School: Medical and Health Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Applied Microbiology
  • Unit Code

    SCH2235
  • Year

    2024
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    4
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Rina WONG

Description

The major concepts of microbiology are studied with emphasis upon the relationships between humans and microorganisms. The unit covers topics including: the history of microbiology; the morphology and methods of detection of different types of microorganisms; the nature and structure of viruses, fungi and protozoa; the microbiome and its relationship with human health; how different microbes reproduce; ways to control microbial growth; immune responses to microbes, and how microbial disease is monitored in Australia. Information about current microbial events in the news is discussed, and the practical prevention of microbial disease is emphasized.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 1 unit from: SCH1111, SCH1134, SCH1143, SCH1106, MHS1101, MHS1102

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Evaluate microbiological risk to ensure optimal human health.
  2. Describe the features of a broad range of microorganisms.
  3. Communicate the impact of microbes on human health and environment.
  4. Apply standard microbiological identification methods and recall other techniques that will allow microbes to be identified.

Unit Content

  1. The diversity and impact of microorganisms on humans around the world, an introduction to the microbiome and its importance for the health of humans and their environment.
  2. Human microbial disease in a global context, principles of epidemiology and immunisation against microbial disease.
  3. Mechanisms of immunity including non-specific defence and host responses during infection and cell-mediated immunity.
  4. Eukaryotic microorganisms, including algae, slime moulds, fungi and protozoa.
  5. Viruses, their reproduction, diseases caused and diagnostic techniques.
  6. Bacterial anatomy and genetics, regulation of gene expression in bacteria. Archaea.
  7. Microbial growth and control (including infection control principles), measurement of growth, chemotherapeutics.
  8. The use of microbes to produce food and other products.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 113 x 2 hour labNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 113 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

In laboratory sessions students work in pairs or small groups to plan, organise, and conduct experiments to identify characteristics of common pathogens and microorganisms, and critically analyse their findings. Students gain insights into a range of techniques and how they are applied in different situations. Students are assessed on their ability to recall and apply these in different situations. Students will be allocated a current research issue in microbiology for investigation using peer-reviewed scientific literature. In seminars, students will present their results to the class. Guidance on the process of researching scientific literature will be provided early in the unit.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
Laboratory WorkMicrobiology Practical Assessments25%
PresentationResearch Seminar 25%
TestApplied Theory Tests50%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

SCH2235|4|1

School: Medical and Health Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Applied Microbiology
  • Unit Code

    SCH2235
  • Year

    2024
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    4
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Rina WONG

Description

The major concepts of microbiology are studied with emphasis upon the relationships between humans and microorganisms. The unit covers topics including: the history of microbiology; the morphology and methods of detection of different types of microorganisms; the nature and structure of viruses, fungi and protozoa; the microbiome and its relationship with human health; how different microbes reproduce; ways to control microbial growth; immune responses to microbes, and how microbial disease is monitored in Australia. Information about current microbial events in the news is discussed, and the practical prevention of microbial disease is emphasized.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 1 unit from: SCH1111, SCH1134, SCH1143, SCH1106, MHS1101, MHS1102

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Evaluate microbiological risk to ensure optimal human health.
  2. Describe the features of a broad range of microorganisms.
  3. Communicate the impact of microbes on human health and environment.
  4. Apply standard microbiological identification methods and recall other techniques that will allow microbes to be identified.

Unit Content

  1. The diversity and impact of microorganisms on humans around the world, an introduction to the microbiome and its importance for the health of humans and their environment.
  2. Human microbial disease in a global context, principles of epidemiology and immunisation against microbial disease.
  3. Mechanisms of immunity including non-specific defence and host responses during infection and cell-mediated immunity.
  4. Eukaryotic microorganisms, including algae, slime moulds, fungi and protozoa.
  5. Viruses, their reproduction, diseases caused and diagnostic techniques.
  6. Bacterial anatomy and genetics, regulation of gene expression in bacteria. Archaea.
  7. Microbial growth and control (including infection control principles), measurement of growth, chemotherapeutics.
  8. The use of microbes to produce food and other products.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 113 x 2 hour labNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 113 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

In laboratory sessions students work in pairs or small groups to plan, organise, and conduct experiments to identify characteristics of common pathogens and microorganisms, and critically analyse their findings. Students gain insights into a range of techniques and how they are applied in different situations. Students are assessed on their ability to recall and apply these in different situations. Students will be allocated a current research issue in microbiology for investigation using peer-reviewed scientific literature. In seminars, students will present their results to the class. Guidance on the process of researching scientific literature will be provided early in the unit.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
Laboratory WorkMicrobiology Practical Assessments25%
PresentationResearch Seminar 25%
TestApplied Theory Tests50%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

SCH2235|4|2