Course Title: Medical Microbiology 2

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Medical Microbiology 2

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

ONPS1048

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

135H Applied Sciences

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2007,
Sem 2 2008,
Sem 2 2009,
Sem 2 2010,
Sem 2 2011,
Sem 2 2012,
Sem 2 2013,
Sem 2 2015,
Sem 2 2016

ONPS1048

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2017,
Sem 2 2018,
Sem 2 2019

Course Coordinator: Dr Anna Walduck

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 99257145

Course Coordinator Email: anna.walduck@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 223.1.34

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Microbiology to at least second year undergraduate level is an enforced requisite course with assumed knowledge and capabilities.


You must have successfully completed BIOL2159 Microbiology at RMIT, or equivalent course, or work experience.


Course Description

Medical Microbiology is a central discipline in the medical sciences and is concerned with the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.

This advanced course aims to extend your understanding and appreciation of diagnosis and pathogenesis of parasitic, bacterial and viral infections, this includes antimicrobial agents and microbial resistance; pathogenesis and diagnosis of viral infections; infections of the intestine, urinary and genital tracts.

The course is delivered in face-to-face lectures and practical classes with individual and group work and aims to encourage development of capabilities in critical review of microbiology literature, scientific communication, problem solving, learning in small groups, independent learning and time management.

This course has a vocational focus. It aims to prepare you in particular for a career in medical and veterinary diagnostic microbiology and research in clinical microbiology.

This course has a hurdle of 45% for both the theory and practical components of the course. This is to ensure that graduates are competent and meet industry standards.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the MC111 Master of Biotechnology (Clinical Microbiology,  and MC158 Master of Laboratory Medicine Program Learning Outcomes,:

PLO-1 Understanding science

PLO1-2 You will demonstrate a coherent understanding of biological sciences by explaining the role and relevance of biological sciences in society. You will develop an in-depth knowledge of the specialist field of microbiology, specifically microbial pathogenesis, antimicrobial agents, parasitology, virology, clinical microbiology, and diagnosis. This will be complemented with the technical capability in handling, examining, isolating and identifying microbes,

PLO-2 Scientific knowledge

PLO2-1 You will exhibit depth and breadth of knowledge by demonstrating a well-developed understanding of biological science.
PLO2-2 You will exhibit depth and breadth of knowledge by demonstrating knowledge that biotechnology has interdisciplinary connections with other sciences.These skills will develop your research capability by, problem solving, in participating in problem-based laboratory exercises. And further your reflective capability in applying knowledge of microbiology to identify unknown organisms, to reach a diagnosis based on clinical notes and technical analysis, and also in answering case studies or quizzes.

PLO-3 Inquiry and problem solving

PLO3-1 You will be able to critically analyse and solve problems in biotechnology by gathering, synthesizing and critically evaluating information from a range of sources.
PLO3-2 You will be able to critically analyse and solve problems in biotechnology by designing and planning an investigation, including developing a testable hypothesis.
PLO3-3 You will be able to critically analyse and solve problems in biotechnology by selecting and applying practical and/or theoretical techniques with technical competence in conducting field, laboratory-based, or virtual experiments.
PLO3-4 You will be able to critically analyse and solve problems in biotechnology by collecting, accurately recording, interpreting, and drawing conclusions from scientific data.

PLO-4 Communication

PLO4-1 You will be an effective communicator of biological sciences by effectively communicating scientific results, information, or arguments using a range of modes (oral, written, visual) for a variety of purposes and audiences.

 

PLO-5 Personal and professional responsibility

PLO5-1 You will be accountable for individual learning and scientific work in biotechnology by being an independent and self-directed learner.

PLO5-2 You will be accountable for individual learning and scientific work by working effectively, responsibly, ethically, and safely in an individual or team context.


On successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

  1. Examine infections of various body systems (enteric infections, CNS bloodstream infections, urinogenital tract, respiratory tract), how they are acquired, diagnosed in the laboratory and, prevented and treated.
  2. Demonstrate practical knowledge and skills used in medical microbiology,
  3. Work cooperatively with a small group;
  4. Search and find appropriate scientific literature, critically evaluate scientific papers;
  5. Solve unfamiliar problems, plan a work program and learn independently;
  6. Demonstrate oral and written communication skills to record, analyse, interpret and discuss data in writing scientific reports and scientific literature reviews using the correct language of the field;
  7. Apply safe working practices in microbiology.


Overview of Learning Activities

Lectures, laboratory classes, laboratory tutorials, independent learning, written assignments. A major part of the practical program of this course mimics the workplace in a diagnostic microbiology laboratory. The lecture series provides the theoretical background to this training.

This course has a vocational focus. It prepares you in particular for a career in medical and veterinary diagnostic microbiology and research in clinical microbiology.

Total Study Hours

A total of 120 hours of study is expected.

Teacher-directed hours (72 hours): The course consists of 3 hours of face-to-face lectures per week (36 hours), and 3 hours of practical laboratory class per week (36 hours).

Student-directed hours (48 hours): In addition, you are expected to spend at least an additional 4 hours per week of independent study

 

 


Overview of Learning Resources

In addition to material given during lectures and practical classes, students are expected to use the material presented on Canvas, and to read the relevant sections of prescribed and recommended textbooks as well as references provided by lecturers.


Overview of Assessment

Note that:

All hurdle requirements for this course are indicated clearly in the assessment regime that follows, against the relevant assessment task(s) and all have been approved by the College Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning & Teaching).

It is a hurdle requirement that you must demonstrate technical competency by achieving at least 45% in the theory AND practical component of the course (that is at least 50% overall, and at least 11.25/25% for the combined practical assessment, and at least 33.75/75%for the theory component). 

 

Postgraduates are expected to develop an integrated understanding of subject matter, demonstrate advanced judgement in the selection of materials used to support discussions and comprehensively review data analysis results in order to provide relevant, succinct interpretations of any findings.

A: The theory component assessment is (75%) of the course. It includes:

 

Theory Task 1: Written Examination (45%)

This exam covers both the theory and practical aspects of the course

This assessment addresses CLOs 1-3.

 

Theory Task 2: Review of a Journal Article (20%)

This task will develop your skills to understand and critically assess scientific literature in the field.

This assessment addresses CLO 5.

 

Theory Task 3: On-line Quizzes (10%)

The quizzes are designed to provide you with early feedback on your progress so that you can manage your learning.

This assessment addresses CLOs-1-3.

 

B: The practical component assessment is (25%) of the course. Practical assessment is based on industry practices and is supervised and assessed by people with experience in medical microbiology. The practical component is a HURDLE of this course. It includes:

Practical Task 1: Laboratory Report (15%)

The laboratory report will develop your skills in designing and performing and identification strategy, and reporting the results in an accurate manner.

This assessment addresses CLOs 4-6.

 

Practical Task 2: Laboratory Notebook and Technical Competence (10%)

Laboratory Notebook will be written in class each week and submitted before leaving the laboratory. Data recording and analysis is to be at industry standard level.

Technical competence includes demonstration of prior preparation for the class, safe working practices and contribution to answering questions set by demonstrator.

This assessment addresses CLOs 5 & 6