Extended Major Overview

Description

Nutritional science is an applied subject that draws information from many biological areas, with much of the science coming from biochemical studies. The Biochemistry of Nutrition extended major is an integrative area of study that combines physiology, human biology, microbiology, chemistry, molecular biology, and biochemistry and applies these sciences specifically to the study of health, diet, nutrition, disease, and the connections that exist among them. This extended major includes studies of nutrients, food constituents and their function regarding humans and other mammals, and specifically focuses on nutrient chemical components and how they function biochemically, physiologically and metabolically, as well as their impact on disease. Students will gain an appreciation of the clinical relevance of nutritional biochemistry and the influence of dietary modification and nutritional intervention on physiology and physiological dysfunction.

Outcomes

Students are able to:

  1. demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of required foundational knowledge in biochemistry, molecular biology and physiology
  2. analyse the biochemical and physiological principles of the processes involved in the digestion and absorption of nutrients, involvement of gut microflora, and impact on human health
  3. describe the major metabolic pathways involved in the metabolism of nutrients in the human body and how they relate to disease pathology
  4. demonstrate how to research topics, participate in teamwork, seek out information and solve problems in nutritional biochemistry
  5. demonstrate technical competency in application of current scientific methodology required to conduct laboratory-based investigations, including experimental design, data collection and interpretation, critical analysis, and operation of laboratory equipment
  6. communicate effectively scientific information and analyses of laboratory-based data in written and oral forms
  7. apply high-level critical thinking, teamwork and communication and skills required for employment and further studies related to the biochemistry of nutrition.
Broadening guidelines

All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office. If you are completing this major in a Combined Bachelor's masters Course, you have elected to pursue a highly specialised and in-depth program of study in your chosen field. While you are encouraged to use the free elective units available in your course to study in other disciplines offered at UWA, your formal requirement to broaden your course will be met through the Honours and Postgraduate units which form an integral part of your course.

Prerequisites

ATAR Mathematics Methods or equivalent or higher or ATAR Mathematics Mathematics Applications with a mathematics unit taken in the first year. Students without ATAR mathematics will take two first year mathematics unit.

Chemistry ATAR or equivalent or an additional chemistry unit taken in the first year.

Courses

Biochemistry of Nutrition can only be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

Example Study Plan

See study plans for more information.

Units

Key to availability of units:
S1
Semester 1
S2
Semester 2

Level 1

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (24 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 BIOC1001 Introductory Cellular Biochemistry
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
ATAR Subject(s) Chemistry ATAR
or CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
or CHEX1003 Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility
Successful completion of
CHEM1004 Biological Chemistry
S1, S2 CHEM1001 Chemistry—Properties and Energetics
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry (ID 1063)
or CHEX1003 Introductory Chemistry
or ATAR Subject(s) Chemistry
or ATAR Subject(s) WACE Chemistry 3A/3B or equivalent
S1 PHYL1001 Physiology - How your body works
Incompatibility
PHYL2001 Physiology of Human Body Systems
S2 SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
ATAR Subject(s) Human Biology or equivalent
or ATAR Subject(s) Biology or equivalent
or ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
or ANHX1101 Human Biology 1 (Becoming Human)
or ANHX1102 Human Biology 2 (Being Human)
or ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human
or BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or IMED1001 Form and Function
and Successful completion of
ATAR Subject(s) Chemistry or equivalent
or CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
or CHEX1003 Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility
Unit(s) SCIE2225 Molecular Biology
Degree-specific major units

Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points from this group:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1, S2 SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
ATAR Subject(s) Mathematics Applications or equivalent
or Mathematics Methods or equivalent
or Unit(s) MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or MATX1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
Co-requisites
MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods
Or MATX1721 Mathematics Foundations
Or SCIE1500 Analytical Methods for Scientists
Incompatibility
Successful completion of
Unit(s) STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics
or STAX1520 Economic and Business Statistics
S1, S2 STAT1400 Statistics for Science
Prerequisites
Mathematics Applications ATAR
or MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or MATX1720 Mathematics Fundamentals or equivalent
Incompatibility
STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics
Bridging units

Bridging units must be successfully completed within the first 48 points of study. Students without Mathematics Methods ATAR or equivalent or higher take MATH1721. Students without Mathematics Applications ATAR or equivalent or higher take MATH1720 and MATH1721. Students without Chemistry ATAR or equivalent or higher take CHEM1003.

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1, S2 CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility
ATAR Subject(s) Chemistry or equivalent
S1, S2 MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
Prerequisites
Mathematics Applications ATAR [with a scaled score of less than 50] or with permission
Incompatibility
Mathematics Applications ATAR [with a scaled score of 50 or greater] or Equivalent or higher
S1, S2 MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods
Prerequisites
Mathematics Applications ATAR
or MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or MATX1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or Mathematics Methods ATAR (with a scaled score of less than 50) or equivalent
Incompatibility
MATH1001 Mathematical Methods 1
and MATH1002 Mathematical Methods 2 and
MATH1011 Multivariable Calculus
or MATX1011 Multivariable Calculus
and
MATH1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods
or MATX1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods
and
STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics
or STAX1520 Economic and Business Statistics

Level 2

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (24 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell
Prerequisites
Successful completion of two Unit(s)
SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or SCIX1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
and CHEM1004 Biological Chemistry
or BIOC1001 Introductory Cellular Biochemistry
or CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity
or CHEX1002 Chemistry Structure and Reactivity
Incompatibility
Unit(s) BIOC2201 Biochemistry of the Cell
and Unit(s) SCIE2225 Molecular Biology
S2 BIOC2002 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
Major(s) MJD-BCNDM Biochemistry of Nutrition
or Major(s) MJD-MLSDM Molecular Life Sciences
or Major(s) MJD-BCHMB Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
and Successful completion of two Unit(s)
SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or SCIX1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
and BIOC1001 Introductory Cellular Biochemistry
or
CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity
or CHEX1002 Chemistry Structure and Reactivity
Co-requisites
Successful completion of
Or Enrolment in
SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
Or SCIX1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
Incompatibility
Unit(s) BIOC2202 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function
S2 PHYL2002 Physiology of Cells None
S1 SSEH2260 Exercise Physiology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of PHYL1001 Physiology - How Does the Human Body Work?
or

Enrolment in
CM017 Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Sciences and Master of Public Health
or CM018 Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Sciences and Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology
or CM019 Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Sciences and Master of Applied Human Performance Science

or with permission of the unit coordinator

Level 3

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (48 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 BIOC3001 Molecular Biology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
two Unit(s) BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell
and Unit(s) BIOC2002 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function
S2 BIOC3003 Omics—Global Approaches to Cell Function
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
two Unit(s) BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell
and Unit(s) BIOC2002 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function
S1 BIOC3004 Nutritional Biochemistry
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell
or Unit(s) BIOC2002 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function
or Unit(s) PHYL2001 Physiology of Human Body Systems
and Successful completion of
one Unit(s) PHYL2002 Physiology of Cells
S2 BIOC3005 Cellular Biochemistry
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
two Unit(s) BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell
and Unit(s) BIOC2002 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function
S1 PHYL3001 Physiology of Membranes, Muscles and Signalling
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) PHYL2002 Physiology of Cells
S1 PHYL3002 Physiology of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
PHYL2001 Physiology of Human Body Systems
or PHYL1001 Physiology - How Does the Human Body Work?
S2 PHYL3003 Physiology of Nutrition and Metabolism
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
PHYL2001 Physiology of Human Body Systems
or PHYL1001 Physiology - How Does the Human Body Work?
and 96 points in your chosen degree
S2 PHYL3004 Physiology of Integrated Organ Function
Prerequisites
Successful completion of Unit(s) PHYL2001 Physiology of Human Body Systems and
PHYL2002 Physiology of Cells
or PHYL3002 Physiology of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems