Brooklyn College

Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences

HNSC 3230 Nutrition and Health Across the Lifespan
Course Syllabus
Spring 2019

Class Time/Location
Monday and Wednesday 1:00 AM – 12:15 PM/ Room 507 Whitehead Hall

Course Description
The course explores the nutritional needs and health concepts as they apply to each stage of the
life cycle, including preconception, pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, adolescence,
adulthood, and older adults. Nutrition-related medical conditions and interventions in each stage
are also discussed.

The course contributes to the following ACEND learning competencies:

KRDN 1.3 Apply critical thinking skills.

KRDN 2.1 Demonstrate effective and professional oral and written communication and
documentation.
KRDN 2.4 Discuss the impact of health care policy and different health care delivery
systems on food and nutrition services.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

 Describe the physiological changes in each stage of the life cycle

 Explain the changes in nutritional requirements at each stage of the life cycle
 Identify components of nutrition assessment
 Describe strategies that can optimize nutrition status at each phase of the life cycle
 Discuss some nutrition-related conditions that can occur during preconception,
pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and advanced age.
 Discuss the nutritional interventions for each of the diseases/conditions discussed in the
course
 Apply knowledge about nutritional needs for each life cycle to real life cases
 List examples of public and nutrition programs
 Apply critical thinking skills
 Demonstrate effective oral and written communication and documentation

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Prerequisite Courses:

For nutrition students: HNSC 1200 or 2210

For health students: HNSC 1100 and 1200 or 2210

Instructor
Raghda Alraei, DCN, MS, RD, CDN, CDE
Location: Room 4110 b Ingersoll Hall
Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays: 1:30 – 2:00 PM and 4:15 - 4:45 PM
Phone: (718) 951-5026 (department office)
Email: RAlraei@brooklyn.cuny.edu

Required Text
Brown, J. E. Nutrition through the Life Cycle. Sixth Edition. Cengage Learning. 2016.
ISBN-13: 9781305628007
Older versions are also acceptable. The textbook is available at Brooklyn College Bookstore or
online. Students also have the option of purchasing e-book, e-chapters, or rent at
www.cengagebrain.com.

Grading

Attendance 5%
Participation/Homework 15%
Exams 1 & 2 20% (each)
Final Exam 20%
Paper 20%
Total Grade 100%

98 - 100+ = A+ 85 - 89.4 = B+ 75 - 79.4 = C+ 65 - 69.4= D+

90 – 98 = A 80 - 84.4 = B 70 - 74.4 = C 60 - 64.4 = D 59.5 and less = F

Attendance grade is calculated based on the number of class meeting attended out of total class
meetings. Absences due to religious holidays, medical reasons, or emergency situations will be
excused (if medical or other valid documents are provided). Students are expected to be in class
on time. Arriving to class more than one hour late for two separate days will be considered as
one absence. Participation grade is based on participation in class discussions and completing
homework assignments.

There would be no make-up exams, unless students present valid documents that justify their
inability to take the exams on the assigned days. The final overall grade will be based on a scale.

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Case Studies

There are multiple case studies for different life stages, which give the students opportunity to
apply knowledge learned to real life cases. Case studies include:
Preconception: Cyclic Infertility with Weight Loss and Gain
Pregnancy: A Case in Preeclampsia
Infants: Infants Growth Chart
Toddlers: Making Mealtime Pleasant
Children: Childhood Obesity Case Study
Adolescents: A Case in Eating Disorders
Older Age Case Study

Tentative Course Schedule

Date Topic Chapter in Textbook

Monday 1/28/19 Nutrition Basics Ch 1
Wednesday 1/30/19 Nutrition Basics Ch 1
Monday 2/4/19 Preconception Nutrition Ch 2
Wednesday 2/6/19 Preconception Nutrition Ch 2
Monday 2/11/19 Preconception Conditions Ch 3
Wednesday 2/13/19 Nutrition during Pregnancy Ch 4
Monday 2/18/19 No Class
Wednesday 2/20/19 Nutrition during Pregnancy Ch 4
Monday 2/25/19 Pregnancy Conditions Ch 5
Wednesday 2/27/19 Nutrition during Lactation Ch 6 & 7
Monday 3/4/19 Exam 1
Wednesday 3/6/19 Infant Nutrition Ch 8
Monday 3/11/19 Infant Nutrition Ch 8
Wednesday 3/13/19 Infant Conditions Ch 9
Monday 3/18/19 Toddler and Preschooler Nutrition Ch 10
Wednesday 3/20/19 Toddler and Preschooler Nutrition/Conditions Ch 11
Monday 3/25/19 Child and Preadolescent Nutrition Ch 12
Wednesday 3/27/19 Child and Preadolescent Nutrition /Conditions Ch 13
Monday 4/1/19 Exam 2
Wednesday 4/3/19 Adolescent Nutrition Ch 14
Monday 4/8/19 Adolescent Nutrition Ch 14
Wednesday 4/10/19 Adolescents Nutrition/Conditions Ch 15
Monday 4/15/19 Adolescents Conditions Ch 15
Wednesday 4/17/19 Adult Nutrition Ch 16
Monday 4/22/19 No Class
Wednesday 4/24/19 No Class
Monday 4/29/19 Adult Conditions Ch 17
Paper due
Wednesday 5/1/19 Nutrition in Older Adults Ch 18

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 Monday 5/6/19 Nutrition in Older Adults Ch 18
Wednesday 5/8/19 Conditions in Older Adults Ch 19
Monday 5/13/19 Conditions in Older Adults Ch 19
Monday 5/20/19 Final Exam

Academic Integrity Policy

The faculty and administration of Brooklyn College support an environment free from cheating and
plagiarism. Each student is responsible for being aware of what constitutes cheating and plagiarism
and for avoiding both. The complete text of the CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and the Brooklyn
College procedure for implementing that policy can be found at this site:
http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/policies. If a faculty member suspects a violation of academic
integrity and, upon investigation, confirms that violation, or if the student admits the violation, the
faculty member MUST report the violation.

Disability Policy

In order to receive disability-related academic accommodations students must first be registered

with the Center for Student Disability Services. Students who have a documented disability or
suspect they may have a disability are invited to set up an appointment with the Director of the
Center for Student Disability Services, Ms. Valerie Stewart-Lovell at (718) 951-5538. If you
have already registered with the Center for Student Disability Services, please provide your
professor with the course accommodation form and discuss your specific accommodation with
him/her.

Bereavement Policy

Students who experience the death of a loved one must contact the Division of Student Affairs,
2113 Boylan Hall, if they wish to implement either the Standard Bereavement Procedure or the
Leave of Absence Bereavement Procedure. The Division of Student Affairs has the right to
request a document that verifies the death (e.g., a funeral program or death notice).

SPRING 2019 SEMESTER Important Dates

Friday, January 25 First day of Spring 2019 classes

Thursday, January 31 Last day to add a course
Monday, April 1 Last day to withdraw from a Spring course with a “W” grade
Wednesday, May 15 Reading Day / Final Examinations Begin
Wednesday, May 22 Final Examinations End / End of Spring Semester