General Microbiology

Course Information -- BIOL 230 General Microbiology Spring 2010

Lecture: Tuesday and Thursday 11:00AM-12:15PM in Sanford 001
Labs also meet Tuesday and Thursday. Sections meet at 8:00, 9:30, 12:30, and 2:00

Office: 519 Evenden Tower
Phone: 607.746.4370
Email: stockms@delhi.edu
Web Page: http://faculty.delhi.edu/stockms

To gain an understanding of organisms that are too small to see with the naked eye (microorganisms).
To understand the characteristics of microorganisms and the ways they are adapted for their environments.
To understand the ways that these adaptations affect other organisms such as humans and animals. For example, to understand how these microbes cause disease.
To understand the ways that human activities affect microorganisms.

Upon completion of the course you should be able to demonstrate the following to meet the NY State Gen Ed objectives for the Natural Sciences:

an understanding of the role of observation in the development of hypotheses to explain natural phenomena.
anunderstanding of the methods of hypothesis testing.
methods of data collection and analysis.
the ability to synthesize data and information to arrive at a conclusive statement which assess the validity of hypotheses as applied to natural phenomena.

You will be tested on your knowledge of the listed objectives in a variety of ways. Examinations will consist of a mixture of multiple choice, short and long discussion questions on the objectives for each unit.
You will have a number of homework assignments that may consist of take-home essays, case studies, and other investigative assignments. These often test your ability to apply the principles that have been covered in lecture and laboratory.
You will have three laboratory reports that are based on your ability to use the skills that you have learned in laboratory exercises.
One short report will be used to evaluate your knowledge of the Scientific Method by designing an experiment and carrying it out, and evaluating your results.
One longer report evaluates your ability to identify an unknown bacterium using the skills you have learned.
The final long report evaluates your ability to carry out laboratory procedures as well as to synthesize information using a relatively large data set generated by all of the students in the class.