Certificate Program in Nutrition

Continuing Studies, Corporate & Distance Education
http://continuinged.uml.edu/certificates/

With the focus on health, fitness, and disease prevention, this certificate is designed to expand knowledge related to the body's handling of nutrients and to enable students of other disciplines to relate this knowledge to their specific fields.

The Certificate Program in Nutrition serves four distinct audiences: 1) students in UMass Lowell's School of Health and Environment who are not eligible to obtain a minor in a related field, 2) students with associate's degrees in science or clinical areas, 3) students in science-related bachelor's degree programs seeking employment opportunities in health-related industries and community-based programs, and 4) individuals with no previous experience who would like to use the certificate as a stepping stone towards a formal degree in nutrition, dietetics, or nutritional sciences.

Required Courses: (4)
35.206 Human Nutrition
35.207 Fitness and Nutrition or 36.372 Obesity & Weight Control
36.371 Advanced Human Nutrition
36.481 Clinical Nutrition

Elective Courses - Choose 1:
35.207 Fitness and Nutrition or 36.372 Obesity & Weight Control
36.350 Human Biochemistry
36.406 Biochemistry of Lipids
36.463 Vitamins & Minerals
36.472 Nutrition & Gene Expression

Course Descriptions

35.206 Human Nutrition
This course provides an overview of nutrition and the components of a nutritious diet during the various stages of the life cycle. It emphasizes the impact of nutrition on the major contemporary health problems in the United States. Nutrition issues, trends and research, and their effect on society and the legislative process will be explored.
Prerequisite:
Credits: 3

35.207 Fitness and Nutrition
Course is primarily designed for students with limited experience in the field of nutrition and fitness. The course will introduce students to concepts related to the digestive process, metabolism, nutritional requirements, fitness profiles, fitness prescriptions, weight management, and eating disorders. This survey of relevant topic areas related to nutrition and fitness will prepare students for more advanced nutrition courses.
Prerequisite: 35.206.
Credits: 3

36.372 Obesity and Weight Control
This course is designed to discuss the etiology, pathophysiology, and treatments of obesity, anorexia nervosa, and bulimia. Role of hereditary, neurological, metabolic, and environmental mechanisms are discussed. Particular emphasis on obesity.
Prerequisite: 35.206 or 30.206
Credits: 3

36.371 Advanced Human Nutrition
Detailed analysis of the digestion, absorption, transport, and intermediary metabolism of nutrients. Nutrient requirements are evaluated in the context of their physiological and biochemical functions.
Prerequisite: 35.206
Credits: 3

36.481 Clinical Nutrition
This course is designed to discuss the principles of normal nutrition and physiology applied to clinical problems and the altered nutrient requirements in human disease. A study of disease topics of current clinical interest are also discussed. Students will also be asked to perform case studies of particular clinical diseases.
Prerequisite: 35.206 or 30.206
Credits: 3

36.350 Human Biochemistry
This course is an in-depth study of biochemical substances and their reactions in the body, with major emphasis placed on metabolism at the cellular level and examined in the tissues of the various organs where these reactions occur. Correlation of biochemical processes underlying pathologic conditions will be made whenever practical.
Prerequisite: 35.252 or equivalent.
Credits: 3

36.406 Biochemistry of Lipids
This advanced course in the nutritional biochemistry and physiology of lipids will detail the role of lipids in the normal and pathological processes at both the cellular and whole organism level. Topics will range from general discussions of the digestion, absorption and transport of lipids to the role of eicosanoids and lipid soluble antioxidants during normal and diseased states, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes and hypertension. Subject matter will also include a discussion of the various interventions for the prevention and treatment of certain of these disease states. There will also be discussion of the current issues in lipid nutrition.
Prerequisite: 36.350.
Credits: 3

36.463 Vitamins and Minerals
Detailed analysis of the digestion, absorption, transport, and intermediary metabolism of vitamins and minerals as essential nutrients. The chemical and biochemical characteristics of vitamins and minerals are examined to account for the physiological functions.
Prerequisite: 35.206, 36.350.
Credits: 3

36.472 Nutrition and Gene Expression
Regulation of eukaryotic gene expression by specific nutrients, hormones, and metabolites will be discussed. Transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and translational mechanisms of specific nutrients with emphasis in disease development or prevention.
Prerequisite: 35.206
Credits: 3

Certificate Requirements

Students enrolled in UMass Lowell certificate programs must complete the indicated series of certificate program courses, generally consisting of both required courses and electives. Students may complete the certificate programs at their own pace, enrolling in one or two courses per semester (which is the average recommended course load). Students should anticipate at least two hours of preparation for every hour of classroom instruction and they are required to maintain a grade point average of 2.0 or better to receive the certificate.

Courses held on campus typically meet one night per week, three hours each night, for 14 weeks during the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters (Summer courses are also offered over two 6-week condensed sessions). Call for a course bulletin or check our website course listings for specific course scheduling information.