Syllabus, Microbiology (BIOL 3553)

Fall 2008

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Course title:        Microbiology, BIOL 3553.  Three credits

Class time:                Mon, Wedn, Fri from 9:10 am – 10:00 am

Meeting place:          Science Center, Room B18

Instructor:              Dr. Mary Stewart

Phone:                     870-460-1564                      

E-mail:                      stewartm@uamont.edu

Office:                      Science Center, Room B14

Office hours:      Mon, Tues, Wedn, & Fri:  10:00 am – 11:00 am

                                    Thurs: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

                                    Or by appointment

Prerequisites:  Six hours of chemistry and three hours of biology

OR

BIOL 2242/2301 (Anatomy & Physiology II lecture and lab) and three additional hours of BIOL courses

Note:  Microbiology is an intense, content-rich class and you should not take Microbiology until after you successfully complete the prerequisites.  If you have not successfully completed the prerequisites for this class, you may be dropped from the class.    

Required textbook:  Microbiology, an Introduction, 9^th edition by Tortora, Funk and Case.  ISBN 0-8053-4790-9.  Cost at the UAM campus bookstore = $129.00 used, $172.00 new.

Course objectives:  Microbiology is a topic that is relevant to many aspects of our everyday lives such as health, disease, food safety, water safety and agriculture.  In this course, students will explore principles that apply to microbiology including chemistry, cell biology and genetics.  Topics that students should gain a working knowledge of include how microorganisms are classified and named, how microbes carry out metabolism and growth, how microbe growth is controlled, microbial genetics, principles of disease caused by microorganisms, the human body’s defenses against microorganisms, and ways in which microbe interactions with humans can be beneficial or harmful. 

Course description:  The biology of microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoans, with emphasis given to their importance in health and disease.

Course Grades:  The grade that you earn in the course is based on the following:

Four hour exams at 100 points each                                              400 points

Final exam                                                                                          100 points

“Other items” such as cases, assignments, announced               *100   

quizzes, unannounced quizzes, in-class activities, etc.                                                  

                                                                        Total points               *600 points

*There really will be 120 points possible in the “other items” category.  However, your lowest scores on two 10-point items in this category will be dropped and will not count into your grade. (Note that not all items in the “other” category will be worth 10 points apiece; some may be worth more than or less than 10 points.  Scores on items worth less than or more than 10 points will not be dropped).

Even if you do all of the 10-point activities/assignments in the “other” category, your lowest scores on two of the 10-point activities will still be dropped.  They will not be counted as “extra credit”.  For example, if you do all 10-point activities/assignments and your two lowest scores are 7 points and 8 points, I will drop those points.  I will not add 15 points to your total score.

Scores on exams will be posted by a code outside my office door (Science Center, Room B14) or on my web site (once I have a web site set up) unless you give me a written and signed request to not post your exam scores.  Other papers such as assignments, quizzes, etc. will be handed back in class and the scores will not be posted.  I strongly suggest that you retain these papers so that you can keep track of your own scores.  If there is a difference between what you think your final course grade should be and what I record as your final grade, it will be to your benefit to have kept the papers.  If you cannot produce the paper, then your grade will be based on the scores I recorded, not on what you think your score was on a paper that you no longer have. 

Letter grade and percent

A         (89.50 – 100%)

B         (79.50 – 89.49%)

C         (69.50 – 79.49%)

D         (59.50 – 69.49%)

F          (59.49% and below)

Note that 89.49% is a B and does not round up to 89.5%.  Likewise, 79.49% is a C; 69.49% is a D and 59.49% is an F.  

EXAMS

Exam format:  Exams may have multiple choice, true/false, matching and fill-in-the-blank questions.  Exams also may have short answer, short essay, longer essay, short answer, and application questions as well as other question types that ask you to demonstrate your knowledge in a way that doesn’t involve simply recognizing or guessing the correct answer choice. 

Makeup exams and early exams.  See item number three in the class policies section below. 

CLASS POLICIES

1. Attendance.  Attendance is required and I will take attendance.  Depending on the day, you will miss points if you miss class.  I want you to succeed and I believe attending class is to your benefit.  Class material will be stressed on exams, although assigned material that we do not discuss in class may be on exams also.  If you do miss class, you are responsible for checking if there were any assignments or handouts that day and for turning in assignments in by the due date.   

Excused absences.  Excused absences from class include items such as participating in a UAM sponsored event (you must provide me with written documentation from the UAM event sponsor), being so ill that you visit a medical facility, and a death in your immediate family.  It is your responsibility to check with me about whether your absence is considered excused, to provide me with written documentation of the event such as a doctor’s note, and to schedule any makeup work.  For any excused absence, I reserve the right to contact the appropriate people to confirm that your written excuse is valid.

Unexcused absences.  Unexcused absences include items such as going on vacation, going out of town, having to work, oversleeping, you had a paper due in another class, etc. 

2.    Punctuality.  Be on time for class and don’t take off early.  If you show up just long enough to take a quiz or see if there are some points for that day and then leave, you will be considered as being absent for the entire class period and you will receive zero points for the activity, even if you did it.  If you miss all or part of an activity or quiz at the beginning of class or are late for it, you will earn zero points for it. 

The exception to this is on lecture exam days. 

·   If you finish the exam before the end of the class period, you can turn in your exam and go. 

·   If you arrive late on a lecture exam day, you will not be allowed to take the regular exam if other students have already completed the exam and left the room.  Contact me after class is over to discuss whether you can take a makeup.  If you arrive late and are allowed to take the exam, you will have only whatever time is left in the class period to complete the exam.  You will not receive additional time. 

3.    Makeup Exams and Early Exams

·         If you are eligible to take a makeup or early exam, please contact me in advance of the date you wish to take the exam.    

·         Makeup exam for an unexcused absence:  Each student can take one makeup exam during the semester with an unexcused absence.   Past the one makeup exam for an unexcused absence, any additional unexcused absences for exams will result in a score of zero for those missed exams.  Makeup exams for unexcused absences may be largely essay exams, which most students find harder than the regularly scheduled exams.  I recommend that you make every effort to take the regularly scheduled exam!

·         Makeup exam or early exam with an excused absence.  You may take one makeup exam (or early exam if applicable) with an excused absence.  This is in addition to the unexcused absence exam that you can take if you wish. 

Makeup exams or early exams for excused absences may not be the same as the regularly scheduled exam.  The makeup or early exam may contain more essay/short essay questions, contain other question formats and/or contain different questions than the regular exam.

·         Early exams for unexcused absences.  There are no early exams for unexcused absences.

4.    Makeups for in-class work other than exams.  Makeups for non-exam in-class activities (quizzes, in-class work, in-class problems, etc.) are possible only if you have an excused absence and an appropriate written excuse.  For the possibility of earning points on makeup work, you must make up any class activities within one week (seven calendar days) of your return to class.   It is your responsibility to contact me to see if you missed any class activities that you can makeup and to schedule a time with me to do the makeup work.

5.    Late assignments.  Be sure to turn assignments in on time.  If an assignment is due at the beginning of class and you turn it in after class begins, the assignment will be considered as one day late.  Late assignments will be accepted, but there will be a 10% deduction per calendar day unless you have an extreme situation (what counts as “extreme” is at my discretion).

6.    Courtesy.  Turn off your cell phones and all other electronic devices, including computers.  Don’t just turn your cell phone to vibrate.  If you expect an urgent call, please let me know ahead of time. 

7.    Visitors.  As stated in the UAM student handbook, “All classroom visitors are required to have the permission of the instructor.  Visitors to any classroom or University facility must not be disruptive or present a safety hazard.  Anyone planning to visit a class for more than four sessions will be required to audit the class.”

8.    Disruptive Behavior:  Disorderly conduct is prohibited under the Student Conduct Code.  Disorderly conduct is any behavior which disrupts the regular or normal functions of the University community, including behavior which breaches the peace or violates the rights of others.  You may be dropped from the class for disorderly conduct. 

9.    Academic honesty:  Academic dishonesty and cheating will not be tolerated.  Cheating comes in many forms, including having a cell phone turned on and on your person during an exam or quiz, whispering with another student during an exam or quiz, looking at another student’s paper during an exam or quiz, using notes or other materials not approved by the instructor during an exam or quiz, and plagiarism.  Cheating also includes discussing an exam with someone who has not yet taken the exam.  This list is not inclusive and there are additional behaviors that can be considered as cheating or academic dishonesty.  You may fail the class or be dropped from the class for academic dishonesty. 

10. Students with Disabilities:  It is the policy of the University of AR at Monticello to accommodate individuals with disabilities pursuant to federal law and the University’s commitment to equal educational opportunities.  It is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor of any necessary accommodations at the beginning of the course.  Any student requiring accommodations should contact the Office of Special Student Services located in Harris Hall Room 120; phone 870 460-1026; TDD 870 460-1626; Fax 870 460-1926.

11. Disclaimer:  This syllabus is a guide and I reserve the right to make changes.

Microbiology, BIOL 3553

Tentative Schedule*

*Everything on this schedule is subject to change.

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