Course syllabus
Micorbiology 125
Summer 2009
Dr. Sterling Roulette
Office: Room 1264
Phone: 487-3720
e-mail: sroulette@msjc.edu
Course Meeting Times: Room 1265 M-Th 7:30am-12:20 pm
Section: 1003
Textbook: Microbiology: An Introduction Pub: Benjamin Cummings
and Microbiology125 Lab Manual, By Sterling Roulette and Cheri Hodge
Office hours: None are required but on Monday through Wednesday I will be here late to help out when needed
Other items required:
1) Lab apron or old oversized shirt
2) "Scantron" computer answer cards #100 (please have ready for the first test)
3) Colored pencil set
4) Latex gloves
Catalog Description: This course is an intensive study of microbiological principles designed for those majoring in the biological sciences or various health professions. The course will emphasize concepts related to microbial morphology, physiology, genetics, growth, control, role in disease and their application to mankind.
General Objectives:
Lecture:
Lab:
Prerequisites: CHEM 100 or higher or BIOL 100 or BIOL 115 or BIOL 150 or BIOL 151 or ANAT 101 or ANAT 102
Recommended: High school or college biology and/or chemistry are strongly recommended.
Format: Classes meets four days per week. One and one half hours of theory (lecture) followed by three hours of laboratory.
A. Be prepared for a short quiz every day that will typically cover the previous day of lecture material. These will start at the beginning or end of class so it will be important to be in class on time and remain for the entire period.
B. During the summer there will be a major test every other week.
C. A comprehensive final examination will be given on the last day of class and is a requirement to receive a passing grade.
D. Please read over the textbook and lab assignments BEFORE coming to class. Several laboratory sessions will involve the study and use of potentially dangerous microbes so it is very important to not perform a procedure until you have read the lab book carefully. If you are still in doubt then ask your instructor or assistant for guidance
Attendance: If you cannot make it to class, it is your responsibility to check which assignments are due when returning back to class. Exchange telephone numbers and use the buddy system. There is no need to call or e-mail for an excused absence. All absences hurt your chances of being successful in this fast paced class and the quizzes can not typically be made up. If you need to contact me because of extended absence please call me on the phone as I am rather “old school” in this regard.
Drop Policy: It is your responsibility to drop the class by filling out the appropriate form and giving it to Admissions & Records. Do not assume that I will drop you from class if you stop attending. It is the instructor's responsibility to drop students that are a “no show”. A no show is someone who never attends a single class session.
Make-ups and late work: Typically there will be no make up for the quizzes. Student's can make up a major test. All of the make-up tests will carry a 10% reduction in points. If for some reason the student does not make-up a test by the end of seven days, then the make-up will be reduced by another 10%. Every week following the scheduled test date the student will receive another 10% reduction. Alternate tests are given instead of the one taken during the scheduled test time. In most instances these will be more difficult than the original test as the student has had time to study and talk to the other students about the previous test. No tests can be made up after three weeks of the initial test date and no make-ups are given during the last two weeks of class. Late work also carries a 10% reduction. It is important to put "late" in clear lettering on the front page of the assignment. Not including this is considered cheating and will result in disciplinary action according to the policies outlined later in this document.
Extra Credit: Extra credit may be given on exam questions. Extra credit is limited to less than 5% of the total points possible in class and available to all students on an equal basis.
Laboratory credit: The laboratory credit, being two-fifths of the total semester credits, is computed as follows:
A. Points are assigned to laboratory activities such as an unknown report and practicums
B. Points are assigned written exams particularly on the textbook material and power point handouts that are partially filled out by students during class time.
C. Most laboratory work can not be "made-up". The exception to this occurs with practicals that carry large point values.
D. The lab book is worth 50 points of credit. The lab book is due on the last day of regular classes and immediately after taking the laboratory practical. The lab book will not be returned to the student.
E. There will be a laboratory final on the last day of regular classes. Students may use only their lab books for this examination. No additional material may be added to the lab the lab book during the lab final. This includes the addition of any digital photographs.
Web Material: During the semester there may be extra material on the web site. These will be topical points of interest and additional web sites to check out. The web will be an excellent opportunity to gather extra credit.
Grading Policy: All laboratory points have the same weight as lecture points so that students can easily calculate their current point standing. It is the responsibility of the student to keep track of their own point standing. All the points possible in class are totaled and then divided into the student's current points to obtain a percentage. The point percentage for a particular grade is as follows:
"A" Grade-----------90-100% "D" Grade----------60-69%
"B" Grade-----------80-89% "F" Grade----------less than 60%
"C" Grade-----------70-79%
Further breakdown of grade assignments:
A grade of "F" is given to a student who obtains less than 60% of the points possible in class and/or is found cheating in class. (See Policy)
A grade of "D" is given to those students who satisfactorily obtained at least 60% of all the points possible in class.
A grade of "C" is given to the student who can assimilate the lecture and lab material and is able to obtain 70% of all the points possible in class.
A grade of "B" is given to the student, who in addition to fulfilling 80% of the previous objectives, is also able to display that he or she can satisfactorily answer questions beyond those discussed in lecture material. Other sources of information include the textbook and web reading recommendations.
A grade of "A" is given to the student who fulfills the previous objectives and is also able to integrate information to solve novel situations thereby clearly demonstrating the concept of critical thinking.
Cheating policy: Cheating is any activity that gives an unfair advantage to a particular student. These activities include but are not limited to: using notes or books on examinations of any kind, looking at or copying someone else's paper, changing graded papers for credit, not putting “late” on papers requiring that designation, or falsifying documents. If someone is caught cheating, he or she will receive an automatic zero for whatever work was being completed and the Vice President of Students and the Vice President of Instruction will be notified. If a student is caught cheating a second time the student will receive an "F" in the class. Please check the college catalog for the current policy regarding due process and student discipline.
Americans with Disabilities Act: Mt. San Jacinto College abides by the Americans with
Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that prohibits federal and state agencies or programs from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities. If you have a documented disability that limits a major life activity which may have some impact on your work in this class and for which you may require accommodations, please see me or Disabled Students Programs and Services. If there is any accommodation that you require prior to being the in program please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate.
Safety: Safety is the most important issue in the laboratory. Always work in a safe manner. Many labs deal with sharp objects, flammable material, and toxic or infectious substances. If you are ever in doubt about a procedure, ask, never assume. Note the proper disposal of wastes and the location and use of fire extinguishers. At the beginning of the semester every student is given 25 points for safety. To acquire these points you must sign the safety guideline sheet and return this page to the instructor. These points are lost for eating or drinking in class, breaking sterile procedures, not wearing goggles, not cleaning the lab before leaving class, etc.
Sterling’s Hot Buttons:
1. Eating in class. If you do have food, keep it stored in your backpack. There is a refrigerator in the class for your personal use. The only stipulation is that it can not be used to store food past the class period. Every day the refrigerator is cleaned out so that other course sections may have room for their food. You will lose points if you have food or food containers on the floor or under the cabinet.
2. Please put the microscope away clean and with the arm facing outwards. Note on the inside of the cabinet for how the scope should be stored if you are in doubt.
3. Cell phones and pagers that ring, buzz or make noise during lecture times. If you are caught with your cell phone going off you will be asked to sing a song of your choice or have me answer the phone for you.
4. Students who ask me if it is okay to leave early. If you want to leave class early you do not need my permission. This is one of the fundamental differences between high school and college and I would like to keep it that way. But of course the common point of the question is not asking for permission but will they miss anything of value by leaving early. Of course leaving early reduces your chances of getting everything out the class including any points that may come up late in a particular session and I will not commit the entire class to serve a student’s request. It is unfair to the instructor but more importantly to the class overall.
Privacy: Students have a right to privacy. Anyone not wanting their papers to be returned in the out box can get their papers returned to them in person during the office hours directly following the class.
Final comment: I wish all of you the best of learning. To learn how your own body works can be very interesting. For those of you that have taken the time to read this syllabus you will be rewarded. The first quiz will contain questions regarding its content. Any material that is handed out should be read and considered "testable material".