BIO 260: Microbiology

Fall 2022

 

Mission: The mission of Culver-Stockton College is to prepare students of promise for a dynamic world through our distinctive experiential curriculum within a supportive learning community founded upon the best values of faith and the human spirit.

Credit hours: 4 (lecture and lab)

Instructor: Dr. Elizabeth Gomaa

• Lecture: MWF 10:30am-11:35am SCI 217 Lab: M 2:00 – 5:00 pm SCI 121       
• Office: SCI 107

Email: egomaa@culver.edu                                    

• Office hours: by appointment only. Please email to make an appointment.

 

For every 1 hour in class, you will be required to complete 2-3 hours of homework outside of class. This is an average number of hours and may vary. This means you should be spending minimum of 6 hours a week outside of class.  This time maybe spent on reading, and completing homework. Most “A” students spend an average of 8 hours of study time a week outside of class.

You are expected to read the Chapter in the book that corresponds to the lecture in the syllabus for that day prior to coming to class.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: The study of the structure, classification and physiology of microorganisms, as well as their impact on human disease and welfare. Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory.

REQUIRED TEXTS AND MATERIALS: 

Lecture:

Microbiology: An Introduction, 13th edition

Published by Pearson (June 13th 2019) - Copyright © 2019

ISBN-13: 9780135789377

MyMastering

 

Lab:

Lab handouts will be posted on Canvas. You must print them and bring them to class. 

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES: 

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

• Discuss issues on the history of microbiology and their impact on human welfare.
• Understand the concepts of microbial structure, growth, control, infectious disease and immunology.
• Perform simple experiments on living microorganisms using standard techniques.
• Appreciate the need for aseptic technique and the role of microorganisms in disease.

 

INSTRUCTIONAL FORMAT/ACTIVITIES:

            Lectures and Discussions

            Laboratory experiments

Individual or Group assignments

            Examinations and quizzes

 

GRADING PROCESS AND CRITERIA

Lecture will be evaluated by four exams and the quizzes on Canvas.

Lab will be evaluated by your participation, lab assessments, group project, and written lab reports.

Additional assignments may be given at the discretion of the instructor.

• NO LATE ASSISGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED

 

Grading Scale.  A=90-100%, B=80-89%, C=70-79%, D=60-69%, F= below 60%

Grades can be based on Exams, quizzes, lab assignments, homework, participation in class, and attendance. See participation criteria below.

Course policies

Face Covering Policy: Students are required to comply with campus face covering policies.  Current information on COVID policies may be found at https://culver.edu/about/covid-information/. Violations of the face covering policy will be viewed as conduct issues and will be dealt with accordingly by the Dean of Student Life.  Students who are unvaccinated are expected to be masked.  Students who have symptoms are requested to wear a mask regardless of their vaccination status.

 

Social Distancing Policy: It is highly recommended that you keep a safe distance in the classroom when possible. This is encouraged by the CDC. 

Assigned Seating: Students must sit in the same seat each class period. Instructors must record the seating chart and share this information with the VPAA’s office. This information will allow for additional contact tracing in the event of COVID-19 exposure.  

Attendance Policy: Attendance to class is mandatory. Zoom will not be an option for absences.  If you are quarantined/isolated, I will decide how you can engage in the classroom. Students must correspond with their instructor to make other arrangements for either attending virtually or making up the missed work.   Attendance will be carefully and accurately recorded for contact tracing purposes. Students who experience any symptoms of Covid 19- must wear a mask to class even if you suspect allergies, regardless of your vaccination status. As always, students are expected to make up missed work regardless of the nature of the absence”.

If a student misses an exam for a legitimate reason, please bring documentation for evaluation by the instructor (Dr’s note for illness, obituary for a funeral). Makeup exams may be given under extraordinary circumstance at the discretion of the instructor. Please be punctual.  Repeated tardiness will not be tolerated.  

Recording Attendance

Attendance will be recorded in MyCulver as follows:

Present - physically present for face-to-face class meeting

Absent (excused) - absent from face-to-face class for a pre-approved, legitimate excuse, e.g. isolation/quarantine, funeral, athletic contest  

• Students in class but on their phone may be counted as absent.

Absent (unexcused) - not physically present and no legitimate reason for absence

Tardy – arriving after the lecture has started

Zoom lectures will not be an option this semester and therefore, not available.

 

Participation: Participation in this course is graded. Criteria for participation in this course is as follows:  preparing for each lecture including reading the assigned chapter for lecture, completing assignments, answering questions in class, group work, not sleeping during lecture or doing other activities and positive attitude. Students who are on their phones during lecture will earn a zero for participation.

Sanitizing Protocol: Please disinfect your hands BEFORE each class with the sanitizer provided. Each instructional space will be provided with no-wipe sanitizing spray that faculty/students are asked to use on high-touch surfaces at the beginning of the class period. Students should sanitize their personal areas.  Instructional spaces with specialized equipment may have additional guidelines for sanitation.

Food and Drink: Unfortunately, due to the nature of lab work, you are not allowed to eat or drink in lab. All food must be kept outside the door and accessed only when you a physically outside of the lab

Academic Honesty: College faculty strictly forbid cheating and plagiarism and will not be tolerated.  All faculty are required to notify the academic dean of all actions taken with respect to academic dishonesty even if you drop the class.  The first and second offenses carry the sanctions imposed by the instructor and a letter from the academic dean.  The third offense carries with it the possible expulsion from the college.  These offenses are cumulative throughout your tenure at Culver-Stockton.

Plagiarism in this course is defined as deliberately using someone else’s language, ideas, or other original (not common knowledge) material without acknowledging its source. If you are found to have willfully plagiarized any assignment or to have cheated in any way, you will automatically fail the assignment or assessment, and likely the class. Do not jeopardize your enrollment in college, your ability to play on a sports team, or your qualification for scholarships and financial aid for the sake of a grade.

• Plagiarism in this course is defined as…. Plagiarism occurs when a writer deliberately uses someone else’s language, ideas, or other original (not common knowledge) material without acknowledging its source.
• Specific ramifications for acts of academic dishonesty in this course include: Assignments determined to be plagiarized will receive an automatic zero and may result in the failure of the course

 

Classroom conduct

1. Mastery of course content is greatly enhanced through professional conduct in the classroom.  Your attitude is directly linked to your grade. A negative attitude requires greater energy than a positive one. Complaining of the course just wastes time. Your time will be better spent studying for the course.

 

2. Courtesy and professionalism are also expected in written communication.  All written communication should be through your C-SC email account. PLEASE DO NOT USE A PERSONAL EMAIL ACCOUNT.  Initial emails should be addressed “Dear Professor Alvarez” and use an appropriate closing (such as “sincerely”).  Be sure to use an appropriate subject line identifying that the message in in regard to this class (Bio 303) and avoid abbreviations or slang.  Use appropriate grammar and sentence structure.  Begin a new email for each new discussion thread rather than just responding to the last email in your inbox. 

 

3. Use of tobacco products is prohibited in all campus buildings

 

4. It is inappropriate to wear hats, caps, sunglasses, earphones, or like garments/devices in the classroom.  Please refrain from doing so.

 

5. Use of electronic devices for any purpose other than the direct relation to the course is prohibited.  At minimum please put your phones/watches/tablets on vibrate. Use of phones in class will a earn a zero for participation and marked absent for the day.

 

6. Any behavior that disrupts the learning environment (talking, sleeping, etc) is subject to appropriate disciplinary action by the instructor or (when appropriate) a student conduct officer assigned by the dean of students.

 

DISABILITY POLICY: Students with disabilities: If you have or think you may have a disability and would like to receive disability-related academic accommodations, please contact the TASC center as soon as possible.  No services can be provided without first registering with Academic Support Services. Please contact jjohnson@culver.edu for questions and testing.

 

THIS SYLLABUS IS NOT A BINDING CONTRACT AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.  VERBAL NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES WILL BE MADE BY THE INSTRUCTOR IN CLASS.