Fall 2012

This course provides an introduction to the epidemiological perspective on health and disease. The course emphasizes the principles and methods used to describe and evaluate the patterns of illness in communities and in population subgroups. Methods and research designs used in the investigation of the etiology of infectious and noninfectious disease are presented. Lecture and laboratory examples illustrate a wide range of contemporary health problems.

Nutrition 203 is a required course that will allow students at the Friedman School to become familiar with policy processes (domestic and international), typologies of policy initiatives (laws, regulations, program interventions, legal restrictions and systems, institutional mandates), and to be able to critically analyze and discuss how policy and science interact with regard to food and nutrition. The class will cover: a) how science influences the policy agenda, and how policy debates influence the scientific agenda; b) the scientific underpinnings of food and nutrition policies; c) how empirical findings in scientific research and operational programming make their way into policy and law; d) debates and controversies in US and international nutrition; e) the range of options for intervention that exist (to improve nutrition), and those that are used; f) how do we know what works best and what the alternatives might be?; g) approaches to problem assessment and measurement; h) success stories in the nutrition pantheon; i) constraints to success (what makes or breaks major program successes), and j) key institutions and organizations involved in nutrition policy and programming in the US and around the world.

Students need to enroll in one of four different section, based on the recitation that works best for their schedule. Each recitation should be capped at 25 students. No recitations will be held during week one of the semester.

• Section -01 Recitation 12:30-1:30, even weeks, Jaharis, Behrakis Auditorium
• Section -02 Recitation 12:30-1:30, odd weeks, Jaharis, Behrakis Auditorium
• Section -03 Recitation 5:00-6:00, even weeks, Jaharis, Behrakis Auditorium
• Section -04 Recitation 5:00-6:00, odd weeks, Jaharis, Behrakis Auditorium

Part one of a one-year, two-semester course covering descriptive statistics, graphical displays, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, t test, chi-square test, nonparametric tests, multiple linear regression, multiple logistic regression, experimental design, multi-factor and multiple comparisons procedures. Students will learn how to use Stata statistical analysis software.

What motivates people to adopt healthier food and lifestyle choices? This course will explore various theoretical perspectives on nutrition and health-related behavior change. It will include an examination of several individual-based, social-based, organization-based an eco-social theories, including the Health Belief Model, the Theory of Planned Behavior, the Transtheoretical Model, Decision-Making, Social Support, Social Learning Theory, and Diffusion of Innovations. Knowledge of these theories will help inform the design of research and program interventions based on psycho-biological, social, cultural and organizational frameworks. The course emphasizes an understanding of core theory concepts and issues in measurement. In-class workshops will allow for direct application of the theories to students' current research and program intervention interests. The course will provide concepts and tools that can apply not only to the students' own research interests, but also to other courses, such as those focused on nutrition interventions, patient education, persuasive communication, social marketing and mass media. This course should be of great value to students in the Nutrition Communication, Nutrition Epidemiology, Nutrition Intervention Programs and to students in the MS / Dietetic Internship programs.

This introductory course is designed to teach the basic skills necessary to write nutrition- and health-related papers that are clear, accurate, and audience-appropriate. It is a practical review of writing and revision, and will enable students to develop a clear, fluent, and readable style. The course will include both individual and collaborative exercises and will require several writing and editing assignments, as well as rewrites. It is a prerequisite for NUTR 205 and NUTR 306, both of which build on the skills it provides.

This intensive, short course is designed to familiarize basic science track (BMN, EPI) students with the fundamental techniques used to study biology at the molecular, cell, tissue and whole organism levels. Techniques covered include but are not limited to gas and liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, cell culture and transfection, electrophoresis, western blotting, immunoassays, PCR, transcriptional profiling, cell sorting and modern microscopy and imaging techniques. For each technique, there will be background web-based readings and discussion. Students will be evaluated based on a weekly quiz and their participation in class discussion. This is a required course for all Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition Students.

This course examines the evolution of the humanitarian action in relation to changes in the operating environment and changes in the international system. This multi-disciplinary course will cover a broad range of subjects, and addresses a number of topics:

• A historical perspective on humanitarian action;
• The normative frameworks of humanitarian action - international humanitarian law, humanitarian principles, and codes of conduct;
• Conceptual frameworks for addressing the protection of life, livelihoods, rights and safety of people caught in complex emergencies;
• The impact of conflicts and the "global war on terror"on humanitarian space and humanitarian action;
• The political economy of conflict and humanitarian aid;
• Methodologies developed to improving the effectiveness and accountability of humanitarian action;
• The evolving structure of the international humanitarian system;
• The ethical and practical implications of incorporating human rights in humanitarian action.

The course will rely on a case-study approach to examining these issues, and students will be involved in developing the case studies for presentation in class. By the end of this course students will be aware of the foundations on humanitarian action (International Humanitarian Law, humanitarian principles, different traditions); the historical, legal, social, political and moral context of humanitarian emergencies; the main analytical frameworks used to understand the causes and consequences of complex emergencies; and major forms of humanitarian responses to complex emergencies. Students will understand the complex relationship between humanitarian action and the international environment, the impact of humanitarian emergencies on social relations, and will have a working knowledge of the principles and standards of accountability for engaging in humanitarian response in complex emergencies.

Required of junior standing students enrolled in the Combined Dietetic Internship/Masters Degree program. Grading is Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.

The principal goals of this student-run BMN Journal Club are to: (a) enhance graduate students’ understanding of the current state of biochemical and molecular nutrition and (b) provide experience in reviewing and critiquing research articles. In alternate week sessions, students will critically evaluate peer-reviewed articles for class discussion that reinforce the principles of various research approaches (including in vitro experiments, animal models, observational studies, clinical trials) and analytical methods. This course will also help students to develop their evaluative skills and presentation performance.

All BMN MS and PhD students are encouraged to take this course within the first two years of matriculation to the Friedman School. This will be an intellectually stimulating course that will focus on recent findings in the field. In addition to the faculty advisor for this course, other faculty will be encouraged to attend to help facilitate discussions; for each session, faculty with expertise in a topic to be discussed during that class will be invited to participate.  This approach also has the benefit of allowing students in their first and second year of the BMN program to meet and interact with a variety of Friedman faculty.   

The primary format of this course will be student-selected and -led presentations of recent publications in the biochemical and molecular nutrition literature. The course covers two semesters, meeting every two weeks. During the year, all participating students will be required to give at least one PowerPoint presentation, and submit to the class a one-page summary that addresses the study aims, methods and results, and provides a critical assessment of the article.  Presentation dates will be selected at the beginning of the semester. This course will also include two introductory faculty-led lectures on: (a) developing the skills and knowledge essential to understanding and critiquing research reports and (b) effectively communicating the relevant supporting material, results, and conclusions of primary research reports.

Directed Study is a mechanism for a student to receive academic credit for work completed under the tutelage of a faculty member. This is generally done on a one-to-one basis with the student taking major responsibility for his/her progress. Research conducted in a laboratory during a Directed Study project can be either problem-oriented or technique-based. Directed Studies must be supervised by Friedman School faculty.

Students must register for a Directed Study using the online form

The aim of this course is to introduce current policy and development issues and debate, and to encourage critical analysis of conventional wisdom and generalizations. Focusing on complex interactions among local and global systems, the course seeks to prepare students for employment in the field of international development, be it as practitioners, analysts, teachers or writers. Alternative concepts, data and viewpoints will be explored on key problems in real contexts. Case studies will be drawn on experiences in countries as diverse as Ethiopia, Niger, Thailand, Vietnam, China and Peru. Class assignments: (a) Two short critiques of journal articles or donor policy statements, b) one individual or group presentation (30 minutes) on a current development problem and its potential solutions, and c) a more demanding paper assignment (10-12 pages) for the end of the semester. Grading will be based on the following structure: Paper assignment (35%), Class presentation (35%), Short critiques (30%). Active class participation is expected.

A review and analysis of how nutrition and health issues are presented by the media. This course will reinforce concrete journalism skills and an understanding of the values and practices required of a competent and thoughtful writer and is structured around class discussions, selected readings, and writing and editing assignments. Classroom discussions and assignments will also focus on how to report controversial issues in nutrition and health.

This course will focus on human nutrition and metabolism. Emphasis will be placed on the biological ramifications of altering substrate load and essential nutrients caused by intended and unintended changes in dietary intake. The functional and regulatory roles of macronutrients and micronutrients will be stressed. Additional components of the course will include integrating nutrition policy with nutrition science.

Students will be guided in connecting the lay and scientific literature in the areas of biochemistry and nutrition, and exploring how each informs the other. Opportunities will be available for preparing short written reports and oral presentations on contemporary research issues related to the essential nutrients and current topics. Current challenges in the field of nutrition will be related to the lecture material.

This course focuses on the identification of confounding, effect modification and bias in epidemiological data. Methods of control of confounding for continuous, categorical and time to event data will be explored. Topics include analysis of data from normal, binomial and Poisson distributions, logistic and Poisson regression, and survival analysis using actuarial, Kaplan-Meier and Cox’ proportional hazards, correlated data analysis, generalized estimating equations, and the mixed model. The art and science of statistical modeling and data reduction will be introduced. The course emphasizes practical application and makes extensive use of the SAS programming language.

Food Systems represents a form of capstone course with a discussion format. Students will provide input into selection of topics that they will focus and present on. The course primarily addresses food system structures and components, with an emphasis on sustainability – spanning agriculture, environment, power and economics, values and ethics, food security, food sovereignty, and food choices. Topics of concentration may cover contemporary issues and can include food miles and 'foodprints'; climate change; greening vs. greenwashing; ethics of eating meat and using bottled water; and eating sustainably. We will also examine the global political economy of the food system, and approaches to understanding and influencing food system change. Common terminology used in food systems and sustainability discourses are clarified. Classes will emphasize student presentations on components of the food system; student-led discussions of readings; and group exercises/debates. Assignments will include research-based projects focusing on food system change. This class is suitable for second year students, or for first year students with grounding in food systems literature and/or relevant experience (to be approved by the instructor).

Required of senior standing students enrolled in the Combined Dietetic Internship/Masters Degree program. Grading is Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.

Directed Study is a mechanism for a student to receive academic credit for work completed under the tutelage of a faculty member. This is generally done on a one-to-one basis with the student taking major responsibility for his/her progress. Research conducted in a laboratory during a Directed Study project can be either problem-oriented or technique-based. Directed Studies must be supervised by Friedman School faculty.

Students must register for a Directed Study using the online form.

All doctoral students must register for NUTR403 every semester to remain in active and full time status (full time equivalent.) Grading is Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.

Directed Study is a mechanism for a student to receive academic credit for work completed under the tutelage of a faculty member. This is generally done on a one-to-one basis with the student taking major responsibility for his/her progress. Research conducted in a laboratory during a Directed Study project can be either problem-oriented or technique-based. Directed Studies must be supervised by Friedman School faculty

Students must register for a Directed Study using the online form