Class information
FN110 Personal Nutrition
- CRN: 21101
- Credits: 3
- Notes: In-person class with online readings and assignments
- Locations, days, times, and instructors:
- Rock Creek BLDG5 239, TuThTuesday and Thursday, from 11am to 12:20pm
From March 31 through June 11, 2026, STAFF
- Rock Creek BLDG5 239, TuThTuesday and Thursday, from 11am to 12:20pm
Class materials
Textbooks
No textbooks required
Details about this class
Who is Teaching this Course?
I am Rabia Shahab-Dirdak (she/her) and I will be your instructor for this course. My higher education began at Bryn Mawr College, a women's liberal arts college in Bryn Mawr, PA, where I majored in East Asian Language and Culture. Living and teaching English in Japan inspired me to pursue an education in nutritional science, and I did that here in Portland at the National University of Natural Medicine.
My informal education started in my family kitchen where my mother and father encouraged me to learn simple dishes to help with family dinners. Through passion and exploration, the kitchen has become my creative outlet. Making dinner for my family or baking a treat (mostly for me, let's be honest) is my happy place.
My Philosophy in Teaching
My role is to guide you through the formal study of food and nutrition. However, my philosophy of teaching is student-driven. I want you to be an active participant in your own learning. That means striving to complete readings, quizzes, and assignments on time, because ultimately that will keep you engaged and able to participate in learning the class material.
Due to the personal and emotional nature of food and nutrition, let me reassure you that our online classroom space will be a non-judgmental zone. This class is not meant to "fix" your eating habits or diet but to encourage self-discovery of your food story and the inner workings of your body.
Course Details
- Fully online (no scheduled meeting times)
- Materials available 24/7 through PCC Brightspace
- Weekly schedule: New materials posted Mondays at 12:01 am, assignments due the following Monday at 11:59 pm
- One-on-one meetings available by appointment (no regular office hours)
Course Topics
- Nutrition and You
- Healthy Meal Pattern
- Digestion, Absorption, and Transfer of Nutrients
- Carbohydrates
- Lipids
- Proteins
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Energy Balance, Weight, & Fitness
- Packaged & Processed, and the Future of Food
Technology
There is no additional technology required for this class.
No show policy
Your instructor can mark you as a "no show" if you do not participate in your class during the first week. This will remove you from the class.
Students with disabilities
Students with disabilities should notify their instructor if accommodations are needed to take this class. For information about technologies that help people with disabilities taking Online based classes please visit the Disability Services website.