Syllabus: Micro 20 Fall Semester 2011 (Section 8297 & 0198)
This is a general microbiology course stressing diseases produced by microorganisms and including an introduction to
bacterial classification, cytology, physiology, growth, reproduction, sterilization, disinfection and the applied fields of
bacteriology. Bacteriological techniques as well as universal precautions are emphasized in the laboratory.
Instructor: David J. Sanchez, Ph.D. sanchedj@lacitycollege.edu
Class Website: http://www.djsanchez.net/micro/
Office Hours: The instructor is available before and after class or by arranged hours.
Class Meetings: Lecture 3 hours and Laboratory 3 hours per week for 15 weeks from Sept 3rd to Dec 17th
Lecture meets Saturday Mornings from 8am (SHARP) to 11am in SCI 111
Lab meets in SCI 112 Saturday afternoons from 12 noon (SHARP) to 3pm for Section 8291 or
4pm (SHARP) to 7pm for Section 0198
Require Textbooks:
Microbiology: Principles and Explorations. 7th Edition. By Black.
A Photographic Atlas for the Microbiology Laboratory, 4th Edition, by Michael J. Leboffe and Burton E. Pierce.
This class is based on 6 learning objectives for the students:
Learning Objectives for Microbiology 20
A. A student in the Microbiology course will describe and explain the disease process as it relates to bacterial,
viral, protozoan, and fungal infections.
B. A student in the Microbiology course will explain the biochemical processes of the cell such as cell respiration,
DNA replication, genetic recombination, and analyze the significance of these processes to the organism.
C. A student in the microbiology course will perform staining procedures and biochemical tests, will organize
their data, and utilize the results to determine the identity of an unknown bacteria.
D. A student in the Microbiology course will learn and practice universal precautions and proper aseptic
techniques that will be used in clinical practice.
E. A student in the Microbiology course will describe and evaluate the physical and chemical methods of
controlling microbial growth.
F. A student in the Microbiology course will describe and explain the body’s immune response to bacterial and
viral infections.
The primary student learning outcome (SLO) for the class is:
“Utilizing the scientific method design and a body systems approach, write a comprehensive scientific unknowns lab
report to the level of the genus and species relating the unknown to similar microbes that cause human disease”
This SLO will be assessed for the class by “Using the scientific method and a body systems approach, write a
comprehensive lab report in APA Manual Style format based upon student data gathered using basic microbiological
principles and techniques to identify and describe an unknown microbe to the level of genus and species and relate it
to similar microbes that cause human disease.”
Class Participation: Class participation is required to demonstrate your mastery of the subject. Likewise, it allows
you to clarify topics. You should participate in this class to help receive a good grade. Since I encourage
participation, I conversely discourage inappropriate comments or negative attitudes toward participation. Also,
using a cell phone is not required to participate in class. When class begins please be sure your cell phone is
turned off. Vibrate mode is not allowed and neither is texting during class. These are all disruptive to others.
As this lecture meets once a week, missing one lecture puts you very behind! Do not be absent. Thus if you have
irregular attendance, do not expect an A, regardless of high grades in exams. This is especially true for the
laboratory sections of the course. Hands on experiences are the only way to receive proper education in
laboratory-based microbiology. This is also part of earning the grade.
Micro 20 Syllabus Fall 2011: Page 1 of 3
School policy is for the instructor to exclude any student that misses more hours of teaching than the units that the
class is offered for. That means if you miss more than 2 classes with unexcused absences you may be dropped
from the class with no warning. You can only miss class is you have a valid excuse and inform the instructor as
soon as possible.
Deadlines: Last Day To...
Add traditional classes Friday, Sept 9
Drop classes with a refund Monday, Sept 12
Drop classes and not owe a fee Monday, Sept 12
Drop classes without a "W" Friday, Sept 23*
*May be done via Web through Sunday, Sept 25
File for Credit/No Credit Grades Friday, Sept 23
Drop classes with a "W" Friday, Nov 18*
*May be done via Web through Sunday, Nov 20
Dates College is Closed
Labor Day Monday, Sept 5
Veterans Day Friday, Nov 11
Thanksgiving Holiday Thurs, Fri,&Sat;Nov 24, 25, & 26
Labor Day Monday, Sept 5
Grading Policy: Grades should be secondary to learning the content of the course. You will receive the grade you
deserve and earned. Grades are determined by total number of points earned throughout the class. There are no
curves in this class. There are 1025 total points possible in the class. Students with 900 points or above get an A,
at least 800 get a B, at least 700 get a C, and at least 600 get a D. Students with 599 or less points have earned an F.
Below is an itemized breakdown of the grading for the course.
Grading Overview
Point Breakdown Max Points
Lecture
Lecture Quizzes 10 @ 10 pts each, (Total 100 points) 100
Midterm Exams 2 @ 125 pts each, (Total 250 points) 250
Clinical Correlates 10 @ 7.5 pts each, (Total 75 points) 75
Homework 5 @ 5 pts each, (Total 25 points) 25
Disease Report Project 100 points 100
Lab
Lab Reports Refer to Section Specific Syllabus 75
Lab Participation Refer to Section Specific Syllabus 50
Lab Exam 100 points 100
Final Unknown Report 100 points 100
Final Exam
Final Exam 150 points 150
TOTAL 1025
NOTE: There is no extra credit in this class. The class point system allows 25 extra points that will constitute
some room in the grading. There is no grading bump ups due to this extra credit and no late assignments accepted.
Quizzes: Quizzes will not be announced ahead of time so be prepared always. They will be based on the key
Micro 20 Syllabus Fall 2011: Page 2 of 3
material of the previous class and will be timed. These quizzes will be administered at the beginning of each
lecture. If you are not in attendance, there is no makeup.
Midterm Exams: These exams are VERY important, as they will be used to show your mastery of the subject as we
proceed. As such they will be a mix of multiple choice and essay questions. These exams CANNOT be made up. If
you have a valid excuse (such as illness, family emergency, or something that makes it impossible for you to attend
the exam), your quiz average will substitute for that exam.
Clinical Correlates/Homework: Clinical correlates are one-page, handwritten essays that are due weekly and
cover different topics more in depth than time allows during lecture. They are due at the beginning of class the
following week. Homework sheets are for review of additional topics and due the next week. No late assignments
are accepted after the start of lecture. Typed Clinical correlates are not graded.
Disease Report: Discussed later in class. This is a group project on a particular disease.
Lab Reports/Final Unknown Report: Due at specified times in lab. They must be typed and submitted when
due. No late reports are accepted.
Final Examination: The final examination is a comprehensive demonstration of your mastery of the subjects
presented in the class. This will include mainly multiple choice questions. No makeup is planned for the final
examination. If you are unable to attend, any makeup will be scheduled on an individual basis only in the most
extreme of circumstances. This test is required to receive a grade in this course.
Some Final Notes:
Academic Dishonesty: Is not tolerated at all. This include cheating, cheat sheets, copying the work of others, or
anything that produces an unfair advantage over someone doing an assignment honestly. You will receive a non-
droppable zero on any assignment in which you cheat and will be reported to LACC.
The Office of Special Services: OSS provides many accommodations for students with academic challenges,
usually from disabilities. They provide alternate test taking conditions and help with challenges that stop a student
from achieving their potential in a regular classroom setting. Any student that requires (or thinks they require)
OSS accommodations for taking this class should talk with an OSS counselor and arrange to have an
accommodation sheet given to the instructor. Then, the student and OSS can arrange to take tests or other
assignments, within a timely manner. That means the test should be taken within one week. All assignments
should be done before the end of the semester to count as with all students in the class. Please contact OSS as soon
as possible to make arrangements. All OSS interactions are confidential.
Email: oss@lacitycollege.edu Website: http://www.lacitycollege.edu/services/oss/ .
Incompletes: At LACC, incompletes are given only to students are currently in good standing and passing the class.
This includes completing more than 70% of assignments and having an average of “passing” (greater than or equal
to 70%). Usually incompletes are given if and only if an emergency on the last days precludes a student from
taking the final exam or completing a required class assignment (Unknown bacteria report/Final Exam).
Suggestions and Complaints: I am very open to suggestions and complaints about the class or my teaching. Please
email or speak to me directly. If you feel uncomfortable directly talking to me about the comment, please email the
department chairperson so that we can help solve any situation.
Notice from Financial Aid Office:
If you need help paying for books and other college expenses,
call the Financial Aid Office at
(323) 953-4000 extension 2025
http://www.lacitycollege.edu/stusvcs/finaid/
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