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

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