Microbiology Syllabus 

TEXT

Foundations in Microbiology (10th Edition) 2018

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The Microbiology course is a one semester course that will help prepare the student for the rigors of college biology/microbiology courses.  Students planning to enter into the fields of health/medicine, agriculture, and biology should be the students in this course.

PREREQUISITE

A student must have completed Physical Science and Biology 1, with at least a "C" average in both of those courses, OR have instructor approval.

COURSE CONTENT

The Microbiology course is designed to provide adequate knowledge in the following areas of the microbiology:

1. Themes of Microbiology

2. The Chemistry of Biology

3.  Tools of the Laboratory: Methods of Studying Microorganisms

4.  A Survey of Prokaryotic Cells and Microorganisms

5.  A Survey of Eukaryotic Cells and Microorganisms

6.  An Introduction to Viruses

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

In order for the student to achieve a passing grade, an accumulative grade of at least a 70% is required. Borderline grades will be made at the discretion of the instructor. Your grade will be based upon, but not limited to the following objectives:

*Your final grade will be calculated using the above scale.  This means that you MUST prepare for tests and quizzes.  The way to do this is to complete you assignments carefully and on time.  The only guarantee that you can count on is that if you do not do your weekly assignments YOU WILL NOT PASS THIS CLASS.  The reason for the tests being weighted so high is the rampant cheating that goes on in study halls.  Too many students just copy someone else's work and pass it off as their own.  This is one way to prevent that from happening.

Grading Policy

The Microbiology class will be taught very much like a college course.  You will be required to purchase and keep a notebook and the assignments and tests are going to be much more difficult than you are used to from other classes.  This is due to the subject matter that you will be studying.  Due to the difficulty of the material, the final grades for each quarter and semester will follow the following grading curve.  This curve aligns with most college class curves:

95% - 100% = A

90% - 94% = A-

86% - 89% = B+

83% - 85% = B

80% - 82% = B-

76% - 79% = C+

73% - 75% = C

70% - 72% = C-

66% - 69% = D+

63% - 65% = D

60% - 62% = D-

59% and below = F

Attendance Policy

Microbiology students will follow the attendance policy that is outlined in the 2025-2026 Student Handbook.  Students accumulating more than 10 total excused absences during a semester WILL NOT receive credit for the semester.  Some discretion will be taken under consideration for extended illnesses or circumstances beyond the student's control.  These will be handled on a case-by-case issue. 

Unexcused absences will result in receiving no credit for the items missed during the time the student was absent.  This includes assignments, labs, tests, or quizzes that were given on the day of the unexcused absence.  This means that if you miss a test because of an unexcused absence, you will receive a zero for that test.  The building principal will determine if the absence is excused or unexcused, not the parent(s).

 It is up to the student to be responsible and be in attendance when school is in session.  One of the biggest predictors of academic success or failure is attendance.  Those that have good attendance records have a better chance of academic success.  Those with poor attendance records do not.  It is that simple.

SEMESTER TEST OPT-OUT OPTION

Students who wish to opt out must meet the following requirements:

1. student must not have any computer or disciplinary violations during the semester.

2. student must have at least a B- as a grade in order to be able to opt out.