Course

Introductory Microbiology for Health Sciences

Faculty
Science & Technology
Department
Biology
Course code
BIOL 2401
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
28
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Lab
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
This course is a survey of the biology of microorganisms with an emphasis on bacteria. Topics include prokaryotic diversity, bacterial cell structure and metabolism, and microbial reproduction, introductory virology, immunology, epidemiology, public health, and selected topics in medical microbiology. Laboratory activities introduce a wide variety of techniques in microbiology and immunology.
Course content
  1. INTRODUCTION
    • Introduction to microorganisms
    • Historical overview of microbiology
    • Prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms
    • Introduction to bacteria
  2. INTRODUCTION TO CELL BIOLOGY
    • DNA replication and protein synthesis
    • Bacterial cell structure
  3. BACTERIAL REPRODUCTION AND CLASSIFICATION
    • Chemical and physical requirements for growth
    • Phases of bacterial growth
    • Gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria
  4. CONTROL OF BACTERIAL GROWTH
    • General antiseptics
    • Antimicrobial drugs
    • Drug resistance
  5. INTRODUCTION TO VIROLOGY
    • Introduction to viral structure
    • Viral replication
    • Viruses and disease
  6. IMMUNOLOGY
    • Innate and acquired immunity
    • Humoral and cell-mediated responses
    • Microbial pathogenesis
    • Immunization
  7. CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
    • Epidemiology and public health
    • Emergent diseases
    • Transmission of disease
    • Nosocomial infections
    • Specific body system diseases
  8. LABORATORY TOPICS
    • Basic Techniques in Microbiology
      • Laboratory operations and safety
      • Laboratory reporting techniques
      • Microscopy
    • Bacteria: Transfer, culture and isolation techniques
      • Aseptic techniques
      • Preparation of media and plates
      • Tube transfers
      • Streak plate and spread plate techniques
    • Colony and Cellular Morphology
      • Agar plate colonial characteristic and agar slant growth
      • Individual cell characteristics (coccus, bacillus and spirillum microscopic recognition)
    • Differential Staining
      • Negative staining
      • Gram stain
      • Endospore staining
    • Bacterial Growth
      • Serial dilution
      • Growth rate determination (direct/plate counts)
    • Bacterial Sensitivity and Resistance
      • Examination of bacterial sensitivity to a variety of antibiotics
      • Plating and isolation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria
    • Antibody-Antigen reactions
      • Agglutination reactions
      • ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay)
    • Control of Microbial Growth
      • Disc Diffusion Assays
      • Antiseptics, Disinfectants, Anitbiotics
      • Probiotics
    • Practical Case Study
      • Characterization and identification of a microorganism using the techniques learned throughout the laboratories, as well as the information given in the theory lectures.
Learning activities

The content of lectures is integrated with laboratory experiments, and readings in the textbook. Instruction may include group work and online components.

Means of assessment

Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation will be based on the following:

Class tests and assignments   20-30%
Laboratory   20-30%
Term exam(s)   20-40%
Final exam   20-40%
Total   100%
Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course, successful students will be able to:

  1. Describe the range of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms that are considered to be microorganisms and explain the historical context of microbiological science.
  2. Identify and explain the components and cellular structure of bacterial cells.
  3. Explain the principles of classification and be able to explain the classification of bacteria.
  4. Explain the process of bacterial cell division, and relate it to the growth of bacterial populations
  5. Describe the principles involved in the control of bacterial growth.
  6. Describe the structure of viruses, viral replication and explain the role of viruses in disease.
  7. Explain the difference between innate and acquired immunity to disease in humans and the effects of humoral and cell-mediated responses.
  8. Describe the mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis.
  9. Explain the modes of transmission and mechanisms of infection by human bacterial diseases and strategies for management of transmission and infection in the context of public health.
  10. Explain the basis of the development of bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents.
  11. Demonstrate familiarity and competency with a wide variety of microbiological laboratory techniques including transfer, culture, isolation and identification techniques, growth rates and antibiotic sensitivity.
Textbook materials

Consult the Douglas College Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials. Example textbooks and materials may include: 

OpenStax Microbiology (current edition), or a comparable current microbiology textbook such as Tortora, Funke, Case, and Weber, Microbiology: An Introduction (current edition).  Pearson.

Requisites

Prerequisites

Biology 1103 or 1109, and BIOL 1203 or BIOL 
1209 with C- or better or permission of the 
instructor

(BIOL 1103 or 1109) and (BIOL 1203 or BIOL 1209)

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers to Other Institutions

Below are current transfer agreements from Douglas College to other institutions for the current course guidelines only. For a full list of transfer details and archived courses, please see the BC Transfer Guide.

Institution Transfer details for BIOL 2401
Camosun College (CAMO) CAMO BIOL 104 (3)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU BIOL 2XX (3)
Coast Mountain College (CMTN) CMTN BIOL 133 (3)
College of New Caledonia (CNC) CNC BIO 105 (3)
College of the Rockies (COTR) COTR BIOL 2XX (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU BIOL 2330 (4)
Langara College (LANG) LANG BIOL 2XXX (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU BISC 2XX (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU BIOL 2XXX (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) TWU BIOL 2XX (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) UBCO BIOL_O 2nd (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV MICB_V 2nd (4)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC HHSC 110 (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV BIO 2XX (3)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC MICR 1XX (1.5)
Vancouver Community College (VCC) VCC BIOL 2XXX (3)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU BIOL 2nd (3)

Course Offerings

Fall 2025

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
28
Currently enrolled
28
Remaining seats:
0
On waitlist
2
Building
Coquitlam - Bldg. D
Room
D2009
Times:
Start Time
8:30
-
End Time
10:20
Section notes

BIOL 2401 001 is intended, but not restricted for, students planning to apply to the BS Nursing or the BS Psychiatric Nursing programs. Students must also register in either BIOL 2401 L01 or BIOL 2401 L02. This section is taught using a flipped methodology. Videos are assigned prior to class (largely in lieu of lectures) and class time prioritizes active learning strategies.

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
28
Currently enrolled
28
Remaining seats:
0
On waitlist
7
Building
New Westminster - South Bldg.
Room
S0640
Times:
Start Time
12:30
-
End Time
14:20
Section notes

BIOL 2401 002 is intended, but not restricted for, students planning to apply to the BS Nursing or the BS Psychiatric Nursing programs. Students must also register in either BIOL 2401 L03 or BIOL 2401 L04.

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
28
Currently enrolled
28
Remaining seats:
0
On waitlist
12
Building
New Westminster - South Bldg.
Room
S3903
Times:
Start Time
14:30
-
End Time
16:20
Section notes

BIOL 2401 003 is intended, but not restricted for, students planning to apply to the BS Nursing or the BS Psychiatric Nursing programs. Students must also register in either BIOL 2401 L05 or BIOL 2401 L06.

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
28
Currently enrolled
28
Remaining seats:
0
On waitlist
10
Building
New Westminster - South Bldg.
Room
S3903
Times:
Start Time
8:30
-
End Time
10:20
Section notes

BIOL 2401 004 is intended, but not restricted for, students planning to apply to the BS Nursing or the BS Psychiatric Nursing programs.
Students must also register in either BIOL 2401 L07 or BIOL 2401 L08.

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
0
Currently enrolled
13
Remaining seats:
-13
On waitlist
0
Building
Online
Room
ONLINE
Times:
-
Section notes

BIOL 2401 090 is restricted to students in the LPN to Psychiatric Nursing program. To register, please contact Michelle Hunt at huntm1@douglascollege.ca.