SYLLABUS FOR ENE 503: MICROBIOLOGY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERS
SPRING, 2010
Catalogue Description
Basic microbiology of water, air, and soil. Applications of microbiology to the practice of environmental pollution control.
Course Objectives
Students will learn about the kinds of microorganisms in the natural world, their capabilities, and their effects on humans and the
environment. They will also learn how microbial systems can be used to improve environment quality in treatment systems and bioremediation
projects.
Course Requirements
Homework will be assigned each week and will be due one week later.
A midterm and final will be given. About one third of the grade value will be in short essay questions, and two thirds in problems. The
final will be cumulative, but with some preference for material presented after the midterm.
Term Paper
Policy on Cheating
Work on the midterm and final must be entirely the student’s own. Cooperation among students is allowed on homework, but
assignments that are simply copied will not be accepted. Test problems frequently follow the homework, so knowledge of the homework is
particularly valuable preparation. Any material copied directly from another source, such as a book or web pages, will be grounds for an F on
the assignment.
Students with Disabilities
Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs
(DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to
me as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The phone
number for DSP is (213) 740-0776.
Text: Environmental Microbiology, by Maier, Pepper, and Gerba
Course Schedule
Lecture
Jan 11
Jan 13
Jan 20
Jan 25
Jan 27
Feb 1
Feb 3
Feb 8
Feb 10
Feb 17
Feb 22
Feb 24
Mar 1
Mar 3
Mar 8
Mar 10
Mar 22
Mar 24
Mar 29
Mar 31
1. Introduction
2A. Microbes in the Environment
2B. Viruses to Prions
2C. Interactions among Microorganisms
3. Bacterial Growth
3. Bacterial Growth
4. Terrestrial Environments
5. Aeromicrobiology
6. Aquatic Environments
7. Extreme Environments
8. Sample Collection
9. Microscopic Techniques
10. Cultural Methods
11. Physiological Methods
12. Immunological Methods
13. Nucleic Acid-Based Methods
Midterm
14. Biogeochemical Cycling
14. Biogeochemical Cycling
15. Disturbed Biogeochemical Cycles
16. Microbial Transport
16. Microorganisms and Organics
Apr 5
16. Microorganisms and Organics
Reading: Chapter
31
42
40
44
25
Homework
Due
Chapt 1. Introduction to Environmental Microbiology (5)
Chapt 2. Microorganisms and the Environment (35)
Chapt 3. Bacterial Growth (17)
H #1
39
17
39
11
14
26
30
24
18
21
Chapt 4. Earth Environments (24)
Chapt 5. Aeromicrobiology (19)
Chapt 6. Aquatic Environments (17)
Chapt 7. Extreme Environments (22)
Chapt 8. Environmental Sample Collection and Processing (17)
Chapt 9. Microscopic Techniques (14)
Chapt 10. Cultural Methods (15)
Chapt 11. Physiological Methods (28)
Chapt 12. Immunological Methods (15)
Chapt 13. Nucleic Acid-Based Methods of Analysis (38)
H #2
H #3
H #4
H #5
H #6
53
Chapt 14. Biogeochemical Cycling (30)
15
57
Chapt 15. Consequences of Biogeochemical Cycles Gone Wild (13) H #7
Chapt 16. Microbial Communication (10)
Chapt 17. Bacterial Communities in Natural Ecosystems (8)
Chapt 18. Global Change and Microbial Infectious Disease (6)
Chapt 19. Microbial Transport (16)
Chapt 20. Microorganisms and Organic Pollutants (31)
H #8
2
Apr 7
Apr 21
Apr 26
17. Microorganisms and Metals (10)
18. Microorganisms, Agriculture
19. Environmental Pathogens
(absent)
20. Indicator Organisms
21. Waste Treatment
21. Waste Treatment
22. Drinking Water Treatment
Apr 28
22. Drinking Water Treatment
May 5
Final, 4:30 to 6:30
Apr 12
Apr 14
Apr 19
9
12
29
Chapt 21. Microorganisms and Metal Pollutants (20)
7
54
Chapt 23. Indicator Organisms (12)
Chapt 24. Wastewater Treatment and Disinfection (25)
23
Chapt 22. Environmentally Transmitted Pathogens (38)
Chapt 25. Drinking Water Treatment (20)
Chapt 26. Disinfection (20)
Chapt 27. Domestic and Indoor Microbiology (17)
H #9
H #10
Term Paper
H#11
Dr. Joseph S. Devinny
KAP 254A
devinny@usc.edu
213 740 0670
Office Hours M 3-5:00, W 3:00-5:00
3