From health and wellbeing to elite performance
There is growing interest in the relationship between nutrition, physical activity and sporting performance, with two major areas of focus:
The Bachelor of Science in Sport and Exercise Nutrition is the only degree programme in New Zealand that combines nutrition and physical education. This degree will allow you to study the role nutrition plays in both health and sporting performance.
This is the first qualification in New Zealand that focuses on sport and exercise nutrition, giving a thorough grounding in all aspects of human nutrition and relevant areas of exercise and sport science. The degree requires a second major or a minor from a list of approved options. These will give you a set of complementary skills, making your Sport and Exercise Nutrition degree even more relevant to today's working world.
There is a growing need for individuals with a combined understanding of the principles of nutrition, health and physical activity. This means there are many career paths available, depending on the minor chosen to complement SPNU, and the individual's areas of interest.
Some examples include:
Sport and exercise nutrition is a rapidly expanding area requiring a combined knowledge of the roles of human nutrition and physical activity in health.
The Sport and Exercise Nutrition (SPNU) programme combines human nutrition, sports science and physical education. In addition, several minor programme options are available, broadening the career opportunities upon completion of your degree.
A broad understanding of the principles of nutrition and exercise science will be obtained from human nutrition and physical education papers in the first, second and third years.
In your first year of study you will be required to take papers in nutrition, human body systems, biochemistry and chemistry.
In your second year, human nutrition and physical education become the mainstay of your study.
The third year sees further specialisation in the selection of human nutrition and physical education papers.
As well as lectures to learn the theory of human nutrition and sport and exercise science, there is a large practical component in both the physical education and human nutrition papers. Labs and practical sessions give you hands-on experience and regular tutorials provide excellent small group learning opportunities.
High school students are recommended to take biology, chemistry, maths and English in Year 12 and preferably chemistry in Year 13.
Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), or Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) degree
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | HUNT 141 Understanding Human Nutrition | 18 |
| 200-level | HUNT 245 Sport and Exercise Nutrition One of:
| 18 18 |
| 300-level | HUNT 345 Applied Sports Nutrition One of: | 18 18 |
| Total | 90 |
Note: This minor subject is not available for students majoring in Human Nutrition.
* PTWY 131 is only available to students enrolled in the Diploma in Science.
Explore your study options further. Refer to enrolment information found on the following qualification pages.
Department of Human Nutrition
Tel +64 3 479 7943
Email human-nutrition@otago.ac.nz
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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2024 Calendar and supplementary material.
