Course Syllabus

HOW TO ACCESS THE IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE LIBRARY:

The Ivy Tech Library is available to students’ on- and off-campus, offering full text journals and books and other resources essential for course assignments. Go to https://library.ivytech.edu/evansville3  to get started.

TITLE IX STATEMENT:

Ivy Tech Community College is committed to providing all members of the College community with a learning and work environment free from sexual harassment and assault. Ivy Tech students have options for getting help if they have experienced sexual assault, relationship violence, sexual harassment or stalking. This information can be found at https://www.ivytech.edu/prevent-sexual-violence/index.html .

If students write or speak about having survived sexual violence, including rape, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking, federal law and Ivy Tech policies require that instructors share this information with the Campus Title IX Coordinator. The Campus Title IX Coordinator will contact students to let them know about accommodations and support services at the College and in the community as well as options for holding accountable the person who harmed them. When contacted, students are not required to speak with the Campus Title IX Coordinator.

If students do not want the Title IX Coordinator notified, instead of disclosing this information to their instructor, students can speak confidentially with certain individuals at the College or in the community. A list of these individuals can also be found at https://www.ivytech.edu/prevent-sexual-violence/index.html under Confidential Employees and/or Community Resources.

ACADEMIC HONESTY STATEMENT:

USE OF AI POLICY:

The College is committed to academic integrity in all its practices.  The faculty value intellectual integrity and a high standard of academic conduct.  Activities that violate academic integrity undermine the quality and diminish the value of educational achievement.

Cheating on papers, tests or other academic works is a violation of College rules.  No student shall engage in behavior that, in the judgment of the instructor of the class, may be construed as cheating.  This may include, but is not limited to, plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty such as the acquisition without permission of tests or other academic materials and/or distribution of these materials and other academic work.  This includes students who aid and abet as well as those who attempt such behavior.  https://www.ivytech.edu/studentcode/index.html

This course emphasizes critical thinking and the development of independent research skills. To ensure these objectives are met, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for tasks such as essay writing, code generation, or automated translation is strictly prohibited. Citations and references must be completed manually, demonstrating a strong understanding of course material. Collaboration with classmates and consultation with the instructor are highly encouraged.

STUDENT CONDUCT STATEMENT:

The College reserves the right to take disciplinary action against any student whose conduct, in the opinion of College representatives, is not in the best interests of the student, other students, or the College.

No student shall behave in a manner that is unacceptable in a learning environment or that endangers or infringes on the rights and/or safety of themselves or other students, visitors, staff, patients in a clinical situation, and/or children in childcare centers at Ivy Tech. If misconduct warrants an immediate suspension from the institutional setting for the remainder of the instructional period, the instructor may do so without a prior hearing.

Assault and battery, abusive actions, physical and/or verbal altercations, and/or threatening language are prohibited under College rules.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT:

Students are expected to contribute effort and potential to the learning environment.  Students are responsible for participating in the learning process in a conscientious manner while taking full advantage of the educational opportunities available.  Students are also expected to conduct themselves in such a manner as not to interfere with the learning of others.  The following list is not meant to be inclusive, but rather further defines the student role:

§  Come to all class sessions prepared and on time.

§  Display interest in the subject matter through participation, questions, etc.

§  Bring forth concerns to appropriate individuals.

§  Seek help and clarification when necessary (i.e., through tutoring, study groups, questions).

§  Engage in accurate, objective self-assessment of own work and continually be aware of class standing/performance.

§  Understand the instructor’s expectations and methods of assessment; and

§  Initiate all paperwork necessary to enroll in and exit from the course, including financial aid documents.

Everyone has a responsibility to respect the rights of others in the learning environment.  This includes refraining from inappropriate comments; engaging in value-neutral discussions when differences occur; developing sensitivity to diversity among students and faculty; allowing others an equal chance to participate; and respecting the personal time of others.  Please refer to https://www.ivytech.edu/studentcode/index.html  for more information.

INAPPROPRIATE USE OF COLLEGE COMPUTERS:

Theft or other abuse of computer time is against college rules, which include but are not limited to:

§  unauthorized entry into a file, to use, read, or change the contents or for any other purpose.

§  unauthorized transfer of a file

§  unauthorized use of another user's identification and password

§  use of computing facilities to interfere with the work of another student, faculty member or college official.

§  use of computing facilities to send, receive, or view obscene or abusive messages.

§  use of computing facilities to interfere with normal operation of the college computing system.

§  use of computing facilities for student's personal benefit

§  unauthorized use of college owned computer resources to prepare or print work for commercial purposes.

COURSE PARTICIPATION AND FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY:

Course activities and assignments are designed to help you practice and apply what you are learning in class. As a result, students who attend class, complete assignments, and actively participate in class activities generally make better grades and are more likely to reach educational goals.

When you accept federal financial aid, you agree to abide by the regulatory requirements that accompany receiving those funds.  Those requirements are:

§  The expectation that you will complete your courses. Dropping or withdrawing from a class could negatively impact your financial aid eligibility and could result in you owing money back to the Department of Education. 

§  The expectation that you will complete your degree within a reasonable timeframe. Financial aid will not pay for more than 90 credit hours if you are enrolled in a 60-credit hour degree program. Completion of your degree within a reasonable timeframe means that you will graduate before taking more than 150% of the credit hours needed for your program.

§  The expectation that you will maintain a minimum of a 2.0 cumulative grade point average. 

Failure to meet any of these requirements may negatively impact your ability to continue to receive financial aid and/or maintain your student status at Ivy Tech. You should meet with an advisor or a member of the financial aid team if you have any questions.

REFUND POLICY:

Students choosing to drop or withdraw from this course must drop by Sunday, September 7, 2025, for 100% refund.  (This may also be done online). Some courses may require an advisor signature to withdraw from the class.

If you have any questions, you may contact the registrar’s office at 812- 429-1408.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Ivy Tech performs administrative drops for students who do not “attend” class early in the semester. 

Students need to come to class prior to the automatic drop deadline listed below in order to avoid being dropped for non-attendance. 

Attendance Drop Deadline: Sunday, September 7, 2025

100% Refund Date thru: Sunday, September 7, 2025

Last day to withdraw from class without administrative approval: Sunday, November 23, 2025

Students are expected to attend and participate regularly in class meetings, online learning activities, and other activities assigned as a part of a course of instruction. Faculty are required to report student participation in compliance with institutional policies and federal financial aid guidelines. Faculty and staff shall be sensitive to

students’ religious beliefs and observances, including an expectation that instructors make reasonable arrangements when a student must miss an exam or other academic exercise due to their religious observance. When notified in advance, and when possible, faculty will make allowances for students to make up missed work.

DROP POLICY:

W – WITHDRAWAL: A status assigned for withdrawals after the first week of the term through completion of 75% of the course.

A grade of "FW" will be assigned to a student who discontinues attendance without formally withdrawing from the course(s) involved.

A withdrawal may be processed for disciplinary reasons or for other extenuating circumstances in accordance with due process, with final approval from the Regional Academic Officer or designee.

RIGHT OF REVISION:

The college reserves the right to modify this document as necessary. Students will be informed promptly of any and all changes.

Program specific information:

This course contains class (lecture) and lab components.

Major Course Learning Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course the student will be expected to:

1. Describe the general properties and characteristics of bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses.
2. Describe the divisions of microbiology and taxonomic classification of bacteria.
3. Identify the internal and external structures of the eukaryotic vs. the prokaryotic cell and define the function of each.
4. Use the bright field microscope in the study of microorganisms, identify the parts of the microscope, and state the function of each.
5. Understand and apply recommended guidelines for safe handling of microorganisms and infectious materials.
6. Describe and recognize various bacterial morphologies.
7. Perform and/or interpret the gram stain on both direct and indirect smears.
8. Describe the general principles of bacterial metabolism, nutrition, reproduction, and energy liberation and storage.
9. Discuss the structure of DNA and the processes of replication, transcription, and translation.
10. Discuss the use of physical and chemical methods and antimicrobial agents in the control of microorganisms.
11. Describe the epidemiology of various kinds of infectious diseases and the invasive mechanisms employed by bacteria.
12. Describe the processes of transfer of genetic information between bacteria including transformation, transduction, and conjugation.
13. Discuss the applications of general concepts in microbiology for food, agriculture, ecology, health, and industry.
14. Review endemic, epidemic, and pandemic situations and methods to stop and prevent the spread of the disease.
15. Perform identification tests, use a flow diagram and describe epidemiology and describe correlations.
16. Describe the fundamentals of recombinant DNA technologies, genetic engineering, and biotechnology as they relate to microbiology, medicine, industry, and the environment.
17. Describe basic principles of immunology, immunity, and serological testing and interpretation.
18. Use appropriate microbiology media, test systems, and lab equipment.

Course Content:

Topical areas of study include -  

• Scope of microbiology
• Eukaryotic microorganisms and parasites
• Microscopy and staining
• Characteristics of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
• Fundamentals of chemistry
• Sterilization and disinfection
• Microbial genetics
• Host-microbe relationships and disease processes
• Recombinant DNA
• Epidemiology and nosocomial infections
• Bacteria
• Nonspecific host defenses and host systems
• Immunology
• Essential concepts of metabolism
• Viruses
• Growth and culturing of bacteria
• Applied microbiology
• Endemics, epidemics, and pandemics
• Environmental microbiology

DIGITAL TOOLS: 

§  Students are required to use IvyLearn (Canvas), MyIvy Libraries and their Ivy Tech email.

§  Familiarity with and use of these programs is vital for success.  Students will also be required to use various internet sites for assignments and research.

REQUIRED MATERIALS, SUPPLIES and TEXT(S):

Title: Microbiology

Authot: Nina Parker et al.

Edition: Web Updated 2024

Publisher: Open Stax

ISBN-13: 9781947172234 (eBook).

This ebook is available for free at OpenStax.eBook can also be accessed via Ivy Learn.

Lab Manual: provided in-class.

OTHER MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES:

Lab coat, pencils, pen, notebook, lab notebook or binder, access to computer and internet. 

METHODS AND MODALITY OF INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY:

Modality – Traditional.

§  Lectures:

o   Lectures are conducted in-person and are considered active participation in the course.

o   Lecture content is presented to students in an assessment-based format. Students participate in interactive activities which assess their understanding of the lecture material.

o   Students who come to class prepared - read and/or watch lectures before attending the class can obtain deeper understanding of the material and carry out the interactive activities and assessments of knowledge successfully.

§  Labs:

o   Labs are considered active participation in the course. Thus, lab attendance is used for reporting student participation as outlined by the college attendance policy.

o   Labs are in-person.

o   Students learn and perform various microbiological techniques in the lab and/or conduct experiments in the laboratory. Therefore, these lab activities require students to come prepared for lab sessions.

o   Preparing for the labs, including but not limited to:

▪        Watching lecture videos and completing workbooks.

▪        Gaining the background knowledge needed to perform the scheduled experiment (Read and understand theory provided in the lab manual).

▪        Complete and submit pre-lab assessments as due. Completing pre-lab assessment help students to assess their preparedness and identify what else they must cover to be prepared to perform a lab experiment.

o   Students who come prepared to the lab not only successfully complete the lab assignments but also can:

▪        Enjoy the lab activity

▪        Actively contribute to class discussions

▪        Meet course objectives and maximize learning and engagement which helps to understand and retain concepts covered in this course.

o   In an event of campus closure or declared virtual operation, the lab instructions will be posted online on Ivy Learn.

GRADING SCALE:

METHODS OF EVALUATION:

All grades will be maintained in IvyLearn’s online grade book. Students are responsible for tracking their progress by referring to the online grade book. Students can generally expect to receive grades and feedback within seven days of the assignment due date. If exceptions occur, the instructor may notify students of changes to this expectation. Students are encouraged to schedule review of evaluated copies of assignments/ exams during instructor’s office hours or by scheduling appointment.

Course Schema: Evaluation will be based on the following (840 points total)

At-home/Online assignments: 250 points

Assignments (5 x 20)                                                     100 points

Systems Microbiology Charts (8 x 10)                               80 points              

Pre-lab assessment (14 x 5)                                             70 points

In-person assignments: 590 points

Lab Discipline (14 x 5) ¹                                                  70 points

Lab Data (14 x 5)²                                                           70 points

Lecture Exams (50 x 3) ³                                               150 points

Comprehensive Final Exam ³                                         100 points

Lab Midterm Practical (Lab report)⁴                               100 points

Lab Comprehensive Final Exam⁵                                       100 points

¹Lab Discipline – is a non-negotiable aspect of working or performing experiments in a laboratory. This includes, but not limited to, following lab safety rules and regulations, maintaining a clean and clear working station, neatly setting up and wrapping up your experiments, proper handling and disposal of waste and biohazard material, and properly handling equipment and property in the laboratory. Missing to follow any of the above or distractive behavior can lead to deduction in lab discipline points.

² Lab Data – Students will be performing and observing experiments during various labs. For this assignment, students are graded based on proper recording of observations, inferences, results and conclusions.

³Lecture exams are cumulative and are conducted in-person, during the lecture session. Final Exams are the mandatory exams for the course. Failure to complete the final exam will incur ‘FW’ in the course.

⁴ Lab Midterm Practical (Lab report) – Student submit a lab report based on results obtained in labs 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8, Please check Ivy Learn course for more details.

⁵ Lab Comprehensive Final Exam – is an in-person exam. Please check Ivy Learn course for details.

LATE ASSIGNMENTS & MAKE-UP POLICY:

Late and/or missed assignments or exams will incur a zero (0).

§  Lab discipline, lab data and lab midterm (lab report) are based on in-person lab demonstrations, experiments and activities. Thereby, a missed lab or its assignment cannot be made up later, resulting in a zero (0) for that lab.

§  Note that the midterm lab exam (lab report) is based on results that students record themselves during labs 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8. Thereby, if a student misses those labs, though incomplete, a student may submit the lab report based on the labs they attended. The grade for all lab reports (lab midterm exam) are determined by the rubric published on Ivy Learn. Thereby, it may lead to lower points scored due to missing results.

§  Missed exams cannot be made up.

§  If the student has a valid reason to request a make-up exam, the student must email the instructor in advance or within 24- hours of the due date with a valid proof of absence.

§  If the student has a valid reason to miss a lab and wants to attend a different lab session, the student must email the instructor in advance or within 24- hours of the due date with a valid proof of absence.

§  Final exams are required course completions and cannot be made up.

If a student has a problem or scheduling conflict that prevents the student from submitting an assignment on time, the student should contact the instructor immediately. The instructor will determine if the seriousness of the problem warrants an extension on the assignment. Unless absolutely unavoidable, students need to contact their instructor before missing the deadline – not after. Instructors have the right to decline accepting work for any credit after a deadline passes with a few specific exceptions, including but not limited to:

• If there is an outage of the IvyLearn system that is verified by central system administrators, instructors will provide an extension for students to submit work at no penalty.
• If the student has documentation of serious illness or death of a family member, instructor will work with the student to determine an alternate deadline.
• When emailing the instructor to request an extension, student must attach related documentation to support their request. 
• All assignments and due dates are available to students from the start of the course to enable students to proactively make plans to study and complete the assignments including quizzes and exams. Thereby, students are strongly encouraged to exercise time management to avoid missing due dates due to technical issues that may arise. Example: A student waited till the last hour to complete an assignment and encountered wifi/internet/ laptop problem, which leads to missing submission and due date for that assignment. The student must provide clear evidence as documentation along with a complete request explaining the situation. Instructors have the right to decline accepting work under such circumstances.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

§  The student must inform the instructor using the Inbox Tool in Ivy Learn or email, if the student foresees absence or delay.      

§  Tardiness will lead to deduction from lab discipline points. Students should situate themselves at the back of the room when they arrive late, to not disturb the on-going class, lab, or exam.

§  Missed labs can NOT be made up for. Students must be present in the lab, complete the lab activity assignment in its entirety to meet the session objectives within the scheduled lab time.

§  Students late for lab will have the remainder of the lab time to complete the lab.

§  Labs begin with instructions and demonstrations for that lab activity. It is important to be punctual to succeed in lab activity and get the best out of your lab experience.

§  Students must wear a lab coat while in the microbiology lab at all times.

§  Lecture and lab attendance are considered active participation in this course. Not attending lectures and labs and not completing assignments online is not considered active participation and will be reported as per the college attendance policy and requirement.

§  Students must be present for the full duration of the course. If you have known schedule conflicts like vacations, travel, or other planned absences, you should enroll in this course in a future term when you can attend every class.

LABORATORY SAFETY RULES:

Science Laboratory Safety Rules

Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana:

As part of our institution system’s commitment to promote and protect the health and safety of our students, our employees and the environment, the Life Science Department has developed Science Laboratory Safety Rules which will be given to you the first day of lab class.

We expect that you will read these Science Laboratory Safety Rules carefully and ask questions about those that are unclear. You will be required to sign and date the agreement which will indicate that you have read, understand, and agree to follow the rules at all times.

Safety in the laboratory requires good practices. If the rules are not followed, there will be serious consequences, which can include loss of privilege of participation in the Life Science class (this includes Microbiology).

The following sanctions represent the minimum response to violations of our Science Laboratory Safety Rules:

§  First Offense – The instructor will again review the Science Laboratory Safety Rules with the student and give the student a written warning stating the consequences of a second offense.   

§  Second Offense – withdraw from the class for the remainder of the semester.

Safety rules must be followed when in any of the science labs. The student must read and sign this form which indicates that he/she has been notified and understands the safety rules of the science laboratory classes.  Additional rules may apply based on the nature of the course. 

§  No open-toed shoes or sandals may be worn.

§  Do not eat, drink, chew gum, or apply makeup in the lab.

§  Keep pencils, fingers etc. out of the mouth.

§  Must wear appropriate clothing.

§  Be able to locate the safety showers, eye wash stations, fire blankets, clean-up kits & first aid kits.

§  Be able to locate the fire extinguishing equipment.

§  Long hair must be tied back.

§  Do not wear dangling jewelry.

§  Broken glass must be discarded in a specially marked container (marked biohazard if warranted).

§  All biohazard material must be discarded in the specially marked biohazard container.

§  Protective gloves must be worn when working with biohazardous material.

§  All lab work must be done on the black surfaces of lab tables.

§  Cell phones off

Any student who grossly neglects these rules/precautions or causes or creates a health/safety hazard may be removed or withdrawn from class.  

No student is to attempt any laboratory procedure without the instructor present in the laboratory classroom.

COURSE NAME:

General Microbiology

COURSE NUMBER:

BIOL 201-CAL

SEMESTER:

Fall

YEAR:

2025

CRN:

71274

CLASS DAY(S)

MW

TIME:

3:00 PM- 5:50 PM

4:00 PM – 5:50 PM

ROOM:

346, 310

INSTRUCTOR:

Shreya Patel

OFFICE LOCATION:

210Q

E-MAIL:

spatel145@ivytech.edu

PHONE:

812-429-9812

OFFICE HOURS:         M- 9AM -10AM; T- 9AM -1 PM; W: 9-10 AM, 3 PM – 4 PM; R-9AM- 10AM.

INSTRUCTOR POLICY FOR LATE ASSIGNMENTS:

Late assignments will incur a zero (0) for that grade. Exemptions may be made at Instructor’s discretion upon submission of valid documented excuse.

CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES: 08/25/2025 – 12/19/2025

Note: The instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus as necessary. Students will be informed promptly of any and all changes.

Monday – Room 346 – 3:00 PM- 5:50 PM                                         Wednesday – Room 310- 4:00 PM- 5:50 PM

**********Pre-reading of lecture and lab content is required for each class and lab. **************

Week

Lecture /date

Week’s Lecture Topics

Monday – Room 346 – 3:00 PM- 5:50 PM

Lab Date

In-lab Content^^

Wednesday – Room 310- 4:00 PM- 5:50 PM

Course Learning

Objectives

1

08/25

Chapter 1 – The invisible world

Chapter 2 – Seeing the invisible

Chapter 3 – The cell

08/27

Syllabus.

Lab Introduction and Safety.

Microscopy and Diversity of Cell Types

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 18

2

09/01

No Lecture – Labor Day Holiday

09/03

Microscopy –Preparation of Bacterial Smears and Introduction to staining – Gram staining

*Identify an unknown sample. Submit your results for grading

5, 6, 18

3

09/08

Chapter 4 – Prokaryotes

Chapter 5 – Eukaryotes

Chapter 6 – Acellular Pathogens

09/10

Aseptic Techniques and Growth Media

5, 7, 18

4

09/15

Exam 1 due

Chapter 7 – Microbial Chemistry

Chapter 8 - Microbial Metabolism

09/17

Metabolic activities of bacteria

5, 8, 18

5

09/22

Chapter 9 – Microbial Growth

09/24

Dichotomous Keys

*Submit Dichotomous Keys for grading.

5, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18

6

09/29

Chapter 10, 11 and 12 - Microbial Genetics, Mechanisms and Applications

10/01

Effect of Physical Factors on Microbial Growth *Perform tests for identification and incubate.

5, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 10, 13

7

10/06

Exam 2 due

Chapter 13 – Control of Microbial Growth

Chapter 14 – Antimicrobial drugs and Drug Resistance

10/08

*Record results from tests

10, 12

8

10/13

Chapters 15 and 16 - Microbial Mechanisms of Pathogenicity, Disease and Epidemiology

10/15

*Lab Midterm 1- Submit lab report

Chemical Control of Microbial Growth – Disinfectants

11, 14, 10, 13, 15, 18

FALL BREAK – NO lecture on 10/20 and NO lab on 10/22

9

10/27

Chapter 17, 18, 19– Immune System – Innate and Adaptive Host Defenses; Diseases of the Immune System

10/29

Chemical Control of Microbial Growth – Antibiotics, Kirby Bauer Technique and MIC

17, 16, 13

10

11/03

Chapter 21 and 22 -Skin and Eye Infections, Respiratory Infections

11/05

Microbiology of Food – Food Safety

10, 18

11

11/10

Exam 3 due

Chapter 26 – Nervous System Infections

11/12

The Eukaryotes

11, 13, 10

12

11/17

Chapter 25, Cardiovascular and lymphatic system infections

11/19

 Clinical Microbiology – Pathogens of different body parts

13

11/23

Chapter 23 and 24 – Urogenital and Digestive System Infections

11/26

Results

11, 13, 10, 18

14

12/01

Chapter 23 and 24 – Urogenital and Digestive System Infections

12/03

Review

11, 13, 10

15

12/08

Review week

12/10

Comprehensive Lab Final Exam

16

12/15

Comprehensive Lecture Final Exam due

*Labs towards Lab Midterm Practical (Lab Report)