Course Syllabus

General Microbiology 11:680:390 (July 6 - August 13, 2020)

This course covers basic principles of microbiology and provides an introduction to the diversity, physiology, morphology, genetics, ecology, applications and pathogenicity of microbes. 

LEARNING GOALS FOR GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY LECTURE:
After completion of the lecture component of the course, successful students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the structural similarities and differences among microbes and the unique structure/function relationships of prokaryotic cells.
2. Comprehend the fundamentals of molecular microbiology.
3. Appreciate the diversity of microorganisms and microbial communities and recognize how microorganisms solve the fundamental problems their environments present.
4. Recognize how the underlying principles of epidemiology of disease and pathogenicity of specific microbes affect human health.

LEARNING GOALS FOR GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY:
After completion of this laboratory, students should be able to:

1. Learn the proper use of a phase contrast microscope to observe microorganisms and report observed characteristics.
2. Practice and apply calculations related to the preparation of media, stock/working solutions, and culture dilutions
3. Apply their knowledge of microbial structure, growth, and metabolism to the identification of an unknown microorganism.
4. Summarize and apply concepts of molecular biology.
5. Demonstrate aseptic technique and perform routine culture handling tasks safely and effectively.
6. Apply scientific method to collect, interpret, and present scientific data in microbiology and related fields.

Course Faculty:

Lecture Coordinator:
Dr. Ines Rauschenbach (IR), inesrau@sebs.rutgers.edu
Lab Coordinator:
Dr. Jessica Lisa, jesslisa@sebs.rutgers.edu 

Additional Course Faculty:
Dr. Ramaydalis Keddis (RK), rcruz1@sebs.rutgers.edu

Course faculty available for meeting by appointment. Please check CANVAS for available meeting dates or send an email with three available dates/times to schedule a meeting.

Course Locations: 

Lecture
Asynchronous
Optional Weekly Zoom Meeting Thursdays 8:30pm to 9:30pm

Lab
Section H1: M/W 9:00am to 11am
Section H2: T/Th 9:00am to 11am 

Course Materials:
Text: Madigan MT, Bender KS, Buckley DH, Sattley WM, Stahl DA. 2017. Brock Biology of Microorganisms. 15th edition. Pearson, New York, NY. Mastering is not needed.
Lecture Guides: Posted in Modules on the course CANVAS site

Lab Manual (Guide)
Keddis R and Rauschenbach I, 2020. Microbiology Laboratory Exercises, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology.
doi:https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-fzc0-a870 (Links to an external site.)

Labster:
As part of our online lab we will be utilizing the simulation program Labster in conjunction with synchronous lab scheduled times shown above. Preferred browser to run simulations is Google Chrome.

Course Policies:
This syllabus contains the policies and expectations that have been established for this course. These policies and expectations are intended to create a productive learning atmosphere for all students. Please bring any concerns you may have to our attention.

Academic Integrity 
All members of the Rutgers community are expected to adhere to the Code of Conduct and Academic Integrity Policies, which can be found at http://studentconduct.rutgers.edu

Quizzes/Exams: We will monitor your quiz log - navigating away from any timed, graded assignment will automatically result in 0 points. You will also be required to download LockDown Browser.

Assignments: You will be asked to submit various assignments to Turnitin. Any similarity over 50% will receive 0 points; 40% to 49% similarity will receive a 25% point deduction. Similarities of 30 to 39% will receive deductions on an individual, severity basis 

Course Grading

4 Weekly Quizzes – 30% (Lowest Grade will be dropped)
Discussions, KWL, assignments – 15%
Cumulative Midterm and Final – 30%
Lab Quizzes - 10% (Lowest Grade will be dropped)
Labster Assignments - 5%
Lab Write Ups - 10%

NOTE: A student must satisfactorily complete the laboratory section in order to pass the class.

There are no make ups for any reasons for the four quizzes. If you miss quiz, it will be your dropped grade. No exceptions for any circumstances. Each quiz average will be curved to 72% (unless the average is above 72 in which case it will remain unchanged). The midterm and final will be composed of 50 multiple choice questions including topics from all quizzes. The final is mandatory and the grade will not be dropped. If you miss the final, you will receive a grade of 0. 

In-class assignments are finished in class - no make ups will be available, no exceptions. One in-class assignment will be dropped. 

Extra Credit is included on exams, quizzes, and also occasionally in lecture.

Course Grading Scale:
          A     90 - 100%                         C  70 – 75%
          B+  86 – 89%                           D  60 – 69%
          B     80 – 85%                           F   0 – 59%
          C+  76 – 79%

Email Policy
According to Rutgers Email and Calendaring policy "All email and calendaring used to conduct University Business at Rutgers must be created, stored, processed, and transmitted via the approved procedures and using the official Rutgers University Email and Calendaring systems." 

Please use CANVAS or your Scarletmail for any communication in this course. We will not be answering your emails if sent with an email account other than your Scarletmail.

Lab Attendance and Make Ups:
You are expected to attend EVERY lab during the time that you have signed up for. We understand that there are unforeseen circumstances or emergencies that prevent you from attending. If you need to miss lab, you are expected to immediately contact your instructor and TA and provide appropriate documentation for your absence. A very limited number of make ups may be available only for documented absences. No exceptions. If you anticipate missing lab due to a scheduled event , please let Dr. Lisa know right away so she can find you a make up spot. 

If you have made it this far reading over all the policies, thank you for being diligent. For 5 points extra credit on your first quiz, please google a picture of ALF and send it to me along with a description of who he is to me via email within the first 2 days of start of your class.

Lab Schedule
The lab schedule can be found in the Modules.

Rutgers Disability Statement 
Rutgers University welcomes students with disabilities into all of the University's educational programs. In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, a student with a disability must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation: https://ods.rutgers.edu/students/documentation-guidelines
If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus’s disability services office will provide you with a Letter of Accommodations. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. To begin this process, please complete the Registration form on the ODS web site at:
https://ods.rutgers.edu/students/registration-form 

Tentative Summer Lecture Schedule: