SLE234 - Microbiology
Unit details
| Year | 2025 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong) |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Agnes Michalczyk |
| Prerequisite: | SLE111 or for students enrolled in H300 - SLE111 or HMM102 and HMM103 |
| Corequisite: | SLE010 |
| Incompatible with: | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 3 x 1 hour online lectures per week, 6 x 1 hour seminars per trimester, 6 x 3 hour practical experience (laboratory) per trimester and 2 x 2 hour practical experiences (workshops) per trimester. |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Content
Microbiology is the study of microscopic unicellular organisms, which are the prokaryotes (such as bacteria), eukaryotes (such as algae) and the viruses. It will cover the study of the structure of microorganisms, how they function, grow and reproduce, the relationship between microorganisms and their environment and the ability of bacterial gene expression to respond to prevailing environmental signals. In this unit, students will explore the history of the discipline of microbiology and the cell structure of prokaryotes, unicellular eukaryotes, and viruses. We will investigate the important role that microorganisms have in human health and disease but also in the environment and how the environment impacts on their ability to grow and divide. The incredible increase in understanding of bacterial genomes will be explored and how this has allowed us to make large strides in medical microbiology, pharmaceutical and industrial biotechnology and food and agricultural microbiology.
Learning Outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Apply foundational microbiology and biology knowledge, including the First Nations knowledge to interpret microbial aspects of life and explain the physical, chemical and biological factors influencing microbial growth, function and reproduction. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Evaluate appropriate scientific principles and techniques to identify unknown bacteria. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO3 | Use scientific equipment to prepare and observe bacterial specimens and explain various microbiological parameters observed. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO4 | Describe the biology of bacteria and viruses, their structure and function, and the use of microbiological techniques with an emphasis on the bacterial staining and microscopy and the transfer of genetic information within and between cells. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO5 | Evaluate and articulate scientific information in a structured form to describe scientific problems, formulate hypotheses analyse evidence in order to support or oppose the interpretations of findings and conclusions. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 | Four scientific reports, 3-4 page maximum each | 28% (4 x 7%) | Weeks 3, 6, 9 and 11 |
| Assessment 2 | 60-minute online test including multiple-choice, problem solving and calculations questions (covering the content of class 1-9) | 15% | Week 4 |
| Assessment 3 | 60-minutes online test including multiple choice, problem solving and calculations questions (covering the content of class 10-21) | 15% | Week 8 |
| Assessment 4 | 90-minute in-class test | 22% | Week 10 or 11 (depending on campus timetable) |
| End-of-Unit Assessment | Timed online test | 20% | End-of-Unit Assessment period |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
Prescribed text(s): Martinko, 2021, Brock Biology Of Microorganisms Global Edition, 16th Ed (or 15th Ed), Pearson Education.
The texts and reading list for SLE234 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.