The Microbial World

This is a course for students who are not science majors. It is designed to acquaint students with some microbial activities which affect their lives. It includes the historical development of microbiology, structures of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, the basic principles of microbial growth, disinfection and sterilization, antibiotics and antibiotic resistance, infection, and immunity, probiotics and microbiomes, public health, and commercial, agricultural, and industrial uses of microorganisms. The lab covers basics of microscopy, culture and identification of bacteria, microbial ecology, and antibiotic resistance. Not open to students with any credit in microbiology. Recommended: High School biology.