Study information

Foundations of Human Metabolism

Module titleFoundations of Human Metabolism
Module codeESS1019
Academic year2025/6
Credits30
Module staff
Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

11

11

Number students taking module (anticipated)

250

Module description

This module introduces you to human metabolism by combining foundational knowledge with practical skills. You’ll explore essential biological and chemical reactions, focusing on how macronutrients are metabolized and interact in different situations. The content lays the groundwork for understanding nutrition and exercise physiology. While the module doesn’t have any prerequisites, it’s helpful to have some background knowledge in biochemistry to fully grasp the concepts. Designed for students aiming to deepen their understanding, this module provides a stepping stone to more advanced topics in metabolism and related fields. It’s perfect for building your confidence in the science behind human health.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module seeks to provide you with the necessary foundational knowledge and basic practical skills to help you understand what happens to nutrients within the body. The module will cover the human metabolic basics related to health and sport. In addition, you will learn the basics of methods related to the assessment of food intake and begin to make critical judgements on research.

Graduate attributes:

You will become confident in the following skills:

  • Reading scientific literature
  • Measurement of human gas exchange
  • Computer programme for diet analysis
  • Calculating exercise intensities to work at for maximal fat burning
  • Collection of diet diaries/24h recall
  • Applying metabolic knowledge to different situations

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 1. Understand metabolic processes in the body during rest and exercise
  • 2. Explain role of macro and micronutrients in the diet and how food intake can be assessed

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 3. Learn and understand a range of important physiological laboratory skills
  • 4. Collect and analyse information before presenting ideas competently

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 5. Take responsibility for your own learning and development of the key skills of evaluation and prioritisation
  • 6. Work in dictated pairs on a piece of work to communicate complex science to a lay audience

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

 

  • Basic metabolic processes
  • Basic nutrient information, diet analysis and food labelling
  • Nutrient digestion and absorption
  • Metabolism of macronutrients
  • Interaction of macronutrients
  • Micronutrients
  • Nitrate
  • Myths surrounding nutrition
  • Hunger and exercise
  • Ergometry
  • Blood sampling
  • Data analysis
  • Immune function

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
872130

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities 34Lectures
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities 31Seminars / practicals
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities 22 Weekly informal drop-ins
Guided independent study44Reading
Guided independent study45Exam preparation
Guided independent study35Coursework preparation
Guided independent study25Formative assessment preparation
Guided independent study20Topic knowledge checks
Guided independent study24Session preparation / consolidation
Guided independent study20Online tasks

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Topic quizzesVarious1,2Automated
January quiz30 minutes1-5Automated

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
40060

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Infographic with lay summary40600 words1,6Written
In-person oral exam6015 minutes1-5Written

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Infographic with lay summaryInfographic with lay summary1,6Referral/Deferral Period
In-person oral examIn-person oral exam1-5Referral/Deferral Period

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to resit the part or parts that you failed. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

 

The topic of the infographic will be required to be different from the original submission.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

-       Sports Nutrition Jeukendrup and Gleeson 2024

-       Wardlaws perspectives in Nutrition Byrd-Bredbenner 2021

-       Essentials of Exercise Physiology McArdle 2015

 

Other books will also be suggested depending on the topic.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Web-based and electronic resources:

 

  • ELE – Faculty to provide hyperlink to appropriate pages

Key words search

  • Nutrition, exercise, food, health
Credit value30
Module pre-requisites

N/A

Module co-requisites

N/A

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

08/04/2025