Syllabus

Science Prerequisites for Health Professionals

BIOL 1020: Microbiology for the Health Professions | Summer 2016

Credits - 3 (Lecture) 1 (Lab)

Description

Overview

This course is designed to meet the microbiology prerequisite for students who are applying for admission to health profession programs. Most students taking this course will have an undergraduate degree and will be in the process of a career change. Online Microbiology is a one-semester course.  It will emphasize the concepts that are a necessary groundwork for courses the student will take in his/her professional program.

Topics covered in this course include: the history of microbiology, microbial morphology and physiology, bacterial metabolism, genetics, ecology, and the classification of microorganisms, particularly bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Therapeutic agents used to disrupt and control microbial growth are considered and a body systems approach is utilized in the coverage of diseases.   

Instructor and Contact Information

Check the course welcome page in Blackboard for specific instructor and support specialist contact information.

Further Assistance
Your student support specialist, listed on the course welcome page, monitors course progression and provides assistance or guidance when needed. They can assist questions regarding ordering course materials, University policies, billing, navigating the course in Blackboard, and more.

Materials

Textbook

  • Microbiology: A Human Perspective
    Eugene W. Nester et.al., 7th edition

Note: The e-book version of Nester may not be used on any proctored course exam. Textbooks need to be purchased separately and are not part of your registration fee. All course materials are available through our bookstore at http://www.newengland.bkstr.com

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Course Objectives

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

  1. Define basic structure/function of microorganisms including prokaryotes, eukaryotes and viruses, with emphasis on their relationships to human disease and treatment modalities
  2. Describe the kinetics and patterns of microbial growth, and environmental factors that alter growth
  3. Describe key features of microbial genetics, including DNA structure and function, as well as mechanisms of DNA replication, transcription and translation
  4. Explain how and why microbial gene expression is regulated, as well as how genetic mutation and DNA transfer mechanisms affect microbial evolution, fitness and pathogenesis
  5. Define and compare beneficial versus pathogenic host-microbial interactions
  6. Explain fundamental stains, basic staining techniques, and corresponding bacterial and fungal morphology
  7. Describe the clinical manifestations associated with common bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic diseases
  8. Describe the uses of the various media and metabolic/enzymatic testing protocols
  9. Identify bacterial/fungal toxic and invasive factors and their relationship to the pathogenesis of disease
  10. Classify the mechanisms of antibiotic (antibacterial/antifungal), antiparasitic, and antiviral activity, as well as resistance strategies employed by target microorganisms
  11. Identify the pathogens commonly associated with infections of the skin, eyes, nervous system, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary tract in humans, as well as their modes of pathogenesis and risk factors associated with each type of disease
  12. Identify common healthcare-associated (nosocomial) pathogens
  13. Identify disease and likely etiology on the basis of patient signs and symptoms, pertinent history, and lab findings
  14. Create a case study outline.

SELF PACED DESIGN

On the course start date, students will have access to orientation. This must be completed to be able to gain access to the first module in the course. Students must complete the first module to gain access to the next one. We recommend that students spend about 15 hours per week to complete a course in 16 weeks. When trying to complete the course in less than 16 weeks, we typically see students do this successfully within 12-14 weeks. Instructors will be timely in grading and feedback, but it will not be instant.

Assignments

Lectures and Laboratories

It is recommended that students utilize CONNECT from McGraw-Hill to go through the course material with Learnsmart. This is a very good self-assessment tool. The access code comes bundled with the textbook if purchased from our bookstore or CONNECT may be purchased separately.

Laboratory Information:

The VUMIE virtual lab software information is below. Students are to order this directly from the publisher:

https://store6.esellerate.net/store/checkout/CustomLayout.aspx?s=STR7542581365&pc=&page=OnePageCatalog.htm

Chapter Tests, Vocabulary Quizzes, and Unit Exams:

Chapter Tests

The chapter tests are multiple-choice and matching. The tests can be accessed by clicking on the link in Blackboard. The chapter tests are open book and are intended to help you review for the unit exams. They are timed and you have three attempts at each test; the questions for each attempt cover the same material, although they may be different. The highest of the three attempt grades will be recorded in the grade book. If you take the test only once, that grade will be recorded in the grade book. To prepare for the chapter tests, complete the readings, view the lecture material, and review using the CONNECT and other study helps posted in the chapter module. Also, review the end-of-chapter questions and other study aides in your textbook. When you are ready, take the test. If you wish, you may review the material and take the test a second or third time.

Module Vocabulary Quizzes

Each module has a 20-term vocabulary quiz. The terms are selected from the chapter vocabulary lists. The quizzes are taken online through the Blackboard site. Each quiz is accessed by clicking on the link in Blackboard. The quizzes are open book and are intended to help you review for the unit exams. To prepare for the vocabulary quizzes read through the lists of terms for each chapter within the module. Fit the terms into the context of the learning objectives for each chapter. The vocabulary quizzes are timed and you have three attempts at each quiz. When you are ready, take the quiz. If you wish, you may review the material and take the quiz a second or third time.

Unit exams

The five unit exams are timed exams (120 minutes) consisting of multiple choice and matching; with all questions graded automatically upon the completion of the unit exam. The unit exams will be available only after all the quizzes, tests and other assessments in the unit are completed. The exams will include topics covered in the textbook, learning objectives, and lectures for each unit. These exams are open notes and open book; however, you should review the material as though you will not have the notes or book available. There will not be time during the exam to look up every answer. Of the 5 unit exams, your 4 highest exams will count toward your final grade (the lowest score will be dropped). NOTE: Do not schedule your unit exams with ProctorU. Only the final exam needs to be proctored.

The Microbiology Case Study

You will create a case study for a microbial infection selected from the current pathogen list. Your case study will be assembled using a detailed rubric. Upon completion, and by a specified due date (within Unit 5), your case study will be submitted using the Blackboard website.

 

Final Exam

The cumulative final is a proctored test so plan for at least a three-hour exam period consisting of multiple choice, matching, and short answer questions. It is open book and open notes; however, no electronic memory devices may be used, including but not limited to the internet, other files on a computer, cell phones, tablet devices, smartphones, e-books, etc.

If you have information you wish to use on the Final Exam, it will have to be printed out or hand-written and there are no exceptions to this policy.

Discussion Board Posts

Discussion questions cover interesting current events or materials that contribute to a deeper understanding of key concepts and allow you to interact with your classmates and the instructor. Most of the discussion questions are designed to accompany particular chapters (see specific discussion questions for more information). Each question will require you to conduct internet research, read additional materials (a short journal or magazine article), visit a specific webpage, or view a short video. Then you will write a response following the guidelines in the assignment.

To earn full credit: you will need to post a response, respond to the original posts of at least two other students, and then contribute to an ongoing discussion. For special cases where one or two students are accelerating faster through the course, the instructor will participate in the discussion so that everyone has the opportunity to interact.

Discussion Question Guidelines

  1. Read the assignment carefully so that you are familiar with the materials that you need to cover and how to craft your post.
  2. Respect each other’s ideas, feelings, and experience. Some of the questions involve areas of disagreement. Expect your classmates to have different opinions.
  3. Use proper writing style. Correct spelling and sentence structure are expected just as if you were writing a regular paper. Use spell check and grammar check before you submit.
  4. Write your posting in a word document! That way you can save a copy and use spell check and grammar check.
  5. Cite the sources that you use to write your response. Follow the AMA guidelines.
  6. Avoid posting large blocks of text. Break your writing into paragraphs and use a space between paragraphs to make your posting easier to read online.
  7. Subscribe to the discussion so that you get email updates when there is activity.
  8. Use the “reply” button rather than the “compose” button when responding to someone else’s post.
  9. When responding to a classmate, address them by name.
  10. Do not use postings such as “I agree,” “I don’t know either,” or “ditto.” They do not add to the discussion, take up space on the Discussions, and will not be counted.
  11. Everyone benefits from an active discussion. Check back in frequently to see what others are saying.
  12. Plan your time carefully. You will need to give your classmates time to respond to your postings. This is an asynchronous class where students will be in different points of the class.
  13. Contact your instructor if there are schedule problems or other issues that need to be resolved.

Examinations and Grading Information

For students taking the lecture course only, the final course grade will be determined as follows:

Chapter Tests and Module Vocabulary Quizzes 10% of the final grade
5 Unit Exams (drop lowest score; 4 in total) 50% of the final grade
Final Exam 25% of the final grade
Case Study 5% of the final grade
Discussion Boards 10% of the final grade
Total Course Grade 100%


For students taking the
lecture course with the laboratory, your final grade will be determined as follows:

Chapter Tests and Module Vocabulary Quizzes 10% of the lecture grade
5 Unit Exams (lowest score is dropped, 4 total) 50% of the lecture grade
Final Exam 25% of the lecture grade
Case Study 5% of the lecture grade
Discussion Boards 10% of the lecture grade
Total 100% of the lecture grade
26 Laboratory Exercise Assessments 100% of the laboratory grade
Final Grade  
Lecture Grade 75% of Final Grade
Laboratory Grade 25% of Final Grade
Total Course Grade  100%

A letter grade is assigned according to the scheme below. The final course grade will not be posted until all the quizzes, tests, exams, and case study, are completed. For those students taking the laboratory, all lab assessments must be also be submitted.

Grade Scale

Grade Points Grade Point Average (GPA)
A 94 – 100% 4.00
A- 90 – 93% 3.75
B+ 87 – 89% 3.50
B 84 – 86% 3.00
B- 80 – 83% 2.75
C+ 77 – 79% 2.50
C 74 – 76% 2.00
C- 70 – 73% 1.75
D 64 – 69% 1.00
F 00 – 63% 0.00

Schedule

Course Outline

Microbiology BIOL 1020

Lecture Schedule

Unit

Module

Lecture topic

Textbook reading

1. Life and Death of

Microbes

1

Humans and the Microbial World

1

The Molecules of Life

(Note: There is no lecture or quiz for Chapter 2. You need to be familiar with the topics, but will not be asked specific questions from this chapter on the exam.)

2

Microscopy and Prokaryotic Cell Structure

3

2

Dynamics of Prokaryotic Growth

4

Control of Prokaryotic Growth

5

3

Metabolism: Fueling Cell Growth

6

Review for and take the Unit 1 Exam

 

2. Microbial

Genetics and

Diversity

4

DNA to Proteins

7

Bacterial Genetics

8

Biotechnology and Recombinant DNA

9

5

Identification and Classification of Prokaryotic Organisms

10

The Diversity of Prokaryotic Organisms

11

The Eukaryotic Members of the Microbial

World

12

6

Viruses, Prions, and Viroids: Infectious Agents of Plants and Animals

13

Review for and take the Unit II Exam

 

Unit

Module

Lecture topic

Textbook reading

3. Microorganisms

and Humans

7

The Innate Immune Response

14

The Adaptive Immune Response

15

8

Immunological Disorders

17

Applications of the Immune response

18

9

Host-Microbe Interactions

16

Epidemiology

19

10

Antimicrobial Medications

20

Review for and take the Unit III Exam

 

4. Infectious

Diseases

11

Respiratory Infections

21

Skin Infections

22

12

Wound Infections

23

Digestive System Infections

24

13

Genitourinary Infections

25

Nervous System Infections

26

14

Blood and Lymphatic System Infections

27

HIV Disease and Complications of Immunodeficiency

28

Review for and take the Unit IV Exam

 

5. Applied

Microbiology

15

Microbial Ecology

29

Environmental Microbiology

30

Food Microbiology

31

 

16

Review for and take the Unit V Exam

Submit your Case Study

 

Schedule your Final Exam with ProctorU (at least one week prior to taking the exam)

Review for and take the Final Exam

 

Microbiology BIOL 1020

VUMIE Laboratory Exercise Schedule

 

Unit

Nester Lecture Chapter

Lab Exercises

VUMIE Lab manual pages

1. Life and Death of

Microbes

3

Touring the Virtual Lab

Aseptic Technique – Tube-to-Tube Transfers

Aseptic Technique – Tube-to-Plate Transfers

1-6

7-12

13-18

4

Bacterial Anatomy, Morphology, and Arrangement

19-24

6

Growth Media and Patterns of Growth

25-28

2. Microbial

Genetics and

Diversity

7

Identifying Gram Negative Rods

Oxidase and OF Glucose

33-36

37-40

8

Triple Sugar Iron Agar

IMViC Series

41-44

45-50

9

Carbohydrate Fermentation Tests

Amino Acid Metabolism

51-54

55-58

10

Identifying Gram Positive Cocci

Blood Hemolysis

59-62

63-64

11

Catalase Test

Bile Esculin

65-66

67-68

12

Mannitol Salt Agar

69-70

3. Microorganisms

and Humans

15

Innate or Nonspecific Defenses to Disease

81-82

18

Adaptive or Specific Immune Response

83-84

16

Infectious Disease and Epidemiology

77-78

19

Pathogenicity and Virulence Factors

79-80

20

Antimicrobial and Chemotherapeutic Agents

31-32

4. Infectious

Diseases

21

Infections of the Respiratory System

87-88

22

Infections of the Cardiovascular System

85-86

24

Infections of the Digestive System

89-90

25

Infections of the Reproductive and Urinary Systems

91-92

26

Infections of the Nervous System

93-94

27

Rapid ID Systems for Bacterial Identification

71-74

5. Applied

Microbiology

31

Controlling Microbial Growth

29-30

Student Resources

Accommodations

Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.

Online Peer Support

Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.

Information Technology Services (ITS)

Students should notify their Student Support Specialist and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.

ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673.

Career Ready Program

The College of Professional Studies supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!

The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.

Online Student Support

Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.

Questions? Visit the Student Support Science Prerequisites page

Instructor and Support Contact Information

Check Brightspace for specific instructor and support specialist contact information.

Further Assistance

Your student service advisor monitors course progression and provides assistance or guidance when needed. They can assist questions regarding ordering course materials, University policies, billing, navigating the course in Brightspace, and more.

Student Lounge

The Student Lounge Discussion Board is a designated support forum in which students may engage with each other and grapple with course content. Feel free to post questions, seek clarification, and support each other, but be mindful of UNE's Academic Integrity Policy.

Your instructor will monitor this forum. However, if you are seeking specific and timely answers to questions about course content or your personal grades, please contact your instructor via course messages. For questions about course materials, program policy, and how to navigate and proceed through the course, please contact your Student Service Advisor through the Student Portal.

Policies

Proctored Examinations

The University of New England has contracted with ProctorU to provide students with the most convenient online exam proctoring system. This system provides a simple, no cost to the student, secure, online proctor for exams and allows the student to take all the exams at home and on their own schedule.

Upon enrollment into the course, each student will register with ProctorU and establish a login name and password. This will give the student access to all of ProctorU's services. When ready, students will schedule each of their proctored exams with ProctorU. Exams must be scheduled at least 72 hours in advance to avoid fees. Prior to taking their exams, students must be sure that they have downloaded the ProctorU Chrome or Firefox extension and are using the most current version of Chrome or Firefox. They must also be sure their testing site's connection meets the minimum requirements by using ProctorU's "Test It Out" utility.

Upon the exam day and hour, students will log in to ProctorU and click on "exams". After following the procedures outlined at ProctorU's web site, the student will log in to Brightspace and locate their correct exam. The proctor will then allow student access to that exam.

Students must use ProctorU and must follow all proctoring requirements for their exams to be credited.

Proctored exams are not available for review at any time. You will not be able to see the questions, nor the answers you've given, after completing the exams. Please contact your instructor for specific feedback.

Course Discussions

Discussion board assignments cover interesting current events or materials related to this course that contribute to a deeper understanding of key concepts and allow you to interact with your classmates and the instructor. Each assignment may require you to conduct internet research, read additional materials (a short journal or magazine article), visit a specific webpage, AND/OR view a short video prior to writing a response following the specific guidelines in the assignment.

To earn full credit: you will need to post a response to the discussion topic, respond to the original posts of at least two other students, and then contribute meaningfully to an ongoing discussion. You will need to post your initial response before you will see any posts from your classmates. Please keep in mind that only this initial response is included in your assignment grade, so make sure you have followed all of the guidelines and written a complete response prior to submitting the post. For special cases where one or two students are accelerating faster through the course, the instructor will participate in the discussion so that everyone has the opportunity to interact.

Please see Brightspace for a full description, along with specific guidelines, for each assignment. Discussion board assignments should be completed, along with all other assignments in the course, in the order that they appear. Due to the course design, you may be unable to take a proctored exam if you do not complete all assignments that appear prior to that exam.

Please also refer to the Grading Policy/Grade Breakdown section of the syllabus to learn the percentage of your grade that each discussion board assignment is worth.

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Programs: Technical Requirements

Course Length

A schedule of lectures and assignments is included in this syllabus. This is, however a self-paced course and you can complete the course in less time.

  1. Courses in the SPHP program are equivalent to one-semester courses designed to be completed in 16 weeks
  2. Enrollment in the course begins the day your section opens which is listed in the Academic Calendar found on the Student Success Portal.
  3. Course start and end dates are in respect to Eastern Time.

Withdrawal and Refund Policies

Please visit the enrollment page to review the withdrawal and refund policies.

Grade Policy

Students are expected to attempt and complete all graded assignments and proctored exams by the end date of the course. View the incomplete grade policy..

Transcripts

Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, only the student may request official transcripts. This may be done online by going to the University of New England Registrar website and following the directions on the page.

To view your unofficial UNE student transcript:

  1. Log into uonline at http://uonline.une.edu
  2. Select Student Services
  3. Select Student Records
  4. Select Academic Transcript

To request your official UNE student transcript:

Please review your Unofficial Transcript prior to requesting an Official Transcript.

  1. Log into uonline at http://uonline.une.edu
  2. Select Student Services
  3. Select Student Records
  4. Select Request Printed/Official Transcript
  5. Follow the prompts

After you click Submit Request, your official transcript will be put into the queue to be printed in the Registrar's Office.

Academic Integrity

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.