N&D 240 01: Fundamentals of Nutrition

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ND 240 - Fundamentals of Nutrition

2023 Summer Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 5749

Course Information

You are responsible for knowing this material, so please read carefully. Any changes will be announced in a Blackboard Announcement. You will be responsible for any changes. Your continued enrollment in this course is your implicit agreement to abide by the requirements of this class.

Times and Location

This course does not meet at specific days and times. Rather, the course is asynchronous delivery.

Instructor Information

Desiree Tande, PhD, MS, RDN, LRD

Email: desiree.tande@und.edu

2023 Summer Office Hours:
Office Hours: Mondays, 9-11 AM and by appointment

Office Phone: 701-777-3751

About the Professor

Desiree received her doctorate from North Dakota State University in Human Development, master’s degree from the University of Delaware in Human Nutrition and B.S. from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in Nutrition.  She is currently an Associate Professor and Department Chair at the University of North Dakota.  She is a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified lactation counselor.  Previously, Desiree worked with the NDSU Extension Service, WIC in Elton, M.D. and DuPont Consumer Health in Wilmington, D.E.  She was raised on a farm south of Palermo, N.D. where she learned to appreciate hard work, the importance of food production, and began to consider the role of food and nutrition in relation to health and disease.  Her research interests have focused on nutrition during early childhood and prevention of chronic disease through the life cycle.  She has four children (two grown): Lucas, Joel, Gabriel, and Adrianna. Her husband, Brian, and children have lived in Grand Forks for about 13 years.  Hobbies include pretty much doing anything outdoors including gardening, hiking and jogging, while walking, reading, and baking are favorites during the winter months. 

Course Description

This introductory course focuses on basic elements of nutrition science. Emphasis is placed on nutrients, their functions and food sources, and discussion about how food behavior translates into nutritional health. The course also includes current topics such as fad diets, phytochemicals, and sports nutrition. Students learn to apply the principles of nutrition to their own food intake to improve their nutritional health.

Learning Outcomes

  • understand macronutrients and micronutrients. 

  • apply the knowledge of nutrition and problem-solving skills in order to make dietary selections that promote a healthy lifestyle. 

  • utilize dietary recommendations (DRIs, Dietary Guidelines for Americans, etc.) in order to achieve a balanced, healthful diet. 

  • recognize the relationships among food intake, nutritional status and individual needs to encourage behaviors that optimize health and wellbeing. 

  • understand the relationships between nutrition, physical activity, and weight status. 

  • compare and contrast nutrient needs across the life span. 

  • explore current nutrition topics, including the role of food and nutrition in disease prevention. 

  • utilize critical thinking skills to evaluate the accuracy of nutrition information available to the general public in order to make appropriate nutrition-related decisions. 

Essential Studies Course

N&D 240 is an Essential Studies-Math, Science and Technology Course, specifically a Natural Sciences course.   

Natural Sciences: Pure science is concerned with the production of knowledge about the natural world. As such, it is often based on natural observation, experimentation and analysis.  

  • Courses in the natural sciences make use of inductive and deductive reasoning, in conjunction with the scientific method, to investigate how the natural physical, chemical, and biological world operates.

  • ES courses in the natural sciences should give students experience in asking questions about the natural world and the chance to use observation and experimentation to formulate answers to those questions.   

N&D 240 addresses the Essential Studies learning goal of Quantitative Reasoning.  

  • This means it will focus on how you can become competent and comfortable when working with numbers and graphic displays of information based on numbers. 

  • More specifically, quantitative reasoning is competency and comfort in working with numerical data, using it to reason and solve quantitative problems from a wide array of authentic contexts and everyday life situations, and to create and clearly communicate sophisticated arguments supported by quantitative evidence, such as by using words, tables, graphs, mathematical equations, etc., as appropriate. You should expect to focus on these intellectual skills as part of this course. 

  • To this end, course assessments will include evaluation of your development in this area as well as your knowledge and understanding of nutrition. Evaluation of the Nutritional Health Study project includes assessment of your quantitative reasoning skills and ability to communicate this knowledge and capability based on the facts of nutrition science through written communication (i.e. worksheets). 

Course Materials

You will need a (1) textbook and (2) nutrient analysis software. The course key for MindTap or Cengage Unlimited is MTPPV8GZ71R4. Cengage (MindTap/Unlimited) materials are not integrated with Blackboard and not required assessments in the course. Only assessments posted directly in the Blackboard course are required for N&D 240. 

1. Textbook: Sizer, F and Whitney, E. Nutrition Concepts and Controversies.  16th Edition. Belmont, Cengage Learning, 2023.

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2. Software: Diet and Wellness Plus [computer software].  (2015). Cengage Learning. 

Additional resources will be posted in Blackboard.  

Technical Requirements/Assistance

Whether you’re taking courses in the classroom or online, it’s important to have the right technology and equipment.  Visit the UND Technical Requirements webpage for more information. Students are expected to use their official UND email in the course. For technical assistance, please contact UND Technical Support at 701.777.2222. Visit the University Information Technologies (UIT) website for their hours, help documents and other resources.

Minimum Technical Skills Needed

In order to succeed in this course, at a minimum, you should be able to: 

  • Navigate in and use basic Blackboard functions 

  • Download and open electronic documents 

  • Create, save, and upload/attach electronic documents 

  • Send, receive, and manage email 

  • Access and utilize online library resources 

  • Use PowerPoint 

  • Use YuJa 

  • Use ProctorU  

Course Logistics

Examinations: 

Exams are multiple choice and true/false format and are computer graded.  Students are responsible for all materials in the assigned readings, recorded lectures, and assignments. All students are expected to complete the unit and final exams by the due dates.  Make-up exams for the unit exams will be given only at the discretion of the instructor.  A request for a make-up exam must be made prior to the regularly scheduled exam.  The format of a make-up exam is short-answer and essay format. If you have an emergency and are not able to take the exam, contact the instructor as soon as possible. Exams not completed will be assigned a “0” score.  No make-up final exam will be offered; the final exam must be completed by the due date and time listed on the course schedule.  The final exam will be available Friday, August 4th. Exams are proctored with ProctorU Live+. Information about the proctoring process and requirements can be found in Blackboard under the Exams link. You will need an appointment to use ProctorU Live+. Schedule appointments at least one week in advance of the test due date. Student will need access to a reliable computer with a working webcam and audio and reliable internet connection. 

Quizzes: 

Chapter quizzes are multiple choice, true/false, or matching format and are administered through Blackboard and computer graded. The quizzes are timed with forced completion.  Quizzes are open-book and do not require proctoring. No make-up quizzes will be offered.  Missed quizzes will be assigned a “0” score.  The lowest 3 scores will be dropped from the final, total point calculation (up to 50 points may be earned through quiz attempts) to determine the letter grade.  Student will need access to a reliable internet connection. Students must work independently. 

Nutritional Health Study Project (Parts I, II, & III): 

The overall purpose of this assignment is to enable you to critically evaluate your current eating behaviors, identify areas of strength and opportunity, and to develop an effective strategy to improve overall nutritional health.  There is increasing evidence that what we eat influences our health and the overall quality of our lives.  Unfortunately, people do not instinctively select a nutritious diet.  This assignment will be used to evaluate your understanding of some major nutrition concepts studied in the course.  Finally, the activities required to successfully complete the Nutritional Health Study (NHS) are also important to strengthen your quantitative reasoning skills demonstrated through a series of three worksheets/reports (Part I, II, & III).  Evaluation of your assignment will consider all these purposes. There are no “redos” for these assignments. Contact your instructor ahead of the due date with questions; she is available to respond to emails and meet with you in-person or via Zoom or in-person to ensure any questions you have are addressed. A worksheet introducing the assignment will be your first assessment related to this major project. 

No emergency extra credit will be offered.

Students have five business days (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) after an exam, quiz, or assignment is posted in Blackboard Grade Center under My Grades link to contest a grade. 

Resources 

Many services are available to UND students such as writing assistance from the UND Writing Center, free online tutoring from Smarthinking, and more. Visit the Student Resources page for more information. Students also have access to the UND Student Resource Site via Blackboard. It is recommended that you become familiar with the tools and tutorials within the site to better equip you in navigating the course. 

Course Requirements/Expectations 

  1. The student will review the syllabus and course schedule posted in Blackboard (Bb). 

  2. The student will access and follow all course instructions found in the weekly area of the Blackboard course. 

  3. The student will complete and submit assignments, exams, quizzes, etc. by the dated noted and in the manner described in Blackboard or on the course syllabus. We will use Central Standard Time for due dates and times. 

  4. The student will participate fully and in a timely manner to get the benefit of learning from instructor and peers. 

Communication

I post announcements in Blackboard as needed and send emails through the course Blackboard site as well.  I attempt to respond to all email and voice messages within 24 hours (Monday-Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or one business day whenever possible. 

Course Etiquette 

When participating in class (online or in person) it is important to interact with your peers and instructor in an appropriate manner. Always use professional language (no netspeak) in your postings and emails. Please be respectful of your classmates at all times even if you disagree with their ideas. 

Grading Breakdown

Evaluation

  1. On-line quizzes
    (1    3 quizzes at 5 pts each, drop 3 lowest scores)         50 Points
  2. Nutritional Health Study Project
    (Parts I, II, and III; 40, 50, 60 points respectively)      150 Points 
  3. Introduction worksheet assignment                         10 Points
  4. Three Unit Exams (50 points each)                          150 Points
  5. Final Exam                                                                      50 Points

                  Total: 410 Points

Grading Scale

Percentage  Points 
A = 90-100%  369-410 points  
B = 80-89%  328-368 points 
C = 70-79%  287-327 points 
D = 60-69%  246-286 points 
F = 59% or less than  <246 points

The schedule outlined below is tentative and subject to change during the semester.  Additional reading assignments may also be added and posted in Blackboard. 

Schedule of Assessments

Week of Reading(s): Agenda/Topic: Due:
5/15 Read Chapters 1 & 2 Food Choices & Human Health; Nutrition Tools – Standards & Guidelines Chapter 1 Quiz Due 5/19
Chapter 2 Quiz Due 5/19
5/22 Read Chapter 3 Nutritional Health Study Part I The Remarkable Body NHS worksheet due 5/24
Chapter 3 Quiz Due 5/26
5/29 Nutritional Health Study Part I
Exam Review Chapters 1, 2, & 3 		Nutritional Health Study (NHS) Part I due 5/31
Exam 1 available 6/02 at 12:00 AM CST, Exam 1 due 6/02 at 11:59 PM CST
6/5 Read Chapter 4 The Carbohydrates Chapter 4 Quiz Due 6/09
6/12 Read Chapter 5 The Lipids Chapter 5 Quiz Due 6/16
6/19 Read Chapter 6 The Protein & Amino Acids Chapter 6 Quiz Due 6/23
6/26 Nutritional Health Study Part II
Exam 2 Review Chapters 4, 5, & 6		 Nutritional Health Study Part II Due 6/28
Exam 2 available 6/30 at 12:00 AM CST, Exam 2 due 6/30 at 11:59 PM CST
7/3 Read Chapters 7 & 8 The Vitamins
Water & Minerals		 Chapter 7 Quiz Due 7/07
Chapter 8 Quiz Due 7/07
7/10 Read Chapter 9 Energy Balance & Healthy Weight
Exam 3 Review Chapters 7, 8, & 9 		Chapter 9 Quiz Due 7/12
Exam 3 available 7/14 at 12:00 AM CST, Exam 3 due 7/14 at 11:59 PM CST
7/17 Read Chapters 11 & 12 Nutrition & Chronic Disease
Food Safety & Food Technology		 Chapter 11 Quiz Due 7/21
Chapter 12 Quiz Due 7/21
7/24 Read Chapters 13 & 14 Life Cycle Nutrition: Mother & Infant
Life Cycle Nutrition: Child, Teen, & Older Adult		 Chapter 13 Quiz Due 7/28
Chapter 14 Quiz Due 7/28
7/31 Nutritional Health Study Part III
Exam Review Chapters 11, 12, 13, & 14		 NHS Part III Due Monday, 7/31
Final Exam Due 8/04 11:59 PM CST
Final Exam: available 12:00 a.m. through 11:59 p.m. CST 8/04. Final exam must be completed & submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. on 8/04

Course Evaluation

Around the middle of the semester, I plan to complete a formative assessment to see how the course is going. Near the end of the semester, you will be asked to complete an online course evaluation form (SELFI). Your feedback on the course is extremely valuable to me. I read my students’ comments carefully and use them to improve the course. 

  • When the time comes, please let me know which aspects of the course helped you learn—and which aspects might be modified to help future students learn more effectively.

  • Please note that the course evaluations are anonymous and that I won’t see the results until after the grades for the course are submitted, allowing you to provide honest and constructive feedback.   

  • And if you have feedback to offer before the end of the semester, please let me know. 

Course Policies

Assignment Policy 

Due dates for each assignment or activity will be posted in Blackboard. 

Late Work 

Assignments, including quizzes, are due by the date and time listed on the syllabus or Blackboard (Bb).  The acceptance of late assignments is at the discretion of the instructor, provided that you contact the instructor before the due date, ask for an extension, and have an excused absence.  If you miss an assignment, a score of “0” will be marked in the grade center.  No make-up assignments will be available.  Extra credit activities may arise but are not guaranteed and cannot be made up and must be turned in by the assigned due date.  No emergency extra credit will be offered. All requirements for this course must be completed during the course dates. 

Instructor Responsibilities and Feedback 

I attempt to respond to all email and voice messages within 24 hours (Monday-Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or one business day whenever possible.  Students can expect to receive feedback for most assignments within one week.  Assessments automatically graded in Blackboard will display the score but will not show you the answers to questions.  If you would like to look at your quiz or case study assignment attempts in Blackboard, schedule an appointment to meet with me via Zoom to review the assessment in detail. The major case study project may take up to three weeks for feedback since no individual grades and feedback are available until all, unique projects have been graded and grades are finalized. 

Class Participation 

Students are required to login regularly to the online Bb class site. 

Incompletes 

It is expected that students will complete all requirements for a course during the time frame of the course. For reasons beyond a student’s control, and upon request by the student or on behalf of the student, an incomplete grade may be assigned by the instructor when there is reasonable certainty the student will successfully complete the course without retaking it. The mark “I,” Incomplete, will be assigned only to the student who has been in attendance (log into Bb and complete assignments) and has done satisfactory work up to a time within four weeks of the close of the semester, including the examination period, and whose work is incomplete for reasons satisfactory to his or her instructor. More information regarding UND’s Incomplete policy can be found on The Grading System webpage. 

University of North Dakota Policies & Resources

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a serious matter, and any deviations from appropriate behavior will be dealt with strongly. At the discretion of the professor, situations of concern may be dealt with as a scholastic matter or a disciplinary matter.

As a scholastic matter, the professor has the discretion to determine appropriate penalties for the student’s workload or grade, but the situation may be resolved without involving many individuals. An alternative is to treat the situation as a disciplinary matter, which can result in suspension from the University, or have lesser penalties. Be aware that I view this as a very serious matter and will have little tolerance and/or sympathy for questionable practices. A student who attempts to obtain credit for work that is not their own (whether that be on a paper, quiz, homework assignment, exam, etc.) will likely receive a failing grade for that item of work, and at the professor’s discretion, may also receive a failing grade in the course. For more information read the Code of Student Life.

Access and Opportunity, Disability Support, & Medical Services

The University of North Dakota is committed to providing equal access to students with documented disabilities. To ensure access to this class and your program, please contact Disability Services for Students (DSS) to engage in a confidential discussion about accommodations for the classroom and clinical settings. Accommodations are not provided retroactively. Students are encouraged to register with DSS at the start of their program. More information can be obtained by email UND.dss@UND.edu or by phone at 701.777.2664.

COVID-19

UND is committed to maintaining a safe learning environment while providing quality learning experiences for our students. COVID-19’s continued presence within our UND community may necessitate changes in classroom management as the academic year progresses. As such, UND asks students and instructors to be flexible when necessary to promote a safe environment for learning. Please do not attend an in-person class or lab if you are feeling ill, particularly if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or if you have been directed by health professionals to quarantine or isolate. If you are not able to attend class or lab, please notify your instructor as soon as possible and discuss options for making up any missed work in order to ensure your ability to succeed in the course. If you will have an extended absence due to serious illness or other uncontrollable circumstances, you may request an absence notification through the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Similarly, if your instructor is ill they may need to cancel class or temporarily move your course to online delivery to ensure that you are able to complete the course successfully.  Instructors may require students to wear masks in the classroom or in the laboratory as a preventative measure designed to facilitate uninterrupted classroom engagement and to facilitate health and safety in the classroom.   If your instructor does require masks in class or in a laboratory, you are expected to comply with that request.

UND also strongly encourages all members of the University community, including students, to get vaccinated, seek out testing when needed, and model positive behavior both on- and off-campus to foster a healthy and safe learning environment for all students. Individuals who would like to discuss disability accommodations regarding masks should contact the Disability Services for Students (DSS) office at 701.777.2664 or UND.dss@UND.edu. Individuals who are unable to wear a mask due to a sincerely held religious belief should contact the UND Equal Opportunity and Title IX Office at 701.777.4171 or UND.EO.TitleIX@UND.edu.

Religious Accommodations

UND offers religious accommodations, which are reasonable changes in the academic environment that enable a student to practice or observe a sincerely held religious belief without undue hardship on the University. Examples include time for prayer or the ability to attend religious events or observe a religious holiday. To request an accommodation, complete the student religious accommodation request form. If you have any questions, you may contact the Equal Opportunity & Title IX Office.

Pregnancy Accommodations

Students who need assistance with academic adjustments related to pregnancy or childbirth may contact the Equal Opportunity & Title IX Office or Academic Affairs to learn about your options. Additional information and services may be found at Pregnancy Resources.

Notice of Nondiscrimination

It is the policy of the University of North Dakota that no person shall be discriminated against because of race, religion, age, color, gender, disability, national origin, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, veteran’s status, or political belief or affiliation and the equal opportunity and access to facilities shall be available to all. Concerns regarding Title IX, Title VI, Title VII, ADA, and Section 504 may be addressed to Donna Smith, Assistant Vice President for Equal Opportunity & Title IX and Title IX/ADA Coordinator, 102 Twamley Hall, 701.777.4171, UND.EO.TitleIX@UND.edu or the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Dept. of Education, 230 S. Dearborn St., 37th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604 or any other federal agency.

Reporting of Discrimination, Harassment, or Sexual Misconduct

If you or a friend has experienced sexual misconduct, such as sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking, please contact the Equal Opportunity & Title IX Office or UND’s Title IX Coordinator, Donna Smith, for assistance: 701.777.4171; donna.smith@UND.edu; or visit the Title IX webpage. You may also contact the Equal Opportunity & Title IX office if you or a friend has experienced discrimination or harassment based on a protected class, such as race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, pregnancy, marital or parental status, veteran's status, or political belief or affiliation.

Faculty Reporting Obligations Regarding Discrimination, Harassment, or Sexual Misconduct

It is important for students to understand that faculty are required to share with UND’s Title IX Coordinator any incidents of sexual misconduct or of discrimination or harassment based on a protected class that they become aware of, even if those incidents occurred in the past or are disclosed as part of a class assignment. This does not mean an investigation will occur if the student does not want that, but it does allow UND to provide resources to help the student continue to be successful at UND. If you have been impacted by discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct, you can find information about confidential support services on the Equal Opportunity & Title IX webpage..

UND Cares Program

How to Seek Help When in Distress

We know that while college is a wonderful time for most students, however, some students may struggle or have issues that arise. You may experience students in distress on campus, in your classroom, in your home, and within residence halls. Distressed students may initially seek assistance from faculty, staff members, their parents, and other students. In addition to the support we can provide to each other, there are also professional support services available to students through the Dean of Students and University Counseling Center. Both staffs are available to consult with you about getting help or providing a friend with the help that he or she may need. For more additional information, please visit the UND Cares Program Webpage.

How to Recognize When a Student is in Distress

The term “distressed” can mean any of the following:

  • Student has significant changes in eating, sleeping, grooming, spending, or other daily activities.
  • Student has cut off or minimized contact with family or friends.
  • Student has significant changes in performance or involvement in academics, sports, extracurricular, or social activities.
  • Student describes problems (missing class, not remembering, destructive behavior) that result from experiences with drinking or drugs.
  • Student is acting withdrawn, volatile, tearful, etc.
  • Student is acting out of character or different than usual.
  • Student is talking explicitly about hopelessness or suicide.
  • Student has difficulty concentrating or difficulty carrying on a normal conversation.
  • Student has excessive dependence on others for company or support.
  • Student reports feeling out of control of one’s emotions, thoughts, or behaviors.

Land Acknowledgement Statement

Today, the University of North Dakota rests on the ancestral lands of the Pembina and Red Lake Bands of Ojibwe and the Dakota Oyate - presently existing as composite parts of the Red Lake, Turtle Mountain, White Earth Bands, and the Dakota Tribes of Minnesota and North Dakota. We acknowledge the people who resided here for generations and recognize that the spirit of the Ojibwe and Oyate people permeate this land. As a university community, we will continue to build upon our relations with the First Nations of the State of North Dakota - the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Nation, Spirit Lake Nation, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians.

Additional Resources

It is my goal to foster an environment of mutual respect in which everyone feels comfortable voicing their opinions, sharing their stories, and learning about potentially heavy or personally relevant material. If, at any point, you feel like the information covered in this class elicits thoughts, feelings, or concerns that you would like to discuss further, don’t hesitate to reach out to me, or the UND Counseling Center (701-777-2127).

Further, if you experience extenuating circumstances, sexual violence, identity-based harm, or any other personal crisis during the semester, don’t hesitate to reach out to me so we can provide academic assistance and help you in this course, and put you in contact with the appropriate resources and services (if needed).