Term One Course Details & Schedule

MScFN Course Schedule 2023-2024

 

In Term One, students enrol in both of the below mandatory courses and must complete the Academic Integrity Milestone.

FN 9711 - Nutritional Epidemiology and Statistics

FN 9711 Course Outline Fall 2023

This course will introduce principles of epidemiology as applied to nutrition. Students will learn about study design, conduct, analysis, and interpretation of epidemiologic studies related to nutritional status, diet and disease relationships. Emphasis will be placed on population-level dietary and nutritional status assessment, and the influence of methods, study designs, and statistical analysis on the interpretation of, and conclusions from research. Using IBM SPSS Statistics, students will learn how to enter and analyze their own data and will develop a conceptual understanding of multivariate statistics.

FN 9888 - Seminar in Food and Nutritional Sciences

FN 9888 Course Outline Fall 2023

This seminar course will provide students with an opportunity to enhance their research presentation skills by viewing and critically appraising other research talks and by gaining experience presenting secondary research data on selected topics in nutrition.

It is expected on weekdays when classes are not scheduled that students will be available for dedicated research work, course group work and collaboration, and practicum preparation.

 

Term One Academic Integrity Milestone

All Term 1 graduate students must complete Western's School of Graduate and Post Doctoral Studies (SGPS) Academic Integrity Module Milestone. Students will not progress into their second term without successfully completing this Academic Milestone. Details to complete this Academic Milestone will be sent to all Term One students by email from Western's SGPS directly and students will access this Milestone through their  Graduate Student Web Services Portal. 

 

Term Two Course Details & Schedule

MScFN Course Schedule 2023-2024

 

In Term Two, students enrol in two of the below four elective courses. 

FN 9111 - Food and Nutritional Policies and Regulations (Elective)

FN9111 Course Outline Winter 2024

This course is designed to provide advanced study of the Food and Nutritional Policies & Regulations for topical/current issues in nutrition, food science, and technology in health and disease.

FN 9211 - Food Leadership & Social Progress  (Elective)

FN 9211 Course Outline Winter 2024

Through a broad range of theories, landmark cases, reflective practice, and social learning in school food and literacy, this course offers students a survey of philosophic foundations in school food and literacy leadership/management in public policy and operations with an emphasis on ethics, values, corporate social responsibility, sustainable governance, and human progress across a variety of Canadian and Ontario school food and literacy dimensions including but not limited to public goods, a good life, strategic management, and transformational leadership.

FN 9444 - Advances in Clinical Nutrition (Elective)

FN 9444 Course Outline Winter 2023

An intensive review and critical evaluation of the current medical nutrition management of diverse disease conditions in different stages of the life cycle.

FN 9666 - Community Nutrition and Program Planning (Elective)

FN9666 Course Outline Winter 2024

An advanced study of the principles and practice of community nutrition and population health promotion, as well as program planning and evaluation. Emphasis placed on critical analyses of population health strategies from awareness-building, nutrition education, and skill-building to community partnerships, supportive environments, and healthy public policy.

It is expected on weekdays when classes are not scheduled that students will be available for dedicated research work, course group work and collaboration, and practicum preparation.

Milestones

Students in the MScFN Practicum-based program must complete three non-course requirements called Graduate Student Milestones in order to graduate. 

In Term One students must complete Western's School of Graduate and Post Doctoral Studies (SGPS) Academic Integrity Milestone. (See Term One for more details.)

Terms Three to Five 

During terms Three to Five, students are enrolled in two Milestones, described below.

Master's Research Project Milestone

Each student in the MScFN Practicum-based program works closely with a Brescia Faculty Research Supervisor throughout the five terms of their program to complete a major research project. Students are matched with a member of faculty before the program begins, based on details and preferences submitted with their program application. 

MScFN Practicum-based students have projects that often result in publication, and may have the opportunity to present at various prestigious conferences.  

Students can learn more about Brescia's Faculty and research in the MScFN program here.

Dietetic Practicum Milestone

The Dietetic Practicum component of the MScFN Practicum-based program is a required Milestone. 

The dietetic practicum spans terms three to five, is full-time (Monday-Friday business hours), and each practicum consists of placements in different areas of practice, including:

Nutrition Care
Population & Public Health
Management
Research
Professional Practice
Communication & Collaboration

During their practicum, students rotate to placements at partnering facilities such as hospitals, public health units, community health centres, long-term care homes, and food service organizations. 

Placements typically vary from 4 to 12 weeks in length. Preceptors in each facility supervise students and evaluate their competencies while Brescia's Dietetic Education Coordinators monitor the student’s experiences to ensure a smooth collaboration between the preceptors and students, and to ensure that the learning requirements are met.

The successful completion of all three Graduate Student Milestones will show on the student's transcript at the completion of their program.