Hagerstown Community College
OFFICIAL COURSE SYLLABUS DOCUMENT
Course: BIO 112 Biology of Disease- 3 credits
Instructor:
Elaine Ashby
Summer/2006
Course Description: This is a lecture/discussion course that is delivered over the internet. It
focuses on viral disease a model for understanding other mechanisms in biology. Topics include
basic virology, epidemiology, immunology, and molecular biology as they relate to viral disease
and its spread in populations. Scientific reading and writing assignments required. Prerequisite:
Demonstrated computer/internet competency.
Textbook and other requirements:
-Text: How Pathogenic Viruses Work, Lauren Sompayrac
-Articles from several sources including, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vol 10, N0. 11, will be
available in the class packet or on-line and must be read when assigned.
- Access to the Internet and the HCC Blackboard web site. Lecture notes and assignments are
found on this site. You must log on to Blackboard during orientation. If you have trouble
accessing this site it is essential that you call or get help as soon as possible. You may need to
download a Powerpoint viewer from the Microsoft web site in order to see lecture slides..
-Students must also have an e-mail address that they can access at least three times per
week.
-Students taking this class must be independent learners and be willing to dedicate 8-10 hours
per week to reading and assignments. Time to access the Internet and library is essential.
Time that would traditionally be spent in class must be devoted to independent learning
activities.
Student Learning Outcomes:
a. The student will gain an understanding of biology using viral diseases as a model of
cellular function and its relation to the total organism as measured by quizzes,
assignments, and exams. .
b. Strengthen student’s reading, writing, and information literacy skills by requiring
students to read papers from scientific sources and report their findings.
c. Strengthen student’s social intelligence skills by expecting students to take responsibility
for their own actions, including turning in all assignments when scheduled and keeping
up with a tight schedule.
d. The student will be exposed to contemporary areas of research about viral disease by
reading articles and reporting on their contents.
e. Students will become aware of and discuss the importance of viral disease from a
historical, ethical and moral perspective through reading, on-line discussion boards, and
other assignments.
COURSE CONTENT OBJECTIVES:
 Explore significant events in the history of understanding viral disease
 Examine viral, prokaryotic, and eukaryotic cell structure and function
 Use an understanding of viral genetics to explore the role of RNA and DNA
 Describe the role of the immune response in controlling disease
 Review the basics of epidemiology and explore how it is used to understand and control
the spread of viral disease
 .Describe the mechanism of actions of vaccines and antiviral medicines, their uses and
limitations
 Survey major viral diseases in humans using a systemic approach
 Survey emerging infectious diseases
Assessment Procedures: The final grade will be made up of a combination of grades from: 2
exams taken at HCC (50% of overall grade), a paper (20% of overall grade), weekly or biweekly
on-line quizzes and/or mandatory on-line participation in threaded discussions and fulfillment of
assignments (30% of overall grade). Exams will be offered on campus and will cover topics
found in the reading assignments and discussed in class.
Exams: (50%) There will be two exams on the information that was presented or discussed
during the previous period (non-cumulative). The exams will be composed of multiple choice,
true –false, and short answer questions. Students will be expected to answer questions from
reading assignments as well as on-line material.
Paper: (20%) Students will research a topic related to the biology of viral disease and present a
5-7 page paper which discusses the topic in detail. The paper will also include a cover page, a
bibliography with at least 6 references, 3 of which must be from traditional books or scientific
journals (not the Internet). The paper should be printed in 12 point font with 1” margins.
Bibliography and cover pages will not be included in the overall page count. Students will
choose from topics offered by the instructor or another topic approved by the instructor.
Bibliography and outline/rough draft are due before the final paper. Turning in these
components of the paper early will be worth 5% of the overall grade. Papers will be both
submitted online and mailed by traditional “snail mail,” postmarked by the due date or delivered
to the college. Warning: I am the plagiarism police! If I am uncertain if work is your own,
you will be contacted and must be able to explain what you wrote in your own paper. Failure to
do this will indicate that the work is not your own. The instructor uses a “Plagiarism Check”
program that can search through your papers for phrases or sentences that have been plagiarized
from other sources. If you are uncertain about any issues related to plagiarism, please contact
the instructor immediately. There is an excellent plagiarism site on the Brish Library home page
(http://www.hagerstowncc.edu/library/plagiarism.htm). PLAGARISM WILL BE PENALIZED
BY A ZERO GRADE WITH NO OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE-UP WORK. Incidents of
plagiarism or cheating must be reported to the college student services office and may become
part of your permanent record.
Threaded Discussion/ Review Questions/Quizzes: (30%) Students will be expected to
participate in threaded discussions and answer review questions each week. Postings will be
graded for scientific understanding. References to reading assignments or internet sources are
appropriate. The instructor expects all graded work to be written in complete sentences using
proper grammar. Instant messenger slang should be reserved for e-mail or discussion boards and
may require translation for your not so cool instructor. Some weeks an on-line quiz will be
given. All quizzes will be open book, however they will be timed (approximately 1 minute per
question) so it is essential that you study the material before attempting the quiz.
The following scale will be used to determine grades:
A….90-100
B….80-89
C….70-79
D….60-69
F…. less then 60
Course Policies
Class Participation: Class participation and asking questions is essential. Please feel free to email, telephone during daytime hours, and ask questions on discussion boards. If the technology
overwhelms you, please contact me as soon as possible or consider contacting the colleges
distance learning coordinator, Brenda Huffman at:
Phone: 301-790-2800, ext. 378
E-mail: huffmanb@hagerstowncc.edu
Class Schedule: The attached schedule/syllabus will be followed, however changes will occur
and be posted as the instructor deems necessary. Assignments must be turned in by their due
date and time in order to receive full credit. Because of the amount of material and the difficulty
of some aspects of this topic, it is unwise to miss even one assignment. If you plan to be away,
notify the instructor in advance and arrange to make-up work promptly. Missed
exams/assignments can only be made-up if you notify the instructor in advance, a late exam fee
of $20.00 will be charged for missed exams. If you can not take the exam at the scheduled time
it may be possible to take the exam earlier if you notify the instructor at least one week in
advance.
How to “do” this class. Each week students should check the syllabus, schedule, and the online announcements to see what is scheduled. A series of Powerpoint slides that I will refer to as
my “lecture notes” has been prepared that roughly corresponds to the units we will cover.
Students should review the slides on their computers so they can go to any hyperlinked material.
Students might also wish to print out the Powerpoint slides to use for studying. Students should
read and highlight important information in their book and take notes to help them study.
Previous students have said this is the first class where they really read the whole text book and
thought it was worthwhile.
All assignments will be posted on a weekly basis on the Blackboard web site so check the web
site frequently. Many assignments will involve posting material on the discussion board or
preparing work and submitting it via the digital drop box both of which are part of the
Blackboard web page. Finally, students must come on campus to take the two exams. This is a
lot of work, but the beauty of this course is you can do it on your own schedule. Make sure that
you schedule time for the course in order to fulfill all the assignments. Read the distance
education handbook and use the colleges resources if you have questions.
http://www.hagerstowncc.edu/academics/distance/studenthandbook.php
Flexibility. Many students choose a course of this type so that they can work it around their
schedules. You will be able to take time off for a vacation or trip as long as you make up the
work. You must notify the instructor in advance if you are unable to complete any
assignment by its deadline, otherwise it will be graded as late. Work may be turned in early if
you plan to be away.
Disclaimer- The instructor reserves the right to modify course content and schedule if necessary.
Honor Code: This instructor and this college recognize the importance of academic integrity to
both the community and the individual. All students will be expected to uphold the honor code.
Services for Students with Special Needs: Students who have special needs are encouraged to
identify themselves to the coordinator of special student services as early as possible.
Reasonable accommodations based on current documentation are provided to qualified students.
Biology 112
Topical Outline – Summer 2006
Week of
Topic: (Slide Set Number)
June 14
Mandatory Orientation meeting/
Introduction/ Library Use
Thursday, 6/14 6:00 pm Sci-107
1. Introduction to Viral Disease
Differences between viruses and
cells
Viral genomes
Components of viruses
Reading:
Email: ashbye@hagerstowncc.edu
Distance ed readiness quiz on-line. Report your results
and tell me how you plan to attack this course.
http://www.hagerstowncc.edu/academics/distance/readi
ness.php
Chapter 1 Viral Origins and Lifestyles
June 26
2. The Immune System and Host
Defenses
Chapter 2 Host Defenses
July 3
3. Respiratory viruses and
epidemiology-hunting for the
cause of disease
4. The digestive system and how
viruses can disrupt it
Chapter 3 Viruses we Inhale
July 10
July 17
5. STD’s and AIDS
(Last day
to drop
the class –
August 5)
July 24
6. How new technology is used in
the hunt for disease.
July 31
Vaccinations and how they work
August 9
Final Exam
Chapter 4 Viruses we Eat
Exam # 1 Thursday, July 28 6 pm in HCC Science
Building
Chapter 6 Viruses we get by Intimate Physical contact
(I will be away from campus this week, so I may be a
little slow responding to inquiries. Please do not call at
home this week.)
Paper due
Chapter 7 Emerging Viruses
Chapter 8 and 9 Vaccines and Antiviral Drugs
On Campus from 6-8 in SLC (Science room S-120)
Contact information:
 E-mail: ashbye@hagerstowncc.edu
 Reply to e-mail: Every effort will be made to reply promptly to e-mail
with a goal of always replying within 1-2 business days (usually
sooner).
 Work telephone: 301-790-2800 x267 (try here first)
 Home Phone: Call only between 10 am and 8 pm 304-274-3110
M-Th I will be in class after 2 pm, so please don’t call home
Paper Topics:
Viral disease: Choose from the following diseases –
SARS
Ebola and or other emerging viruses
Genital herpes
Influenza – Including bird flu
Smallpox
The common cold (Rhinovirus)
Hepatitis
Measles
Encephalitis
Chicken pox, or others that are approved by the instructor.
Make sure to include information on all of the following aspects of the disease  clinical manifestations,
 treatment (if available),
 epidemiology,
 mode of infection
AIDS related topics:
Antiviral drugs used to treat HIV – types, effectiveness, side effects
Post exposure prophylaxis for AIDS
AIDS vaccines
HIV testing
Vertical transmission of AIDS (mother to child)
HIV transmission from and to health care workers
The role of the T-4 cells in AIDS and the immune system
Others:
You must get approval from the instructor, however if in your reading you find
something that interests you, feel free to choose an alternate topic.