Studying online

There are now 2 possible online modes for units:

Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.

Click on an offering mode for more details.

View all online units

Unit Overview

Description

The food industry is currently undergoing a revolution. There is a need to produce enough food to feed the world's population while minimising impacts to the environment and adapting to changes in climate. Nanotechnology, biotechnology and genetically modified organism (GMO) are being used to design foods which promise specific health benefits. With these new foods and technologies comes controversy regarding their use. This unit introduces students to the concepts used in the development of the next generation of foods and the safety issues arising from them. The unit covers topics such as climate change, new food-borne pathogens, nanotechnology, functional foods, food versus drug, nutrient upper limits, biotechnology-derived foods, food security/bioterrorism, traceability, country of origin, botanicals in traditional foods, innovative packaging, fraud-related issues and food forensics.

Credit
6 points
Outcomes

Students are able to (1) understand how changes in the way we produce food could affect food by tolerating new microbial organisms and contamination; (2) understand new technologies such as nanotechnology and biotechnology, and how they are applied to the food industry and the issues surrounding their use; (3) define the term 'functional food' and identify the different types of functional foods, their safety issues and distinguish the difference between food and drug; and (4) develop procedures to mitigate incidents (including fraud) in the food supply chain including tracing the food back to its point of origin. This includes handling, sampling and data in a food forensics case.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) a presentation (40 per cent); (2) a case-study discussion (30 per cent); (3) a literature review (10 per cent); and (4) a two-hour competency-based examination (20 per cent). Further information is available in the unit outline.



Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)
Associate Professor Daniel Franklin
Unit rules
Prerequisites
enrolment in
the Master of Food Science (53540)
Advisable prior study
a compatible undergraduate degree in science
or engineering
Approved quota: 30
Contact hours
lectures: 2 hours per week
tutorials: 2 hours per week
Note
Supplementary course material, along with class handouts, is provided in class or on the Web.
  • The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
  • All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
  • Unit readings, including any essential textbooks, are listed in the unit outline for each unit, one week prior the commencement of study. The unit outline will be available via the LMS and the UWA Handbook one week prior the commencement of study. Reading lists and essential textbooks are subject to change each semester. Information on essential textbooks will also be made available on the Essential Textbooks. This website is updated regularly in the lead up to semester so content may change. It is recommended that students purchase essential textbooks for convenience due to the frequency with which they will be required during the unit. A limited number of textbooks will be made available from the Library in print and will also be made available online wherever possible. Essential textbooks can be purchased from the commercial vendors to secure the best deal. The Student Guild can provide assistance on where to purchase books if required. Books can be purchased second hand at the Guild Secondhand bookshop (second floor, Guild Village), which is located on campus.
  • Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.

Face to face

Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.

Online flexible

100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.

Online timetabled

100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.

Online Restricted

Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.

NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.

External

No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.

Off-campus

Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.

Multi-mode

Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.