Q. Are prerequisites required for this course? Yes, BIOL1406 (Cellular and Molecular Biology or Biology I - biology for majors) and CHEM 1311/CHEM 1111 (General Chemistry) with labs and a minimum grade of C are prerequisites for this course. Prerequisites are strictly enforced.  Non-science courses do not meet the prerequisite requirement for this course. If you have A&P and intro to chemistry, you may require BIOL2420, Microbiology for health sciences instead. See an advisor for more information. 

Q. The syllabus states I need at least 15-18 hours to complete course assignments. Do I have to spend that much time?  Yes, this course is fun and interesting, but it will be a significant time investment. This may seem like a significant commitment if this is your first second-level lecture and lab online-only course. Remember, this is actually two courses - a 3LEH lecture and a 1LEH lab. If you're curious, this is how the estimate comes about...

• 3.5 hours for lectures and 3.5 hours for lab "in-class time" will be spent on activities such as completing virtual labs, participating in class discussions, and watching recorded lectures = 7 hours.
• For any science course, approximately 3-4 hours a week for each LEH of in-class time. This 4 LEH lecture AND lab course = 12-16 hours minimum outside of class time to complete activities such as lab reports and lecture homework. 
• If it's been a while since you've had cell biology, you will need at least 2 hours a week for review, especially the first half of the course  = 2 hours (additional optional time)
• Grand total! (12-16)+7 + 2= 18-20 hours a week. 

Q. What are the technology requirements for the course? Students must have access to a reliable and stable high-speed network and an up-to-date computer with a microphone and camera. Unfortunately, you cannot complete this course on a smartphone or iPad. ACC has these resources for you on campus.  https://students.austincc.edu/student-technology-access/

Q. Does this class meet synchronously (in person or virtually)? No. There are no synchronous class meetings for this course. All course activities, outcomes, and assignments are posted and submitted asynchronously through Blackboard. However, the course is not self-paced; there are weekly assignment deadlines.

Q. Are there recorded lectures available? Yes. Each week, students will receive a short kick-off announcement about getting started and an hour-long recorded lecture. Additionally, students will receive additional optional recordings, including short topic-driven videos focusing on specific challenging topics. 

Q. How are the labs performed? All labs in this course are virtual animation labs. Students cannot access hands-on or on-campus labs, including open labs. 

Q. Can I use an iPad instead of a computer? Unfortunately, no. Students need a computer with a camera, microphone, and high-speed stable internet to access and complete course exams, virtual labs, and other assignments. 

Q. Can I use Respondus instead of DE proctoring to complete exams? No. Students must use live DE proctoring through the DE department. SAS students with extended exam time will schedule appointments through the SAS department. 

Q. Is there anything I need to purchase for this course? This is an inclusive first-day course. This means that the textbook, homework platform, and virtual lab package are included with the tuition. Students will receive instructions on accessing the course materials the week before the class begins. 

Q. What happens if I go out of town on vacation, work, or for a personal emergency (death in the family)? Although this is an asynchronous course, it is not self-paced or a correspondence course. Each week, students will access and complete weekly course assignments. Students will have access to each unit (4 weeks of assignments) and may work ahead. If you realize you will be out of town when an assignment is due, complete the work in advance. If you miss an exam, see the instructions in the exam tab on rescheduling. 

Q. What can I do if I miss an assignment deadline? Because answers are released after the due date, lab and lecture assignments cannot be accepted late or made up if missed. Instead, one low assignment grade is dropped. 

Q. What if I have questions about an assignment? I am available by appointment if you have questions about an assignment—before or after it is graded. Email for an appointment. 

Lecture Activities. (No points associated with this task.) Each module has a variety of activities, including a reading assignment, case studies, practice quizzes at the McGraw-Hill website, videos and animations, and recorded lectures. These required activities replace on-campus lectures, taking approximately 3-6 hours weekly. The most common mistake online students make is not completing weekly studies, believing they can cram the week of the exam. However, consistent weekly active lecture participation dramatically improves course outcomes. The lecture and lab are well-integrated. You will be unprepared for the labs if you skip lecture activities. An online course only means completing work asynchronously - you must still do it weekly. 

Unit Exams. (750 points). Students will complete four proctored unit exams using ACC’s Distance Education (DE) live proctoring services. These exams require a reliable, up-to-date computer and high-speed internet, and must be scheduled a week in advance. The first three exams cover approximately 70% lecture content and 30% lab content and include a mix of true/false, multiple-choice, matching, labeling, identification, and three higher-level written analysis questions drawn from a question pool. The top two scores will count toward the final grade. Exams are cumulative and required to remain enrolled in the course. The fourth exam is a required, comprehensive final, consisting of 50 case-based multiple-choice questions, and is included in the final grade.

Collaborative Lab Reports (200 points). The course is organized into ten modules, each with a lab activity, similar to those found in on-campus classes. These activities include assigned readings, demonstration videos, several short virtual labs, and an open-book practice quiz to support learning. There are four collaboratively written lab reports, each worth 50 points. To earn lab report credit, students must complete all the assigned virtual labs and submit a formal written collaborative case study lab report. Students are encouraged to work together and submit a group report. However, individual submissions are allowed if needed.

Collaborative Case Studies. (50 points). Students will work in groups to complete case studies covering clinically relevant eukaryotic and acellular pathogens. The case study format includes a mix of true/false, multiple-choice, matching, labeling, identification, and written case analysis questions. 

Grading Policy. All graded assignment feedback is provided within one week after the due date. Students can retrieve feedback in the “My Grades” tab on Blackboard. If you require additional feedback, please email me to arrange an appointment. I am unable to discuss grades via email.

A letter grade is awarded as follows. Grades are not curved or rounded up.

Table 1: Schedule: Due dates are posted below and on Blackboard. Unavoidable changes will be announced on Blackboard. This asynchronous accelerated lecture and lab course is not self-paced and has weekly weekday due dates. Students may not work more than a few weeks ahead or work behind schedule. 

Foundations in Microbiology, 12e, Barry Chess (2024) with Connect. McGraw-Hill. 

Course Rationale. This course is designed for science majors who need a microbiology course for their professional preparation, such as laboratory science, pharmacy, nursing, physician’s assistant, dental assistant, and others. This course provides a survey of microorganisms with a focus on microbe-human interaction. This course will assist learners in gaining a solid foundation in microbiology and understanding its broader impact on human health and wellness. I will foster a classroom environment that encourages open discussion, critical thinking, research, and applying knowledge using real-world case studies.

Course Subjects. The course subjects are outlined in the above reading assignment schedule and detailed in the BIOL2421 Common Course Objectives. 

1. Introduction to Microbiology & Prerequisite Review
2. Tools of the Microbiology Laboratory
3. Microorganisms: Prokaryotes, Eukaryotes (Fungi, Protists & Helminth) & Microorganisms: Acellular infectious particles
4. Microbial Growth & Control
5. Microbial Metabolism & Industrial Microbiology
6. Microbial Genetics & Genetic Engineering
7. Chemotherapy
8. Human Immune Response
9. Diagnostics
10. Infectious diseases - Prokaryotes (Case Studies), Infectious diseases - Eukaryotes and acellular pathogens (Case Studies)

Course-Level Outcomes. Upon completing this course, students will be able to,

1. Provide examples of the impact of microorganisms on agriculture, the environment, the ecosystem, energy, and human health, including biofilms.
2. Identify unique structures, capabilities, and genetic information flow of microorganisms.
3. Compare the life cycles and structures of different types of viruses.
4. Discuss how microscopy has revealed the structure and function of microorganisms.
5. Give examples of the range of metabolic diversity exhibited by microorganisms, the impact of metabolic characteristics on growth, and the control of growth.
6. Describe evidence for the evolution of cells, organelles, and major metabolic pathways from early prokaryotes and how phylogenetic trees reflect evolutionary relationships.
7. Describe the causes and consequences of mutations on microbial evolution and the generation of diversity, as well as human impacts on adaptation.
8. Classify interactions of microorganisms on human and non-human hosts as neutral, detrimental, or beneficial.
9. Apply scientific reasoning to investigate questions and utilize scientific tools such as microscopes and laboratory equipment to collect and analyze data.
10. Use critical thinking and scientific problem-solving to make informed decisions in the laboratory.
11. Communicate the results of scientific investigations effectively.

General Education Outcomes. As a Core Curriculum course, students completing this course will demonstrate competence in the following:

• Critical Thinking - Gathering, analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating, and applying information.
• Interpersonal Skills - Interacting collaboratively to achieve common goals.
• Quantitative and Empirical Reasoning - Applying mathematical, logical, and scientific principles and methods.
• Written, Oral, and Visual Communication - Communicating effectively, adapting to purpose, structure, audience, and medium.

Departmental Common Course Objectives. The ACC Biology Department has specified the content for this course in the BIOL2421 Common Course Objectives.