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Special Topics in Funeral Service and Mortuary Science Syllabus for 2011-2012
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Instructor Information

Instructor

Scott Rankin (Curriculum Vitae)

E-Mail

jsrankin@actx.edu

Phone

Office Location

Building C, Office 104D

(Office can be accessed through 106)

Office Hours

I do not have office hours during the day as I work full-time for a funeral home.  However, if you have a question, please email me through the COURSE EMAIL.  Be sure to list a phone number.  If I cannot answer your question via email, I will call you in the evening when I leave the funeral home.  Thank you.

Course Information

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

N/A

Student Withdrawal Procedures

N/A

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

MRTS-1391-001 Special Topics in Funeral Service and Mortuary Science

Prerequisites

Prerequisites: Program Director consent

Course Description

Topics address current events, skills, knowledge and/or attitudes and behaviors pertinent to the occupation and relevant to the professional development of the student. This course may be repeated multiple times to improve student proficiency.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

\N

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

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  1. \ National Board Study Guide, ICFSEB, Volume VIII. January 2006 or newer (recommended)
    2. \
  2. \ The Funeral Service COMPEND (recommended)
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    3. \

Supplies

\ Exams within ACOnline.

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\ MATS program from L&S Services. Online students must purchase (90 day license).  

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\ TO Purchase: You may contact Gregory Shepherd at 716-602-2920 or at w

Student Performance

 This is the CAPSTONE course for the MRTS.AAS program.  Students enrolled in this course must be in their final semester of study.

This course and all course work must be complete prior to National Board Examination Certification.

American Board of Funeral Service Education Requires ALL students must take the National Board Examination prior to grduation. 

  • If you have not met all requirements including taking the National Board Examination by the end of this Semester You WILL NOT graduate.
  • You may finish all course work with the exception of the National Board Examination, YOU MUST TAKE THE NATIONAL BOARD EXAM BY Wednesay, MAY 6th, 2012 IN ORDER TO GRADUATE MAY 12th, 2012.

Students must achieve an 87% or higher on ALL practice exams within this course, INCLUDING the ARTS FINAL and the SCIENCE FINAL.

Students shall score an 87% on three Arts practice exams and an 87% on three Sciences practice exams  using the MATS software.  Student will fax their scores of 87% or better using the MATS software to the program office 806-356-3657.
 

Students will have completed all necessary course work for the Mortuary Science AAS degree at Amarillo College.

Students will make application to Amarillo College for graduation.

Students will have an  exit interview with the program director.     At this time grades will be verified in all course work and NBE may be scheduled.

Students will register to take the National Board Examination and pay the required fees at http://www.theconferenceonline.org/.

No student will be certified to take the NBE until all requirements of the program have been met. 

Special Note: Once a student has achieved an 87% or higher on AC Online practice exams they may move on, however the exams will remain open for unlimited attempts.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior


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Students should:
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  1. Attend (log-in to AC Online) class
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  2. Be prepared
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  3. Read and understand required readings
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  4. Read assigned text book material
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  5. Be honest
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  6. Do not violate the AC academic integrity policy. (Do not cheat)
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  7. Ask questions
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  8. Actively participate in group discussions
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  9. Do not judge other students
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  10. Treat everyone with respect
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  11. Follow and respect all rules and policies of this class, department and Amarillo College
    12. \
\ *Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this class and will result in a grade of 0 on the exam or assignment involved that cannot be replaced or dropped. Please see Student Rights and Responsibilities for a specific description of academic dishonesty. Any cases of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Students at Amarillo College.

Grading Criteria

Your final grade in this course will be calculated by 1/3 of your average on the Exams within the course, 1/3 your average on MATS software exams, and 1/3 the average of your National Board Exam Score. 

There will be no Final Grade issued until the student has taken the National Board Exam.

During the first week of class, a calendar will be available to each student with due dates for each practice exam administered through this course.  In addition, deadlines to take and earn the noted passing scores for the MATS software exams and  to take both National Board Exams in order to graduate will be listed.  Please understand the importance of maintaining and meeting all course deadlines.

NOTE:  INCOMPLETES WILL NOT BE GIVEN IN THIS COURSE.

Attendance

\ In order to be successful in this course students should login regularly to the course and take practice Exams as well as practice on the MATS software. 

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\ If you do not follow the timeline laid out for you in this course it will be difficult for you to complete. 

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\ Class attendance should be regarded as an obligation and all students are expected to attend class.  Attendance in an online course is logging in and accessing course content.  Simply logging in is not acceptable as attendance.  Instructors are able to track your login and content access.  

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\ Your final grade in this course will be calculated by 1/3 of your average on the Exams within the course, 1/3 your average on MATS software exams, and 1/3 the average of your National Board Exam Score.

Calendar

Week 1 &2: Syllabus/Organize course glossaries/master Sociology/Funeral History exam within the course with 87% or higher, master Psychology/Counseling and Funeral Directing exams with 87% or higher.  Complete syllabus acknowledgement form and fax it to 806-356-3657 by Monday, January 23rd, 2012.

Week 3 &4:  Master Business Law and Funeral Law exams with 87% or higher, master Funeral Merchandising and Accounting exams with 87% or higher

Week 5 & 6: Master Final Arts exam with 87% or higher, master Microbiology and Pathology exams and additional questions with 87% or higher.

Week 7 &8: Master Restorative Art and Anatomy exams with 87% or higher, master Embalming and Chemistry exams with 87% or higher.

Week 9 &10: Master Science Final exam with 87% or higher.

Week 11-14 Master MATS software exams Arts and Sciences exams 87 or higher, 3 times each section/fax MATS exam scores to program office 806-356-3657/schedule exit interview with program director.

Week 15-16: Take National Board Exam

Special Note:  Weeks 1-10 are using exams withing the course, but the MATS software license is good for 90 days.  You might want to use it prior to week 9 to increase your chances of success.

DISCLAIMER

Serious effort and consideration were used in developing this syllabus, course outline, and calendar.  While the syllabus is considered an education contract between the instructor and student, unforseen events may require a change (e.g. a change in schedule).  Every effort will be made NOT to change policy that affects a final grade.  However, the instructor reserves the right to make other changes deemed necessary to best fulfill the course goals and objectives.  Students registered for this course will be made aware of any such change in a timely fashion using reasonable means.

Also the instructor reserves the right to make an exception for any student who has the misfortune to encounter a severe illness, accident, or other serious event that causes excessive course disruption.  Any such exception will be made on an individual basis and will not be grounds for setting a precedent.

 

Additional Information

\  GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

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\  If a student has a grievance with the course instructor, the following “due process” protocol will apply. The student must follow the protocol steps in the order shown.

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\  1.      Make every effort to resolve the concern directly with the course instructor. The instructor should be contacted by the student before the conclusion of the course.

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\  2.      If the concern cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the student after meeting with the course instructor, the student should seek satisfaction from the immediate supervisor of the instructor within one week of the student–instructor meeting.

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\ 3.      If the concern cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the student after meeting with the Allied Health division chairperson, the student should seek satisfaction from Dean of Health Sciences within one week of the student–division chairperson meeting.

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\  4.      If the concern cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the student after meeting with the dean, the student should seek satisfaction from the Vice-President of Academic Affairs (VPAA) within one week of the student–Dean meeting.

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\  5.      If the concern cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the student after meeting with the Vice-President of Academic Affairs, the student should seek satisfaction from the college President within one week of the student–VPAA meeting. The decision of the President will be final.

Syllabus Created on:

11/30/-1 12:00 AM

Last Edited on:

11/30/-1 12:00 AM