Nutritionists play an important role in the prevention of non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Balanced nutrition is essential to healthy living and overall well-being. Globally, the prevalence rate of obesity and overweight is steadily increasing. According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey (2019), 1 in 2 Malaysian adults are either overweight or obese. The Ministry of Health Malaysia has identified increasing the number of competent nutritionists in the healthcare workforce as one of the key strategies to combat the nutrition-related health issues and reduce the healthcare expenditure of non-communicable diseases.
An understanding of essential nutrients required by the body is vital to enable the general population to stay healthy, active and fit. If you are interested in educating and promoting a balanced diet and overall health and wellness to the public, then studies in human nutrition at Monash University Malaysia will provide you with comprehensive knowledge and skills that tap into the multi-faceted discipline of human nutrition. You will be trained to become a work-ready, competent nutritionist upon completion of the comprehensive 3-year nutrition program.
The Bachelor of Human Nutrition program at the Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences covers the broad scope of food in society, in-depth knowledge of nutritional and biomedical science and links the role of nutrition in health and disease prevention. The three-year program will introduce students to the fundamental concepts of food, nutritional and biomedical sciences. The inter-related units will assist students in understanding the human body and subsequently comprehending critical principles in human nutrition and food science. Students will be able to determine the social and behavioural aspects that affect individuals, communities and populations at large, by considering the broad aspect of religion, culture and political belief within a community from a nutritionist’s perspective. Students will also be exposed to a greater understanding of specific groups’ nutritional needs and issues while learning about the roles of nutrition in the context of human health and in disease.
During the first two years of the program, students will be taught the scientific basis of nutrient requirements and healthy eating, with significant reference to nutritional physiology, biochemistry and immunology. Their studies will be intertwined with practical elements such as assessing dietary intake, food chemistry and composition, and complex regulatory requirements relating to food and nutrition.
In the final year, students will have the opportunity to undertake nutrition research and obtain work-integrated learning experience. Students will be learning from and working with professional nutritionists and researchers who specialise in dietary intake and metabolism, public health nutrition, functional foods, sports and exercise nutrition, food science, body composition, hunger and satiety, as well as maternal and child health, as they work on their nutrition research project. For the real-word work experience, students will have a wide selection of placement sites, including public or private community hospitals or clinics, non-governmental organisations, the food industry, sports, fitness and wellness centres, media companies, and healthcare-related corporate companies. This experiential training would make the students more competent and readier for the future workforce.
“Food is the best medicine – A nutritionist is a trained healthcare professional who can help the public to understand the myths and facts about the various food choices and supplements via interpreting and translating scientific knowledge into practical information. A nutritionist plays an important role in the healthcare field by contributing to a healthier nation,” shares program coordinator and senior lecturer, Dr Tan Seok Shin.
Students can also select elective units from other programs and schools on and across campuses, giving them a cross-campus and international experience. The program has embedded inter-professional (IPL) learning activities where students from the nutrition program learn together with students from other health professional courses like Medicine and Pharmacy. IPL prepares the graduates to work collaboratively and confidently with members from other healthcare professions in the development of an integrated approach towards disease prevention; thus, contributing to the building of a healthy community and nation.
A Bachelor of Human Nutrition degree will prepare graduates to pursue careers in diverse health-related settings. These include the food industry, nutrition research institutions, government and non-government agencies, health clinics and hospitals, digital health, sports, fitness and wellness centres, food service companies, media industries, scientific and regulatory advisory bodies as well as food entrepreneurship. With further study, students can pursue a career in the higher education sector and become a nutrition researcher or academic.
Do you have a passion for food and nutrition? Find out more about the Bachelor of Human Nutrition program offered by one of the top-ranking universities at this LINK.
