Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Nutrition as Related to Fitness and Sports (Hybrid)

NFS 3020-30Y

Course: NFS 3020-30Y
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Agriculture Sci/Nutritonal Sci
CRN: 30013

Course Description

Designed to provide coaches, teachers, athletic trainers, physically active people, and competitors with the most recent factual information on sound nutrition. Includes information on essential nutrients, metabolism during exercise, specific problems experienced by athletes or highly active people, myths, ergogenic aids, and current interests. A minimum grade of “C” (2.0 or above) must be earned in all prerequisite courses. (Fall, Spring, Summer [As Needed]) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): NFS 1020 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C Registration Restriction(s): None

Required Texts

  • Textbook: Nutrition for Sport and Exercise, 6th Ed., Cengage ISBN: 9798214449562
  • Nancy Clark’s Sports Nutrition Guidebook, 6th Ed., Clark ISBN: 978-1492591573
  • Cengage Learning Diet and Wellness Plus
  • Lecture Slides, recordings, articles, and all materials can be found in Canvas under the "Modules" section.
  • SUU Library resource link: https://www.suu.edu/library/citation-help.html

Learning Outcomes

After completing the course, students who are successful in this class will be able to do the following:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of nutrition principles relevant to athletic performance, fitness, and sports.

  • Apply knowledge of essential nutrients and metabolism during exercise to address the specific needs of athletes and active individuals.

  • Analyze and evaluate information on ergogenic aids, common myths, and current interests related to sports nutrition.

  • Develop critical thinking skills to evaluate and synthesize information from scientific literature and apply it to sports nutrition scenarios.

  • Communicate effectively (both orally and in writing) about sports nutrition concepts with individuals, groups, and the public.

  • Use appropriate tools and information technologies to access and apply evidence-based guidelines and protocols in sports nutrition.

Course Requirements

Course content: 
Module one: chapters 1-3, Intro to SN, Measuring Energy, and Energy Systems
Module two: chapters 4-6, Carbohydrates, Protein, and Fats
Module three: chapters 7-9, Water and Electrolytes, Vitamins and Minerals
Module four: chapters 10-14, Diet planning, Ergogenic Aids, Weight and Body Composition, Disordered Eating, and Diet & Exercise for Life.

Course Outline

MODULE ONE (9/2 - 9/25)
Exam 1: Chapters 1-3, Intro to SN, Measuring Energy, and Energy Systems (9/24 - 9/25)

MODULE TWO (9/26 - 10/23) 
Exam 2: Chapters 4-6, Carbohydrates, Protein, and Fats (10/22 - 10/23)

MODULE THREE (10/24 - 11/18)
Exam 3: Chapters 7-9, Water and Electrolytes, Vitamins and Minerals (11/19 - 11/20)

MODULE FOUR (11/30 - 12/11) 
Final exam: Chapters 10-14, Diet planning, Ergogenic Aids, Weight and Body Composition, Disordered Eating, and Diet & Exercise for Life.

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

Late work is not accepted in this course without legitimate medical or emergency documentation. In addition, best efforts must be made to notify the instructor before the due date.

Please note that contacting the instructor before a due date does not guarantee an extension, as that decision will be determined based on the nature of the need for an extension. Please note that work schedules, other course deadlines/schedules, technology issues/errors, submission/upload errors, and lack of access to technology devices and/or software are not considered legitimate excuses.

LATE/MAKE-UP WORK

Late Work: Work turned in late will receive a zero (except for extenuating circumstances). Most assignment due dates will be Friday at 5 PM. Assignments need to be legible and typed on a computer. No handwritten assignments will be accepted.

Makeup Work or In-Class Activities: No make-ups without medical or equivalent (e.g., school excused) reasons or under extreme circumstances.

In extreme circumstances (e.g., COVID, illness), arrangements for make-up should be made with the instructor within a week of the missed class or exam.

For school-excused activities, arrangements for making up in-class work must be made before the date of absence. According to Policy 6.30, you must inform the instructor of the dates you will miss class due to school-related activities before the anticipated absence. For activities whose schedules are known before the start of the semester, you must provide the instructors with a written schedule during the first week of the semester showing the days you expect to miss class. For other university-excused absences, you must provide the earliest advanced written notice of the classes you will miss.

Attendance Policy

ATTENDANCE: Although attendance is not graded, it is imperative for student learning. Please be prompt for class. Being late for class is disruptive and unacceptable.

Course Fees

There is a fee for the DWP application via Cengage. You will purchase this through the bookstore.

Course Policies and Communication

Instructor's Response Time & Feedback
I will respond to messages within 24 hours during the week, and 48 hours on weekends. During holiday breaks, my response time will be longer. Feedback is important for learning. Please review the feedback on your assignments that I have provided.
Grading: My goal is to complete grades within one week (except for spring break). I understand grades are important to you. If you have a question about your grade, please contact me within one week. There will be no potential changes after one week. I am always happy to review your test or assignment.
Student Communication
All student communication (oral and written) must be professional. Professional emails must be written. "Hey, professor" is not considered professional, and you may not receive a response. Instructions and rubrics for assignments, quizzes, and exams are in Canvas. Please check Canvas first before emailing me with a question.
PLAN YOUR WORK, WORK YOUR PLAN.
Throughout the semester, in-class activities will provide opportunities to learn, practice, and master the skills and abilities of research. Due dates for assignments represent the latest time they may be submitted. You should start working on them before the due date, and you can turn them in early. You will be expected to attend class on time with your book (if applicable) and the needed materials.
CELL PHONES NEED TO BE TURNED OFF DURING CLASS UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED.
Cell phones are great technology, and we will use them occasionally with class activities. In the case of an emergency, please use your phone in the hallway. The ringing/buzzing/vibrating of a cell phone in class is disruptive and negatively affects your learning and that of those around you.

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.

Religious / Conscience Belief Accommodation

RELIGIOUS / CONSCIENCE BELIEF ACCOMMODATION: In accordance with SUU Policy 6.7 Student Belief Accommodation, students may request, in writing, that their faculty accommodate their sincerely held religious or conscience beliefs. Students should provide their faculty with sufficient advanced notice, if possible within the first five (5) business days of the semester or session, or thereafter with good cause for requesting an accommodation after the first five (5) business days.

Faculty must provide a schedule accommodation or excuse an absence, in any course, for students to observe or participate in religious holidays or an organized activity conducted under the auspices of the student’s religious tradition or religious organization.

In courses that are required for graduation or for an academic major, a faculty member may accommodate a religious or conscience belief by modifying an assignment or examination if its content conflicts with the student’s belief. Faculty may decline the accommodation if it would fundamentally alter the course requirements. If declined, the student may request review by a neutral arbiter using the Belief Accommodation Request Form: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv&layout_id=5

Questions go to Assistant Provost Jake Johnson at johnsonj@suu.edu.

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.