Course Description & Information
Course Description
Introductory Microbiology (MCB 100) is designed to introduce students to the fascinating field of microbiology, where students will explore the invisible world of microbes, including bacteria, fungi, and parasites, and viruses. Students will learn about the properties and activities of microbes and why they matter to life on earth, including consideration of their important roles in natural processes, such as photosynthesis, ecology, nutrition, and health and disease. Students will gain foundational knowledge of microbial biology ranging from basic structural and cellular function and methods of experimental study to the use and control of microbes in industrial fermentations, in agriculture and biotechnology, in sanitation and environmental remediation, and in health promotion and disease prevention.
Introductory Microbiology (MCB 100) is a general education course offered by the Molecular and Cellular Biology instructional program that satisfies the General Education Criteria for Nat Sci & Tech – Life Sciences and serves non-MCB majors, such as Animal Science, Food Science, Pharmacy, Kinesiology, Engineering, etc.
Course Learning Objectives
After taking this course, students will be able to:
- Understand the components of scientific literacy and the process of scientific inquiry.
- Communicate complex scientific information.
- Apply simple predictive models to microbiology-related phenomena.
- Understand how paradigms of microbiology relate to society and policy and their own lives.
- Critically evaluate science-related news and information for their credibility and validity.
- Apply critical thinking and reasoning skills to solve problems related to microbiology.
- Possess a general working knowledge of fundamental biological concepts relevant to microbiology.
- Recognize that microbiology is a dynamic, collaborative, and inter-disciplinary field.
Fall 2019
Course Meeting Time and Location
MWF, 2:00-2:50 pm, 2079 Natural History Building
Course Directors
Professor, Department of Microbiology
URL: http://mcb.illinois.edu/faculty/profile/wilson7
Office: B209 Chem Life Sci Lab (CLSL)
Email: wilson7@illinois.edu
Office Hours: Thursdays, 5:15-6:30pm, B124 CLSL
Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology
URL: http://mcb.illinois.edu/faculty/profile/collink
Office: 325 Burrill Hall
Email: collink@illinois.edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays, 2:30-3:30pm, 333 Burrill
Course TA
Mr. Zachary Aboff (Email: zaboff2@illinois.edu) will be assisting with grading and course logistics and will be available for office hours twice (2 x 1 hour per week: Mondays 12:00-1:00pm & Fridays 4:00-5:00pm) or by appointment in the MCB Learning Center in 101 Burrill Hall.
Course Textbook, Website, and Mastering Biology Management Tool
The textbook for this course is Microbiology: with Diseases by Taxonomy by Robert W. Bauman, 6thEdition, Pearson Education, Inc., 2020.
The eText comes with an on-line Modified Mastering Microbiology Course Management Tool, which should be purchased and accessed from the publisher: Pearson Education, through the Moodle course website.
Directions on how to access the website and setup a username and password can be found on the Moodle course website (Learn@Illinois) under the “Announcements” tab. Hardcopy versions of the textbook are also available.