Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Human Nutrition

Course Summary

Human Nutrition in ATU Sligo combines a number of scientific disciplines to provide a thorough understanding of the role of diet and nutrition in health and in the prevention of major diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and osteoporosis. The degree gives students a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between diet and health. Students learn how to apply this knowledge to individual and population health, as well as providing safe and nutritious food to the consumer.

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW 

This degree blends the basic sciences, food science, physiology, biochemistry, psychology, and specialist nutrition modules in a unique and interesting way that gives students the knowledge, skills and training required to work as a nutritional or food scientist.

As the programme progresses, students will select a specialised subject, including advanced nutrition, public health nutrition, sports & exercise nutrition and clinical nutrition.

In Year 4, students complete a work placement. The work placement takes place in food-related industries, academia, health promotion, and public health agencies, in hospitals, and with sports nutritionists in Ireland or abroad. Students will also be given the opportunity to undertake the HSE Making Every Contact Count training programme as part of the Behavioural Interventions module.

In Year 3, students complete a research project on a topic that is of interest to them. In the past, students have submitted papers on Attitudes to meat consumption in omnivores, vegetarians and vegans; Behaviour change techniques to improve gluten-free diet adherence in people with coeliac disease; Nutritional design during cancer treatment to maximise therapeutic impact and minimise side effects; The role of nutrition in recovery from muscle damage in elite athletes; and Challenges and opportunities of developing food products for the ageing population

YEAR 1

Students cover basic sciences including human biology and chemistry, along with modules on mathematics and information technology. Study of nutrition and the foundations of health promotion introduce students to the degrees core subject matter.

YEAR 2

Students study more detailed modules. These include Nutritional Biochemistry, Health Psychology, and Nutrition Through the Life Stages and various modules related to the science of food. Students are also given the opportunity to undertake the HSE Making Every Contact Count training programme.

YEAR 3

As the programme continues the emphasis is on a range of specialised nutrition subjects, including Advanced Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition, Sports and Exercise Nutrition, and Clinical Nutrition.

YEAR 4

Students continue their studies in the area of clinical nutrition and are introduced to modules in Global Nutrition, Molecular Nutrition and current issues in food and nutrition. Students also complete a research project and a four-month placement in the last semester to continue their development in an area related to food and nutrition.

PROFESSIONAL ACCREDITATION

This programme is accredited by the Association for Nutrition (AfN, AC289). This means graduates from this Level 8 honours degree are eligible for direct entry as registered associate nutritionists with the Association for Nutrition. 

EXTRA SKILLS 

Students gain invaluable experience and acquire or improve key transferable skills such as teamwork, decision-making, presentation and organisational skills, as well as building communications, management and initiative skills. Students also foster a deeper understanding of food and nutrition by applying the theory they have learned in class to practical situations.  

DIETETICS

Many of our graduates have progressed to complete an MSc in Dietetics. Popular destinations for our students have been University of Limerick, Ulster University, Manchester Metropolitan University, Birmingham University and Leeds Beckett University. Our expert staff ensure that students receive appropriate references and advice prior to application and subsequent interview for further studies in areas such as dietetics. This is a process our academics engage with every year, and they are extremely knowledgable of the requirements.

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for CAO courses at ATU Sligo are available for download below:

• Download Entry requirements for just Level 8 programmes
• Download Entry requirements for all programmes

Career Opportunities

The career paths available to graduates are quite broad. This degree has been carefully designed to ensure graduates attain a number of varied skills and competencies across a range of disciplines and sectors.

Graduates will be able to use the experience and knowledge gained in this programme to work in food and nutrition-related industries such as research, product development, food safety, regulation, consumer information and marketing. Graduates are also qualified for a variety of roles in health promotion and public health nutrition.

Graduates can also pursue further studies in a variety of areas, including dietetics.

Further Study

Graduates may progress to further study in areas such as public health, dietetics, human nutrition or postgraduate research degrees in related disciplines. 

The Department of Health and Nutritional Sciences at ATU Sligo offers masters programmes in: 

MSc in Health Promotion

MSc in Public Health Nutrition

MSc in Sports and Exercise Nutrition

Many of our graduates have progressed to complete an MSc in Dietetics. Popular destinations for our students have been University of Limerick, Ulster University, Manchester Metropolitan University, Birmingham University and Leeds Beckett University. Our expert staff ensure that students receive appropriate references and advice prior to application and subsequent interview for further studies in areas such as dietetics. This is a process our academics engage with every year, and they are extremely knowledgable of the requirements.

Testimonials

"What I loved most about Human Nutrition in ATU Sligo, is that it covered all areas of nutrition – from food composition to how the human body works and how we think, as human nutrition is not just about food. You learn a lot about the significance of health and I love applying this to my own life. The lecturers are experts in this area. They are passionate about health and nutrition and transmit their passion to their students, making teaching interactive and enjoyable.

In this degree, you will take part in lots of laboratories which are fun and a great way to develop new skills. You gain skills and a deep understanding of a wide range of nutrition sectors, such as sports nutrition and clinical nutrition. In Year 4, I completed my work placement in Sligo University Hospital which was a great experience.

In my final year of study I applied to an MSc in Human Nutrition and Dietetics in the University of Limerick. I was successful in my application and started this programme in September 2022. I am excited for my future career as a dietician."

Angela Kosko, BSc (Hons) in Human Nutrition graduate and currently completing an MSc in Human Nutrition and Dietetics

"The modules are well balanced in terms of containing both theoretical and practical elements. Having both elements in the modules allowed me to put into practice the knowledge I was learning. The lecturers also provided personalised feedback on assignments which was very beneficial for self-improvement.

The best thing about the course is the work placement and research project. These two modules in particular can open up a lot of opportunities going forward. Completing a research project may spark interests for you in areas of nutrition that you may not release you have. Work placement provides you with a brilliant opportunity to apply the knowledge you have learned. It also provides you with exposure to the operations of the area you complete your work placement in such as healthcare, food industry, research and lots more.

I graduated from ATU Sligo with a BSc (Hons) Human Nutrition in 2019. I then went onto complete a MSc in Human Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Limerick. During this time, I published my final year research project in the Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal in 2020. This research was looking at the "Weight status of children aged 2 to 5 years old, attending a paediatric outpatient clinic and its association with parental feeding style and parental perceptions of weight status”. An abstract of the research paper was also published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood in 2019."

Aisling Lee, BSc (Hons) in Human Nutrition graduate and graduate of an MSc in Human Nutrition and Dietetics

Did you know?

We also offer this programme at Level 7 - AU862 BSc in Human Nutrition

This programme is accredited by the Association for Nutrition (AfN, AC289). This means graduates from this Level 8 honours degree are eligible for direct entry as registered associate nutritionists with the Association for Nutrition. 

As the programme progresses, students will select a specialised subject, including advanced nutrition, public health nutrition, sports & exercise nutrition and clinical nutrition.

In Year 3, students complete a research project on a topic that is of interest to them.

In Year 4, students complete a work placement.

Students can undertake the HSE Making Every Contact Count training programme as part of the Behavioural Interventions module.

Students gain invaluable experience and acquire or improve key transferable skills such as teamwork, decision-making, presentation and organisational skills, as well as building communications, management and initiative skills.

Many of our graduates have progressed to complete an MSc in Dietetics.

Alumni

"I chose Human Nutrition in ATU Sligo as I was interested in nutrition which stemmed from my love of sport. Nutrition impacts our strength, training, performance and recovery. I particularly enjoyed the hands-on approach of the degree. The first two years give a great grounding in science subjects, particularly bio-chemistry, and it progressed to more clinical modules which I enjoyed most.

The degree is practical, and designed to address current and emerging issues in the area of nutrition. In Year 4, both the final year project and the industry placement give me great insight to future employment opportunities.

I continued my studies in ATU Sligo with a Masters in Research. This was funded by the Irish Research Council Government of Ireland. My Masters in Research is on the Nutrition Related Life of Irish Cancer Survivors. While carrying out my final year project in my undergraduate degree in ATU Sligo, on the muscle strength of ambulatory oncology patients and its effect on quality of life, I was inspired to pursue a Masters in Research in the field. The first-hand experience made me realise that personalised care for each patients nutritional status is fundamental. The “one size fits all approach” is not applicable."

Niamh O'Callaghan, BSc (Hons) in Human Nutrition graduate and Irish Research Council Government of Ireland funded Postgraduate Studies at ATU Sligo

Course Format

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Semester 5

Semester 6

Semester 7

Semester 8

Semester 9