Syllabus for BIO-2510

Introduction to Microbiology with Lab

Course Description

This course is designed to help students see the connections between microbiology and the world, regardless of career path. Topics include the diversity of microorganisms, microbial metabolism and genetics, and the control of microbial growth. Current topics discussed in the course include antibiotic resistance, biotechnology, and pandemics. The course includes a laboratory component with an emphasis on aseptic techniques, use of selective and differential media, and the growth of bacterial species.

Topics

Using laboratory tools in microbiology.
Differentiating between prokaryotes, eukaryotes, and viruses.
Physical and chemical control of microbes, including chemotherapy.
Positive and negative impacts of microbes on humans.
Classifications of microbes.
Microscopy and staining techniques in microbiology.
The processes of microbial metabolism and growth.
Properties of nucleic acids and genomes.
Physical and chemical methods of microbial control.
The development of microbial drug resistance.

Course Objectives

After completing this course, you should be able to:

CO 1 Analyze the structure and function of the prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell.

CO 2 Summarize the unique features and diseases caused by different eukaryotic pathogens and viruses.

CO 3 Outline the steps of cellular respiration, fermentation, and photosynthesis in microbes.

CO 4 Describe the conditions needed for microbial growth and how it can be controlled.

CO 5 Explain how microbes are used in genetic engineering and biotechnology.

CO 6 Describe the mechanisms of antimicrobial chemotherapy and how resistance can develop.

CO 7 Describe how transmission routes of microbes enable their spread through human populations.

CO 8 Compare the innate and adaptive immune response to pathogens.

CO 9 Utilize the tools of the laboratory to study microorganisms.

Study Materials

You will need the following materials to complete your coursework. Some course materials may be free, open source, or available from other providers. You can access free or open-source materials by clicking the links provided below or in the module details documents. Please visit the following website to purchase course materials: University's textbook supplier.

Required Textbook

Parker, N., Schneegurt, M., Thi Tu, A. H., Lister, P., & Forster, B. M. (2016). Microbiology. OpenStax. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Carolina Labs Kit

Your course laboratory kit is provided by Carolina Labs. Please click the following link for instructions on how to order your lab materials: Lab Kit Requirement—Ordering Instructions.

Course Structure

Introduction to Microbiology with Lab is a 4-credit, online course consisting of 6 modules. Modules include an overview, topics, learning objectives, study materials, and activities. Module titles are listed below.

Module 1: Introduction to Microbiology
Course objectives covered in this module: CO 1, CO 9.
Module 2: Microbial Diversity
Course objectives covered in this module: CO 2, CO 9.
Module 3: Microbial Metabolism
Course objectives covered in this module: CO 3, CO 4, CO 9.
Module 4: Microbial Genetics
Course objectives covered in this module: CO 5, CO 9.

Module 5: Controlling Microbial Growth
Course objectives covered in this module: CO 6, CO 9.

Module 6: Epidemiology and the Immune Response
Course objectives covered in this module: CO 7, CO 8, CO 9.

Assessment Methods

You are required to participate in the following for formal work in the course:

Write online discussion forum posts.
Complete written assignments.
Complete lab assignments
Take online quizzes
Participate in synchronous events.
Take proctored exams.
Complete a final project.

See below for details.

Consult the Course Calendar for due dates.

Promoting Originality

One or more of your course activities may utilize a tool designed to promote original work and evaluate your submissions for plagiarism. More information about this tool is available in this Plagiarism Detection Tool Google document.

Discussion Forums

You are required to complete 6 discussion forums. The discussion forums allow you to relate course topics to daily life. For each discussion, you will be asked to post your response to the question. After posting your response, you will also need to reply to at least two classmates’ responses with a substantive comment or question by the date indicated in the Course Calendar.

Written Assignments

You are required to complete 6 written assignments. For each written assignment, you will be asked to explore a topic or microbe associated with that module. You will be asked to read additional resources and answer a series of questions.

Laboratory Assignments

You are required to complete 12 laboratory assignments. The laboratory assignments are on a variety of topics associated with the course modules. Some modules will contain a virtual laboratory exercise. These labs replicate an in-person laboratory experience very closely, and you will be asked to gather data and complete questions related to the laboratory.

Quizzes

You are required to take 18 quizzes, one per chapter. All quiz questions are multiple choice. You may use any materials while taking the quizzes, and there is no time limit for taking each quiz.

Students find that quiz-taking is one way to prepare for examinations. Therefore, you will be able to take each quiz an unlimited number of times, and the gradebook will record your highest score. This arrangement will allow you to go back and reread portions of the text that you need to review and then take the quiz again for further practice.

Synchronous Events

You are required to complete 2 synchronous events. The first is in Week 2 and the second is in Week 6. At least two days prior to each synchronous event, you are required to submit a response and two questions. Your questions will be reviewed and answered by the course mentor during the synchronous session.

Examinations

You are required to take 2 proctored online examinations. The exams require that you use the University's Online Proctor Service (OPS). Please refer to the "Examinations and Proctors" section of the Online Student Handbook (see Student Handbooks in the General Information area of the course website) for further information about scheduling and taking online exams and for all exam policies and procedures.

For a list of key topics that may appear on your exams, refer to the study guides available in the Examinations section of the course website. For a more detailed look at specific concepts related to each topic, use the note-taking guides available in each module of the course website.

You are strongly advised to schedule your exams within the first week of the semester.

Online exams are administered through the course website. Consult the Course Calendar for the official dates of exam weeks.

Exam 1 (Week 4)

The first exam is a closed-book, proctored exam. It is 1 hour long and covers material from Modules 1 and 2 of the course (Chapters 1–6 in the textbook). The exam consists of multiple-choice questions similar to those on the quizzes. Fully answering the written assignment questions for these modules will also help you prepare for the examination.

Exam 2 (Week 8)

The second exam is a closed-book, proctored exam. It is 1 hour long and covers material from Modules 3 and 4 of the course (Chapters 7–12 in the textbook). The exam consists of multiple-choice questions similar to those on the quizzes. Fully answering the written assignment questions for these modules will also help you prepare for the examination.

Statement About Cheating

You are on your honor not to cheat during the exam. Cheating means:

Looking up any answer or part of an answer in an unauthorized textbook or on the Internet, or using any other source to find the answer.

Copying and pasting or in any way copying responses or parts of responses from any other source into your online test. This includes but is not limited to copying and pasting from other documents or spreadsheets, whether written by yourself or anyone else.

Plagiarizing answers.

Asking anyone else to assist you by whatever means available while you take the exam.

Copying any part of the exam to share with other students.

Telling your mentor that you need another attempt at the exam because your connection to the Internet was interrupted when that is not true.

The exam will be made invalid and you will fail the course if there is evidence that you have cheated or plagiarized in your exam.

Final Project

The purpose of this project is to connect topics from the course to the COVID-19 global pandemic. You will be asked to find appropriate sources to research and answer several questions related to the disease COVID-19, along with its causative agent, SARS-CoV-2. Some of the topics covered will be how the virus is spread and how the body responds to the infection. You will use this information to prepare both a written response to several questions and a short presentation that will be recorded and shared with the rest of the class.

Grading and Evaluation

Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:

6 online discussions are worth 10% of your final grade.
6 written assignments are worth 20% of your final grade.
12 laboratory assignments are worth 20% of your final grade.
18 quizzes are worth 10% of your final grade.
2 synchronous events are worth 5% of your final grade.
Exam 1 is worth 10% of your final grade.
Exam 2 is worth 10% of your final grade.
The final project is worth 15% of your final grade.

All activities will receive a numerical grade of 0–100. You will receive a score of 0 for any work not submitted. Your final grade in the course will be a letter grade. Letter grade equivalents for numerical grades are as follows:

A is 93 to 100.
A minus is 90 to 92.
B plus is 88 to 89.
B is 83 to 87.
B minus is 80 to 82.
C plus is 78 to 79.
C is 73 to 77.
C minus is 70 to 72.
D is 60 to 69.
F is any grade below a 60.

To receive credit for the course, you must earn a letter grade of C or better (for an area of study course) or D or better (for a course not in your area of study), based on the weighted average of all assigned course work (e.g., exams, assignments, discussion postings).

Strategies for Success

First Steps to Success

To succeed in this course, take the following first steps:

Read carefully the entire syllabus, making sure that all aspects of the course are clear to you and that you have all the materials required for the course.

Take time to read the entire Student Handbook. The Handbook answers many questions about how to proceed through the course, how to schedule exams, and how to get the most from your educational experience at Thomas Edison State University.

Arrange to take your examination(s) by following the instructions in this Syllabus and the Student Handbook.

Familiarize yourself with the learning management systems environment—how to navigate it and what the various course areas contain. If you know what to expect as you navigate the course, you can better pace yourself and complete the work on time.

If you are not familiar with web-based learning, be sure to review the processes for posting responses online and submitting assignments before class begins.

Study Tips

Consider the following study tips for success:

To stay on track throughout the course, begin each week by consulting the Course Calendar. The Course Calendar provides an overview of the course and indicates due dates for submitting assignments, posting discussions, and submitting the final project.

Check Announcements regularly for new course information.

Using AI Ethically: A Guide for TESU Students

TESU's Academic Code of Conduct permits student AI use in support of their writing and research process—not as a replacement for original writing.

Document AI use with an acknowledgment statement at the end of each assignment, noting the tools and prompts used. Cite any AI-generated content on the References page.

Please review Using AI Ethically: A Guide for TESU Students for more detailed information.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Thomas Edison State University recognizes, values, and relies upon the diversity of our community. We strive to provide equitable, inclusive learning experiences that embrace our students’ backgrounds, identities, experiences, abilities, and expertise.

Accessibility and Accomodations

Thomas Edison State University adheres to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, 1990 and ADAAA, 2008) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

The Office of Student Accessibility Services (OSAS) oversees requests for academic accommodations related to disabilities, including:

A student who is pregnant, postpartum, or parenting a newborn who is not the birth parent [as covered under NJSA18A].
Students requesting academic accommodation for a short-term or temporary illness.
TESU students requesting academic accommodation for an injury.

Information can be found on the Office of Student Accessibility Services webpage.

Questions can be sent to ADA@tesu.edu.

Academic Policies

Familiarize yourself with all administrative and academic policies, including those related to the following list, to ensure success in all your academic endeavors and coursework at Thomas Edison State University:

Academic integrity.
Course late submissions.
Extensions for the course.
Grading policies.

For more, see: