UCD Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine Programme Office
Oifig Chlár Eolaíocht na Talmhaíochta agus an Leighis Tréidliachta, UCD
BSc in Human Nutrition
If you are keen on pursuing a qualification in food and health with a focus on human nutrition, then this new degree programme may interest you.
Graduating as a nutritionist, you will have the skills to apply your knowledge to promote an understanding of the effects of diet and lifestyle on health and well-being in people.
Degree: BSc in Human Nutrition
CAO Code: DN262
Length of Programme: 4 years.
Required Subjects: Irish, English, Mathematics, one laboratory science subject, two other recognised subjects.
Introduction
Nutrition,
the interaction between food and health, is becoming increasingly important
in our society today. This programme will aim to give you a holistic
understanding of food and health, underpinned by a strong scientific
background. UCD will have this BSc accredited with the Nutrition
Society. Thus all graduates will have professional accreditation as a
nutritionist.
Career Opportunities
The
academic content of this programme, together with the experience gained
from placement, leads to excellent employment opportunities in the food
industry, nutrition research or health promotion. This course will
aid you in continuing to train as a public health nutritionist, through
further study and/or applied practice.
Programme Content
Stage One
Stage one focuses on understanding the essential core sciences and students will also take an Introduction to Food, Diet and Health Module. Having this core basis will aid in understanding the complex metabolic processes associated with food and health.
Stage Two
You will undertake more general food and health-related modules, where you will begin to build your knowledge of biological systems and their application to the practice of human nutrition. You will also undertake a wide range of topics including areas of food chemistry and production, sensory analysis and human nutrition.
Stage Three
This is a full Professional Work Experience stage, which can be completed in a number of different areas, including food companies, research institutes or other health- related bodies with an interest in nutrition. During Stage 3, you will complete a research project and will gain invaluable experience, allowing you to graduate from UCD well prepared for the workforce.
Stage Four
The final stage of this degree will focus on more specific areas of human nutrition including Molecular Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition and Clinical Nutrition. You will also consolidate your understanding of all core sciences into a professional understanding of human nutrition.
International Study Opportunities
We aim to foster and encourage placement of students in world-class facilities all over the world.
Postgraduate Opportunities
Food
and Health has been identified as an area of strategic significance in
UCD. Several postgraduate programmes are already in place - MSc
Public Health (Nutr) and MSc in EU Food Regulatory Affairs (internet
delivered) with further programmes in the planning stage. Development
of internationally recognised research groups in Food and Health at UCD has
resulted in an increase in recruitment of PhD and MSc (Res) posts. It
is an exciting time to join the Food and Health team in UCD.
It is important that you study the programme
syllabus before making your final choice.
Placements
Stage 3 is a full academic placement year. You will be required to work in a research group in a university or industry or in various bodies representing food and health e.g. Food Safety Authority of Ireland, British Nutrition Foundation, National Dairy Council. There is a high possibility you will travel during this year to the UK, Europe or further a field. Placement is provided to ensure that graduates will be able to register as nutritionists and to ensure the highest quality of graduates. Placements will be found for you and will be allocated on a competitive basis.
Further Information:
Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine Programme Office
Room G10 (ground floor),
UCD Agriculture and Food Science Centre
University College Dublin
Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
Tel: +353 1 716 7194
Fax: +353 1 716 1118
