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Course Syllabus

HFST 2020 Nutrition Through the Life Cycle

  • Division: Social and Behavioral Science
  • Department: Education and Family Studies
  • Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 0
  • Prerequisites: Students must have taken the HFST 1020 (Scientific Foundations of Nutrition) course prior to taking this class.
  • Semesters Offered: Spring
  • Semester Approved: Fall 2025
  • Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2030
  • End Semester: Summer 2031
  • Optimum Class Size: 30
  • Maximum Class Size: 40

Course Description

This course examines nutrition throughout the life cycle, which includes preconception, pregnancy, lactation, infant, toddler, preschooler, child, preadolescent, adolescent, adult, and older adult nutrition. Each stage of life will include the discussion of biological, cultural, psychological, and socioeconomic factors that influence eating behaviors and nutritional requirements.

Justification

This course is an upper-level class about the science of human nutrition. This course is designed to meet the advanced nutrition course requirements for students majoring in family and consumer sciences, food and nutrition, clinical nutrition, dietetics, education, food service systems management, food science, nursing, nutrition science, sports nutrition, public health nutrition, and nursing. It serves as a prerequisite for programs at four-year schools in the state and is similar to courses offered at other USHE institutions.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will be able to determine nutrient needs, functions, and recommendations through each of the life cycles.
  2. Students will be able to provide diet and activity recommendations through each of the life cycles.
  3. Students will be able to discuss the impact of biological, socioeconomic, cultural, and psychological factors on eating behavior.
  4. Students will be able to explain the role of nutrition relative to the promotion of health and the prevention of chronic disease for each stage of the life cycle.
  5. Students will be able to describe common nutrition-related conditions and concerns of each stage of the life cycle and appropriate assessment methods and interventions.
  6. Students will be able to utilize nutrition tools and resources for each life cycle stage.

Course Content

This course will cover content that includes but is not limited to the following: Nutrition basics, preconception nutrition, nutrition during pregnancy, nutrition during lactation, infant nutrition, toddler and preschooler nutrition, child and preadolescent nutrition, adolescent nutrition, adult nutrition, and nutrition for older adults.