Dept.

of Health and Nutrition Sciences

2900 Bedford Ave. • Brooklyn, NY 11210

Course Name: HNSC 4230. Community Nutrition Education

Semester: Spring 2021
Credits: 4 Credits
Class meeting:   ONLINE asynchronous
Instructor:    Melissa Fuster, PhD
Office hour: By appointment, via Zoom (Email to schedule)
Contact email: Melissa.Fuster@Brooklyn.CUNY.edu
Office location: 3209B Ingersoll Hall (Note: Not in use during Spring 2021)

Course Description: This course provides knowledge of education theories, health behaviors, human and group
dynamics, and public policy in dietetics. It allows students to apply the principles of nutrition as they relate to the
problems of different community groups at the local, national, and international level using nutritional assessment,
program planning, education, and program evaluation techniques. Introduction to the public health approach to
nutrition. Supervised field observations to study nutrition services in varied communities.
Course Pre-requisite(s): HNSC 3230

COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon the completion of the course, students should be able to:
 Describe a variety of community and public health nutrition programs and career opportunities for nutrition
professionals in these settings
 Discuss the connection between nutrition issues in vulnerable population and social, cultural, economic,
ecological and health factors.
 Apply research skills to design an evidence-based nutrition education plan.

Core Knowledge Requirements (KRDNs): By the end of this course students will be able to:
 Demonstrate effective and professional oral and written communication and documentation (KRDN 2.1)
 Assess the impact of a public policy position on nutrition and dietetics practice (KRDN 2.3)
 Discuss the impact of health care policy and different health care delivery systems on food and nutrition services
(KRDN 2.4)
 Demonstrate an understanding of cultural competence/sensitivity (KRDN 2.6)
 Develop an educational session or program/educational strategy for a target (KRDN 3.2)

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 Demonstrate counseling and education methods to facilitate behavior change and enhance wellness for diverse
individuals and groups (KRDN 3.3)
 Explain the processes involved in delivering quality food and nutrition services (KRDN 3.4)

REQUIRED READINGS
Boyle, Marie A. and Holben, David H. Community Nutrition in Action: An Entrepreneurial Approach 7 th Edition.
Wadsworth/Cengage 2016 (6th edition may be used, but student is responsible for accounting for differences in
chapter and page numberings). Additional resources will be posted on Blackboard.

ASSIGNMENTS AND EVALUATION

Course expectations:
This is an asynchronous fully online course. As in a traditional (face-to-face) course, you are responsible for the weekly readings
and assignments. Unlike a traditional class, you are expected to review the material independently, guided by the class power
point slides. You are also expected to keep up with the weekly activities and abide by the established due dates, outline in the
course schedule. Materials (power point slides and activities) will be available on MONDAYS, and weekly activities are due on
Wednesday and Fridays, as further outlined below.

This is a 4 credit course and you are expected to spend at a minimum 8 hours per week studying for the course. You are expected
to structure your time and keep track of deadlines. MAKE A PLAN to ensure you keep on track with weekly activities, readings,
and assignments. There will be no “technological issues” extensions nor exceptions. Assignments are due via Blackboard and you
are strongly encouraged to submit well before the deadline, to avoid technological glitches.

Required Fieldwork (30+ hours)

This course includes a fieldwork requirement (30+ hours) in a community nutrition setting, including, but not limited to:
community-based organizations, schools, food pantries, WIC centers, health clinics, etc. Ideally, fieldwork placements should
provide students with experience in planning and/or conducting nutrition education. Students are responsible for finding their
own placement and it is subject to approval.
NOTE: Considerations, re: COVID-19: The 30+ hours of fieldwork requirement is subject to change, pending the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic and site availability. Students are strongly encouraged to complete this requirement via virtual/online opportunities, as
offered by organizations or created with an identified community nutrition mentor. Examples may include virtual nutrition
education, assisting in nutirition social media campaings, and other similar opportunities. In person opportunities are available,
but students choosing such opportunities need to take all needed precautions, follow the organization’s COVID-19 policies and
procedures, and take on such opportunities at their own risk.

Grading. Note: Grades will NOT be curved. There is NO extra credit for assignments or assignment resubmissions. No exceptions.
Numeric Score Letter Grade
100-93 A
90 - 92 A-
87 - 89 B+
83 - 86 B
80 - 82 B-
77 - 79 C+
72 - 76 C
70 - 71 C-
67 - 70 D+
61 - 66 D
60 - 61 D-
≤59 F

COURSE EVALUATION/FINAL GRADE

Your final course grade will be comprised of the following components:
Participation 20%

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Community Fieldwork Essay 10%
Nutrition Policy Essay 15%
Weekly quizzes 10%
Term assignment 20%
Final Exam 25%
Total 100%

ASSIGNMENT DETAILS

Participation [20%]:
This grade is not a given. It will be based on your participation during online activities, mostly via discussion forum (DF) posts.
Online forum posts are worth 2-3 points (1 for your post, and 1 for each required reply). The online activities are designed to
keep students engaged with the material, advance the term assignment, and motivate interactions. Given the shift to
online/distance learning, they are extremely important for your class performance. Therefore, PLEASE do your best to complete
them on time, and keep up with the activities. Unless otherwise noted, forum posts are due on Wednesdays (by 11:59pm) and
replies are due Fridays (by 11:59pm). Late submissions will be penalized and will NOT be accepted after the Sunday preceding the
new week. That is, there are no make-ups for missed activities. However, the lowest grade (such as a 0 for a missed week) will be
dropped at the end of the semester. Briefly explain what the assignment is and due date

Community Fieldwork Essay [10%]:

As part of the required fieldwork requirement (see more information and considerations, p.2), students are expected to submit
the following documentation:
 Fieldwork placement documentation (Due by 3/12/21):
o Fieldwork agreement, signed by fieldwork supervisor (a photo is acceptable, if no access to a scanner)
o Fieldwork experience description and learning objectives (what do you hope to gain from this experience?).
o Students doing in-person fieldwork must also provide:
 Signed waiver form
 Proof of Liability Insurance (for in-person experiences and for organizations not affiliated with
Brooklyn College)
 Fieldwork Completion Documentation (Due by 5/15/21)
o Fieldwork completion form, signed by supervisor and stating the number of hours completed.
 Fieldwork experience essay: (Due by 5/15/21)
o A short essay reviewing and reflecting on your fieldwork experience. This includes a short description of the
setting, the main lessons learned, and connections made to the concepts and materials learned in class.
o Format: 2-page (max), double-spaced, using 12-point font (Times Roman)
Forms and more information will be available on Blackboard (Assignments > Fieldwork folder)

Nutrition Policy Essay Assignment [10%]:

This essay assignment will be to demonstrate an understanding of fundamentals of nutrition policy and government safety net
programs, and how programs are affected by current trends affecting community nutrition. More details and grading rubric will
be provided in class and via Blackboard.
Due: 3/26, via Blackboard (by 11:59pm)
Format: 2-page (max, not including references), double-spaced, with 12-point font (Times Roman).

Weekly Quizzes [10%]

Every week you will have a quiz. The quizzes will be short, including approx. 10 questions, mostly multiple choice (true/false, pick
the best answer). You will have 20 minutes to complete the quiz, and must be completed individually. The quizzes are due by
Friday (11:59pm), unless noted otherwise. Late submissions will not be accepted, and there are no make-ups. However, the
lowest grade will be dropped at the end of the semester. Week 1 includes a “practice” quiz, for you to get a sense of the format
and timed environment.

Term assignment [25%]

Working in randomly assigned groups, students will work together to design an evidence-based nutrition education program,
based on an assigned population and program goal. The assignment will be developed throughtut the second half of he semester,
where groups are expected to review the class material and apply concepts through guided activities, to be shared via the

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discussion forum for peer and professor feedback. A detailed assignment description will be posted on Blackboard. Groups will be
assigned by the end of Week 2. The assignment will include the following components:
 [20 points] Written document (5 pages, MAX, double-spaced (except tables), not including references, using 11-12-point font
(Times New Roman).
o April 28th: Optional draft for professor feedback
o May 10th: Draft due for peer review
o May 17th: Final Term assignment due
 [5 points] Discussion forum facilitation: During weeks 5-7, groups will be in charge of leading and facilitating discussion forum
discussions. The prompt will be to facilitate knowledge application and discussion based on the week’s chapter and the
assigned population group. The prompt is due by the assigned week’s Monday. Group members are expected to reply to
responses at least once (by Thursday) and promote discussion throughout the week.
 [5 points] Peer review: Students will be assigned a term assignment from a different group to grade and provide feedback.
This is an individual assignment and will be evaluated based on the quality of the feedback provided.
 [5 points] Group participation grade: Students are expected to be active group members, This grade is provided by your
fellow group members, using a rubric (to be shared via Blackboard).

Final Exam [25%]

The final exam is cumulative and you will have 2 hours to complete it. It will consist of mostly multiple choice questions with
potential for short answer questions. The exam will be based on BOTH the class power points and the assigned readings. Begin
preparing for the exam from week 1 by keeping good notes and reviewing each week’s learning objectives (to be included in each
week’s slides). The exam will focus on knowledge application. You will not be asked specific statistics. A study guide / review will
be posed by week 14.

COURSE POLICIES

Absences / Lateness
 N/A – Asynchronous course. You are expected to be active on Blackboard, login in at least two times a week.

Communication
 Blackboard communication: Occasional class messages will be sent via Blackboard. You are responsible to
ensuring your preferred email is the one used by Blackboard.
 E-Mail communication: Please follow professional email etiquette when communicating with the instructor. This
includes addressing the instructor as Prof. Fuster, and including the course number and subject of email in the
subject line (for example: “HNSC 4230, question about readings”). The instructor will respond to emails as soon
as possible, within 48 hours, during weekdays.
 Office hours: The instructor is available to meet with students virtually, as a mutually agreed upon time,
Mondays-Fridays (10am-5pm). Please reach out to make an appointment to discuss class material, careers, etc.

Formatting Written Work

 Students are expected to follow the required format for written assignments, as presented in the assignment descriptions
(via Blackboard).
 All work must include references and in-text citations. Students may select from commonly used styles (AMA, APA), as long
as the style is applied correctly. You are encouraged to review the College Library Resource Page:
http://libguides.brooklyn.cuny.edu/cite and other resources to ensure the correct use and application (see APA
Guidelines: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ )

Submitting Assignments
 All assignments are to be submitted via Blackboard, NOT email.
 Submit your assignments as PDF or Word documents (other formats will not be accepted)
 SUBMIT ON TIME! Late assignments will be penalized at least 10% of the grade per 24-hour period and may not be
accepted after a week. No exceptions, except in the case of illness (and with advanced notice and
documentation). The instructor will NOT email you to remind you about assignments or posts. You are

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 responsible for keeping track of the due dates (which you have here already, from day 1! Put them in your
calendar!).

Group Work
 Students are expected to work in groups as part of the term assignment. You are expected to be a responsible, responsive,
and respectful group member. Part of your grade will include a peer group work grade (more details on Blackboard)
 If issues arise, you are encouraged to resolve within your group. However, if issues persists or if a group member is not being
responsive, please reach out to the instructor in a timely manner.
 Resources for group work:
o Tips for working in groups, http://www.speaking.pitt.edu/student/groups/smallgrouptips.html
o 7 tips for surviving a group project: http://college.usatoday.com/2012/05/20/seven-tips-for-surviving-a-group-
project/

COURSE SCHEDULE (subject to change) [include “subject to change” since the syllabus is a legal contract]
Week Topic Assigned Readings and Homework
1 (2/1-5) Introduction to community Reading:
nutrition  Course syllabus
 Ch. 1
Assignments:
 Due Wed: DF post
 Due Fri: DF replies (at least 2)
 Quiz (Due by Monday, 2/8, 11:5pm)
2 (2/8-12) Obesity Reading:
 Ch. 8
Assignments:
 (Note: Students will be assigned to groups this week – make
sure to review which group you were assigned to!)
 Due Wed: DF post
 Due Fri:
 DF replies (at least 2)
 Quiz
3 (2/15-19) Policy and dietary guidance Reading:
 Ch. 7 (Dietary guidance section, “Nutrition survey
results: How well do we eat?)
 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines
Assignments:
 Due Wed: DF post
 Due Fri:
 DF replies (at least 2)
 Quiz
4 (2/22-26) Food Security + SNAP Reading:
 Ch. 10
 Watch: “A place at the table” (On reserve/online)
Assignments:
 Due Wed: DF post
 Due Fri:
 DF replies (at least 2)
 Quiz

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5 (3/1-5) Maternal and child health / WIC Reading:
 Ch. 11
Assignments:
 Due Mon: Groups 1 & 2 discussion prompt
 Due Wed: DF post
 Due Fri:
 DF replies (at least 2)
 Quiz
6 (3/8-12) Children / NSLP Reading:
 Ch. 12
Assignments:
 Due Mon: Groups 3 & 4 discussion prompt
 Due Wed: DF post
 Due Fri:
 DF replies (at least 2)
 Quiz
 Fieldwork documentation
7 (3/15-19) Elderly / Nutrition programs Reading:
 Ch. 13
Assignments:
 Due Mon: Groups 5 & 6 discussion prompt
 Due Wed: DF post
 Due Fri:
 DF replies (at least 2)
 Quiz
8 (3/22-26) Cultural competence Reading:
 Ch. 15
Assignments:
 Due Wed: DF post
 Due Fri:
 DF replies (at least 2)
 Quiz
 Nutrition policy essay
9 (3/29-4/2) SPRING RECESS
10 (4/5-4/9) Community Needs Assessments Reading:
 Ch. 4
 Community health report: Flatbush & Midwood
Assignments:
 Due Wed: Group DF post
 Due Fri:
 Individual DF replies (at least 2)
 Quiz
11 (4/12-16) Program Planning Reading:
 Ch. 5
Assignments:
 Due Wed: Group DF post
 Due Fri:
 Individual DF replies (at least 2)
 Quiz

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 12 (4/19-23) Nutrition Education Reading:
 Ch. 16
Assignments:
 Due Wed: Group DF post
 Due Fri:
 Individual DF replies (at least 2)
 Quiz
13 (4/26-30) Marketing Reading:
 Ch. 17
Assignments:
 Due Wed:
 Group DF post
 (Optional) Term Assignment draft
 Due Fri:
 Individual DF replies (at least 2)
 Quiz
14 (5/3-7) Program Evaluation Reading:
 Ch. 5
Assignments:
 Due Wed: Group DF post
 Due Fri:
 Individual DF replies (at least 2)
 Quiz
15 (5/10-15) Term Assignment Workshopping Reading: Review the following:
(& Review)  Final exam study guide
 Term assignment requirements
Assignments:
 Due Mon: Term Assignment for peer review
 Due Wed:
 DF post
 Peer review
 Due Fri:
 Individual DF replies (at least 2)
 Quiz
 Fieldwork essay and documentation
5/17 Due:
 Group Term assignment
 Peer feedback/grade
5/19 FINAL EXAM Exam will be available via Blackboard by 12am until 11:59PM.
DUE 5/19 (by 11:59pm).

Other key dates:

January 29 First day of Spring 2020 classes
February 4 Last day to add a course
May 17 Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” grade
May 18 Reading Day
May 25 Final Examinations End / End of Semester

COLLEGE POLICIES
 

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Academic Integrity 
The faculty and administration of Brooklyn College support an environment free from cheating and plagiarism. Each
student is responsible for being aware of what constitutes cheating and plagiarism and for avoiding both.  The
complete text of the CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and the Brooklyn College procedure for implementing that
policy can be found at this site: http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/policies  . If a faculty member suspects a violation
of academic integrity and, upon investigation, confirms that violation, or if the student admits the violation, the
faculty member MUST report the violation. NO EXCEPTIONS!  Any violation of the following will result in a grade of 0
for the assignment or activity. 

Types of Academic Dishonesty Explicitly Prohibited

 Cheating is the unauthorized use or attempted use of material, information, notes, study aides, devices or
communication during an academic exercise.
 Plagiarism is the act of presenting another person’s ideas, research or writings as your own.
 Internet plagiarism includes submitting downloaded term papers or parts of term papers, paraphrasing or
copying information from the internet without citing the source, and “cutting & pasting” from various sources
without proper attribution.
 Obtaining unfair advantage is any activity that intentionally or unintentionally gives a student an unfair
advantage in his/her academic work over another student. This includes sharing specific information about exam
questions with other students. 
 Falsification of records and official documents includes, but is not limited to, forging signatures of
authorization and falsifying information on an official academic record.
 
Center for Student Disability Services 
In order to receive disability-related academic accommodations students must first be registered with the
Center for Student Disability Services (CSDS).  Students who have a documented disability or suspect they
may have a disability are invited to set up an appointment with the Director of the Center for Student
Disability Services, Ms. Valerie Stewart-Lovell at 718-951-5538. If you have already registered with the CSDS
please provide your professor with the course accommodation form and discuss your specific accommodation
with him/her as soon as possible and at an appropriate time.
Bereavement Policy
Students who experience the death of a loved one must contact the Division of Student Affairs, located in
2113 Boylan Hall (718-951-5352, rortiz@brooklyn.cuny.edu), if the student wishes to implement either the
Standard Bereavement Procedure or the Leave of Absence Bereavement Procedure. The Division of Student
Affairs has the right to request a document that verifies the death (e.g., a funeral program or death notice).

RESOURCES

Magner Career Center: The Magner Career Center provides students the knowledge, skills, values and opportunities
that are essential to fulfilling their career aspirations. Resources are available to help you find internships, help with
your resume, and network with potential employers. See their website for resources, services and events:
http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/web/academics/centers/magner.php

Center for Academic Advisement and Student Success: Whether you make an appointment or walk in, the advisers
in CAASS will assist you with issues related to your educational planning, including first-year and transfer student
advisement, educational foundation advisement, and guidance on the Core Curriculum:
http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/web/about/offices/caass.php

Learning Center: The Learning Center will help you with writing, science, math, economics and other subjects in
person and online. http://lc.brooklyn.cuny.edu/

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