Westcott Courses

Online Education - your way!
Advising Center: 805-489-2831

Microbiology with Laboratory


Course Code:  BIOU 203
Credits:  4 semester credits
Through UMass Global

Enroll Now (Credit)
Credit Information
Course Title:Microbiology with Laboratory
Course Code:BIOU 203
Credits:4 Semester Credits
Credit Provider:UMass Global
Transfer:4-year degree applicable
Grading Mode:Standard letter grade
See the Transcript & Preapproval tab for more details.

Course Requirements
Enrollment Type:RollingSign up and start any day of the year.
Requires Textbook?YesThis course requires a textbook.
Lab Included?YesCourse price includes the lab fee.
Proctored Final:YesThe credit version of this course has a proctored final.
See the Course Details tab for more details.

Course Description
This course is an Introduction to microorganisms as biological entities. Topics include microscopy, cell structures and functions, metabolism, genetics, disease transmission, host response to microbial invasion, control of infectious disease, impact of microbes on the environment and applications of microorganisms to industrial and environmental problems. The laboratory component of this course is delivered using downloadable labs and simulations.

Free Digital OpenStax Textbook! The textbook and labs needed for this course are free. See the above blue "Course Details" tab for more information on the open source textbook and labs.

Prerequisite:   General Biology suggested.

Course Pricing
The full cost of the course is $591.00; however, you may use the payment plan to split the cost into two payments.

Payment Plan:
1st payment: $328.55   (Start your class immediately!)
2nd payment: $269.45   (Automatically charged 30 days later.)

Enroll Now - Credit - $591  


Helpful Links:
Math Placement Test
Westcott Courses is the teacher of the course, and the official transcript with academic semester credits comes from our partner university UMass Global. UMass Global is regionally accredited by the WSCUC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Westcott Courses does not appear on the transcript; the transcript shows our course the same way it would show a traditional class taken on the university's campus.
See the Transcript & Preapproval tab for more details on this topic.

Enrollment Information
Enroll any day of the year, and start that same day. Students have five months of access, plus a 30 day extension at the end if needed. Students can finish the self-paced courses as soon as they are able, with a minimum coursework time of at least four weeks. Most students finish the lower level courses in four weeks to three months. The upper level math courses, such as calculus and above, usually take students 2 - 4 months.

Note: The 30-day extension cannot take your total course time six months beyond the date of enrollment. At the end of the six months, we must post a grade with the university.

Textbook Requirement:
Free Digital Textbook! The textbook and labs needed for this course are free. Textbook: Microbiology by OpenStax.
Textbook link: https://openstax.org/details/books/microbiology
The instructor will provided links in the LMS for the downloadable labs.

Proctored Final Requirement:
This course requires a proctored final. Your college is accepting this course because it goes through a regionally accredited university, which tells them the class will have a proctored final, and the 60% rule will apply (50% for science courses). Your college will not accept a class from a school that is not regionally accredited, because they know these standards won't be met. Before the registrar at a college accepts a transcript, many of them call and ask to us verify that their student has indeed taken a proctored final at an approved testing location. The 60% rule(50% for science courses) requires that a student get at least 60% (50% for science courses) on the final in order to pass the class with a C or better. Note: 60% is right between an F and a D, so it is a fair requirement.


The final exam must be proctored using our one approved online proctor, at a college testing center or a Sylvan Learning Center. A valid driver's license or State ID must be shown at the testing center. An expired license or State ID will not be accepted. Use this link to help you find a college testing center or Sylvan Learning center near you:   Find a Testing Center

Student's Requirements:
You must have internet access.
You must have access to email.
Omega MathTM Courses - you must be at or above a 7th grade reading level. Other courses require at least a 10th grade reading level.

Payment Plan:
The cost of each class can be divided into two payments by checking the payment plan box when you enroll. The first payment is 55% of the total amount, and the second payment is 45% of the total amount. Your first payment will be charged when you enroll, and the second payment will be charged in 30 days. Your course is activated once your first payment is made. There is a $3.50 additional fee for the credit card split for each of the two payments.

If paying by check, you can either send in a check for the two payments 30 days apart. Or you may send in both checks at the same time, with one post dated by 30 days for the 2nd payment. Just click on "Money Order by Mail" under Payment Information when you enroll. The form at the end of your enrollment will give you the address for mailing the checks.

If you plan to finish the class fairly quickly, then we don't recommend the payment plan. Your registration is not sent into the university until both payments are made, and your registration has to be in before the university will issue a transcript. As long as you don't require a transcript in less than a month, you may use the payment plan.
Transcript:
Westcott Courses/Omega Math is the teacher of the course, and our exclusive partner university is UMass Global. UMass Global is regionally accredited by the WSCUC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), and awards the semester credits and transcript for the individual classes. Once you are finished with the course, we will post your grade with UMass Global and give you the instructions on how to order the transcript from UMass Global's records office. Since Westcott Courses is the teacher, we do not appear on the transcript. The official transcript from UMass Global will show our course the same way it would show a traditional class taken on their campus. See Transferring the Credit for more information.

Taking a course through this program does not require being enrolled in the university as a regular student; anyone can receive the credits for these classes. Any student has the opportunity to earn university credits through UMass Global, part of the Chapman University System!

Transfer Information:   4-year degree applicable

Your college will require any class you wish to transfer to them to be from a regionally accredited college that awards academic semester or quarter credits. They will also want the course description of the course to match their own. UMass Global is regionally accredited and issues academic semester credits. Our course description will match or exceed your college's description; thus, your college will most likely accept the course and apply it towards your degree. If you would like preapproval from your school, please send your counselor or registrar's office the link at the bottom of this page. Your college may be one of the many schools that we are associated with, so check the Associated School link before asking for preapproval. Students are responsible for verifying that courses taken via Westcott/UMass Global satisfy program requirements at their home institution. Additionally, the acceptance of any transfer credit is the decision of the accepting (home) institution.
(K-12 use)

Preapproval from your College:
If you would like to make sure your college will accept this course from UMass Global, you can ask your school for preapproval. Send the following email to your counselor or registrar's office:

Dear counselor,
I would like to request preapproval to take BIOU 203 - Microbiology with Laboratory through UMass Global. UMass Global is regionally accredited by the WSCUC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
You will find the course description for this course, as well as other pertinent information on UMass Global's web site at this URL: https://www.umassglobal.edu/westcott

Note: Your college may be one of the many schools that we are already have agreements with, so check the Associated School page before asking for preapproval. If your school is listed, it will let you know that they accept the course through UMass Global. If your school is not on this list, it just means they have not contacted us to establish an articulation agreement. Students are responsible for verifying that courses taken via Westcott/UMass Global satisfy program requirements at their home institution. Additionally, the acceptance of any transfer credit is the decision of the accepting (home) institution.

Course Information


Course Title:Microbiology with Laboratory
Course Code:BIOU 203
Credits:4 credits
Credit Provider:UMass Global
Grading Mode:Standard letter grade
Proctored Final: Yes

Textbook Requirement:
Free Digital Textbook! The textbook and labs needed for this course are free. Textbook: Microbiology by OpenStax.
Textbook link: https://openstax.org/details/books/microbiology
The instructor will provided links in the LMS for the downloadable labs.

Course Description


This course is an Introduction to microorganisms as biological entities. Topics include microscopy, cell structures and functions, metabolism, genetics, disease transmission, host response to microbial invasion, control of infectious disease, impact of microbes on the environment and applications of microorganisms to industrial and environmental problems. The laboratory component of this course is delivered using downloadable labs and simulations.

Free Digital OpenStax Textbook! The textbook and labs needed for this course are free. See the above blue "Course Details" tab for more information on the open source textbook and labs.

Prerequisite:   General Biology suggested.

Learning Outcomes


At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to:

  1. Describe historical aspects of microorganisms' impacts on human societies.
  2. Describe fundamental characteristics of major groups of bacteria, viruses and fungi.
  3. Describe the fundamental requirements for growth and replication of microorganisms.
  4. Discuss methods of control of bacterial and viral growth.
  5. Compare the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
  6. Explain pathogenic features of disease causing microbes.
  7. Describe the basic immune response to infection by microbial agents.
  8. Perform a range of core microbiological techniques.


Lab Description


This is the laboratory part of Microbiology and is taken in conjunction with the main course. An introduction to common laboratory techniques and the process of science is presented. The laboratory experiments are designed to complement the topics presented in the companion lecture course.

Lab Objectives


At the successful completion of the laboratory part of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Understand laboratory safety and know how to apply safe practices in the laboratory as well as the correct handling of biological specimens.
  2. Prepare, identify and interpret stained slides of bacteria.
  3. Understand the basic microbiological techniques: concept of aseptic work, cultivation and identification of microorganism.
  4. Culture bacteria from common surfaces and substrates.
  5. Distinguish between good and bad microbes.
  6. Test microbial susceptibility using different chemical agents.
  7. Identify samples of unknown bacteria using deductions and systematic testing.


Lab Activities

1.   The Microscope (MicoLab Tutors)
2.   Safety (Lab Techniques Videos & MicroLab Tutor)
3.   Examination of living microorganisms
4.   Gram Stain (Lab Techniques Videos & Microlab Tutors)
5.   Carbohydrate Metabolism/Catabo (Lab Techniques Videos)
6.   Differential Stains (Lab Techniques Videos)
7.   ELISA (Lab Techniques Videos)
8.   Enzymatic Tests: Lipase & Amylase (Lab Techniques Videos)
9.   Aseptic Technique (Lab Techniques Videos)
10.   Serial Dilutions (MicoLab Tutors)
11.   Simple Stains (Lab Techniques Videos)
12.   Negative Stains (Lab Techniques Videos)
13.   Blood Typing (Interactive Lab)
14.   Bacterial Transformations (Interactive Lab)
15.   Gel Electrophoresis (Interactive Lab)
16.   Investigating Bacterial Growth (Interactive Lab)

Methods Of Evaluation


Course work = 75% of grade
Lab work = 25% of grade
Course work grade is calculated as Quizzes 20%, Midterm 20%, Homework 10%, Discussions 15%, Video Project 10% (2 – 3 minute presentation that can be done with your phone), Final Exam 25%.
Lab work is calculated as Lab Practicals 35%, Lab Quizzes 40%, Final Exam 25%.
(You must get at least 50% on the proctored final in order to pass the class with a C or better.)

Proctored Final: 25%

This course goes towards a 4-year degree; thus, it requires a proctored final.

Students are responsible for proctoring fees.
We have an approved online proctor service that students can use if they have a web camera with their computer. This can be a laptop with a built in camera or a desktop with a web cam. This service charges $60 for group sessions and double for private sessions. A student can also be proctored at college testing center, Sylvan Learning Center, Prometric Testing center, or Pearson Vue Testing Center. No other options are available.

A valid driver's license or State ID must be shown at the testing center. An expired license or State ID will not be accepted. Use this link to help you find a college testing center or Sylvan Learning center near your home: Proctored Final

The final exam is a comprehensive final covering all of the chapters of the course. Other than scratch paper, you may view the "Authorized Materials" list for the final exam for each class.

*Students must obtain a 50% or better on the final exam in order to get a C or better in the class.
The 50% rule was set in place to protect the integrity of online education by requiring a display of competency in exchange for a grade. All schools which are regionally accredited adhere to online standards. Your college is accepting this course because it goes through a regionally accredited university, which tells your college that standards have been met. Your college will not accept a class from a school that is not regionally accredited, because they know the standards won't be met.

Assessment


A 90-100 A Clearly stands out as excellent performance and, exhibits mastery of learning outcomes.
B 80-89 B Grasps subject matter at a level considered to be good to very good, and exhibits partial mastery of learning outcomes.
C 70-79 C Demonstrates a satisfactory comprehension of the subject matter, and exhibits sufficient understanding and skills to progress in continued sequential learning.
D 60-69 D Quality and quantity of work is below average and exhibits only partial understanding and skills to progress in continued sequential learning.
F 0-59 F Quality and quantity of work is below average and not sufficient to progress.

Content Menu


Chapters
1.   An Invisible World
2.   How we see the Invisible World
3.   The Cell
4.   Prokaryotic Diversity
5.   The Eukaryotes of Microbiology
6.   Acellular Pathogens
7.   Microbial Biochemistry
8.   Microbial Metabolism
9.   Microbial Growth
10.   Biochemistry of the Genome
13.   Control of Microbial Growth
14.   Antimicrobial Drugs
15.   Microbial Mechanisms of Pathogenicity
16.   Disease and Epidemiology
17.   Innate Nonspecific Host Defenses
18.   Adaptive Specific Host Defenses
19.   Diseases of the Immune System
20.   Laboratory Analysis of the Immune Response
21.   Skin and Eye Infections
22.   Respiratory System Infections
23.   Urogenital System Infections
24.   Digestive System Infections
25.   Circulatory and Lymphatic System Infections
26.   Nervous System Infections

Time on Task


This course is online and your participation at home is imperative. A minimum of 8 - 10 hours per week of study time is required for covering all of the online material to achieve a passing grade. You must set up a regular study schedule. You have five months of access to your online account with a thirty-day extension at the end if needed. If you do not complete the course within this time line, you will need to enroll in a second term.

Schedule


Below is the suggested time table to follow to stay on a 17 week schedule for the course. The following schedule is the minimum number of sections that need to be completed each week if you would like to finish in a regular semester time frame. You do not have to adhere to this schedule. You have five months of access plus a 30 day extension at the end if needed. You can finish the course as soon as you are able, with a minimum coursework time of at least four weeks.

WeekComplete Sections
11 - 2
23 - 4
35 - 6
47 - 8
59 - 10
613-14
715
8Midterm
916 - 17
1018
1119
1220
1321
1422-23
1524-25
1626
17Final Exam


-------------------------------------------Labs

Week Complete Sections
1 lab 1
2 lab 2
3 lab 3
4 lab 4
5 lab 5
6 lab 6
7 lab 7
8 lab 8
9 lab 9
10 lab 10
11 lab 11
12 lab 12
13 lab 13
14 lab 14
15 lab 15
16 lab 16
Final Exam


Code of Conduct:


It is the student's responsibility and duty to read the information below and become acquainted with all provisions of what constitutes academic misconduct involving cheating and plagiarism. Students are required to read each statement below, and the given repercussion. There are no exceptions to these policies, and the pretext of not reading each part will not be deemed as a reasonable excuse to contest the policies.

Code of Ethics:

Regulations and rules are necessary to implement for classroom as well as online course behavior. Students are expected to practice honesty, integrity and respect at all times. It is the student's responsibility and duty to become acquainted with all provisions of the code below and what constitutes misconduct.

Respectful communications:

When contacting Westcott Courses, you agree to be considerate and respectful. Communications from a student which are considered by our staff to be rude, insulting, disrespectful, harassing, or bullying via telephone, email, or otherwise will be considered a disrespectful communication and will result in a formal warning.

We reserve the right to refuse service. If we receive multiple disrespectful communications from person(s) representing the student, or the student themselves, the student will be excluded from taking future courses at Westcott Courses.

Grading information and proctored final policies:

The grading rules are put in place to protect the integrity of online education by stopping grade inflation, which is done by demanding a display of competency in exchange for a grade. By agreeing to the terms of service agreement, you agree to read the 'Grading' Policy from within your account, and the 'Proctored Final Information' page, if applicable. You have 24 hours after your first log-in to notify us if you do not agree to the grading policy and proctored final policy ( if applicable ) outlined in the pages inside of your account, otherwise it is assumed that you agree with the policies. There are no exceptions to these policies, and the pretext of not reading the pages will not be deemed as a reasonable excuse to contest the policies.

The definition of academic cheating is an act of dishonesty in order to obtain a higher grade in the course, and to gain an advantage over other students in the course.

To maintain academic standards, students are expected to practice honesty, integrity and respect at all times. Students who violate the policies of cheating, plagiarizing, or other academic misconduct will result in following actions.

1)   Cheating in any way on the final exam results in an F on the final and an F in the class. This includes, but is not limited to any form of collaboration, use of unauthorized materials, receiving or providing unpermitted assistance on the exam, using outside digital assistance such as a cell phone, tablet, ETC. to communicate with others or access outside websites, having someone else take the exam for you, taking an exam for another student, failing to stop working on the exam when the time is up.

Final exams are secure tests and the intellectual property of Westcott Courses. Taking screen shots of a digital final or copying a paper test is stealing our intellectual property and cheating. It is equivalent to stealing a copy of the final exam off an instructor's desk. When one student obtains the questions on a final, it means that other students who don't have the questions on the final are at a disadvantage. Once a final exam has been compromised it is no longer secure, and the exam is unfair for those who have not performed an act of dishonesty to gain the advantage.

Each of the infractions above represents a result of performing an act of dishonesty in order to obtain a higher grade in the course, and to gain an advantage over other students in the course. The result of any of the above offenses is an F in the course. Students who violate the above policy may retake the course after a first offense; however, a second offense will result in expulsion and students will no longer be able to take other courses at Westcott Courses.

Students are responsible for clicking on the “Proctored Final Information” link (which is on student’s Main Menu), and reviewing the list of Authorized Materials for each course's final exam. Since each course is different, the “Authorized Materials” for each final is different. For example, some courses permit notes, while others do not.

2)   Plagiarism: All of the following are considered plagiarism, and will result in a zero on the plagiarized assignment, and there are no opportunities to redo the assignment.

Merriam-Webster defines plagiarism as “the act of using another person's words or ideas without giving credit to that person” Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:
  • having somebody else write your assignment for you
  • turning in an assignment that contains work that is not your own
  • changing words in phrases, sentences and/or blocks of text without giving credit to the source (paraphrase)
  • copying ideas, phrases, sentences or entire blocks of text without giving credit to the source
  • not crediting the correct source by providing incorrect information

Plagiarism is an act of fraud, and can usually be avoided by using quotation marks and citing the source of the material. Instructors apply plagiarism software to find assignments that contain plagiarized material. Again, assignments that contain one of the above infractions will receive a zero on the assignment and the student will not have the opportunity to redo the assignment.

It is important to note that saving all your assignments to the end of the course, and then turning in multiple assignments that have been plagiarized will result in zeros on all of those assignments. This may mean that you no long have enough points in the course to pass the class. Thus, turning in assignments one at a time and waiting for instructor feedback in-between is important for learning and making sure that you maximize your possible points.

If you have questions, please read more information about plagiarism at plagiarism.org, or ask your instructor.

Other Examples of Academic Misconduct:

1)   Other forms of cheating include altering an exam and submitting it for regarding, providing false excuses to postpone due dates, fabricating data or references, claiming that Westcott Courses lost your test and/or quiz scores, sending emails to Westcott claiming you did not know what you were doing was cheating.
2)   Unauthorized collaboration - working with others on graded course work without specific permission of the instructor, including homework assignments, programs, quizzes and tests.
3)   Copying Westcott Courses content and posting it on the internet. This includes assignments, quizzes, and tests.

By signing up for a course, you are legally signing a contract that states that the person who is named taking this course is the actual individual doing the course work and all examinations. You also agree that for courses that require proctored testing, that your final will be taken at a college testing center, a Sylvan Learning center, or at home using the online proctor. Also, the individual signed up for this course will be the one taking the test. Failure to do so will be considered a breach of Westcott Courses policies.

Important Notes:

This syllabus is subject to change and / or revision during the academic year. Students with documented learning disabilities should notify our office upon enrollment, as well as make sure we let the testing center know extended time is permitted. Valid documentation involves educational testing and a diagnosis from a college, licensed clinical psychologist or psychiatrist.

How it Works


These courses are available to anyone in the public who'd like to enroll. Unlike traditional colleges where one must enroll in a degree program, Westcott Courses offers individual courses that are available instantly.
Westcott Courses is the teacher of the course, and the official transcript with academic semester credits comes from our partner university, UMass Global UMass Global, who is is regionally accredited by the WSCUC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Westcott Courses doesn't appear on the transcript; the transcript shows our courses the same way it would show a traditional class taken at the university's campus.

Read more about transferring the credits.

Teachers for the course:

The classes are self-paced; however, a teacher is attached to each course who holds at least a master's degree in their field of study (or related). Most of our teachers are teachers who teach the exact same course on either a California State University or Community college campus.

Omega MathTM Courses:

Courses that have the trademark of "Omega MathTM" are courses that have been written by our Omega Math team, and have a format that students love! These courses contain all the lessons, homework, solution manuals, quizzes, tests and the final. Students can take each test and quiz twice, and only the higher of the two scores counts towards their grade. This feature enables students to figure out what they did wrong before pushing forward, providing them with a deeper understanding of the course material.