This course is an introduction to the biology of microorganisms including viruses, bacteria, archaea, protozoa, and fungi. Cell structure and function, metabolism, information flow and genetics, evolutionary relationships, and microbial ecology will be covered. A conceptual and experimental background sufficient to enable students to successfully pursue more advanced courses in related fields is provided.

The learning outcomes for this course are derived from the six core concepts and 27 fundamental statements identified by the curriculum proposed by the American Society for Microbiology. The five core concepts covered by this general microbiology course are: Cell Structure and Function; Metabolic Pathways; Information Flow and Genetics; Evolution; and Microbial Systems. After completing this course, students will be able to describe how different microbial groups survive and thrive in the varied ecosystems presented to them by nature.

It is expected that you will try your best to understand the material; complete all quizzes, exams, and assignments; ask for help when you need it; and seek to understand why you are in this class (what purpose does it serve to you, your major, and your future?).

Required Materials

1. TEXTBOOK: Microbe, 3^rd Edition by Swanson, Joyce, and Horak. Wiley, 2022. ISBN 9781683673705
2. ACCESS TO D2L: Journal articles, assignments, and other materials including laboratory materials will be posted on D2L, so you need access to it. Any issues with accessing D2L if you are enrolled in the course should be addressed to the IT department.
3. Labcoat (knee-length). Gloves, safety glasses and masks will be provided)

• Students are expected to be prepared for lecture and lab by: 1) reading the text, lab manual and handouts prior to coming to class; 2) having paper and pen at hand
• Students are expected to arrive a few minutes early in order to mentally prepare. If late arrival is unavoidable, the student should enter the class in a manner that creates as little disruption as possible.
• Points will be deducted from assignments turned in late.
• Student Conduct: Please refer to the MSU Student Handbook: (https:// msutexas.edu/student-life/_assets/files/handbook.pdf) for university policies related to student responsibilities, rights and activities. For example, see page 73 for valid grounds for an instructor drop (excessive absence, indifferent attitude, disruptive conduct, failure to meet class assignments), page 13 for the university's code of student conduct and page 55 for definitions of academic dishonesty that may be subject to disciplinary action (cheating, plagiarism, and collusion). In this class, academic dishonesty on an assignment or exam will minimally result in a score of 0 for that assignment or exam. Depending on the magnitude or frequency of these types of infractions, more severe sanctions – including being dropped from the course – will be imposed.
• CELL PHONES (and other electronic devices): (READ THIS TWICE, PLEASE) NO cell phones are permitted to be out in this class. This class, as well as your other classes, requires your engagement, and cell phones serve to detract from that engagement. Additionally, your phone should be not only put away, but on “silent” (NOTE: vibrate is NOT silent). If your phone is out and/or in sight, you will be asked to put it away.
• Similarly: use of laptops, tablets and other devices will not be permitted during lecture. The ability to take good notes is a skill that university students must be able to master. Further, classroom studies have shown that taking notes by hand increases engagement in the material. Simply transcribing the lecture word-for-word is not helpful.
• Students with disabilities: It is the responsibility of the student to first contact Disability Support Services and then the instructor to determine what accommodations might be made for a disability. It will be the responsibility of the student to make arrangements to acquire notes. Any requests for accommodations must be made 2 weeks prior to the first exam.
• The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being - regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. Furthermore, guns or other weapons create a coercive environment that is neither safe nor conducive to learning. Therefore weapons of any kind will not be permitted in my classroom. This includes guns, concealed or otherwise, regardless of licensure. Any student bringing a weapon to class or to lab will be immediately dropped from the course. It is the professor's expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.
• The instructor reserves the right to amend these rules as needed throughout the term.

Students are expected to attend all meetings of the classes in which they are enrolled. Although in general students are graded on intellectual effort and performance rather than attendance, absences may lower the student’s grade where class attendance and class participation are deemed essential by the faculty member. In those classes where attendance is considered as part of the grade, the instructor should so inform students of the specifics in writing at the beginning of the semester in a syllabus or separate attendance policy statement. An instructor who has an attendance policy must keep records on a daily basis. The instructor must give the student a verbal or written warning prior to being dropped from the class. Instructor’s records will stand as evidence of absences. A student with excessive absences may be dropped from a course by the instructor. Any individual faculty member or college has the authority to establish an attendance policy, providing the policy is in accordance with the General University Policies. [MSU Student Handbook, p. 61]

Absences will be excused for:

1. Death of an immediate family member.  An immediate family member is considered to be a grandparent, parent, sibling, spouse, in-law, aunt, uncle, or child.
2. Summons to appear in court or jury duty. A copy of the summons is required.
3. Call to military service.  A copy of your orders to report is required.
4. University sponsored event. Members of athletic teams, college bowl participants, etc. will be excused with proper notification.
5. Debilitating illness or disability. Illnesses will be addressed on an individual basis. If a student is affected by an illness that is not debilitating, (i.e. flu, virus infection) which may result in the student missing one or more consecutive class sessions, that student will be marked as unexcused for the amount of days missed unless a doctor’s note is provided.

ROUTINE APPOINTMENTS, medical or otherwise, AND VACATION TRAVEL ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE reasons for excused absences.

If you feel ill (esp. with signs and symptoms of COVID-19): Stay Home and Isolate yourself. Inform your instructor of your circumstances.

It is the responsibility of the student to obtain notes or other information covered in class during an absence.

Note: You may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless you obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance.

Plagiarism is the use of someone else's thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in "Works Cited")-whether you use that material in a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not.

Student Honor Creed

As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else do so."

As students at MSU, we recognize that any great society must be composed of empowered, responsible citizens. We also recognize universities play an important role in helping mold these responsible citizens. We believe students themselves play an important part in developing responsible citizenship by maintaining a community where integrity and honorable character are the norm, not the exception.

Thus, We, the Students of Midwestern State University, resolve to uphold the honor of the University by affirming our commitment to complete academic honesty. We resolve not only to be honest but also to hold our peers accountable for complete honesty in all university matters.

We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one's own, work or ideas which are not entirely one's own. We recognize that any instructor has the right to expect that all student work is honest, original work. We accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student.

We expect of ourselves academic integrity, personal professionalism, and ethical character. We appreciate steps taken by University officials to protect the honor of the University against any who would disgrace the MSU student body by violating the spirit of this creed.

Written and adopted by the 2002-2003 MSU Student Senate.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Support Services in Room 168 of the Clark Student Center, (940) 397-4140.

The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being - regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. It is the professor's expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.

All instructors in the Department have voicemail in their offices and MSUTexas e-mail addresses. Make sure you add your instructor's phone number and e-mail address to both email and cell phone lists of contacts.

All students seeking a Bachelor's degree from Midwestern State University must satisfy a writing proficiency requirement once they've 1) passed the 6 hours of Communication Core and 2) earned 60 hours. Students may meet this requirement in one of three ways: by passing the Writing Proficiency Exam, passing two Writing Intensive Courses (only one can be in the core), or passing English 2113. If you have any questions about the exam, visit the Writing Proficiency Office website at https://msutexas.edu/academics/wpr, or call 397-4131.

Senate Bill 11 passed by the 84th Texas Legislature allows licensed handgun holders to carry concealed handguns on campus, effective August 1, 2016. Areas excluded from concealed carry are appropriately marked, in accordance with state law. For more information regarding campus carry, please refer to the University’s webpage at https://msutexas.edu/campus-carry/rules-policies.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact MSU Chief of Police at police@msutexas.edu.