NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Course title: Microbiology

Course prefix, number, and section number: BIOL 2420 Section 340

Semester/Year of course: Spring 2022

Semester start and end dates: January 18, 2022 – May 14, 2022

Modality (Face to face/Synchronous or Asynchronous online/Hybrid): Asynchronous Online

Class meeting location, days, and times: Lecture completed online in Canvas

Lab meeting location, days, and times: Lab completed online in Canvas

Semester credit hours: Lecture 48 hours Laboratory 48 hours

Course description: This course covers basic microbiology and immunology and is primarily directed at pre-nursing, pre-allied health, and non-science majors. It provides an introduction to historical concepts of the nature of microorganisms, microbial diversity, the importance of microorganisms and acellular agents in the biosphere, and their roles in human and animal diseases. Major topics include bacterial structure as well as growth, physiology, genetics, and biochemistry of microorganisms. Emphasis is on medical microbiology, infectious diseases, and public health.

Course prerequisites: None

Required course materials:

Microbiology: Basic and Clinical Principles 1^st ed., Norman-Mckay ISBN 9780135194560;

Access code for Modified MasteringMicrobiology to accompany the 1^st edition of the textbook

Connect Online Access for Microbiology Virtual Labs ISBN 9781264053889;

Web camera (required to complete course exams)

Microphone (required to complete course exams)

Respondus LockDown browser (required to complete course exams, a link is provided in the “Getting Started” module in the course

Name of instructor: Mrs. Sherry Smith

Office location: Gainesville Campus Room 419

Telephone number: (940) 668-7731 ext. 4350

E-mail address: sherrysmith@nctc.edu

Office hours for students:

Monday (on campus) 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Wednesday (on campus) 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Thursday (Virtual office hours only; appointment required) 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER

The faculty member reserves the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the best interest of the educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced as soon as possible in person and/or writing.

SUMMARY OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

List of graded assignments:

Lecture Unit Attendance Video Quizzes

Lecture Mastering Micro Homework Assignments

Lecture Unit Exams Part A

Lecture Unit Exams Part B

Pre-Laboratory Homework Assignments

Post-Laboratory Homework Quizzes

Laboratory Exams

Final grade scale: 

A = 900 points – 1000 points

B = 800 points – 899 points

C = 700 points – 799 points

D = 600 points – 699 points

F = 0 points – 599 points

Late work policy:

Late work is not accepted. Students are expected to complete all assignment by the designated deadlines indicated in the course schedule (located in the Canvas Course “Getting Started” module). Failure to submit an assignment on time will result in a “0” for the assignment.

SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL.

COURSE POLICIES

Academic Integrity Policy:

Consequences for academic dishonesty in the course may include:

1) grade (“0”) on the assignment. If the assignment is within a group in which the lowest assignment is dropped, the assignment will not be able to be count as a dropped score. It will count as part of the grade.

2) A “Scholastic Dishonesty Report Form” will be submitted regarding the incidence.

3) Students may be dropped from the course with a failing grade (letter grade of “F”)

Attendance Policy:

Lecture

A traditional lecture course requires students to meet face-to-face for a total of 48 contact hours for the semester. We are responsible for meeting the same number of hours as those traditional courses, which does not include outside homework and studying. This course will have the required lecture contact hours met viewing lecture videos with quizzes and weekly discussion forums in Canvas. Students are required to complete both items for attendance credit. Failure to complete these components of the course is grounds for being dropped from the course.

Lab

The required 48 contact hours for lab will be met using virtual laboratory assignments. Students are required to complete all components associated with each laboratory session by the designated deadline in order to receive post-lab quiz access codes.  Failure to complete these components of the course is grounds for being dropped from the course.

It is the responsibility of the student to amend their professional/personal schedule to meet the class expectations. Students who are absent from class in excess of 2 calendar weeks or more than 9 hours of instruction may be dropped from the course. Students who elect to quit working in the course or who decide to no longer attend are required to complete the drop slip with the registrar’s office. Students who fail to participate and complete the drop slip will accumulate a grade of “0” on all incomplete assignments.

The instructor also retains the right to dismiss any student who exhibits behaviors distractive to the learning environment (i.e., talking while the instructor is providing instructions/lecture, entering or leaving the room while the instructor is providing instruction/lecture, disrespectful to other students or the instructor, etc.)

Withdrawal Policy

A student may withdraw from a course on or after the official date of record. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a Withdrawal Request Form.

Last day to withdraw from the course with a “W” is: April 4, 2022

Student Learning Outcomes:

Lecture Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

1. Describe distinctive characteristics and diverse growth requirements of prokaryotic organisms compared to eukaryotic organism.
2. Provide examples of the impact of microorganisms on agriculture, environment, ecosystem, energy, and human health, including biofilms.
3. Distinguish between mechanisms of physical and chemical agents to control microbial populations.
4. Explain the unique characteristics of bacterial metabolism and bacterial genetics.
5. Describe evidence for the evolution of cells, organelles, and major metabolic pathways from early prokaryotes and how phylogenetic trees reflect evolutionary relationships.
6. Compare characteristics and replication of acellular infectious agents (viruses and prions) with characteristics and reproduction of cellular infectious agents (prokaryotes and eukaryotes).
7. Describe functions of host defenses and the immune system in combating infectious diseases and explain how immunizations protect against specific diseases.
8. Explain transmission and virulence mechanisms of cellular and acellular infectious agents

Laboratory Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

1. Use and comply with laboratory safety rules, procedures, and universal precautions.
2. Demonstrate proficient use of a compound light microscope.
3. Describe and prepare widely used stains and wet mounts, and discuss their significance in identification of microorganisms.
4. Perform basic microbiology procedures using aseptic techniques for transfer, isolation and observation of commonly encountered, clinically significant bacteria.
5. Use different types of bacterial culture media to grow, isolate, and identify microorganisms.
6. Perform basic bacterial identification procedures using biochemical tests.
7. Estimate the number of microorganisms in a sample using methods such as direct counts, viable plate counts, or spectrophotometric measurements.
8. Demonstrate basic identification protocols based on microscopic morphology of some common fungi and parasites.

Core Objectives:

Critical Thinking

Communication

Teamwork

Empirical and Quantitative Analysis

COLLEGE POLICIES

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the Student Handbook.

ADA STATEMENT

NCTC will adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities to arrange appropriate accommodations.  See the OSD Syllabus Addendum.

STUDENT SERVICES

NCTC provides a multitude of services and resources to support students.  See the Student Services Syllabus Addendum for a listing of those departments and links to their sites.

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS