BIOL 4801 - Environmental Microbiology
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 41656,
Credit hours: 4
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Carl Johnston
Email: cgjohnston@ysu.edu
Course Description
THIS AN AGILE-HYBRID CLASS. Which means: During portions of the semester students are responsible to learn material posted in Blackboard on their own. Students can email cgjohnston@ysu.edu with any questions or to request an appointment to clarify the material.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | Microbiology | Brokers |
1) Textbook not required, however you should read/review relevant sections in any microbiology textbook.
2) You must read scientific articles, videos, and/or lecture topics as assigned and/or posted in Blackboard.
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Tentative schedule (can be changed at Dr. Johnston discretion) and to allow field work (weather dependent)
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | n.a. First meet to go over course |
Meet in class | |
| 8/31 | Ch 1 -Ch 4 | 1) Introduction, 2) Public Health, Posted in Blackboard! | |
| 9/7 | Ch 1 - Ch 4 | 3) Biogeochemical cycles, posted in Blackboard | |
| 9/14 | Ch 1 - Ch 4 | 4) Eutriophication, Posted in Blackboard | |
| 9/21 | Review in class Ch 1 - Ch 4 | Meet in classroom - review/ discuss | |
| 9/28 | Test 1 (Ch 1 - Ch 4) | Meet in class- take test | |
| 10/5 | Techniques in laboratory | Meet at the lab | |
| 10/12 | Techniques in laboratory | Meet at the lab | |
| 10/19 | Independent Research | Meet for experimental design/ field/lab | |
| 10/26 | Fecal coliform paper | Read FC paper (posted on Blackboard) /field/ lab | |
| 11/2 | Fecal coliform discussion | Meet in class- discuss FC paper/ field /lab | |
| 11/9 | Vibrio paper reading | Read, summarize, understand Vibrio paper (Blackboard)/ field / lab | |
| 11/16 | Vibrios discussion | Meet in class -discuss Vibrio paper / lab/ field | |
| 11/23 | PAH paper | Read, understand PAH paper ( Blackboard)/ lab/ field t | |
| 11/30 | PAH discussion paper | Meet in class- discuss PAH paper/ lab report |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.