Bachelor of Science (Nutrition and Community Health)

  Institution: Private: Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)

The Nutrition and Community Health program is designed to produce professional graduates with expertise in the area of nutrition and community health. Upon completion of the program, graduates have the ability to plan and implement health and nutrition promotion and intervention programs with the aim of improving quality of life in the country using healthy diet and lifestyle approaches. This is a 4 year program where students are required to take courses carrying a total of 142 credits.

The courses are designed to provide knowledge and practical experience in nutrition and community health as well as nutritional sciences. In addition, to provide practical learning experience, students are required to undergo industrial training in various government and non-government agencies. Graduates of this program work in various settings. In the Government sector, they are employed as community nutritionists or research officers and in the private sector many are trainers, counselors, consultants or managers.

Aims

• To provide graduates with knowledge, skills, expertise and experience in the area of nutrition and community health
• To produce graduates who are creative and inovative as well as sensitive, responsible and ethical to society, culture and environment
• To produce graduates with skills in management, communication and motivation in order to plan and implement programs to improve nutrition and health status of communities
• To produce graduates who are highly capable of handling good quality research and consultancy at the local and international levels
  

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Career Path

Nutritionists are employed in a variety of settings and organizations that include health care agencies or institutions, ministry, food industry, wellness or weight management centers, pharmacies, fitness centers, dietary supplement industry, institutions of higher education, research laboratories, welfare organizations and media.
They work as:

• Community nutritionists in public sector
• Nutrition advisors in food, health and nutrition related industries
• Trainers and educators in health and nutrition industries as well as non- government agencies
• Lecturers in colleges and universities
• Research and science officers in government and private sectors
• Nutrition consultants with the media
  

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Curriculum Components

Admission

LOCAL ADMISSION

• Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM)
  • Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) or equivalent with a credit in Bahasa Melayu and Chemistry or Biology
  • Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) with a minimum CGPA 2.0; Grade C (CGPA 2.00) in Pengajian Am/Kertas Am; at least Grade B (CGPA 3.00) in Biology or Chemistry
  • Malaysian University English Test (MUET), at least Band 1
    OR
• Matriculation
  • Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) or equivalent with a credit in Bahasa Melayu; minimum Grade C (CGPA 2.00) in Chemistry or Biology
  • Minimum Grade B (CGPA 3.00) in Biology or Chemistry Matriculation with minimum CGPA 2.00
  • Malaysian University English Test (MUET), at least Band 1
    OR
• Diploma
  • A Diploma in a related field or its equivalent which is recognized by the Malaysian Government and the University Senate, with a CGPA of at least 3.0
  • A Band 3 in MUET or a TOEFL score of at least 550 or a score of Band 6 in the IELTS examination

INTERNATIONAL ADMISSION

• GCE O Level passes with a credit in Chemistry or Biology
• GCE A Level with CGPA 2.0; Grade C (CGPA 2.00) in General Paper; at least Grade B (CGPA 3.00) in Biology or Chemistry
  OR
• A pass in the Higher School Certificate (HSC)/its equivalent with at least a C+ grade in three (3) subjects or 65% in three (3) subjects in the Final Level of Secondary Education
• A pass in the University Entrance Exam (for countries which seek such requirement for admission into universities); at least Grade B (CGPA 3.00) in Biology or Chemistry and
• A Band 3 in the Malaysian University English Test (MUET) or a TOEFL score of at least 550 or a score of 6 in the IELTS examination

Core and Professional Modules

• ANA 3101 Human Anatomy; Credit 3(2+1)
• This course encompasses the basic concepts of human anatomy. Elaboration, relationship and the anatomical differences in organs of different genders are emphasized.

• DTK 3000 Nutrition Counseling; Credit 3(2+1)
• This course encompasses basic principles and theories in behavior modification, effective communication, interviewing and counseling skills. Individual and group counseling are conducted. This course also discusses ethics and professional behavior in nutrition counseling.

• DTK 3100 Principles of Food Preparation; Credit 3(2+1)
• This course includes introduction to the fundamentals of foods, concepts of basic food preparation as well as effect of physical, chemical and nutritional changes on cooked foods. This course also emphasizes laboratory procedures in applying the principles studied to the preparation of foods.

• DTK 3203 Drug-Nutrient Interaction; Credit 3(3+0)
• This course covers the basics in pharmacology, role of nutrition in pharmacological response of drugs and nutrient. The implications of drug-nutrient interactions on normal and diseased conditions as well as on nutritional status are emphasised. The inter-relationships between foods, diseased states and nutritional status on the efficacy of therapeutic drugs are discussed. Drug-nutrient interaction during critical stages in life cycle is emphasised.

• DTK 3205 Nutritional Immunology; Credit 3(3+0)
• The course includes introduction to the concept of immunity and the immune system. The effect of immuno-nutrients on cells and molecules are detailed. It emphasises the concept on the roles of the immune system in infectious and auto-immune diseases, food allergy and cancer. Effects of nutrition and physical activity on immune responses are discussed.

• PKK 3001 Current Issues in Nutrition and Health; Credit 2(1+1)
• This course encompasses an overview of research and development in the fields of nutrition and health. It also includes critical reviews and discussions on current literature based on specialized topics. Students will prepare scholarly papers to be presented in seminars.

• PKK 3002 Biostatistics and Research Methodology in Nutrition; Credit 3(2+1)
• This course encompasses the basics of biostatistics in scientific research in the field of nutrition and community health. Research design and planning, data analysis and interpretation, report writing and presentation of research findings are discussed.

• PKK 3100 Food, Society and Culture; Credit 3(3+0)
• This course encompasses food heritage and the meaning of foods in different cultures, including food classification, food beliefs, food taboos and symbolism. It also covers the origin and evolution of food patterns including patterns of food procurement and preparation. Factors influencing food choices and food consumption patterns in different cultures and communities and their implications on nutrition and health are discussed.

• PKK3103 Institutional Foodservice Management; Credit 3(3+0)
• This course encompasses the concepts of foodservice system management in producing quantity and quality of commercial and non-commercial foods. The important components in food production beginning from menu planning to ingredients purchasing are emphasized. Sanitary premise maintenance to ensure food safety is also emphasized.

• PKK 3102 Principles of Nutrient Analysis; Credit 3(2+1)
• This course encompasses physico-chemical of foods and changes in nutritional values. The student will carry out nutrient analysis including sampling, quality control, methods/techniques in determining the content of macro- and micronutrients in foods.

• PKK 3200 Principles of Human Nutrition; Credit 3(3+0)
• This course covers the principles of biochemical and physiological of human nutrition. Health problems related to nutrients and the importance of Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI), Food Pyramid and Malaysian Dietary Guidelines are emphasized.

• PKK 3202 Nutrition and Metabolism; Credit 3(3+0)
• This course encompasses biochemistry and metabolism of nutrients and their interactions in maintaining body homeostasis. Nutrient imbalance and its effect on body metabolism, biochemical indicators of nutritional disorders and inborn errors of metabolism are emphasized.

• PKK 3203 Nutrition Throughout the Life Cycle; Credit 3(3+0)
• This course encompasses the nutrition requirements from conception to adulthood, biological and behavioral implications of malnutrition on growth and development.

• PKK 3302 Basic Epidemiology; Credit 3(3+0)
• This course covers the basic principles of epidemiology in community and clinical health, epidemiologic methods in research and statistical methods used in epidemiology.

• PKK 3303 Maternal and Child Health; Credit 3(2+1)
• This course encompasses maternal and child health which includes the interdependence between mothers and children, optimal growth and development of children through nutrition and health. The need for maternal and child health services and programmes at national and international levels to improve their health status are discussed.

• PKK 3304 Behaviour and Health; Credit 3(3+0)
• This course encompasses knowledge on the relationship between behavior and health conditions. It will also focus on predisposing, enabling and reinforcing factors to behavior. Research methods in health and behavior and associations between behavioral factor and health status are emphasized.

• PKK 3400 Population Studies: Health Perspective; Credit 3(3+0)
• This course exposes students to the processes and dynamics of population change. Policies and programmes in population are discussed in the context of the implications of population development on the health and nutritional status of the people.

• PKK 3401 Assessment of Nutritional and Health Status); Credit 3(2+1)
• This course encompasses the methods for assessing the health and nutritional status of individuals, groups and populations. Quantitative and qualitative assessments that include anthropometric measurements, analysis of biological samples, clinical examination, dietary methods and study of environmental influences are emphasized.

• PKK 3402 Community Nutrition and Health; Credit 3(3+0)
• This course encompasses the principles and concepts of community health. Issues and indicators of community health and nutrition, the influence of socio-economic, cultural, environmental factors, services and programs in community health and nutrition are discussed.

• PKK 3404 Nutrition and Health Promotion I; Credit 3(3+0)
• This course encompasses the knowledge on development of health promotion. Relationship between nutrition and health promotion with other disciplines is discussed. Planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation processes of nutrition and health promotion programs are emphasized.

• PKK 3405 Nutrition and Health Promotion II; Credit 3(2+1)
• This course encompasses of concepts, principles and main functions of management of nutrition and health program. Students will carry out the planning, implementation and evaluation of nutrition and health promotion programs in schools, communities and work sites.

• PKK 4200 Biochemistry of Nutritional Disorders; Credit 3(3+0)
• This course encompasses knowledge on human metabolism in diseased states caused by nutritional disorders. Nutritional changes and its effects on human metabolic and physiological are discussed.

• PKK 4201 Therapeutic Nutrition; Credit 3(2+1)
• This course encompasses physiological aspects of nutrition-related diseases and the relationship between disease and nutrient involved. Principles and concepts of nutritional therapy as guidelines in the planning of therapeutic diets are discussed.

• PKK 4204 Nutrition, Physical Activities and Health; Credit 3(2+1)
• This course encompasses the aspects of physical activity and fitness and their relationship to nutrition and health. Assessment of physical activity levels of selected groups will be carried. Issues and controversies related to nutrition, physical activity and health are critically evaluated.

• PKK 4901 Industrial Training; Credit 6(0+6)
• This course exposes students to the problems in the community and they witness how various agencies are addressing them. Students will be placed in agencies related with nutritional and health community programs and be given work experiences so that students have an understanding and will be able to carry out activities that have been planned by the agency/organization.

• PKK 4999 Final Year Project; Credit 12(0+12)
• This course covers knowledge and experiences for students to plan and do research projects in the fields of nutrition and community health using primary data. Skills in proposal writing, research design, design of instrumentation, data collection, analysis and interpretation are emphasized. Research results will be written in the form of a report or thesis and presented. This course is carried out in two semesters.

• SBP 3110 Introduction to Human Physiology; Credit 3(3+0)
• This course encompasses an introduction to human physiological systems. Functions and relationships among the body’s systems as well as processes in the body in maintaining optimal health conditions are discussed.

• SBP 3201 Basic Medical Biochemistry; Credit 3(2+1)
• This course covers the changes in biochemical disease processes. It includes the structural, chemical, properties and functional aspects of cellular constituents. The biosynthesis and degradation of the carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, nucleotide metabolism, signal transductions and hormone-receptor interaction and it’s relevance to the control of metabolic pathway also be discussed.

• SBP 3403 Basic Medical Microbiology; Credit 3(2+1)
• This course covers basic knowledge of microbiology and basic techniques in microbial cultivation and diagnosis. The development of diseases also will be discussed.

• SBP 3502 Human Genetics; Credit 3(2+1)
• The course encompasses basic principles of genetic, Mendelian genetics, population and molecular genetics as well as basic clinical applications which includes the importance and implications of genetic diseases in human.

• SKP 2501 Introduction to Psychology; Credit 3(3+0)
• This course covers the basic concepts and major areas in psychology. Specific focus is given to neuropsychology, growth and development, learning, perception, motivation and emotion, memory, intelligence, personality, stress and health, and abnormal psychology