BIOL 115: Microbes in Human Biology – Syllabus and Course Structure Study Notes

Course Overview

Introduction to Microbiology and Human Interaction

This course provides an introduction to microorganisms, focusing on their interactions with humans. It covers fundamental concepts in microbiology, including microbial structure, growth, metabolism, and the impact of microbes on human health. The course emphasizes understanding how to control microorganisms and their relevance in healthcare.

• Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Microorganisms: Study of cellular organization and differences between bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes.

• Bacterial Structure, Function & Diversity: Examination of bacterial cell components, their functions, and the diversity among bacterial species.

• Bacterial Growth & Microbial Metabolism: Exploration of microbial growth patterns, environmental requirements, and metabolic pathways.

• Antimicrobial Drugs and Antibiotic Resistance: Analysis of drug mechanisms, resistance development, and strategies for combating resistance.

• Viruses and Prions: Overview of viral structure, replication, and prion diseases.

• Control of Microorganisms: Methods for reducing or eliminating microbial contamination.

• Epidemiology: Study of disease transmission, outbreak investigation, and public health measures.

• Immune Response: Understanding the human immune system and its response to microbial infection.

• Infectious Diseases: Survey of diseases caused by various microorganisms.

Course Materials

Required and Supplementary Resources

The primary textbook for this course is Allied Health Microbiology by Linda Bruslind, available online for free. Supplementary materials include written notes, videos, and interactive activities accessible via Moodle. PowerPoint slides are provided mainly for diagram annotation and self-testing.

• Textbook: Allied Health Microbiology (Bruslind, 2019)

• Supplementary Materials: Videos, readings, and interactive activities

• Course Notes: Structured to highlight key healthcare issues and guide study

Course Structure and Assessment

Lesson Organization and Evaluation

The course is delivered asynchronously over 10 weeks, divided into 8 lessons. Each lesson includes outcomes, overviews, and relevant supplementary materials. Assessment components are designed to evaluate understanding and application of microbiological concepts.

Assessment Component	Description	Weighting (%)
Lesson Quizzes	8 online quizzes (lowest grade dropped), multiple-choice, true/false, matching	7
Discussion Forums	2 graded forums, group-based, critical thinking and synthesis	7
Microbiology in the News Forums	2 forums, news story analysis and relevance to course topics	7
Online Lab & Assignment	Lab activities and assignment on microbial contamination control	4
Group Project	Chapter summary and exam question creation (Ch. 16–21)	15
Midterm Exam	Proctored, covers Lessons 1–4, objective and short-answer questions	20
Final Exam	Proctored, covers Lessons 5–8 and group summaries, objective and short-answer questions	40

Discussion and News Forums

Critical Thinking and Real-World Application

Discussion forums encourage critical analysis of healthcare-associated infections and antibiotic therapy. Microbiology in the News forums connect course concepts to current events, fostering awareness of microbiology's impact on daily life.

• Discussion 1: Causes and prevention of Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)

• Discussion 2: Debate on prophylactic antibiotic therapy

• News Forums: Analysis of mainstream news stories related to microbiology

Online Lab and Group Project

Practical and Collaborative Learning

The online lab focuses on methods to reduce microbial contamination, with an assignment based on lab activities. The group project involves summarizing textbook chapters not covered in lessons and creating exam questions, promoting collaborative learning and deeper understanding.

Exams and Grading

Midterm and Final Exam Structure

Both exams are proctored online and allow the use of two single-sided pages of notes. The midterm covers foundational concepts, while the final exam emphasizes material from the second half of the course, including group project summaries.

Exam	Duration	Question Types	Coverage
Midterm	1.5 hours	Objective, short short-answer, long short-answer	Lessons 1–4
Final	3 hours	Objective, short short-answer, long short-answer	Lessons 5–8, lab, group summaries

Student Supports and Course Policies

Academic Integrity and Communication

Students are expected to uphold academic integrity and follow APA style in written work. Support services are available for accessibility, technical issues, and equity concerns. Communication occurs via Announcements Forum, Q&A Forum, and email, with guidelines for respectful and professional interaction.

• Academic Integrity: Plagiarism, cheating, and misuse of AI tools are prohibited.

• APA Style: All written assignments must adhere to APA guidelines.

• Support Services: Accessible learning, technical support, and equity resources.

• Communication: Use official channels for course-related inquiries.

Additional info:

• The course aligns closely with the first 15 chapters of the microbiology textbook, covering foundational topics relevant to the provided chapter list.

• Group projects extend learning to chapters 16–21, which include advanced topics such as Mycoplasma, Chlamydiae, Mycobacteria, Rickettsia, Fungi, and Protozoa.

• Assessment emphasizes both objective knowledge and critical thinking, with opportunities for collaborative and real-world application.