Master of Science in Applied Human Nutrition

Overview

Philosophy, Rationale

The current MSc Applied Human Nutrition is a two-year course and is being revised for the first time since its inception in the early 1980s. It is now due for review as per the University and Commission for University Education (CUE) timeframe. The MSc Applied Human Nutrition sector is dynamic, with several changes taking place over the last 5 years, most notably the government’s attempt to harmonize and regulate all Human Nutrition course at Masters Level. All institutions training Nutritionistespecially offered at the university level in Kenya, now have a regulatory body, the Kenya Nutritionists and Dieticians (KNDI). The units/courses offered to take into account emerging trends in Human Nutrition, landscaped to addressing not just malnutrition but also the double and now triple burden of malnutrition. Both prevalence rates of malnutrition, non-communicable diseases (diabetes and cancer alongside infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS) and manmade and natural disasters are on the increase thus have led to a higher demand for appropriately trained nutritionists at the managerial level. Proper, adequate and timely training of Human Nutritionists.  The training will lead to ensuring the implementation and success of nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific interventions.

Advanced training and research in nutrition is necessary in order to address upcoming challenges and emerging issues in nutrition and health. There is an increasing demand on training in applied nutrition over the years. The M.Sc. programme is designed to help the trainees understand malnutrition and its consequences and methods of alleviating nutritional problems. The programme will, therefore, build capacity for the improvement of nutritional policy making in Kenya and other developing countries in African and other regions. The programme will offer practical training using appropriate data collected in Kenya and other African countries.

The objectives of the course are to:

Provide students with abilities to assess community nutritional problems from a multi-disciplinary point of view, while applying information technology in suggesting/working out realistic and feasible intervention measures.

Provide students with abilities to implement investigations in the field of applied nutrition and analyze, interpret and disseminate findings to the relevant stakeholders.

Provide students with abilities to effectively use relevant nutrition tools and information to advocate for nutrition actions and influence policies.

Mode of Delivery

Face-to-face

The programme will adopt a face-to-face mode of delivery based on various techniques that include didactic lectures, practical, seminars, case-based learning and tutorials.

  1. Use of various media that are largely home or office-based
  2. Mediated technical learning materials including audio-visual, e-learning materials, will be employed.

Contacts of support persons

Chairman, Dr. G.O Abong, - ooko.george@uonbi.ac.ke

Contacts of support persons

Chairman, Dr. G.O Abong, - ooko.george@uonbi.ac.ke

Evelyne Ishuga – ishuga@uonbi.ac.ke

Joan Waluvengo – joant@uonbi.ac.ke

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  • The degree programme shall comprise of ten core courses and two chosen from the four offered electives and a project.

  • Each course unit is taught for 60 hours except for Applied Statistics and Computer Use, which will be two units and the project, which will be equivalent to four course units.

  • The course shall cover a minimum of four semesters, and a maximum of 12 semesters of fifteen weeks each.

  • Students shall take a minimum of two courses from semesters 1 and 2, and one course from semester 3.

  • The project shall be chosen after completion of the taught courses and shall be chosen in consultation with the Department.

 

The common regulations for the Masters degrees in all faculties shall apply.

The following shall be eligible for admission:

  • Holders of at least an upper second class honours degree or its equivalent qualification in BSc. Food Science, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences or Medical Sciences from University of Nairobi, or equivalent qualification from any other Institution recognized by the Senate.

  • Holders of at least a Lower Second Class honours degree in the same disciplines as in 2.2 (i) from the University of Nairobi or from another Institution recognized by the Senate, but must show proof of academic advancement either through research and publication or postgraduate training.

  • Pass degree with at least five years of experience and must show proof of academic advancement   either through research and publication or postgraduate training.

Human nutritional problems expert and implement investigations in the field of applied nutrition and analyze, interpret and disseminate findings to the relevant stakeholders.

   Year I     Year II     Totals 
TOTAL UNITS - 17UNITS  Semester 1   Semester 2   Semester 1   Semester 2   
TUITION         192,000.00      192,000.00     192,000.00          192,000.00    768,000.00
EXAMINATION (PER UNIT @1000)             7,000.00          5,000.00          5,000.00                            -        17,000.00
ICT SERVICES - (PER YEAR)             7,000.00                       -            7,000.00                            -        14,000.00
THESIS EXAMINATION                           -                         -                         -               30,000.00      30,000.00
REGISTRATION (PER SEMESTER@2250)             2,250.00          2,250.00          2,250.00               2,250.00        9,000.00
ID CARD ( PER YEAR)             1,000.00                       -            1,000.00                            -          2,000.00
CAUTION - (ONCE)             5,000.00                       -                         -                              -          5,000.00
MEDICAL FEE (PER YEAR)             6,500.00                       -            6,500.00                            -        13,000.00
LIBRARY (PER YEAR)             5,000.00                       -               500.00                            -          5,500.00
ACTIVITY-( PER YEAR)             2,000.00                       -            2,000.00                            -          4,000.00
STUDENT ORGANISATION(PER YEAR)             1,000.00                       -            1,000.00                            -          2,000.00
Grand Totals 228,750.00 199,250.00 217,250.00 224,250.00 869,500.00

  • Examination for any given course shall be taken in the semester in which the course has been offered.

  • Each examination shall take three hours.

  • Each examination shall be graded out of 100% in which 70% shall constitute written

  • examinations while the continuous assessment tests shall constitute 30%.

  • The pass mark in each examination shall be 50%.

  • The oral presentation of the project shall constitute 30% of the total mark, while the written dissertation shall constitute 70%.

  • A candidate who fails to obtain a pass mark in any course may, on recommendation of the Faculty Board of Examiners and approval by Senate be allowed to resit/retake any failed unit on the next scheduled examination up to a maximum of two times.

  • A pass obtained by resitting an examination shall be recorded as 50%.

  • A candidate who fails in more than two course examinations or fails a supplementary examination shall be recommended to repeat the year.

  • A candidate who fails in the oral presentation of the project or in the written report shall be allowed to resit or resubmit either of the two up to a maximum of two times depending on the component failed.

  • A Candidate who fails in the second resit of the oral examination or resubmission of the written dissertation or exceeds the prescribed time duration shall be discontinued

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