Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Higher Education
University of Hail
Faculty of Health Sciences
Course Syllabus
Course Title:
Course Number:
Prerequisite:
Course Level:
Credits:
Faculty Member:
General Microbiology
SPHS 2001
First Year Courses
2nd Year
3 Credit Hours (2 Hours Theory+ 2 Hours Practical/ Week)
Dr. Ahmad M. Saleh
Course Description:
This course provides the students with the background they need in different aspects of
microbiology for their future career in environmental health. It also provides them with
necessary knowledge in microbiology for other courses such as environmental
microbiology, food safety, air sampling, and water treatment. This course covers the
basic principles of microbiology, detailed information on major microbes (viruses,
bacteria, fungi, and protozoa) regarding their properties, mode of transmission,
pathogenesis, clinical findings, laboratory diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
Course Objectives
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Differentiate between the different groups of microorganisms
Be aware of the benefits and harmful effects of microorganisms
Get knowledge of classification of microorganisms
Learn about different types of Microscopes and their uses
Learn about different methods of staining of microorganisms
Study the anatomy of bacterial cells
Correlated between different bacterial structure and pathogenesis
Get knowledge about the chemical and physical requirements of microbial growth
Learn how to grow bacteria in the lab.
Use biochemical test for identification of specific bacteria in the lab
Enumeration and preservation of microbial cultures
Learn how to control the growth of microorganism
Learning and Teaching Strategy:
*14 2-hour lectures (1 per week) using Datashow, Video clips , and Animations
*14 3-hour laboratory practical classes
* Online supplement materials
* Directed reading, private study and revision
Evaluation:
Theory:
Short Quizzes: 10 points
Practical:
Short Quizzes: 10 points
Med-Term Exam: 20 points
Med-Term Exam: 20 points
Final Exam: 20 points
Final Exam: 20 points
Course Outline:
Date
Chapters
Week 1,2
1
Topics
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Week 3,4
3
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Observing Microorganisms Through a Microscope
Units of measurements
Microscopy (Light, Dark field, flourscence, and electron
microscopy)
Preperation of specimens for microscopy
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Structure of Bacterial Cells
Size, shape, and arrangement of bacterial cells
Structures external to the cell wall
The cell wall
Structure internal to the cell wall
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Microbial Growth
Chemical requirements for microbial growth
Physical requirements for microbial growth
Culture Media
The growth of bacterial cultures
Preserving of bacterial cultures
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Week 5,6
Week 7,8,9
The Microbial World and You
Microbes in our lives
A brief history of microbiology
Classification and naming of microorganisms
Microbes and human diseaese
4
6
Week 10,11,12
7
Week 13,14
5
The Control of Microbial Growth
 Terminology of microbial growth control
 The rate of microbial death
 Actions of microbial control agents
 Physical methods of microbial growth
 Chemical methods of microbial growth
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Microbial Metabolism
Fermentation
Aerobic and Anaerobic Respiration
Textbooks:
1. Tortora, Funke, and Case. 2010. Microbiology: an Introduction. 10th ed.
Pearson/Benjamin Cummings.
2. Harvey, Champe, and Fisher. 2007. Microbiology: Lippincott’s Illustrated
Reviews. 2nd ed. Lippincott’s Williams and Wilkins.
References:
1. Microbiology for Health Sciences by Burton and Engelkirk, 7th ed.
2. Microbiology by Prescott et al., 5th ed.