Food, Nutrition and Human Health
The Robert Gordon University (RGU)
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Location
Aberdeen, United Kingdom
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Type of Degree BSc
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Start Date
No info
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Duration
No info
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Application Deadline
No info
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Language English
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Attendance
On Campus
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Dedication
Full-time
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Pace
Instructor-paced
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Tuition fees
No info
Program description
The BSc (Hons) Food, Nutrition and Human Health course is based on the scientific study of nutrients and other substances in food, and how they affect our growth and development, health and disease, and athletic performance.
Nutritionists may develop and evaluate nutrition policies and campaigns to improve the population’s health; apply physiological, biochemical and nutritional principles to the management of diet and performance in athletes; deal with ingredients, allergens, policy and legislation when developing or reformulating food and drink products; or study metabolic and physiological responses of the human body to food and nutrients.
A key feature of the course is your 12-week full-time placement providing you with valuable work experience highly sought after by employers.
What will you study
Year 1
You will be introduced to the properties and production of the main food commodities; energy intake and expenditure; protein, fat, carbohydrate, alcohol, vitamins and minerals; microbiology and food pathogens; methods of food analysis; and the international and cultural aspects of food and nutrition.
Year 2
You will learn about human anatomy and physiology, and how nutrients are metabolised in the body; how to assess an individual’s nutritional status; and the importance of nutrition through our lifespan (pregnancy, infancy, adolescence and adulthood). You will also learn about food science and management systems, and the importance of plant foods and phytochemicals for health.
Year 3
You will study the relationship between nutrition and disease (cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus), and how diet can improve athletic performance. You will also create a health promotion campaign and recipe book, engage with a food company to develop a new food product, and learn how the interaction between our genes and diet affects our health.
Year 4
In your final year you will undertake a 12-week full-time placement to learn about the role of a Nutritionist within the workplace. You will work on an individual research project and study a topic of emerging importance: the role of the gut microbiome and diet in health and disease.
Job Prospects
The nutrition sector has a wide variety of careers and is a constantly expanding field.
Previous Food, Nutrition and Human Health graduates of Robert Gordon University have gone on to pursue careers in the following industries:
- Food industry (from primary production through product development to the retail chains)
- Public health nutrition and health promotion (e. g. NHS public health departments or freelance as consultants)
- Government and non-government organisations
- Health and fitness industries to promote health and improve performance
- Private sector - promoting the health and wellbeing of employees through health and lifestyle assessments and delivery of educational seminars
- Nutrition research (lab-based and human)
- Home economics teaching
