BIOL 2321Survey of Infectious Diseases

SYLLABUS

BIOL 2321Survey of Infectious Diseases

Semester:Spring 2016, 12-week

Course Information:

Campus: ALL

Room: ALL

Time: DIL

Section number: 44386

Synonym number:DIL 003

Instructor Information:

Name: D’Maris Allen-Mierl, PhD, M(ASCP)

Office location: HLC 1 – 2401.03

Phone Number: 512-223-7481

E-mail:

Website:

Office hours: TTh 7:30 – 8:55 am; 12:15 – 1:25 pm

Other hours by appointment only with 24 hours notice, please.

Course Description:

Study of the morphology, physiology and epidemiology of pathogenic microorganisms using on-line directed research and case studies. Topics may include food microbes, public health, and immunology. Only one of the following may be counted towards graduation: BIOL 2321 or BIOL 2421.

Skills Requirements:

Reading, writing, and mathematics proficiency as determined by the COMPASS or ASSET test, or by the statewide THEA test, or by providing an official transcript from another college.

Course Prerequisite: BIOL 2420 or BIOL 2421 with minimum grade of C.

Course Rationale:

This course is designed for anyone desiring to learn more about infectious diseases and who has the prerequisite, a previous microbiology course. It is often taken by students needing microbiology to enter ACC nursing school, but their previous course is older than five years. In addition, Texas Department of State Health Services employees working in the laboratory may take this course to advance in their jobs by getting more credit hours in microbiology.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Course-Level:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

●develop and use Internet search strategies to study infectious diseases and in doing so, become familiar with infectious disease sites where the latest information is readily available.

●develop and use problem solving and critical thinking skills using an online directed research and case study approach.

●research selected infectious diseases and review the disease and its pathogenic processes (including current cases and control procedures) with valid online references

●research, prepare, and document their own case study, using appropriate online references. This will include both the case study and solution.

Departmental Common Course Objectives:

The ACC Biology Department has specified the content for this course in the departmental common course objectives. The departmental objectives are located at

Required Textbooks and Materials:

There is no required textbook. Information is mostly from the World Wide Web.

Instructional Methodology: Lecture

Directed Research – Distance Learning

Grading System:

Course grades will be determined by the following:

Project A - Disease Report 1 / 15 %
Project B - Disease Report 2 / 15 %
Project C - Short Case Studies / 15 %
Project D - Case Study 1 / 15 %
Project E - Case Study 2 / 15 %
Project F - Prepare Personal Case Study / 15 %
Correct and Timely Submission / 10 % (-1 per day late and resubmission)

Course Total

/

100 %

Submission of your work will be done by E-mail by attachment of your project. I will respond upon receipt of your work to let you know that it has been received. Please give me several work days to review your work and respond with revisions if needed, or that your grade is posted on Blackboard. If you choose to revise, one point will be deducted from the correct/timeliness grade for that project.

1. You will research two infectious diseases and report your findings. These will be Projects A and B. A list of suggested infectious diseases, though not exclusive is given in the syllabus. Check with me about your choice before beginning to prevent duplication. I will also post these projects online so everyone can read and learn from each other. Check out the diphtheria online disease report as an example, including referencing. Students will report their findings by providing the following for your chosen disease:

• disease name, means of transmission and usual reservoirs
• etiologic agent, its general characteristics and key tests for identification (be specific!)
• historical information to include when and who isolated the microbe and any significance of its name
• signs and symptoms of the disease
• microbial virulence mechanisms contributing to the disease process
• control or treatment for the disease
• prevention, particularly current research about a vaccine or other means of control/prevention
• current cases or outbreaks, both globally and locally (include prevalence and/or incidence figures)
• minimum five reliable Internet references, plus any other references used

2. You will be assigned several short case studies in a case study exercise. This is designed to give you practice using case studies and different search techniques than were used with the disease reports. This will be Project C. For this project only, no referencing is required.

3. Lengthy online case studies will be completed. You will develop and use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to determine the epidemiology of each disease. The first case study will be Project D, and the second will be Project E. As usual, you must provide at least five different reliable Internet references.

4. You will write an original a case study modeling one done this semester. It may be based on a disease you previously researched or another you have experienced with your family or your profession. Be creative and challenge your online readers to use problem solving and critical thinking skills to figure it out!! Please submit this in two parts: 1. the case, and 2. the solution with your five required references. This will be Project F. This will also be posted online for the world to read, so make it good!

COURSE POLICIES

Attendance/Class Participation

For this distance learning course, no classroom attendance is required. However, submitting work in a timely manner is important to your grade.

Missed or Late Work

As previously stated, 1 point per day will be deducted for any late project.

Withdrawals:

It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that his or her name is removed from the roll should he or she decide to withdraw from the class. The instructor does, however, reserve the right to drop a student should he or she feel it is necessary. If a student decides to withdraw, he or she should also verify that the withdrawal is submitted before the Final Withdrawal Date. The student is also strongly encouraged to retain their copy of the withdrawal form for their records.
Students who enroll for the third or subsequent time in a course taken since Fall 2002, may be charged a higher tuition rate for that course.
State law permits students to withdraw from no more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career at Texas public colleges or universities. With certain exceptions, all course withdrawals automatically count towards this limit. Details regarding this policy can be found in the ACC college catalog.

1) The Census date (last day to withdraw before the Official Reporting Date) is Thursday, February 25, 2016.

2) The FINAL WITHDRAWAL date (last day to withdraw for the semester) is Monday, April 25, 2016. This will result in a W on your records.

I do not withdraw students unless Orientation is not completed by the end of the first week of the semester. Otherwise, please withdraw yourself if you are unable to complete the course.

Student Initiated Withdrawal:

When considering whether you should withdraw from a course, be certain to consider your financial aid status. You may lose your financial aid if you fail to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress (SAP) which is determined by your Grade Point Average (GPA) and course completion rate.

The federal government requires that you achieve both of the following:

- You must maintain a GPA of 2.0.

- You must complete 67% of the hours you have attempted at ACC.

To calculate your GPA and course completion rate see:

Reinstatement:

Students will be reinstated only in the case of college error.

Incompletes:

An instructor may award a grade of “I” (Incomplete) if a student was unable to complete all of the objectives for the passing grade in a course. An incomplete grade cannot be carried beyond the established date in the following semester. The completion date is determined by the instructor but may not be later than the final deadline for withdrawal in the subsequent semester. To qualify for an incomplete, the student must have completed at least four projects with a minimum grade average of 70% on all completed work.

Giving a grade of incomplete is at the instructor’s discretion. The coursework must be completed and the grade submitted by the Final Withdrawal Date of the FOLLOWING semester.

Statement on Student Discipline:

Classroom behavior should support and enhance learning. Behavior that disrupts the learning process will be dealt with appropriately, which may include having the student leave class for the rest of that day. In serious cases, disruptive behavior may lead to a student being withdrawn from the class. ACC's policy on student discipline can be found on the ACC website at

Field Trip Policy

This does not apply.

Official Biology Department Policy Concerning Student Use of Organisms in the Classroom and Laboratory:

Most ACC biology classes, particularly those with laboratory components, use actual organisms during instruction in addition to images and models. ACC students generally are preparing for real-world careers requiring workers with hands-on experience. These careers include health care, veterinary work, horticultural and agricultural work. Other students plan to transfer to four-year colleges and will be participating in biological research where hands-on experience is equally important.

Organisms used at ACC are fundamental in biology instruction and they are utilized to teach specific skills and knowledge. Their condition and usage varies from course to course. Students will be expected to actively participate in these activities. Students with particular concerns in this matter should consult with their instructor and/or departmental officials before enrolling in a course so that they can know what will be required of them.

Some organisms are observed alive while others are dead and preserved in various ways. Student manipulation of organisms ranges from culturing living organisms to dissecting preserved ones. Some examples include, but are not limited to: bacterial culturing for microbiology courses; cat, pig or rat dissection for anatomy courses; skeleton and pelt examination for field biology; and use of frogs in physiology experiments.

Course Schedule:

Week 1 / Orientation, Choose 2 diseases and get approval, Research Disease 1
Week 2 / Project A - Disease Report 1 due February 28 by midnight
Week 3 / Research Disease 2
Week 4 / Project B - Disease Report 2 due March 20 by midnight
Week 5 / Case Study Exercises research
Week 6 / Project C - Case Study Exercise due April 3by midnight
Week 7 / Research Case Study 1
Week 8 / Project D - Solution due April 17 by midnight
Week 9 / Research Case Study 2
Week 10 / Solution to Project E due May 1by midnight
Week 11 / Prepare your own case study
Week 12 / Project F - Case Study Due May 12 by midnight
NOTE: All revisions must be completed by May 14 at midnight

Resubmissions may be requested by Dr. D’Maris to improve the quality of your project (and thus your grade). One point will be deducted from the timeliness category if you choose to resubmit.
ACC Academic Policies and Services

Statement on Scholastic Dishonesty

A student attending ACC assumes responsibility for conduct compatible with the mission of the college as an educational institution. Students have the responsibility to submit coursework that is the result of their own thought, research, or self-expression. Students must follow all instructions given by faculty or designated college representatives when taking examinations, placement assessments, tests, quizzes, and evaluations. Actions constituting scholastic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, collusion, and falsifying documents. Penalties for scholastic dishonesty will depend upon the nature of the violation and may range from lowering a grade on one assignment to an “F” in the course and/or expulsion from the college. See the Student Standards of Conduct and Disciplinary Process and other policies at

Student Rights and Responsibilities
Students at the college have the rights accorded by the U.S. Constitution to freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, petition, and association. These rights carry with them the responsibility to accord the same rights to others in the college community and not to interfere with or disrupt the educational process. Opportunity for students to examine and question pertinent data and assumptions of a given discipline, guided by the evidence of scholarly research, is appropriate in a learning environment. This concept is accompanied by an equally demanding concept of responsibility on the part of the student. As willing partners in learning, students must comply with college rules and procedures.

Statement on Students with Disabilities

Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented disabilities. Students with disabilities who need classroom, academic or other accommodations must request them through the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD). Students are encouraged to request accommodations when they register for courses or at least three weeks before the start of the semester, otherwise the provision of accommodations may be delayed.
Students who have received approval for accommodations from OSD for this course must provide the instructor with the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ from OSD before accommodations will be provided. Arrangements for academic accommodations can only be made after the instructor receives the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ from the student.
Students with approved accommodations are encouraged to submit the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ to the instructor at the beginning of the semester because a reasonable amount of time may be needed to prepare and arrange for the accommodations. Additional information about the Office for Students with Disabilities is available at

Safety Statement

Austin Community College is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for study and work. You are expected to learn and comply with ACC environmental, health and safety procedures and agree to follow ACC safety policies. Additional information on these can be found at Because some health and safety circumstances are beyond our control, we ask that you become familiar with the Emergency Procedures poster and Campus Safety Plan map in each classroom. Additional information about emergency procedures and how to sign up for ACC Emergency Alerts to be notified in the event of a serious emergency can be found at
Please note, you are expected to conduct yourself professionally with respect and courtesy to all. Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionally jeopardizes the health or safety of another individual will be immediately dismissed from the day’s activity, may be withdrawn from the class, and/or barred from attending future activities.

Use of ACC Email
All College e-mail communication to students will be sent solely to the student’s ACCmail account, with the expectation that such communications will be read in a timely fashion. ACC will send important information and will notify you of any college related emergencies using this account. Students should only expect to receive email communication from their instructor using this account. Likewise, students should use their ACCmail account when communicating with instructors and staff. Instructions for activating an ACCmail account can be found at

Testing Center Policy

Under certain circumstances, an instructor may have students take an examination in a testing center. Students using the Academic Testing Center must govern themselves according to the Student Guide for Use of ACC Testing Centers and should read the entire guide before going to take the exam.
To request an exam, one must have:
• ACC Photo ID
• Course Abbreviation (e.g., ENGL)
• Course Number (e.g.,1301)
• Course Synonym (e.g., 10123)
• Course Section (e.g., 005)
• Instructor's Name

Do NOT bring cell phones to the Testing Center. Having your cell phone in the testing room, regardless of whether it is on or off, will revoke your testing privileges for the remainder of the semester. ACC Testing Center policies can be found at

Student And Instructional Services
ACC strives to provide exemplary support to its students and offers a broad variety of opportunities and services. Information on these services and support systems is available at:
Links to many student services and other information can be found at:
ACC Learning Labs provide free tutoring services to all ACC students currently enrolled in the course to be tutored. The tutor schedule for each Learning Lab may be found at:

For help setting up your ACCeID, ACC Gmail, or ACC Blackboard, see a Learning Lab Technician at any ACC Learning Lab.

Timely Return of Graded Materials:

“I will return graded papers within one week of submission.” For this course, I will give feedback on your project and post the grade on Blackboard.