Microbiology Syllabus - Fall 2001 

Instructor: Joan McKearnan             Office: S108

Phone numbers:  Office: 422-3547               Science secretary: 422-3484

E-mail: mckearjo@an.cc.mn.us             Website: www.ar.cc.mn.us/mckearnan

Office hours: M 1-2pm, W 4-5 pm, Tu-Th 2:30-3:30 pm or by appointment

Lecture meeting time: TTh 11:00- 12:15 am

Required Textbook:  Park Talaro, K. and A. Talaro.  1999.  Foundations in microbiology, 3^rd ed.  WCB/McGraw-Hill Co.  Boston.

Lab Manual: Harley & Prescott.  Laboratory Exercises in Microbiology, 4^th ed.

Lab Material: Lab coat or other protective garment, lab notebook

Email Address: You must have an e-mail address to facilitate the sharing of information. If you do not already have an e-mail account, you can get one through the ARCC computer lab. 

Internet Access:  The internet is a good source of information for the class and I have a web site where information and important links can be found.   You can access the internet here at ARCC if you do not have access at work or home.

General Course Goal/Major Concepts:

Intensive study of general microbiology including bacteriology, virology, microbial ecology, parasitology, and immunology.  The course emphasis is on bacteria: principles of control and culture, metabolic processes, and microbiological techniques.

Prerequisites:  A prerequisite for this class is BIOL 1106.  You will be expected to be familiar with the concepts of scientific method, basic chemistry and chemical reactions, enzyme function, 4 classes of biological molecules, basic structure,  mitosis and meiosis, membrane transport (e.g., osmosis, diffusion), cellular respiration and photosynthesis, DNA replication, transcription and translation, the genetic code, and food webs and trophic pyramids.  If you need review of these subjects, read Chapter 2 from the text or relevant chapters in your general biology text.

Class activities:

Lecture material is predominantly presented in lecture format but we will often engage in small group activities, some for credit.  Some small group activities may require time outside of class with your group.  Lab emphasizes techniques commonly used in microbiology labs and stresses the scientific method.   Questions and student participation are expected during lecture and laboratory.

Grading:

Lecture grade is based on three lecture exams given during the lecture period and a comprehensive final exam given Thursday, 20 Dec, 9:40-11:40 am.  There will be several small group activities conducted during class time that  will be turned in for a total of 75 points.  Also, you will be required to turn in 5 summaries that summarize news or information.  On Thursday each week, you can turn in a summary of a article of your choice pertaining to the topic of that week.  An alternative to this assignment is to attend one day of the Nobel Conference and write a summary of one of the lectures. More information will be provided in a handout.   The grading opportunities in lecture are:

            3 lecture exams @ 90 pts. each                  270 pts.

            Final exam (150 pts.)                                        150 pts.

            Small group activities                                         75 pts.

            5 article summaries @ 10 pts. each                50 pts.

            Total                                                                       545 pts.

Your final grade will be the sum of your lecture and lab grades (total = 780 points) and the letter grade will be determined by the following percentage criteria:

            90-100% = A                   > 702 pts.                             60-69%  =  D              468-545.5pts.

            80-89%  =  B                    624-701.5 pts.                  < 60%    =  F                  <468 pts.

            70-79%  =  C                   546-623.5 pts.     

The withdraw option must be taken by 26 November. 

Attendance and Absences:

Attendance is expected in lecture and mandatory for lab.  You are responsible for all material presented in lecture and lab, including announcements.  Make-up exams will be given only if a valid excuse is provided.   You must contact me prior to your absence.  If you can not reach me, leave a message with my voice mail or secretary, or send an e-mail.  Make-up exams will be taken no later than one week after the original exam date.  Late lecture and lab assignments will result in 10% decrease in the total points for every school day that the assignment is late and will not be accepted more than five school days after the assignment was due.  An unexcused absence from a lecture exam, lab practical, or quiz will result in a zero grade.  

Academic Dishonesty policy

An exam or assignment which was conducted under dishonest behaviors, e.g., cheating or plagiarism, will result in no credit for that exam or assignment.  If you knowingly allow someone to copy an exam, lab report, or non-group assignment you will receive no credit for the exam or assignment.  Exchange of information is allowed for group and lab work, but all written material for credit should be in your own words or properly acknowledged.

Microbiology Lecture Schedule

Fall 2001

Schedule is tentative and any deviations will be announced in class.