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BIOL 325 is a three-credit introductory microbiology course “that covers fundamental elements of the study of microorganisms and their environment. This course emphasizes the impact microorganisms have in nature. The course provides an overview of microbial environments, with special emphasis on structural and functional differences among bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa, and viruses.” The course requires BIOL 204 and 205 or 207 as pre-requisites and is also available for challenge.
Who Should Take This Course and Why
For this course we had the opportunity to interview Jeanne, who is currently an AU student studying biology. She hopes to become a researcher and will complete a master’s degree upon completion of her undergraduate degree. When we asked Jeanne why she took this course she stated, “this course was a degree requirement for me. I also wish to specialize in microbiology, so I would have taken it regardless of if it was a requirement or not. I find it fascinating to learn about microorganisms in their environments.”
When we asked Jeanne who she would recommend this course to she stated, “this course is designed for science majors or simply anyone who wants to learn more about microbiology. I think everyone should take it because having an understanding of microbiology is incredibly helpful, especially during a global pandemic. Although it doesn’t directly help us understand how viruses and vaccines work, I think it helps us understand the importance of good hygiene, masks, and vaccines and why we need them.”
Course, Assignments, Midterm and Final Exam Exercises Details
The course covers fifteen units including an introduction, anatomy, biochemistry, growth, genetics, classifications, viruses, immunology, and much more. Students will have the opportunity to learn in-depth the introductory aspects of microbiology.
The course consists of four assignments each worth 10% each. The course also consists of laboratory assignments that are worth 20% along with a midterm and final exam each worth 20% each. The midterm and final exam are both required to be done online.
How to Be Successful in the Course
Student’s Advice for the Course
For this course we asked Jeanne for her advice for the course, and she stated, “I highly recommend making notes and using cue cards to study. It may feel like there is a lot of content from time to time, but make sure you are studying productively and over an equally distributed period.” Jeanne also elaborated, “don’t worry about the midterm and final exams too much, just make sure to study and know your content. Many science courses have midterm and final exams to help spread the content across the two exams. Studying early and making sure you fully understand the content is important to ensure you do well in the class.”
When we asked Jeanne about her experience with the course tutor she stated, “I didn’t contact them very often, but when I did, they were very responsive with my emails and assignment markings.”
Questions?
If you have any further questions regarding the course, please do not hesitate to contact the Course Coordinator at Fst_success@athabascau.ca. Happy learning!
