| MCN520 |
Child and Adolescent Nutrition |
This course covers nutrition considerations for the preschool, school age and adolescent nutrition. These are usually the 'the neglected age group' on the nutrition life cycle with regards to nutrition programming globally. The relationships among nutrition, growth, and development during childhood and adolescence will be covered. Nutritional assessment for normal and high-risk groups; psychological, social, and economic factors contributing to nutritional status. Nutritional needs and interventions for special groups, including obese children/adolescents, athletes, and eating disordered. |
| MCN521 |
Maternal and Infant Nutrition |
The course will explore the global, regional and national guidance on nutritional considerations for all women of reproductive age 15-49 years and emphasis on preconception and nutrition during pregnancy. Overview of the anatomical, physiological and biochemical changes that occur during pregnancy and early development. Discussion and evaluation of nutritional/lifestyle factors associated with pregnancy outcomes and nutrition programs/interventions for pregnant women. The course will also cover the guidance on appropriate infant and young child feeding practices (IYCF). |
| MCN522 |
Community and Public Health Nutrition |
This intensive course provides presentations, readings and activities related to global community-based nutrition research, programs and policies. Public health efforts in communities are implemented in many different types of settings, including community non-profit agencies, worksites, health centers, clinics, hospitals, schools, churches, supermarkets, recreational and sports centers, councils on aging/senior centers, and emergency feeding sites. Students will become familiar with community-based research and programs focused solely on nutrition as well as those in which nutrition is one component. Students will engage in skill-building and participatory activities, as well be introduced to case examples of creative and innovative approaches to community nutrition. Through field visits and guest speakers, students will have an opportunity to dialogue with public health experts and practitioners who can influence community nutrition practice. Upon completion of this course, the students will have a toolbox of skills to utilize and apply in a wide range of practice settings. |
| MCN523 |
Sociological Perspectives on Family |
This module is designed to provide a theoretical understanding of family roles, relationships and dynamics. It enables the student to gain a range of perspectives from across social psychology to understand the behaviour and functioning of families. A family does not exist in isolation; it is embedded in the immediate community and shaped, influenced and defined by its society. Therefore, key social trends will be examined with a focus on how communities and society impact on the family. This helps to understand the gender and other nuances around food and nutrition decision making at household level. |
| MPHN505 |
Safety, Health and Environmental Law and Regulations (Optional) |
The module covers the principles and rules of international law and regulations which have as their primary objective the protection of the environment as well as addressing safety and health issues. The general themes and principles of international environmental law, international investment law, the international law of treaties, law development and the international community and marine law among other laws and regulations are covered. |
| MPHN502 |
Diet and Disease |
This module focuses on the application of nutrition concepts in the clinical setting and how pathophysiology and metabolic demands dictate nutritional requirements and form guidelines for the nutritional management of diseases. The students will learn how to formulate evidence-based nutrition care plans and learn how to critically appraise new and emerging research in clinical nutrition. With a multidisciplinary and case study approach utilizing the nutrition care process (NCP) the course tackles medical nutrition therapy for acute and chronic nutrition-related conditions. Components of the course include nutrition care process, standardized language and documentation, evidence-based practice, confidentiality of medical records, coding and billing nutrition and pharmacology. |
| MPHN506 |
Nutritional Epidemiology: Concepts, Analysis and Application |
This module provides an advanced foundation in epidemiological methodology and biostatistics, bridging the gap between theoretical research design and practical data analysis. Students develop the skills to critically appraise public health literature by navigating the complexities of chance, bias, and confounding, while learning to distinguish between simple association and causal inference. The curriculum emphasizes high-level statistical modelling, training students to use software like STATA or SPSS to perform logistic and Poisson regressions, Mantel-Haenszel estimations, and sophisticated survival analyses (such as Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models). Ultimately, the module equips students to design robust studies and apply precise statistical inferences to complex, multi-variable public health data. |
| MPHN507 |
Qualitative Research Methods for Nutrition |
This module is a hands-on, interactive seminar that equips students with the foundational theory and practical skills required to conduct qualitative research. The course is structured into two main phases:Phase 1: Foundations & Evaluation: Students explore the core principles of qualitative inquiry, learning to distinguish between various methods, their inherent strengths, and their challenges. A major focus is placed on establishing standards for "quality" and developing the tools necessary to critically assess the validity of qualitative insights.Phase 2: Design & Implementation: This phase shifts toward active research. Students learn to design studies, manage complex data, and apply various analytical approaches. This culminates in a local research project, where participants gain direct experience in data collection and evaluation, moving from theoretical knowledge to the implementation of a real-world study. |
| MPHN509 |
Procurement and Supply Chain Management |
It introduces the fundamental aspects of the supply chain environment, including enterprise resource planning systems and requirement systems. The interrelationships between purchasing, vendor selection, sources of supply, and technology will also be explored in this program. The focus is on management and the skills and resources that a successful manager needs. Upon completion of this training course, participants will understand the basics of purchasing and the purchasing environment, various approaches, tools, and strategies used in negotiations, learn the basics of entrepreneurship, marketing management and the strategies involved in developing a marketing plan, price and cost analysis from a purchasing perspective, develop performance standards and operational guidelines; which can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of purchasing and supply chain. |
| MPHN511 |
Experimental Design and Analysis of Clinical Studies. (Optional |
The module involves Theoretical, Methodological and Measurement Issues in the Clinical Research Model. Single-Subject Designs: AB and ABAB designs, Withdrawal or reversal designs, tailor-made designs for particular practice situations. Theoretical, Methodological and Measurement Issues in Program Evaluation, Evaluation Utilization and Reporting, Identifying and operationalizing goals, objectives, and interventions. Evaluation, Experimental and non-experimental designs. Data Analysis: Qualitative and Computer analysis using SPSS. |
| MCN570 |
Dissertation /Research Project |
It allows students to do a research on an approved topic in line with the strategic plan of the University of Zimbabwe (2019-2025). The research work may commence at any time after the final coursework examination. Research projects may be community, clinical, laboratory based at any institution approved by the department. The student shall present their findings to their cohort and members of the department. At the end of the second year the student is expected to develop and submit an original research manuscript to an accredited peer review journal before graduation. The Dissertation shall be at least 12,000 words and at most 20,000 words in length. In the case of a Dissertation with predominantly calculated solutions, pages that are less than 10,000 words may be allowed. |
