Instructor: Kari Cargill

Dates: June 29 - August 7

Credits: 3

Course Description

These days there is one microbe that is taking the spotlight from pretty much everything else!  The novel coronavirus “COVID-19” has drastically changed our lives, and we are all dealing with many unknowns caused by this disease.  What more will be discovered over the course of this summer?  This is an opportune time to learn more about microorganisms and epidemiology while history is being made.  Everyone knows microbes can make us sick, but do you also appreciate that many others are beneficial? 

We will explore various topics in microbiology and gain an understanding of how they apply in your everyday world: from viruses to parasites, antibiotics to vaccines, genetic engineering to probiotics, water quality to food production, and much more.  Of course we will also look at pandemics – current and historical – to see why newly emerging diseases are so important (and tricky) to predict, understand and control. 

The course will include weekly real-time online meetings for the class to connect (times to be flexible and determined by student availability).  The bulk of the weekly content will be available online for viewing and learning at your convenience.  There is also a lab component to this class, with some to be presented via demo’s, while some at-home explorations will be offered as well.

This course satisfies your Inquiry Science (IN) requirement and is a required course for certain MSU majors.

About the Instructor

Kari Cargill specializes in opening up the fascinating and fun world of microbes to students - who soon learn that they can appreciate much of this real-life field, regardless of science background - and is excited to share this opportunity with our newest MSU students!

 

Register for Kick Off Classes now!
 

You may sign up for Kick Off summer classes now! Our advising team will register you for your summer classes.

Students are still required to attend an Orientation and Class registration session. You will not be able to register for your fall semester classes without attending a session. Learn more about available sessions on the Orientation website.