Course Syllabus
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San Diego Community College District, Miramar College
Tentative Course Syllabus, Fall 2020
BIOL205 General Microbiology, CN 48928
Instructor: Crista DiBernardo-Wagner
email: crista.d.wagner@gmail.com, please use Canvas messaging if possible.
Phone: 850-207-9256
Synchronous Class Hours: Tuesday/Thursday 1:00 -3:30 pm
Required Materials
Textbook Options: Choose 1 Lecture Text
- Tortora et al. Microbiology an Introduction, 13th edition. PURCHASE FROM BOOKSTORE OR ELSEWHERE
- OpenStax Microbiology ebook. This book can be purchased, but is also available as a FREE DOWNLOAD Links to an external site.
Lab Manual
- General Microbiology Lab Manual. PURCHASE FROM MIRA MESA COPY CENTER in store Links to an external site. or online Links to an external site..
Canvas
The majority of the content for this course can be found on the course Canvas page. Canvas can be accessed using a computer or a mobile phone app. In order to confirm your enrollment in this course, please log onto Canvas on the first day of class. If you do not confirm your enrollment, you will be dropped from the course. Please also note the attendance requirements below.
If you have trouble accessing Canvas, please contact our campus student support team at 1 (844) 612-7421. You can also access Training for Online Students by clicking here Links to an external site..
Special Notes for Online Courses
General Microbiology is a partially synchronous online course. Students are required to be available during the course hours (T/Th 1:00–4:00 pm) to complete and submit assignments and exams. An additional 4 hours of asynchronous instruction can be completed outside of those hours. As this is a 5 unit class, students should expect to spend 15–20 hours a week planning, preparing, and completing assignments and studying. Students are required to have consistent internet/computer access to complete this course. Computer issues will not be accepted as a reason for not completing an assignment.
Online courses require self-motivation and discipline, and you are responsible for establishing a regular schedule for completing your coursework. I have grouped the coursework into Modules within Campus to help you to complete your coursework in a timely manner. Many students assume that online courses are easier than their on-campus counterparts, this is not the case. You will be required to complete the same assignments, and will be held to the same high standards that are required in any college course.
Catalog Description & Prerequisites
This is an introductory course covering the fundamental aspects of microbiology including taxonomy, structure, physiology, reproduction, genetics, control, immunology and host-parasite relations. Basic techniques for culturing, staining, counting and identifying microorganisms are emphasized in the laboratory. This course is designed to meet the requirements to enter para-medical or medical fields. Field trips may be taken during laboratory periods. (FT) Transfer Credit: CSU; UC. The Written English Proficiency (WEP) and a recent college chemistry course with a grade of C or better. Because microbiology is a specialized science, Miramar College requires that you complete a basic life science such as Biology 105 and 106 or Biology 107 AND chemistry before you attempt Microbiology. High School Chemistry and biology is not equivalent. NO PREREQUISITES, NO ADMITTANCE!
Course Objectives
Upon completion of General Microbiology, the student will have:
- Recognized terminology, specific facts, experimental methodologies and general concepts associated with the following topics: development of lab techniques used in microbiology; microbial diversity and taxonomy; morphology and fine structure of microorganisms; microbial metabolism, physiology and growth; microbial genetics; microbial disease and the immune response; environmental and industrial microbiology.
- Employed concepts learned when studying the above topics to analyze new situations in microbiology.
- Demonstrated an ability to interpret data generated by these techniques.
- Distinguished between the principle and purpose of each procedure and diagnostic test introduced in the laboratory.
- Designed a flow chart incorporating cultural and cellular diagnostic tests to distinguish bacterial species.
Course Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Upon completion of this course, students should achieve the following student learning outcome: Properly utilize and analyze results of common physiological, biochemical, medical, and immunological assays and present these results to identify unknown bacteria.
A Statement from Disability Support Programs & Services
Students with disabilities who may need academic accommodations are encouraged to discuss their authorized accommodations from Disability Support Programs and Services (DSPS) with their professors early in the semester so that accommodations may be implemented as soon as possible. The faculty member will work with the DSPS Office to ensure that proper accommodations are made for each student. By law, it is up to the DSPS Office, through the interactive process with the student, to determine which accommodations are appropriate, not the instructor. This includes accommodations in a clinical setting. All information will be kept confidential. Students that need evacuation assistance during campus emergencies should also meet with me as soon as possible to assure the health and safety of all students. Further information is available in the Disability Support Programs & Services (DSPS) department. DSPS is located in building K-204 and can be reached at (619) 388-7312 or http://dsps.sdccd.edu/.
Attendance
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Attendance during the Census (add/drop) Period is required. Any student who does not complete the following assignments will be dropped for non-attendance:
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- Day 1: completion of Module 1: Introduction to the Course.
- Day 2: completion of the Week 1 Module Myth or Fact Quiz.
- Day 3: completion of the Week 1 Module Examining Proper Aseptic Technique Quiz
- Day 4: completion of the Week 2 Module Old & Odd: Archaea, Bacteria & Protists Quiz
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- Attendance in this course is measured by your timely completion of assignments. It is your responsibility to drop all classes which you are no longer attending. However, attendance in this course is mandated by the State of California and excessive absences are grounds for being dropped from the course.
- Students who remain enrolled in a class beyond the published withdrawal deadline will receive an evaluative letter grade in the class.
Special Notes for General Microbiology
I am aware that every student enrolled in this course has done so to advance toward a specific career goal, and I am aware that low grades may prohibit your advancement into your chosen field. As health care professionals, you will be expected to provide safe and appropriate care to your patients. I take my part in preparing you to be that responsible person seriously. As such, grades are assigned solely based on your performance in this class. If you need an A or B grade, make sure you earn it. There will be no extra credit, alternative assignments, or special circumstances made to raise grades.
Please make sure that this online course will satisfy the transfer requirements for any institution to which you plan to apply.
Special Announcements
There are many Rights and Responsibilities afforded to students at San Diego Miramar College. If you are unaware of these, it is your responsibility to make yourself knowledgeable. This syllabus is not intended to be all-inclusive in its discussion of these areas of the academic relationship between student, faculty & staff, and the college. Behavior construed as harmful/disruptive to the learning environment of this classroom will not be tolerated. Situations will be dealt with according to the policies outlined in the District Procedures. Please note that this can include removal from the class and suspension from the San Diego Community College District.
Any cheating or plagiarism for any assignment or examination will result in a grade of zero for the assignment (make-up assignments will not be accepted) and may result in a lowering of your course grade by one full letter grade. In addition, the use of unauthorized materials (including cell phones or other electronic devices) during exams or quizzes is strictly prohibited and is considered cheating. Further disciplinary action may be taken if it is deemed necessary by your instructor, including the reporting of cheating and/or plagiarism to the Dean of Student Affairs. For further information, you may refer to the School District’s policies on Honest Academic Conduct, contained in District Procedures, section 3100.
Assignments & Student Evaluation
Course material will be presented in Canvas as weekly modules. Though much of the work will be completed asynchronously, there are assignments that will be given and collected virtually during the weekly course meetings.
Lecture
EXAMS/QUIZZES are based on the units in the schedule found at the end of the syllabus and are not cumulative. As in many courses, however, concepts build on each other and so exams may include references to relevant information from past units.
ENHANCEMENT ASSIGNMENTS are meant to familiarize you with a variety of resources and topics that aren’t found in your textbook. There’s so much to be known about microbes by looking online, the enhancement assignments are meant to provide a brief introduction to the variety available to you.
CASE STUDIES OF MICROBIAL DISEASE will allow us to use a technique called “differential diagnosis” on a series of Case Studies which will present a patient’s symptoms and various laboratory test results. More information will be given to you as this assignment draws near. Your mastery of the material covered during the case studies will be evaluated using the Case Study Quiz.
Laboratory
LAB REPORTS will be submitted electronically through Canvas throughout the semester. Make sure to complete Data Collection and Analysis and Discussion sections of your lab exercises as you complete labs.
UNKNOWNS will be completed and turned in electronically through Canvas. A Minor Unknown Descriptive Chart, and Findings Reports for the SSE (Streptococcal/Staphylococcal/Enteric) Unknowns and Major Unknowns will be submitted.
Conflict Resolution
If you feel that you have valid grounds to challenge a grade, you must first attempt to resolve your problem informally with your instructor. If the grade challenge cannot be resolved, you must file a petition for grade challenge with the Dean of Business, Math & Science who will work with the Department Chair to help resolve the issue. If resolution does not occur, your next step is to file an appeal with the Vice President of Instruction. The Grade Challenge Procedure can be found in the college catalog.
Letters of Recommendation
Because of the limited interaction during an online course, I do not write letters of recommendation.
Grading
General Microbiology is a 5 total unit course, 3 units of work are derived from lecture and 2 units from lab. Grades are based on a straight percentage scale, there is no curve or extra credit given. As such, A= >90%; B= 89.99-80%; C= 79.99-70%; D= 69.99-60%; and F= <60%. Details about point totals for each assignment can be found in Canvas.
Your individual assignment and/or course grade will be affected by the timely completion of all assignments including exams, quizzes, written assignments and the online submission of data.
Late assignments will receive a 10% deduction in points for each day (including non-class days) they are late. Unless otherwise noted, assignments are due by 11:59 pm on their listed due date. The point totals for each assignment vary, the course grade is assigned based on the breakdown below.
Please note: It is your responsibility to read and understand this Course Syllabus in its entirety. Ignorance of the stated policies and/or College policies is not an excuse for failing to adhere to the guidelines outlined therein.
Course Summary:
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