COURSE SYLLABUS
NORTHEAST COLLEGE
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
SYSTEM
BIOL. 2420 – MICROBIOLOGY
SPRING SESSION – 2015
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. PHILIP E. SWARTZ
TEXTBOOK: Foundations in
Microbiology, latest edition available,
Talaro, K. P., McGraw Hill Publishers.
LAB MANUAL: Microbiology Lab oratory
Manual – Biology 2420, latest edition
available, Houston Community College
System, Donna S. Wiersema & Pramila Sen
editors.
OPTIONAL & SUPPLEMENTAL
REFERENCES: I will list these on the
blackboard the first day of class.
Northeast College, Houston Community
College System, Pinemont Campus, 1275
Pinemont (at Ella Boulevard), Houston,
Texas 77018. Telephone # (713) 718-8400.
LECTURE AND LABORATORY FOR
CRN #42809: Lectures on Mondays from
5:30 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. in room to be
announced. Laboratory on Wednesdays
from 5:30 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. in room to be
announced.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Study of
microorganisms, including morphology
(shape), metabolism, taxonomy
(classification), culture techniques,
microbial genetics, immunology,
bacteriology, virology, mycology,
parasitology, and diseases. This is a Core
Curriculum course.
RULES AND REGULATIONS: (1)
CLASS ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED. 3
tardies or leaving early 3 times = one
absence. 5 absences and I will personally
withdraw you from the course with a final
course grade of “W” if it is before the
official withdrawal date or “F” if it is after
the official withdrawal date. I WIIL NOT
MAKE ANY EXCEPTIONS TO THIS
RULE. REGARDLESS OF YOUR
EXCUSE: DEATH IN THE FAMILY,
PERSONAL ILLNESS, ETC., IT WILL
NOT STOP ME FROM WITHDRAWING
YOU FROM THE COURSE. (2) Smoking,
eating, or drinking is not allowed in the
classroom. (3) Speaking with other students
is not allowed while the instructor is
lecturing. (4) You should not work on other
class work or other work not relating to class
during lecture or lab. (5) YOU MAY NOT
BRING CHILDREN TO THE LECTURE
OR LAB. (6) You may not bring phones,
beepers, ipods, etc. to lecture or lab. (7)
Students must adhere to all policies stated in
the HCC Student Handbook. (8) Disruptive
behavior will result in the security guard
being called, and disruptive students will be
removed from class. (9) CHEATING ON
EXAMINATIONS WILL RESULT IN A
GRADE OF ZERO ON THE
EXAMINATION.
PREREQUISITE: BIOL. 1406 + College
Reading Skills = passed the TASP Reading
Test.
CREDIT: 4 semester hours
EVALUATION OF THE STUDENT
(GRADE COMPUTATION): Three lecture
examinations will be given, two lab practical
exams will be given, and a comprehensive
final lecture exam will be given. I WILL
DROP THE LOWEST OF THESE 6
EXAMS. A MISSED EXAM WILL
AUTOMATICALLY BE YOUR DROP.
THERE WILL BE NO MAKE UP EXAMS
UNDER ANY CONDITIONS
REGARDLESS OF YOUR EXCUSE. IF
YOU TURN IN LAB REPORTS AT THE
END OF THE COURSE I WILL COUNT
THAT AS ONE ADDITIONAL GRADE. I
WILL AVERAGE 5 OR 6 GRADES FOR
EACH STUDENT DEPENDING
ONWHETHER OR NOT YOU TURN IN
THE EXTRA CREDIT LAB REPORTS.
ALL 5 OR 6 GRADES WILL COUNT
EQUALLY AND THIS AVERAGE WILL
BE YOUR FINAL COURSE GRADE. A
SECOND MISSED EXAM IN EITHER
LECTURE OR LAB WILL RECEIVE A
GRADE OF ZERO. SUBSEQUENT
MISSED EXAMS WILL RECEIVE
GRADES OF ZERO. THERE WILL BE
NO ADDITIONAL EXTRA CREDIT
WORK ALLOWED. All exams in both
lecture and lab will be strictly objective in
nature = true – false, multiple choice, and
matching. There will be no essays, short
answer, or fill in the blank questions. You
will need to bring a Scantron answer sheet
(Scantron Form 882) to each exam. The
Scantron answer sheets are sold in the
library or at the front desk. You will also
need to bring 2 number 2 lead pencils and a
good eraser to each exam. No head phones,
cell phones, etc. will be allowed in the
lecture or lab room during exams.
GRADING SCALE FOR THE COURSE:
“A” = 89.50 – l00. “B” = 79.50 -89.49+.
“C” = 69.50 -79.49+> “D” = 59.50 -69.49+.
“F” = less than 59.49+. “I” = Incomplete.
“W” = withdrawn or withdrew. NOTE: I
WILL NOT GIVE A GRADE OF “I” TO
ANY STUDENT WHO HAS MISSED
MORE THAN ONE EXAM OR MORE
THAN 5 CLASSES.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
(LECTURE): Each student is expected to
demonstrsate competency in the following
areas at the completion of this course: (1)
Use of appropriate microbiological
terminology. (2) Understand basic organic
and inorganic chemistry as it applies to
living organi9sms. (3)Have an
understanding of prokaryotes and
eukaryotes. (4) Have an understanding of
the following topics: (a) viruses, (b)
microbial nutrition, ecology, and growth, (c)
microbial metabolism, (d) microbial
genetics, (e) genetic engineering,, (f)
physical and chemical control of microbes,
(g) chemotherapy (drugs – microbes – host),
(h) microbe-human interactions, (i) the
nature of host defenses, (j) the acquisition of
specific immunity and its applications, (k)
immune assays, (l) disorders in immunity,
(m) introduction to medical bacteriology,
and (n) microbial impact on human
disease.(LSABORATORY): (1) To have a
working knowledge of care and use of the
light (compound) microscope. (2) To learn
the following laboratory techniques and
principles: (a) simple bacterial staining and
morphology, (b) negative staining, (c)
isolation of bacteria using the streak plate
technique, (d) gram staining, (e) acid-fast
staining, (f) bacterial spores, (g) bacterial
capsules, (h) bacterial flagella and motility
testing, (i) selective, differential, and
enriched media, (j) gas requirements for
bacterial growth, (k) counting bacteria in
milk using the pour plate method, (l) effects
of heat on microbial populations, (m)
carbohydrate fermentation by bacteria, (n)
triple agar iron fermentation test, (o) the
IMViC biochemical tests, (p) rapid and
miniaturized methods for identification of
bacteria, (q) bacteriophages, ® white blood
cells and the immune system, and (s)
antibiotic sensitivity testing: Kirby-Bauer
method. (3) To understand the scientific
method and to be able to apply it to the
experiments that we perform in class. (4)
To be able to perform, observe, analyze, and
write up the experiments that we perform in
class.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: The
Houston Community College System does
not discriminate on the basis of disability in
the recruitment and admission of students or
the operation of any of its programs and
activities. The designated office for
compliance with the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) and section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is the HCCS
Access and Equity Office. The college will
make its campuses and programs accessible
to individuals with disabilities in accordance
with the law. Where it is impractical to
modify a specific area to make it accessible,
the college will provide an accessible
alternative. For instructional
accommodations, the student should contact
the HCCS Disabilities Services staff through
the Counseling Office at least 60 days prior
to the first day of class. Academic
accommodations will be provided only after
students have properly registered for
services through designated disability
services staff. Any student who anticipates
difficulty in gaining access to a classroom
should contact the center administrator at or
before the time of registration.
IMPORTANT DATES (2015):
Feb. 13 – Priority Deadline for Spring
Completion of Degrees or Certificates
Feb. 16 – President’s Day Holiday – NO
CLASS
Feb. 18 – Classes begin for this course.
Feb. 24 – Official Day of Record
Mar. 16 through Mar. 22 – Spring Break
Holiday – NO CLASS
Apr. 14 – Last day to withdraw
May 10 – Instruction ends
May 11 through May 17 – Final
Examinations
May 16 – Graduation exercises
May 22 – Grades available to students
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Students who
repeat a course 3 or more times may soon
face significant tuition/fee increases at HCC
and other Texas public colleges and
universities. If you are considering course
withdrawal because you are not earning
passing grades, confer with your
instructor/counselor as early as possible
about your study habits, reading and writing
homework, test-taking skills, attendance,
course participation, and opportunities for
tutoring or other assistance that might be
available.