Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) Health and Nutrition Syllabus - Mumbai University
This is the syllabus of the College of Social Work (Empowered Autonomous), Nirmala Niketan, which is the only college offering the B.S.W. under the University of Mumbai. The college has been autonomous since 2019-20 and empowered autonomous since 2024-25, so it sets this syllabus and conducts these examinations itself, and the degree awarded is still a University of Mumbai degree. The University last set a common B.S.W. paper of its own in 2019; this is the current document, amended in June 2026.
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Syllabus for Health and Nutrition
About this course
Based on the holistic concept of Health, the course recognizes the role of social, cultural, political, and economic factors in influencing the health and wellness of individuals. Health is integrally related to processes of development and inequality, poverty, exploitation, violence, and injustice are at the root of ill health and malnutrition, especially for the poor and marginalized. The course aspires to enable social work practitioners in helping individuals and communities to attain the highest possible level of health and well-being through proper nutrition. Nutrition is an important factor responsible for health and wellness. Both health and nutrition are vital components that contribute to the nation’s development. Hence, this course aims to enable the learners to develop a holistic and multidimensional understanding of Health and Nutritional issues in India and understand the link between them. It also enables them to use the knowledge and skills of Community health education to take up leadership roles in extension activities and community outreach programs related to nutrition, health, and wellbeing. The learners are encouraged to develop a scientific temper towards helping communities in terms of guiding them to enhance their nutritional levels and thus move towards good health and well-being.
Course objectives
- To understand the bio-psychosocial model of health.
- To understand the link between health and nutrition.
- To develop an understanding of the concept of Community Health, Health Education, and Health Action and use it for planning community education programs related to health,wellness, and nutrition.
- To understand the importance of nutrients, a balanced diet, and low-cost meal in the context of malnutrition among vulnerable groups in India.
Learning outcomes
- CO 9 Discuss the bio-psychosocial model of health and make linkage between health and nutrition with a special focus on vulnerable groups.
- CO 10 Deliberate on various factors affecting health and nutrition and the vicious cycle of malnutrition.
- CO 11 Analyse the functions of nutrition concerning various nutrients, the importance of food groups, the food pyramid, meal planning, and low-cost food to address the issue of malnutrition.
- CO 12 Demonstrate skills in preparing Information Education Communication (IEC) material on health and nutrition education, community maps, and concept note for planning and implementing health and nutrition programmes in the field of community health.
Unit I: Introduction to Health
- Concept and Definition of Health
- Biopsychosocial Model of Health - Biomedical, Ecological, Psycho- social, Holistic concepts
- Determinants of Health in India
- Difference between Community Health and Public Health
- Concept, methods, and Principles of Health Education
- Nutritional Programmes in India (POSHAN Abhiyan, ICDS Scheme, Matru Vandana Yojana, Programmes to fight nutrient deficiencies)
Essential readings
- K. Park. (2019) Textbook of Preventive and social medicine (25 Edition). Jabalpur: Bhanot Publishers
- James, F., Jerome, E. and Robert, R. (2008) An Introduction to Community Health. Boston: Jones and Bartelett
- Michele, I. (2004). Health Program Planning and Evaluation: A Practical, Systematic Approach for Community Health, London, Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Unit II: Introduction to Nutrition
- Nutrition: Definition of Nutrition and its relation to health, Functions of foods
- Types of Nutrients: Source and functions, The food pyramid, My Food Plate and Balanced Diet
- Meal planning: Meal planning on using locally available low-cost foods for improving one’s diet
- Malnutrition: Definition of malnutrition, vicious cycle of malnutrition, and factors affecting malnutrition: (biological, socioeconomic, customs, superstitions and gender, caste; the influence of maternal nutritional status resulting in malnutrition).
Essential readings
- Pant, K.C. (2011). The Nutritive Value of Indian Foods, NIN, ICMR, Hyderabad, India
- Viya, C., Rao, D A textbook of Nutrition. (2019): New Delhi, Discovery Publishing House
- Joshi, S. (2015) Fourth edition. Nutrition and Dieticians with Indian Case Study. New Delhi: McGraw Hill Education (India)
- Lankester, Ted (2007) Setting up Community Health Programmes: A Practical Manual for Use in Developing Countries.UK: Macmillan Publishers Limited.
Reproduced from Regulations and Syllabus of Bachelor of Social Work Degree (2023), Amended 2026, published by the College of Social Work (Empowered Autonomous), Nirmala Niketan, which is affiliated to the University of Mumbai and sets this syllabus itself. Wording is as printed in that document.
The complete syllabus
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