Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Scientific Foundations of Human Nutrition (Face-to-Face)

NFS 1020-13

Course: NFS 1020-13
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: ASNS
CRN: 13534

Course Description

An introduction to the science of nutrition and the relationship of food intake and health. Nutrient requirements and food selection to meet those requirements are discussed. Students evaluate their own food intake and eating behaviors and learn to be informed consumers of food and nutrition information. A minimum grade of “C” (2.0) or above must be earned in this course before it can be counted in a Human Nutrition major or minor or as a prerequisite for any other nutrition course. (Fall, Spring, Summer) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): Intensive English Program majors may not enroll General Education Category: Life Sciences

Required Texts

Recommended Textbooks
·         Free Online Text: Nutrition: Science and Everyday Application | 2nd Edition 2020 | by Alice Callahan, PhD; Heather Leonard, PhD, RDN; and Tamberly Powell, MS, RDN https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/nutritionscience2e/.
·         Scientific American Nutrition for a Changing World | 2nd Edition ©2022 | ISBN: 9781319148676 ISBN-13: 1319148670 by Jamie Pope and Steven Nizielski

Learning Outcomes

Essential Course Learning Outcomes:

·         Critical Thinking: Students will demonstrate disciplined processes of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating nutrition information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication as a guide to belief and action.
·         Lifelong Learning: Students will demonstrate that they possess the skills and dispositions that are necessary for a self-sufficient learner to engage in purposeful, ongoing learning activities with the aim of improving nutrition knowledge, skills, and competence.

 Course Objectives

By the end of this course, successful students who attend all class sessions, actively engage in class activities, and complete all assignments as instructed will be able to:
·         Increase knowledge of the science of nutrition with a greater understanding of the relationship between food and health.
·         Become familiar with the nutrient requirements of the human body, factors affecting those requirements, and current advancements being made in this area.
·         Apply nutrition information by selecting and evaluating a nutritious food intake.

·         Interpret information on a nutrition label and use this information, along with other nutrition tools, to evaluate diets.
·         Identify reputable sources of nutrition information and distinguish between reliable and unreliable information.

Course Requirements

 | Professional Email - 25 points
 | Attendance - 50 points
 | In-class activities  (Written, Poll EV, or Kahoot) - 50 points
 | Dietary Analysis Assignments #1-5 - 200 points
 | Chapter Assessments - Assignments and Quizzes - 225 points
 | Exams (4 at 100 points each – lowest exam grade will be dropped) - 300 points
 | Final exam - 150 points
 |   | Total | 1000 points

Course Outline

Topics covered:

·         Introduction to course

·         Ch 1: Nutrition & You

·         Ch 2: Healthy Diets

·         Ch 3: GI Tract and Digestion

·         Ch 4: Carbohydrates

·         Ch 5: Lipids

·         Ch 6: Proteins

·         Ch 7: Vitamins

·         Ch 8: Minerals

·         Ch 9: Water and Supplements

·         Ch 10: Energy Balance and Obesity

·         Ch 11: Nutrition Across the Lifespan

·         Ch 12: Physical Activity and Sleep

·         Nutrition Degree Lecture

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late assignments may be accepted until 7 days after the due date, but 10% will be deducted after the assignment is graded. For example, if an assignment is graded on a 0-100 scale and your submitted work is evaluated as 90 based on the grading rubric, you will receive an 80 when a ‘day-late’ submission policy is applied.

Attendance Policy

1.       Class attendance and active class participation are expected to enhance learning. Cell phones, tablets, or other portable electronic devices cannot be used as calculators.

2.       Attendance will be taken at the start and/or at the end of every class period.

3.       Maximum points will be awarded if the student is present and participates for the entire class session.

4.       You will have one unexcused absence that does not count toward your grades. This unexcused absence should be reserved for life's unexpected occurrences (maybe due to being ill or if you are under the weather) However, two unexcused absences cost 10% of total class attendance and participation points. Therefore, if you miss a class, after utilizing your unexcused absence, you will get 50 – (10% × 50) = 45 points (out of a maximum of 50).

5.       Excused official absences include illness (with a doctor’s report), religious observances, death in the immediate family, legal duty (e.g., a witness for a trial), and approved SUU activities (e.g., field trips). Extended periods of absence due to illness should have a doctor’s note.

6.       Please note that having a flat tire, missing your bus, travelling home early for holidays or forgetting about a class day is not an official excused absence. However, communicate such absences or "emergencies" with me as soon as possible.
7.       Unofficial absences will be treated on a case-by-case basis.

Course Fees

 No additional course fee. 

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.