Section 010
Tuesday
Lecture: 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM in R212
Lab: 3:30 PM - 5:20 PM in R211
Thursday
Lecture: 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM in R212
Lab: 3:30 PM - 4:20 PM in R211
Section 020
Tuesday
Lecture: 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM in R212
Lab: 1:30 PM - 3:10 PM in R211
Thursday:
Lecture: 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM in R212
Lab: 1:30 PM - 2:20 PM in R211
This course will focus on the life of micro-organisms to include their organization, functions, metabolic processes, growth, control, genetics, evolution, and ecology. A study of diseases caused by pathogens, the host immunological response, and the role of microorganisms in the environment also will be examined, along with advances in their use in biotechnology. In the laboratory, students will focus on the physical and biochemical requirements and characteristics used for the identification of unknown bacteria. Students will be expected to identify unknown bacteria by performing and demonstrating effective use of the techniques learned in lecture and laboratory classes. AAS: Life science (laboratory science) elective.
A grade of C or better in one of the following: BIOL 1514, BIOL 1564, CHEM 1614; or appropriate high school chemistry or anatomy and physiology course - Must be completed prior to taking this course.
General Education Outcomes are the knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and behaviors that students are expected to develop as a result of their overall experiences with any aspect of the college, including courses, programs, and student services, both inside and outside of the classroom. The General Education Outcomes specifically learned in this course are:
- Critical Thinking
Faculty Contact Information
Student Support Hours
Weekly On-Campus Office Hours
Mondays: 11:30 am to 12:30 pm in L337
Tuesdays: 12:30 to 1:30 PM in L337 or R211
Wednesdays: 11:30 am to 12:30 pm in L337
Thursdays: 12:30 to 1:30 PM and 2:30 to 3:30 pm in L337 or R211
Online Office Hours:
These hours are flexible and can be delivered via Zoom or another virtual platform if needed. Please contact Prof Larson to arrange a date and time.
Students may email (klarson@kcc.edu), or schedule appointments with Professor Larson virtually (Canvas or Zoom). Students may also meet face-to-face with Professor Larson. See schedule above.
Professor Larson will respond to student emails within 24 hours, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semester, and Monday through Thursday during the summer term. If an email is unable to resolve a student issue/concern, Professor Larson will schedule to meet with a student in-person or virtually.
Kristen Larson
Office: 815-802-8773
klarson@kcc.edu
Course Information
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Relate historical and current scientific contributions that led to the use of genetic and molecular analysis techniques of microbes, and how the information gained influences our ever-changing scientific understanding of life.
- Correctly perform and interpret the various staining techniques and biochemical tests used in the microbiology lab and apply these skills to microbial identification.
- Differentiate the various methods of metabolism used by microbes and relate the genetic basis necessary for essential proteins used to carry out these processes.
- Relate the dynamics of the human immune system to the various types of host-microbe interactions and the scientific testing methods used to evaluate immune system function.
- Correlate how the development of Koch’s Postulates changed and continues to influence epidemiology and modern medicine.
- Relate the understanding of microbial function to various natural and man-made environments and the impact on humans.
- Microbial World and You
- Observing Microorganisms through a Microscope
- Functional Anatomy of Pro and Eukaryote Cells
- Microbial Metabolism
- Microbial Growth
- Control of Microbial Growth \
- Microbial Genetics
- Classification
- Bacteria and Archaea
- Fungi, Protozoans and Multicellular Parasites
- Viruses
- Diseases, Transmission and Pathogenicity
- Host Defenses
- Antimicrobial Drugs
- Diseases and Body Regions
- Environmental and Industrial Microbiology
- Optional- Nester's Microbiology (Looseleaf) Anderson et al- Evergreen Edition ISBN: 9781264887743, published by McGraw-Hill.
- Note that all students already have access to the e-book through Canvas. This is part of your tuition costs.
- Required- Laboratory Experiments in Microbiology, 12th or 13th. ed., Johnson & Case; Pearson, Benjamin Cummings ISBN:9780134605203, Published by Pearson **!!!Cannot RENT!!!**
- Optional- Microbiology: a Photographic Atlas for the Laboratory, by Alexander & Strete, published by Pearson
Required- Safety glasses and Lab Coat (available in the bookstore)
-In compliance with US copyright laws, no photocopies, hand-written or typed copies of any pages will be accepted in substitution of the actual worksheets for any course requiring a published laboratory manual when an assignment requires those pages to be turned in. Renting consumable laboratory manuals is prohibited.
Evaluation
Points Grading Scale
5 Lecture Exams (50) 250 A = 90%
Comprehensive Final Exam 100 B = 80%
3 Lab Exams (50) 150 C = 70%
Lab Reports (10) 250 D = 60%
2 Lab Unknowns (50) 100 F = <60%
24 Online LearnSmart Assignments (10) 240
Misc Class Assignments 35
Total = 1125
* Points are subject to change. Students will be notified of any changes in class.
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Dean, Jennifer Huggins; 815-802-8484; R310; jhuggins@kcc.edu; Division Office- W102; 815-802-8700
Course Policies and Course Information
Attendance & Absences
-This is a face-to-face class and attendance is expected to all scheduled meetings (lecture and lab) each week. Attendance may be taken at each class meeting and in some cases may count for credit.
-Attendance at the first laboratory meeting is required. A student may not participate in lab if they have missed the first lab meeting, which includes the mandatory lab safety training. In a 16 week semester offering of this course, if a student misses the first lab meeting, they must notify the instructor to make arrangements to make up the safety training before the second lab meeting. If a student has not completed the safety training before the second lab meeting, the student must either drop the course or the student will be institutionally withdrawn. In summer semester offerings of this course (8 week), students will not have the opportunity to make up the safety training and will be administratively dropped from the course if they miss the first lab meeting. No exceptions will be made.
-Under most circumstances, points for in-class assignments missed due to an absence
will be forfeited by the student. Any exceptions are made at the instructor’s discretion.
-Please inform the instructor if an absence is due to an unavoidable circumstance, e.g, military duty, court appearance, hospitalization, quarantine, etc. Some unavoidable absences may be excused at the instructor’s discretion in extreme cases.
Connect Reading Assignments and Virtual Labs
-Due dates for Connect Reading Assignments and Virtual Labs will be posted in Connect with the assignment. They correspond with the chapter being covered that week as listed in the course calendar below.
-Late Connect Reading Assignments and Virtual Labs will generally not be accepted with some exceptions. Some situations may warrant an exception, but the student must speak to the instructor or email her about the situation which led to the missed due date. Exceptions are at the instructor’s discretion.
-The four lowest Connect Reading Assignments will be dropped from the grade book. In the event that a student earns 10 points for every single assignment, the four most recent ones will be dropped. Please use these wisely.
Quizzes and In-class Work
-In-class/lab work and quizzes may be announced or unannounced.
-Quizzes and in-class work done in lecture or lab usually cannot be made-up if missed.
Laboratory Policies (We will discuss this part during the first lab meeting.)
-Students must arrive to lab on time and must be ready to begin at the scheduled start time for safety reasons.
-Students are expected to have read the lab procedures before coming to lab.
-Students that arrive after the pre-lab lecture has begun will not be permitted to participate in lab that day and will receive a zero on that day’s assignment. This type of absence will count as a lab absence.
-Students that do not have proper apparel and/or goggles/glasses and lab book will not be permitted to participate in lab. This will count as a lab absence. Proper apparel and goggles/glasses, lab coat and lab book are required for lab regardless of the activity scheduled for the day. The professor does not have loaner materials to share.
-To receive the full credit for the lab activity, the student must stay for the entire lab period, unless dismissed early by the professor. A student will only be dismissed early if they have completed the entire laboratory activity for that day. If a student leaves before being dismissed, the student will forfeit the points for the laboratory activity for that day and will receive a zero and the absence will count as a lab absence.
-If a student does not complete the lab activity in the allotted time, the student could lose points on that day’s lab activity. Additional work time will not be given.
-Experiment make-ups due to absence are not an option.
-It is highly suggested to attend every lab and only reserve lab absences for unavoidable absences; do not use lab absences like you would vacation days.
-Lab assignments are usually worth 10 points each with a few exceptions.
-The lab activities from your lab manual will be collected (in their entirety) the next lab meeting after procedures are completed in lab unless otherwise indicated by your instructor.
-Students will also be given a Microscope Skills Quiz worth 10 pts to show that you know how to use this important tool properly.
-If a student is absent on any given lab day, they will lose the ability to earn points for that portion of the lab.
-If labs are turned in late there will be two points deducted for each calendar day they are handed in late.
-Students will have the 4 lowest 10-point lab assignments dropped from the grade book. In the event that a student earns 10 points for every single assignment, the 4 most recent ones will be dropped.
Missed Lab Policy
-Due to the nature of lab activities, it is not possible to make up labs. Therefore, if a student is absent for a lab activity they forfeit the possibility of earning points for that assignment.
-If a lab is turned in late, students will lose two points per calendar day that it is late.
Lab Unknowns
-Lab unknowns are treated as a lab exam.
-Students are required to complete a test table and dichotomous key prior to receiving their unknown organism showing their plan of how to identify the organism that they chose from the list of possible organisms.
-Students will receive an unknown organism and, using techniques learned in lab, must determine the identity of the organism.
-The student is required to document any and all methods used to do this process and are required to turn in their notes regarding this information.
-Bacterial Unknowns are an individual assignment. This means that cheating or working with anyone else (a student, prior student or anyone else other than oneself) is treated the same way as cheating on an exam. Please see the academic dishonesty policy below. No exceptions are made.
Exams
-Exams will be either multiple-choice, or a combination of true-false multiple-choice and short answer questions.
-On exam days, students must arrive on time and be ready to take the exam at the start of class.
-If a student arrives late to the exam, they will not be provided any extra time.
-Once an exam has been administered, a student will not be permitted to leave for any reason until they turn in the exam. Please use the restroom BEFORE the exam begins.
-If a student’s cell phone disrupts the class during an exam, the student will receive a zero on that exam.
-If a student is found to be cheating on an exam the student will receive a zero on the exam as well as receiving an F for their course grade.
-If a student is found using their cell phone or any other device in any way during an exam, it will be considered to be a case of cheating and the student will receive a zero on the exam as well as the possibility of receiving an F for their course grade.
Missed exams
-Make-up exams will be allowed only if one of the two conditions is met;
1-The student arranges another time with the instructor a minimum of seven days in advance of the scheduled exam date to take the exam early.
2- The student reaches out to the professor via email to have the exam date extended in Canvas.
-Either way the student must notify me ASAP if they will be missing an exam.
-Make-up exams taken after the class takes it will consist of essay questions and will be taken in the testing center.
-All make-up exams must be taken within one week of the assigned test date. Any student taking an exam beyond the week timeframe will receive a zero on that exam. No exceptions will be made.
-Appropriateness of excuses will be determined by the instructor. If your excuse is deemed unacceptable you will not be allowed to make-up the exam.
Lab Exams
-The primary focus is on the material covered in lab.
-Exams will we delivered in the practical style, consist of short answer and fill-in-the-blank questions.
-They are worth 50 points ea. during lab time.
-Lab Exams require a tremendous amount of preparation and must be taken by students on the assigned day and time. No make-up lab exams will be given.
Final Exam
-The final exam will be cumulative, multiple choice and will cover lecture and lab content.
-All finals must be taken at the assigned time.
-If a dire emergency situation arises, you may arrange to take an exam early with appropriate documentation.
-Taking the final exam after the assigned date and time will not be permitted under any circumstances.
-The final exam date is listed in the course calendar.
Scantron Policy
-Scantrons are often used in this class for exams and quizzes.
-If a student changes and answer and fails to erase completely, the machine may count a correct answer as an incorrect one. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that erasures are complete or copy answers onto a new sheet. If the student fails to do this the question will be marked wrong and scores will not be changed.
-Pencil (#2) must be used on all exams. Please bring at least one pencil to exams.
Viewing Previous Exams
-Students may view their old exams during the instructor’s office hours. Students are strongly encouraged to view old exams as this is part of the learning process.
Other policies
-All work must be submitted by the final exam, and no work will be accepted after the final exam.
-Electronic devices, laptops, cellphones, etc. are allowed during class for class related use only.
-Video recording of lecture is not permitted unless pre-approved by the professor.
-Cell phones
- Turn cell phone to silent or off before the start of class.
- Cell phone usage for non-class related activities (texting, etc.) is not allowed during class.
-Know how to access your CANVAS and your KCC email account. It is important that you find a way to have access to the Internet for checking your KCC email, for using Connect and for CANVAS.
Student Behavior
-Students are expected to demonstrate academic integrity at all times. This includes all aspects of behavior that can disrupt fellow student concentration in class from noise to obnoxious odors. Please be aware of how you are affecting others around you and be considerate.
-Students that disrupt the class may be asked to leave.
- Any behaviors that are disruptive, disturbing or concerning will be reported to the Dean of Student Services.
· I expect student behavior in this class to be professional.
Athletics and This Course
-Any students involved in college athletic programs must individually discuss all schedule conflicts with the instructor as soon as possible (exam or otherwise) and are held to the same course policies as non-athletes.
-It is the student’s responsibility (not the coach’s) to be knowledgeable about the policies and schedule of the course and discuss concerns with the instructor.
-The professor will make minimal accommodations to the course schedule to accommodate an athlete’s sporting event schedule.
-Students are asked to recall that they are attending college to primarily gain and education. Students are asked to remember that and consider taking courses with schedule conflicts or higher demand of study time during their off season if necessary.
Sustainability
In line with the sustainability mission of the college, students will:
- Print only what is required.
- Use the recycle bin in the classroom to dispose of unwanted paper.
3. Use the recycle bins outside the classroom to dispose of beverage cans and bottles.
Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty by a student will lead to the immediate failure of the course with no opportunity for the student to withdraw. No exceptions are made. Students may also have the event noted on their academic transcript at the instructor’s discretion. Bottom line: do your own work as assigned by your instructor.
Some Advice for Success in this class…
-ATTEND every class meeting and be on time. PowerPoints offered DO NOT have all of the info.
-ASK questions when you don’t understand or when you want more information. You need to get comfortable asking questions.
-VISIT office hours and help sessions. GO TO the tutor labs for help as well.
-STUDY regularly and don’t procrastinate. Study mainly your own prepared notes and the book.
-READ and USE the book. PowerPoints offered DO NOT have all of the info. Don’t expect to pass if you do not authentically read the chapters in the textbook.
-TAKE the homework and labs seriously because they are intended to prepare you for the exam.
- MAKE the time to do the studying, homework, get help, make your own notes, etc. This is your responsibility.
-STAY ORGANIZED and use the supplemental materials that I supply to you.
-REACH OUT if you feel overwhelmed, if you don’t know where to begin and need help getting started or if you are stuck on a problem or need clarification. Do not wait until things get out of control because it may be too late.
Some Facts…
-If you can’t do something before the test, you won’t be able to do it on the test.
-An average student needs to spend two hours (sometimes more) studying for each hour spent in class/lab to get an average grade.
-Your success is up to you, but I am here to help you along the way if you ask me to.
Laboratory Safety
Attendance at the first laboratory meeting is required. A student may not participate in lab if they have missed the first lab meeting, which includes the mandatory lab safety training. If a student misses the first lab meeting, they must notify the instructor to make arrangements to make up the safety training before the second lab meeting.
Students are expected to comply with the KCC Laboratory Safety Rules at all times. These rules will be discussed during the first lab meeting and each student will sign an acknowledgement of receipt and understanding. Students who do not comply with the safety rules will be asked to leave the lab and will receive no credit for that day’s work.
Course Calendar
Week: Lecture Topic Readings Lab
| Date | Lecture Topics | Chapter in Text | Lab Period 1 (Tuesdays) | Lab Period 2 (Thursdays) |
| Week 1 | Course Introduction/ Humans and the Microbial World & Molecules of Life | Ch. 1 & 2
| 1 | 2 |
| Week 2 | Finish Molecules of Life & Microscopy and Cell Structure | Ch 2 cont. & Ch. 3 | 3 & 4 | Read |
| Week 3 | Dynamics of Microbial Growth | Ch. 4 | 6 & 7 | 6 & 7 Cont. |
| Week 4 | Control of Microbial Growth Lecture Exam #1 on 02/05 (Ch. 1 – 4) - Thursday | Ch. 5 | 9
| Lab 9 Cont’
|
| Week 5 | Microbial Metabolism | Ch. 6
| Microscope Skills Quiz, Practice Staining & Prep for Unk 1 | Lab Exam #1 (Labs 1-9) |
| Week 6 | The Blueprint of Life: from DNA to Protein | Ch. 7
| 11, Prep for Unknown #1 & Finish Scope Skills Quiz | Read |
| Week 7 | Bacterial Genetics & Biotechnology | Ch. 8 & 9
| Unknown #1
| Unknown #1 |
| Week 8 | Finish Ch. 9 Tuesday Lecture Exam #2 on 03/05 (Ch. 5 – 9) - Thursday | Ch. 9 | Media Lab (Unknown #1 Report due at Beginning of Lab) | Read |
| --- | SPRING BREAK- No Meetings 03/10 to 03/14 | ----- | ----- | ----- |
| Week 9 | Diversity of Bacteria and Archaea | Ch. 11 | 13,14 & 15 | Read |
| Week 10 | Eukaryotic members of the Microbial World | Ch. 12 | 16 & 17 | Read |
| Week 11 | Viruses, Viroids and Prions & The Innate Immune Response | Ch. 13 & 14 | 35 Start fungal ID | Lab Exam #2 (Labs 11-35) |
| Week 12 | Lecture Exam #3 on 04/09 (Ch. 11 - 13) - Thursday The Adaptive Immune Response & Host-Microbe Interactions |
Ch. 15 & 16 | Unknown #2 | Cont. Unknown. |
| Week 13 | Applications of Immune Response and Immunological Disorders | Ch. 17 & 18
| 19 24,25,45 & 46 | Cont. 45 & 46 Finish 24 & 25 |
| Week 14 | Epidemiology, Antimicrobial Medications, Respiratory Infections, and Skin Infections Lecture Exam #4 on 04/23 (Ch. 14-18) - Thursday | Ch. 19, 20, 21,22
| Finish 45, 46
| Finish Fungal ID
|
| Week 15 | Wound Infections, Digestive Infections, Blood & Lymphatic Infections, Nervous Infections & Genitourinary Infections | Ch. 23-27 | Start 54
| Read 54
|
| Week 16 | Lecture Exam #5 on 05/05 (Ch. 19-23) - Tuesday Microbial Ecology, Environmental Microbiology & Food Microbiology | Ch. 28, 29 & 30 | Pond Water Lab | Lab Exam #3 (Comprehensive) |
| Final | Comprehensive Final Lecture Exam Tuesday, 05/14 at 10:00 am | -------- | No Lab | No Lab |
*Schedule Subject to Change- Changes will typically be communicated at the start of or during class/lab.
College Policies, Resources and Supports
For information related to the Student Code of Conduct Policy, Withdrawal Policy, Email Policy, and Non- Attendance/Non-Participation Policy, please review the college’s Code of Campus Affairs and Regulations webpage, which can be found at catalog.kcc.edu under the Academic Regulations & Conduct Guide.
KCC offers various academic and personal resources for all students. Many services are offered virtually, as well as in person. Please visit Student Resources - Kankakee Community College to access student resources services such as:
- Clubs and organizations
- Counseling and referral services
- Office of disability services
- Student complaint policy
- Transfer services
- Tutoring services, etc.
The materials on this course are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course. Further information regarding KCC's copyright policy is available at https://kcc.libguides.com/copyright.
|Course syllabus/calendar is subject to change.