Human Nutrition BSc (Hons)

Teaching

You are taught via a variety of teaching methods accessible to a range of learning styles. These include lectures, group tutorials and discussions, applied workshops in both the laboratory and field, multimedia content hosted on our visual learning environment, directed reading and research, and formative assessments.

Transferable skill development is integrated in to all levels of the course and includes dedicated study skills sessions in the first year. The course has a high level of practical and applied content and the emphasis on the development of 'hands on' practical skills will provide you with useful skills for your future career. These are reinforced by undertaking work experience in the second year and an independent project in your final year.

In addition, regular meetings with your Personal Academic Tutor are scheduled throughout the course allowing you access to tailored advice and guidance throughout your time with us. Tutorials with other members of teaching staff are also available on request to support the Learning Objectives and teaching on your modules if you feel it is needed.

You may also have an opportunity to become involved in staff research through the Vacation Research Assistantship Scheme.

Contact time

In a typical week during semester time you will have around 16 contact hours of tutor-led activities designed to help you learn and explore the theoretical and practical sides of Human Nutrition and its application in the work environment. The precise contact hours per week will depend on the optional modules selected; the activities planned within those modules; and student-tutor discussions on how best to utilise the time. In the final year you will normally have less contact time in order to conduct an independent study (dissertation), although tutor-support is available when needed.

Typically class contact time will be structured around:

• Lectures and seminars/presentations
• Supervised practical laboratory workshops
• Supervised skill development workshops (including ITC skills)
• Mentored group activities
• Transferable skill development

Independent self-study

In addition to scheduled contact time, you are expected to undertake independent learning, amounting to a typical commitment of between 35-40 hours per week to scholarly pursuits. Typically, this will involve broadening, deepening and clarifying your understanding gained from contact time activities using journal articles, books, online activities, and via group work (study groups). In addition you will need to prepare and produce assignments and presentations; to prepare for tests and examinations; and to reflect on feedback from these course assessments in order to develop strategies to improve your future performance.

Independent learning is supported by a range of excellent learning facilities, including the Hive and other library resource platforms, the virtual learning environment, and extensive electronic learning resources.

Teaching staff

You will be taught and mentored by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. You will mainly be taught by senior academics, many of which are recognised by professional bodies such as the Association for Nutrition; but visiting speakers with specialised expertise may deliver some sessions. Technicians support practical sessions.

Teaching is informed by the research and consultancy, and 93 per cent of course lecturers in the Biological Sciences have a higher education teaching qualification or are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy. Twenty percent also have Teaching Fellowships from the University of Worcester. You can learn more about the staff by visiting our staff profiles.

Assessment

Each module has two or more formal (summative) assessments which are graded, count towards the overall module grade, and may count towards your final degree classification. Each module also provides opportunities to informally test your progress through the completion of practice (formative) assignments.

There are a variety of assessment formats designed to develop and test you theoretical knowledge of the subject and applied skill set. The precise assessment requirements for an individual student in an academic year will vary according to the mandatory and optional module combination taken, but a typical formal summative assessment pattern for the Human Nutrition single honours course is presented below:

Year 1
6 x Examination / test
1 x Information table & data analysis report
1 x Poster Presentation
4 x Practical report / file
1 x Practical Test
4-6 other assignments dependent on optional modules selected

Year 2
1 x Action plan
1 x Analytical report
1 x CV and Interview
1 x Data analysis exam
1 x Essay
1 x Evaluative report
2 x Examination / test
2 x Presentation
1 x Practical report
2 x Reflective report
1 x Research proposal
1 x Risk assessment

Year 3
1 x Analytical report
1 x Case study
4 x Examination / test
1 x Grant proposal
1 x Independent study report (Dissertation)
1 x Literature survey
5 x Presentation
1 x Portfolio
2 x Practical report

Feedback

Feedback will be made available on formative and formal assessments along with suggestions on how to improve future performance (feed-forward). Feedback is intended to support learning and you are encouraged to discuss it with your Personal Academic Tutor, module tutors, and members of your study group as appropriate.

We aim to provide you with feedback on formal course work assessments within 20 working days of submission.