Dr. B. A. Fane
Office: 102A VetSci / Micro Building
Phone: 626-6634
Email: bfane@u.arizona.edu
Office hours: Wednesday 2:00-3:00 and see below.

Text: Microbiology. Prescott, Harley and Klein, Sixth edition.

Objectives: The objective of this course is to give an introduction to selective topics in Microbiology. Microbiology is an extremely diverse discipline. The course will concentrate on five microbiology sub-disciplines, microbial structure, metabolism and physiology, genetics, virology and immunology.

Exams: There will be three hour exams and a final exam, each worth 100 points. Exam questions will primarily be short answer and short essay questions. If the average of any given exam is below 75%, that exam will be curved with the average being set at 75%. In addition there will be four quizzes, each worth 5 points.

Grade calculation: A student can receive a total of 420 points in the course. Grades, however, will be calculated by dividing the points obtained by 400.

Grading: 90%-105% A
80%-90% B
70%-80% C
below 70% E

The Honors Section will also have two short take home quizzes, each worth 50 points. Hence, grades will be calculated on 500 points.

Suggestions for doing well in this course:

General: Attend classes and compile a thorough set of lecture and study notes. Do not fall behind.

Before lecture: Do a preliminary reading of the assigned chapters and familiarize yourself with definitions, concepts and terms.

During lecture: Don't be embarrassed to ask questions or ask me to repeat myself. Take notes.

After lecture: Review your notes, and with the use of your text, be sure that you understood the lecture. If anything seems unclear, come to see me.

Additional Resources: My office hours will be 2:00-3:00 Wednesday or by appointment. Because I am often, but not always, available outside of office hours, feel free to come see me at anytime. If time permits, I will be glad to assist you.

Completion of the assigned problem sets is not required. They are located on the Microvet server under courses, and on my home page, also on the server. The best way to approach the problem sets is as a self-evaluation tool. Study the material first, close your book and class notes and then attempt the problems. If you cannot do a problem, then you obviously need to study the material more. This is an opportunity for you to correct any misunderstandings regarding the material before the exam and to remain current in the course!

The answers to the problem sets will be given during discussion sections. Four times during the course, a short 5-point quiz will be given at the beginning of the discussion section. These quizzes will not be announced beforehand. The quiz will be taken directly from the problem set. Since grades are calculated using 400 points, not 420, no make-up quizzes will be given.

Policy on missed exams: Students representing the University in an official capacity, as defined by the Student Handbook, must notify me before the exam to schedule an alternative date. Students who miss an exam due to illness or other emergency, must contact me the day of the exam to schedule a make-up exam. A doctor's note may be required. All make-up exams will be given at the end of the course.

Academic Dishonesty will result in an E grade.