BIOL 232 - Environmental Health Microbiology

Units: 4
Examines the roles and interactions of microorganisms in natural and artificial environments in relation to planetary homeostasis and organismal health. Includes the role of microorganisms in modern-day health and safety.

Credit Restrictions: Not open for Biological Science majors.

Possible Instructional Methods: Entirely On-ground.
Grading: A-F grading only.
Student Learning Outcomes - Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Understand how microorganisms facilitate the stability, habitability, and persistence of life on Earth.
Articulate microbial strategies for coping and survival under environmental stresses such as nutrient fluctuation, prolonged starvation, competition, predation, and extreme environments and how these strategies relate to planetary homeostasis and/or dysbiosis.
Describe the mediation of major biogeochemical cycles by microorganisms, including the role microbes play in remediating pollutants using metabolic and cometabolic processes.
Verbalize diverse insect-microbe, plant-microbe, and animal-microbe interactions, including interactions that impact human systems (e.g., crop diseases, bioterrorism).
Assess standard procedures regarding the release of genetically-modified organisms in a variety of environments.
Explain the transmission of foodborne pathogens.