Fall 2023 Course Syllabus
Course: BIOL-2120 (Section: 11H, CRN: 92504)
Microbiology Laboratory
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Instructor Information
Instructor Dr. Percy Jordan
Email jordanpj@lamarpa.edu
Phone (409) 984-6335
Office Student Center - Room: 412
Office Hours M 9:00am-12:00pm; T 11am-2pm; W 9:00am-12:00 pm; R 1:00pm-2:00 pm
Additional Contact Information Email me with questions. I will normally reply to an email within 24 hours.
Course Information
Description This course covers basics of culture and identification of bacteria and microbial ecology. This course is primarily directed at pre-nursing and other pre-allied health majors and covers basics of microbiology. Emphasis is on medical microbiology, infectious diseases, and public health.
Required Textbooks Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.

Microbiology with Diseases By Body Systems (5th ed.) by Robert Bauman. ISBN: 9780134607900. Publisher is Pearson.

This textbook will contain an access code for Pearson Mastering Microbiology. Please only purchase the textbook from the Lamar State College Bookstore or directly from the Publisher in order to receive the correct access code.

You will only purchase one access code for lecture and lab. The same access code will work for both lecture and lab.
Additional Materials/Resources A functioning computer with a webcam and internet access is required to take all online exams and quizzes.  It is the student's responsibility to have both. Alternatively, exams may be taken at one of the computer labs on the LSCPA campus.
Corequisites/Prerequisites Corequisite(s): BIOL 2320. Prerequisite(s): TSI complete in reading Basic skills and competency in reading, writing, and math.
Learning Outcomes Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
1. Use and comply with laboratory safety rules, procedures, and universal precautions.
2. Demonstrate proficient use of a compound light microscope.
3. Describe and prepare widely used stains and wet mounts, and discuss their significance in identification of microorganisms.
4. Perform basic microbiology procedures using aseptic techniques for transfer, isolation and observation of commonly encountered, clinically significant bacteria.
5. Use different types of bacterial culture media to grow, isolate, and identify microorganisms.
6. Perform basic bacterial identification procedures using biochemical tests.
7. Estimate the number of microorganisms in a sample using methods such as direct counts, viable plate counts, or spectrophotometric measurements.
8. Demonstrate basic identification protocols based on microscopic morphology of some common fungi and parasites. 
Core Objectives
  • Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and visual communication.
  • Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts and constructing solutions.
  • Empirical and Quantitative Skills: Students will demonstrate applications of scientific and mathematical concepts.
  • Teamwork: Students will demonstrate the ability to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal and consider different points of view.
Lecture Topics Outline Safety in Microbiology Laboratory

Use and Application of Microscopy

Aspetic Transfer of Bacteria and Streak Plate Technique

Smear Preparation and Fixation

Simple Stain and Gram Stain

Negative Stain and Endospore Stain

Types of Media

Kirby-Bauer Test

Protozoans and Fungi



Major Assignments Schedule
  • Exam #1 Availability begins: 12:01am on MONDAY, 10/2/23 and ends at 11:59pm on WEDNESDAY 10/4/23.  
  • Exam #2 Availability begins: 12:01am on MONDAY, 11/6/23 and ends at 11:59pm on WEDNESDAY 11/8/23. 
  • Exam #3 Availability begins: 12:01am on MONDAY, 12/4/23 and ends at 11:59pm on WEDNESDAY 12/6/23.  
  • Exams #1-#3 will be re-opened for 1 day following the end of their availability period with a time penalty applied (20% time reduction).  Exam #3 will not be re-opened after 11:59pm on 12/7/23.
Final Exam Date December 4, 2023 - 12:1 AM   Through  December 6, 2023 - 11:59 PM
Grading Scale 90 - 100=A
80 - 89=B
70 - 79=C
60 - 69=D
59 -   0= F
Determination of
Final Grade
Final Lab Course Average  = (Lab Ex1 + Lab Ex2 + Higher Score from Lab Ex1 or Lab Ex2+ Lab Extra Credit) / 3

Due to Blackboard issues with Lab Exam 2 and Lab Exam 3, the students were only able to take 2 lab exams. 

No grades are dropped when calculating averages.

Exams & quizzes that are not taken will be counted as “0”

Course Policies
Instructor Policies It is imperative that you check your email 2-3 times per week. Please check your spam or trash folder regularly.
This is an online class and email is the only way I have to contact you. You MUST use the "Send Email" link from within the course when emailing me. If you wish to email me about a grade, you must email me from the "send email" link within the course website.

The course schedule is posted on the course website.  The schedule gives the lab assignments you should be working on each week.

All exams will be given online. It is NOT possible to take exams on a cell phone. It is the responsibility of the student to have a functioning computer and internet in order to take exams during the scheduled period of availability for each exam. Computers in LSCPA computer labs and Student Success Center are available for use for exams.

Exams #1-#3 will be re-opened for 1 day after their availability period with an incremental time penalty (20% time reduction) assessed. Exams not taken will receive a grade of 0. No grades are dropped.

A Mastering A&P access code is required to access the online MAP homework assignments. 
Attendance Policy This is an online lab and it is the responsibility of each student to have a RELIABLE computer AND Internet access for the duration of the course. Computer labs at LSCPA are available for use.

Please note that some course material may not be accessible using a cell phone and/or tablet device. In this online class there are no scheduled class "meeting times" and it is your responsibility to manage your schedule to include completion of course requirements as scheduled.

Handouts for all labs are posted on the course website. These contain information about the lab topic, indicate the sections of the lab workbook assigned for that lab, references to images posted on the course website, as well as questions over lab content. These lab handouts are designed to provide you guidance on what to study. They are not submitted for grading.

You will be able to take an exam after the scheduled availability period, but there will be a time penalty imposed (20% time reduction).
If you miss an exam because of an excused absence, your lowest lab exam score will be used as the score for the exam that you missed. Excused absences include medical and family emergencies and are determined at the instructor's discretion. You can only miss one exam with an excused absence (excluding the final). Poor preparation or conflict with other scheduled exams is not a valid excuse for missing an exam.
Additional Information October 2, 2023 - Final day to drop a course or withdraw without academic penalty.
November 27, 2023 - Final day to drop a course or withdraw with academic penalty.
I will not discuss grades over the phone. You may request your grades by e-mail from your Lamar State College-Port Arthur e-mail account (for example, doeja@lamarpa.edu) or by student-instructor conference.
Institutional Policies
MyLSCPA Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA.
Academic Honesty Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
ADA Considerations The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights 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 the Office for Disability Services Coordinator, Room 231, in the Madison Monroe Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.
COVID 19 Information The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition directly to their local health department. Students should also contact their course faculty to report their quarantine status. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings when directly exposed to COVID 19 in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website.
Facility Policies No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.
HB 2504 This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.
Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual.
Title IX and Sexual Misconduct LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website.
Clery Act Crime Reporting For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website.

Grievance / Complaint / Concern If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.
Department Information
General Education and Developmental Studies
Chair:Steven Zani
Email:zanisj@lamarpa.edu
Phone:(409) 984-6431