a working with children check. Not mandatory for all students.

Pathways

Students who wish to undertake a PhD in the future are recommended to complete units HSN715, HSN719, HSN750 and HSN751.

Alternative exits

Graduate Certificate of Human Nutrition (H511)

Graduate Diploma of Human Nutrition (H616)

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, your fee category and the year you started. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline Specific knowledge and capabilities	Apply advanced and integrated knowledge of nutrition and health to nutrition related health problems.
Communication	Select and use appropriate modes of communication to obtain and share evidence based nutrition knowledge.
Digital Literacy	Select and use appropriate technologies to analyse and synthesise complex nutrition information and problems, and to interpret and share knowledge, skills and ideas.
Critical thinking	Critically analyse, reflect on and synthesise complex information and problems in nutrition, to come to well-reasoned conclusions.
Problem Solving	Apply best practice and evidence to identify problems and generate and evaluate practical solutions to complex nutrition issues.
Self-management	Employ high level personal responsibility, accountability and autonomy to demonstrate expert judgement, adaptability to new situations, effective work practices, and responsibility as a nutritionist.
Teamwork	Establish, contribute and maintain a key role in relationships with a range of stakeholders to achieve successful outcomes to advance nutrition sciences.
Global Citizenship	Engage in professional and ethical practice that demonstrates a high level of personal autonomy, within diverse contexts in nutrition sciences.

Course rules

The Master of Human Nutrition is typically 8 or 12 credit points. The exact number of credit points you study depends on how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) – your professional experience and previous qualifications – which can save you time and money.

To complete the Master of Human Nutrition students must attain 12 credit points comprising:

6 core units (these are compulsory) worth 1 credit point each

Plus choose one of the following options:

Research Based Project Option A

HSN753 Research Practice in Human Nutrition and *5 elective units

Research Based Project Option B (Research focus)

HSN750 Nutrition Research Project Part A (2 credit points) and HSN751 Nutrition Research Project Part B (2 credit points) and *2 elective units

* Up to 2 elective credit points may be chosen from postgraduate units offered by any faculty of the University (subject to unit rules and approval by the Course Director).

All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete HAI010 Academic Integrity in their first trimester of study (0 credit point compulsory unit).

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. Click here for more information.

Course structure

Core units

This course structure applies to students who commenced the course from 2019 onwards.

Students who completed an undergraduate degree from a non-cognate undergraduate study area (e.g. Arts, Commerce, Business, any non-health/science study areas, etc) must complete either H511 Graduate Certificate of Human Nutrition or H616 Graduate Diploma of Human Nutrition first before enrolling into H714 Master of Human Nutrition.

Students who have completed H511 will receive Recognition of Prior Learning for the 4 credit points already completed in H511 and then complete 8 credit points in the H714 course.

Students who completed H616 will receive Recognition of Prior Learning for the 8 credit points already completed in H616 and then complete 4 credits points in the H714 course.

Students who completed an undergraduate degree from a cognate study area may be granted preclusions for the units they have completed in their undergraduate course.

Preclusions mean that you are not required to undertake the specific units within the Masters course but you will need to choose another HSN7xx electives instead.

For example: H315 Bachelor of Nutrition Sciences student has completed HSN211 Nutritional Physiology, they can be precluded from HSN701 Principles of Nutrition and they will need to choose another HSN7XX unit to replace HSN701.

Students must enrol in the Cloud offerings of all units

Trimester 1

HAI010

Academic Integrity (0 credit points)

HSN701

Principles of Nutrition (also available in Trimester 3)

HSN749

Biochemistry and Physiology for Human Nutrition

Trimester 2

HSN702

Lifespan Nutrition

HSN715

Understanding Human Nutrition Research Studies

HSN735

Essentials of Food Science

Trimester 3

HSN719

Assessment Methods for Nutrition and Physical Activity Research

AND

Research Based Project Option A

Trimester 3

HSN753

Research Practice in Human Nutrition

Students would need to complete an additional 5 elective units to complete the 12 credit points for the H714 Master of Human Nutrition.

Research Based Project Option B

Trimester 1

HSN750

Nutrition Research Project Part A (2 credit points core unit)

Trimester 2

HSN751

Nutrition Research Project Part B (2 credit points core unit)

Students would need to complete an additional 2 elective units to complete the 12 credit points for the H714 Master of Human Nutrition

Course structure

Elective units

Trimester 1

HSN703

Diet and Disease

HSN705

Public Health Nutrition

HSN708

Nutrition Promotion

HSN709

Sports Nutrition

HSN713

Food, Nutrition and Behaviour

Trimester 2

HSN706

Food Policy and Public Health

HSN714

Systems Thinking in Public Health Nutrition

HSN734

Obesity Prevention

HSN741

Postgraduate Nutrition Practicum

HSN746

Nutritional Issues from Early Childhood to Adolescence

Trimester 3

HSN738

International Nutrition

HSN743

Nutrition for Healthy Ageing

HSN760

International Perspectives in Food and Nutrition

Students intending to use H714 Master of Human Nutrition as a PhD entry pathway must complete these units:

HSN715

Understanding Human Nutrition Research Studies

HSN719

Assessment Methods for Nutrition and Physical Activity Research

HSN750

Nutrition Research Project Part A

HSN751

Nutrition Research Project Part B

Work experience

Work Integrated Learning principles are embedded within all units. A Postgraduate Nutrition Practicum unit is also available for students to elect to undertake. Specifically designed Careers modules are available on the Course specific cloud Deakin site.

Other course information

Course duration - additional information

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Contact Student Central

Other learning experiences

A 1 credit point elective unit “International Perspectives in Nutrition” which features a 2 week study tour is available to all students every second year.

Research and research-related study

Option A includes research specific units - 1cp research related study and 1cp independent research as well as 1cp in nutrition assessment unit.

Option B includes – 1cp research related study, 1cp nutrition assessment unit and 4cp independent research project.