Competencies and Learning Objectives for Nutritional Sciences
| Competency | Specific course(s) that allow assessment | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Describe physiological functioning of the digestive tract following nutrient intake through application of an anatomical visualization | NUTR630 |
| 2 | Explain how macro- and micronutrient intake drive metabolic pathways and physiological function | NUTR630, NUTR631 |
| 3 | Suggest interventions that address the role of the environment, food, and lifestyle choices to enhance wellness in diverse individuals and populations | NUTR639 |
| 4 | Apply the principles and methods of nutrition assessment to monitor nutritional status and trends, identify at-risk individuals & groups, and investigate diet and disease relationships | NUTR640 |
| 5 | Develop appropriate designs to rigorously monitor and evaluate nutrition programs and policies in diverse contexts | NUTR633, NUTR650, NUTR677 |
| 6 | Demonstrate leadership skills that contribute to professional development and innovation in the field of nutrition | NUTR600 |
| 7 | Apply public health theoretical frameworks and nutrition research evidence to inform public health actions | NUTR642, NUTR650, NUTR677, NUTR633 |
| 8 | Explain dietary influences on health outcomes, and identify population-based strategies to improve nutritional health | NUTR642, NUTR650, NUTR677 |
| Competency | Specific course(s) that allow assessment | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Interpret key findings from advanced nutritional research | NUTR688, NUTR698/9 |
| 2 | Develop a discovery-based research study to evaluate some aspect of nutritional sciences | NUTR698/9 |
| 3 | Predict consequences that result from defects in specific metabolic pathways, including vitamin and macronutrient deficiencies or inborn errors of metabolism | NUTR630 |
| 4 | Deduce how specific micronutrient deficiencies relate to poor health including the mechanism(s) of action | NUTR631 |
| 5 | Analyze quantitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software, as appropriate | BIOSTAT521 |
| 6 | Apply the principles and methods of nutrition assessment to monitor nutritional status and trends, identify at-risk individuals & groups, and investigate diet and disease relationships | NUTR640 |
| Competency | Specific course(s) that allow assessment | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Create a rigorous study design to test a research question based on a critical evaluation of prior literature | NUTR990, NUTR995, NUTR830 |
| 2 | Predict the consequences of nutrient deficiencies or excesses based on principles of macronutrient and micronutrient biochemistry | NUTR630, NUTR631, Doctoral Qualifying Exam |
| 3 | Predict how genetic variations in enzymes, nutrient transporters or regulators could affect human health and disease | NUTR630, NUTR631, NUTR638, Doctoral Qualifying Exam |
| 4 | Evaluate the biochemical basis of energy generating and consuming pathways, including their role in energy balance | NUTR630 |
| 5 | Articulate potential mechanisms by which specific dietary, behavioral factors, and physical activity contribute to weight gain and loss | NUTR639 |
| 6 | Propose appriopriate nutritional assessment methodologies in a research context | NUTR640 |
| 7 | Describe findings from presentations of novel nutritional research | NUTR688 |
| 8 | Disseminate rigorous research findings through clear, persuasive written and oral communication to both peers and non-technical audiences | NUTR869 |
| Competency | Specific course(s) that allow assessment | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Explain how biochemical nature of different carbohydrates/fats/proteins relates to nutritional quality | NUTR630 |
| 2 | Explain how the biological nature of vitamins and minerals relates to population health | NUTR631 |
| 3 | Apply the principles and methods of nutrition assessment to monitor nutritional status and trends, identify at-risk individuals, monitor progress of programs, and investigate diet/disease relationships | NUTR640 |
| 4 | Assess the primary strengths and weaknesses of different methods to collect nutrition information at the population level, including sources of error and approaches to reduce error | NUTR624 |
| 5 | Apply methods of nutritional epidemiology for the evaluation of diet/disease relationships | NUTR624 |
| 6 | integrate findings of novel nutrition research with existing knowledge of nutritional epidemiology | NUTR688 |
| Competency | Specific course(s) that allow assessment | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apply knowledge of macronutrients and micronutrients to nutrition policies and programs addressing health of populations | NUTR630, NUTR631 |
| 2 | Identify the primary strengths and weaknesses of the different methods that can be used to collect nutrition information | NUTR624 |
| 3 | Integrate findings from presentations of novel nutritional research with existing knowledge of nutritional interventions | NUTR688 |
| 4 | Disseminate rigorous research findings through clear, persuasive written and oral communication to both peers and non-technical audiences | NUTR869 |
| 5 | Demonstrate familiarity of behavioral change theories and conceptual frameworks relevant to nutrition interventions in clinical and/or community contexts | NUTR650 |
| 6 | Create a rigorous intervention study design to test a research question based on a critical evaluation of prior literature | NUTR990, NUTR995, Preliminary Exam |