Faculty of Arts & Science
2016-2017 Calendar

Nutritional Science

Faculty


Professors Emeriti
M.C. Archer, MA, Ph D, D Sc
W.R. Bruce, MD, Ph D
M. Krondl, Ph D
A.V. Rao, M Sc, Ph D
L.U. Thompson, M Sc, Ph D

E.W. McHenry Professor and Chair
M.R. L’Abbe, Ph D

Professors
G.H. Anderson, M Sc, Ph D
A. El-Sohemy, Ph D
C.E. Greenwood, M Sc, Ph D
D.J.A. Jenkins, MA, DM, D Phil, D Sc
D.L. O'Connor, Ph D, RD
V. Tarasuk, Ph D
V. Vuksan, M Sc, D Sc
T.M. S. Wolever, MA, BM, BCh, M Sc, Ph D

Associate Professors
R.P. Bazinet, Ph D
A.J. Hanley, Ph D

Assistant Professor
E.M. Comelli, Ph D

Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream
Debbie Gurfinkel, PhD

Introduction

Nutritional Sciences represents an exciting and challenging area of study of a truly interdisciplinary nature. Understanding of the impact of nutrition on health and its role in disease is based upon a knowledge of the metabolic processes involved (nutrient requirements and utilization, food additive metabolism and safety), of the chemistry of foods (food preservation, food production) and of social and behavioural factors (determinants of food selection). Thus, in this program, the physical, biological and social sciences are integrated in consideration of the national and international goals of achieving optimal health through proper nutrition.

Most career opportunities in Nutritional Sciences require training beyond the undergraduate level. The Major Program provides excellent preparation for entry into postgraduate studies in nutrition research or for a professional faculty such as Medicine and Dentistry.

Please note that this Department does not offer an undergraduate dietetics program. Students interested in this qualification should contact Dietitians of Canada for information (www.dietitians.ca).

Students interested in applying to the MPH-Nutriiton and Dietetics Program, through the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, are advised to contact the program director during their second year of undergraduate studies.

Undergraduate Coordinators:
Dr Debbie Gurfinkel, Fitzgerald Building

Enquiries:
FitzGerald Building, 150 College Street, Room 316 (416-978-2422)

Nutritional Science Programs

Nutritional Sciences Major (Science program)

Eligibility for the nutritional sciences major program is based on a student’s marks in the required first-year courses:

BIO120H1, BIO130H1, (CHM135, CHM136)/(CHM138H1, CHM139H1)/CHM151Y1 with an average of at least 70% on these 2.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) and a final mark of at least 60% in each course.

Note:  Students must apply to this program on the Arts & Science Faculty Registrar’s Office website (See http://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/course/ for application procedures).

First Year:
(BIO120H1, BIO130H1);(CHM135, CHM136)/(CHM138H1, CHM139H1)/CHM151Y1
Second Year:
NFS284H1; BCH210H1; (STA220H1, STA221H1)/(PSY201H1,PSY202H1)
Third Year:
(PSL300H1, PSL301H1)/PSL302Y1; CSB349H1/PSL350H1/BCH311H1; any two of: NFS382H1, NFS386H1, NFS301H1; NFS302H1; NFS394Y1
Fourth Year:
Any three of: NFS400H1, NFS484H1, NFS485H1, NFS486H1, NFS487H1, NFS488H1, NFS489H1, NFS490H1, NFS494Y1

Nutritional Science Courses


First Year Seminars

The 199Y1 and 199H1 seminars are designed to provide the opportunity to work closely with an instructor in a class of no more than twenty-four students. These interactive seminars are intended to stimulate the students’ curiosity and provide an opportunity to get to know a member of the professorial staff in a seminar environment during the first year of study. Details can be found at www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/course/fyh-1/.


NFS284H1    Basic Human Nutrition[36L]

An introductory course to provide the fundamentals of human nutrition to enable students to understand and think critically about the complex interrelationships between food, nutrition, health and the environment.

Exclusion: HLTB11H3
Recommended Preparation: (BIO120H1, BIO130H1)/BIO150Y1; (CHM138H1,CHM139H1)/(CHM135H1,CHM136H1)/CHM151Y1
Distribution Requirement Status: Science
Breadth Requirement: Living Things and Their Environment (4)

NFS301H1    Nutrition Literacy: Sorting Science from Snake Oil[36L]

This course will help students learn how to recognize the strengths and limitations of various nutrition research methods, find reliable nutrition information on the Internet and develop systematic thinking skills to critically evaluate the quality of nutrition information in both the scientific literature and popular media.

Prerequisite: NFS284H1
Distribution Requirement Status: Science
Breadth Requirement: Living Things and Their Environment (4)

NFS302H1    Nutrition, Athletics, Performance and Behaviour [36L]

This course will give an overview of the emerging and advancing role of chronic diet and supplements in athletics, performance and behavior.

Prerequisite: NFS284H1
Exclusion: KPE328H1
Distribution Requirement Status: Science
Breadth Requirement: Living Things and Their Environment (4)

NFS382H1    Vitamin and Mineral Metabolism Throughout the Life Cycle[36L]

Micronutrients are essential for health throughout the life cycle. This course examines the role of micronutrients during development and ageing with some emphasis on disease prevention and pathogenesis. Students develop critical appraisal skills, an understanding of the principles of study design and learn to write in a scientific style.

Prerequisite: NFS284H1
Distribution Requirement Status: Science
Breadth Requirement: Living Things and Their Environment (4)

NFS386H1    Food Chemistry[36L]

Structure, composition and chemical and biochemical reactions in foods during postharvest/postmortem, processing, storage and utilisation. Implications for organoleptic properties, nutritional value, toxicity and human health.

Prerequisite: CHM138H1/CHM139H1/CHM135H1/CHM136H1
Recommended Preparation: NFS284H1
Distribution Requirement Status: Science
Breadth Requirement: Living Things and Their Environment (4)

NFS394Y1    Research Course in Nutritional Science[144P]

Research experience under the supervision of a Departmental staff member. The course entails designing and carrying out a small research project and the preparation and presentation of both a research proposal and a final report. Note that the research project NFS394Y1 requires the prior consent of a staff member who will supervise the project and departmental approval before enrolment. The student is responsible for locating a supervisor. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

Prerequisite: NFS284H1, Permission of Department and Project Supervisor
Distribution Requirement Status: Science
Breadth Requirement: Living Things and Their Environment (4)

NFS400H1    Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals in Human Nutrition[36L]

This course will demonstrate the rationale, including health benefits, development and marketing of functional foods and nutraceuticals.

Prerequisite: BCH210H1, NFS284H1, (PSL300H1, PSL301H1)/PSL302Y1
Recommended Preparation: CSB349H1/PSL350H1/BCH311H1, NFS386H1
Distribution Requirement Status: Science
Breadth Requirement: Living Things and Their Environment (4)

NFS484H1    Advanced Nutrition[24L/12T]

Physiological and biochemical features of nutrient needs. The roles of nutrients in the development and adaptability of the whole body, organs and cells. Interpretation of current research data.

Prerequisite: BCH210H1, CSB349H1/PSL350H1/BCH311H1, NFS284H1, (PSL300H1, PSL301H1)/PSL302Y1, (STA220H1, STA221H1/JBS229H1) or permission of instructor
Distribution Requirement Status: Science
Breadth Requirement: Living Things and Their Environment (4)

NFS485H1    Diet, Microbiome & Health (formerly Nutritional Microbiology)[36L]

Provides an integrated approach to how prokaryotes modulate nutrient availability and how they interact with the host to impact human health from a molecular perspective.

Prerequisite: BCH210H1, CSB349H1/PSL350H1/BCH311H1/MGY311Y1, NFS284H1, (PSL300H1, PSL301H1)/PSL302Y1 or permission of the instructor
Distribution Requirement Status: Science
Breadth Requirement: Living Things and Their Environment (4)

NFS486H1    Obesity: Metabolic and Clinical Aspects[36L]

Obesity and its co-morbidities illustrated with pathophysiological and biochemical principles and clinical case studies.

Prerequisite: BCH210H1,NFS284H1, (PSL300H1, PSL301H1)/PSL302Y1
Recommended Preparation: CSB349H1/PSL350H1/BCH311H1,(STA220H1, STA221H1)
Distribution Requirement Status: Science
Breadth Requirement: Living Things and Their Environment (4)

NFS487H1    Nutrigenomics and Personalized Nutrition[36L]

The impact of the human genome on nutrition research. Experimental approaches to investigating gene-diet interactions. Understanding how genetic variability affects nutrient response, and how dietary factors regulate gene expression. Application of the various ‘omics’ technologies to nutrition research as well as exploring the social, legal and ethical issues associated with direct-to-consumer marketing of genetic tests for personalized nutrition.

Prerequisite: NFS284H1, CSB349H1/PSL350H1/BCH311H1
Distribution Requirement Status: Science
Breadth Requirement: Living Things and Their Environment (4)

NFS488H1    Nutritional Toxicology[36L]

Occurrence, mechanism of action, safety and health implications of chemicals naturally present in or added to foods. Interactions of nutrients and toxicants and the effects on their metabolism and utilization. Food safety evaluation and regulatory control.

Prerequisite: BCH210H1, NFS284H1
Distribution Requirement Status: Science
Breadth Requirement: Living Things and Their Environment (4)

NFS489H1    Nutritional Neurosciences[36L]

This course provides an integrated approach to how brain function regulates and in turn is regulated by nutrition from a biochemical perspective.

Prerequisite: BCH210H1, BCH311H1/CSB349H1/PSL350H1, NFS284H1, PSL302Y1/(PSL300H1, PSL301H1)
Distribution Requirement Status: Science
Breadth Requirement: Living Things and Their Environment (4)

NFS490H1    International and Community Nutrition[36L]

This course focuses on current issues in international and community nutrition including global and domestic food security, micronutrient deficiencies and other forms of undernutrition, maternal and infant/child nutrition, dietary guidance, and food and nutrition policy. The course will consider the environmental, sociopolitical, cultural and biosocial contexts of nutrition.

Prerequisite: NFS284H1
Recommended Preparation: GGR107Y1/POL103Y1/SOC101Y1
Distribution Requirement Status: Science
Breadth Requirement: Society and its Institutions (3)

NFS494Y1    Research Projects in Nutritional Sciences[144P]

Research experience under the supervision of a Departmental staff member. The course entails designing and carrying out a small research project and the preparation and presentation of both a research proposal and a final report. Note that the research project NFS494Y1 requires the prior consent of a staff member who will supervise the project and departmental approval before enrolment. The student is responsible for locating a supervisor. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

Prerequisite: NFS284, Permission of Department and Project Supervisor
Distribution Requirement Status: Science
Breadth Requirement: None