Parasitology/Mycology Syllabus for 2016-2017
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Course Information

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Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a class must:

• consult with their instructor to obtain a signed academic withdrawal request form to submit to the AskAC department for processing
• consult with the financial aid office if receiving financial aid
• consult with the Veterans Benefit Coordinator if receiving veteran benefits
• consult with their academic advisor to determine how withdrawing may affect their enrollment in future semesters
  • NOTE:  The Texas Education Code stipulates that students attending Texas institutions of higher education for the first time fall 2007 and later may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career, including courses from which transfer students have withdrawn at other Texas institutions of higher education. (Senate Bill 1231) Rule 4.10.

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Course

MLAB-1231-002 Parasitology/Mycology

Prerequisites

Corequisites: MLAB 2267 and MLAB 2232

Course Description

A study of the taxonomy, morphology and pathogenesis of human parasites and fungi, including the practical application of laboratory procedures, quality control, quality assurance and safety.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(2 sem hrs; 1 lec, 4 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Medical Parasitology - A Self-Instructional Text - 6th Edition, Leventhal & Cheadle, ISBN  978-0-8036-2543-3

A Photographic Atlas for the Microbiology Laboratory - 3rd Edition, Leboffe and Pierce, ISBN: 0895826569 (Previously purchased)

Medical Mycology  - A Self-Instructional Text -  2nd Edition, Kern & Blevins, ISBN 0-8036-0036-4

Mosby's Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference, 2015, ISBN: 978-0-323-22576-2  (Previously purchased)
(Also available as an ebook: (Click here)

Supplies

The following includes a general list of lecture and lab supplies: 

• Textbook(s) and/or lab manual
• Scientific calculator
• Transparent ruler
• Map colors/colored pencils
• Portable tablet or laptop for inclass testing
• Internet access
• Printer and printing supplies
• Moisture/fluid resistant lab coat
• Facial shields
• Sharpies
• Pens/pencils/paper
• Handouts

 

Student Performance

END-OF-COURSE OUTCOMES:
Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to do all of the following with at least 70% accuracy as evaluated by the faculty in the program: (Reference: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board-Workforce Education Course Manual)

1. Apply principles of safety, quality assurance, and quality control;
2. Evaluate specimen acceptability;
3. Describe basic morphology and physiology of parasites and fungi;
4. Classify parasites and fungi;
5. Perform appropriate laboratory techniques used in the processing of specimens and identification of parasites and fungi; and
6. Evaluate and correlate test results with patient condition(s).

Specific learning/behavioral objectives for each lecture section and each laboratory exercise are distributed as part of the lecture/laboratory handouts.

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

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Academic dishonesty shall constitute a violation of the college rules and regulations and is punishable as prescribed by Amarillo College Board policies. Academic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to, cheating on a test/quiz/assignment, plagiarism, and collusion. Cheating shall include:

• Copying from another student's test/assignment paper.
• Using test materials not authorized by the person administering the test/assignment (ex: notes, books, etc).
• Collaborating with or seeking aid from another student during a test/assignment without permission from the test/assignment administrator/instructor.
• Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, or soliciting, in whole or in part, the contents of an administered/unadministered test/assignment.
• The unauthorized transporting or removal, in whole or in part, of the contents of the administered/unadministered test/assignment.
• Substituting for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for one's self, to take a test/assignment.
• Bribing another person to obtain an administered/unadministered test/assignment or information about an administered/unadministered test/assignment.

Plagiarism shall be defined as the appropriating, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another's work and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one's own written work.

Collusion shall be defined as the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work for fulfillment of course requirements.

WORK ETHICS
Amarillo College and the Medical Laboratory Technology program are committed to developing knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors in students so that they can obtain entry-level employment and advance in their chosen profession. Great measures are taken to ensure that the curriculum is updated and that equipment is purchased and kept at industry level, as much as possible. Program Advisory committees meet annually to ensure that the curriculum meets the needs of the local medical community as well as the program's national accrediting agency.

We are committed to providing these things to ensure that a graduate has the skills and knowledge to obtain and advance in their chosen profession. Therefore, professional education must address more than academic and skills training in order to meet this challenge. Business and industry state that their greatest need is for employees who possess strong work ethics. Therefore, we accept the challenge of providing not only academic and hands-on training but also work ethics training to students. The work ethics program is important because it provides the link between academic knowledge, skills training and successful employment in the workforce. The program focuses on those behaviors expected in a professional environment.

The following work ethics have been identified as being most important to professional employers, and will be covered and evaluated on a weekly basis, each semester, throughout the program:

• Attendance
• Character
• Teamwork
• Appearance
• Attitude
• Productivity
• Organization
• Communication
• Cooperation
• Respect

NOTE: If a student is absent during a scheduled lecture/lab period, he/she cannot be awarded points for work ethics during that missed lecture/lab period.

CELLULAR TELEPHONES AND PAGERS
Cellular telephones and pagers are disruptive during lecture and lab sessions. Cellular telephones and pagers should be turned-off during class time, or set on vibrate or "blink" during class time. If the student anticipates an emergency during class time, they should leave the number for the Student Services Office with their contact. The number is 371-53.

1. Being asked to leave class for the remainder of the day
2. Mandatory conference with the Dean of Health Sciences
3. Conference with the Vice President of Student Affairs and a permanent entry in the student's official program record
   
   The ONLY exception that will be made is if the student has discussed the situation with their instructor beforehand, and ONLY for emergency purposes.

Grading Criteria

The lecture and laboratory components of this course will be weighted as follows:

Parasitology/Mycology Lecture = 70% of the total grade
Parasitology/Mycology Lab = 20% of the total grade
Work Ethics = 10% of the total grade

Six major examinations, total, will be given over the lecture, lab assignments and reading assignments in both the Parasitology and Mycology portions of this class. A comprehensive examination will be given at the end of the Parasitology section, and a comprehensive examination will be given at the end of the Mycology portion of this class. A comprehensive lab practical will also be given. Lab assignments should be turned in the Monday following the assignment. No credit will be given for assignments, study questions, notebooks, etc... turned in after the specified date. A total accumulative point system is used and then weighted, as noted above, to calculate the final grade average and is comprised of the following:

• In class assignments.
• Outside assignments (Study questions, submitted immediately prior to the examination to which they pertain, are worth a possible total of 10 bonus points, if turned in complete and on time. Notebooks are worth a possible total of 50 points)
• Six unit examinations. (100 points possible per exam)
• One Parasitology and one Mycology comprehensive examination (200 points possible, per exam).
• Comprehensive lab practical. (100 points possible)
• Work ethics: (0-10 possible per class day, based on work ethic discussions, assignments, and student demonstration of positive work ethic qualities, as evaluated by their instructor(s))
   

Study questions/assignments are given in conjunction with each section covered in this course. The examinations for each section are based, for the most part, on the study questions. Although completion of study questions will be optional, students are advised to complete each set of questions as an effective means of studying for examinations. Students who complete the study questions, and submit them via email prior to the day and time the exam to which they pertain opens, may receive a possible 1 extra credit points to be added in to their total points for that exam. No study questions will be accepted in class. If a student is having technical difficulty sending their study questions via email, he/she should save their study questions to a disk, notify their instructor, and ask for assistance in a computer lab at any of the Amarillo College campuses. Students who elect not to complete/turn in their study questions will not be penalized, however they will also be unable to receive the extra credit points.

Students with questions regarding examination results may call or email their instructor with their concerns. The request must be submitted within 1 calendar week after the exam closes. The student will be notified within 1 calendar week if the points have/have not been awarded.

The grading scale used for this course will be applied as follows:

• A = 90.00% - 100% of the total points possible for this course
• B = 80.00% - 89.90% of the total points possible for this course
• C = 70.00% - 79.90% of the total points possible for this course
• F = 69.90% or less of the total points possible for this course

NOTE: A grade of 'D' is not possible

Points earned throughout the semester WILL NOT be rounded when computing the final semester grade.

MANDATORY SKILLS BUILDING/TUTORING:  In an effort to increase retention in MLT courses, and to assist students having difficulty understanding complex subject areas, any student who scores below a 75% on any exam (excluding the Final Exam) must complete a mandatory skills building assignment before taking the next exam. Before receiving a skills assignment, students must first schedule a time with the instructor. The assignment will be given at that time. 

INCOMPLETES
Incompletes are granted only for emergency situations such as hospitalization of the student just prior to the final exam, serious injury to the student on the day of the final exam, etc. Incompletes will not be granted for situations involving vacation plans, transportation difficulties, appointments, etc. Students who need to request an incomplete must do so prior to the scheduled time of the final exam with appropriate documentation given to the instructor.

DROPPING/WITHDRAWING FROM CLASSES
No administrative drops/withdrawals will be initiated by program officials.  It is the responsibility of each student to drop or withdraw from a course. Students can drop a course via WebAdvisor, and must do so prior to the last day to drop/withdraw as posted on the Amarillo College Master Calendar. Students should be aware that failure to attend class does NOT result in being automatically dropped from a course, and WILL result in a grade of "F". 

Students should be advised that they may repeat a MLAB course only one time, and may repeat no more than two courses while enrolled in the program. The term "repeat" shall be interpreted to mean re-enrollment following withdrawal, drop or an unsatisfactory grade from a class. Students who are forced to completely withdraw from the college during a given semester may re-apply for admission to the program. Once the student has actually begun the program, he/she must complete all MLAB major courses within 36 months.

Examinations and quizzes may not be made-up. Students will be given 72 hours to take each unit exam, 48 hours to take the final exam, and 24 hours to take each quiz. If a student experiences problems with his/her computer or internet provider, or if the student is out of town, he/she can access ACconnect from ANY computer equipped with internet service, including public libraries, internet cafes, or at any of the student accessible college computer laboratories. Students are advised NOT to wait until the last minute to take their exams/quizzes.

Once a student logs into a exam/quiz on ACconnect, the timer for that exam/quiz begins and continues until the maximum allowable time for that exam/quiz has expired, regardless of whether the student is online or offline. As a result, students are strongly advised not to log on and off during a(n) exam/quiz.

Late assignments will not be accepted, and laboratory sessions cannot be made-up under any circumstances, due to the nature of the laboratory environment and viability of specimens. Students are also responsible for gathering the information that was covered in lab during their absence.

 Final examinations cannot be made up, unless an incomplete has been granted, and missing the exam will automatically result in an exam grade of "F". Arrangements to receive an incomplete "I" grade for the course must be made prior to the date of the final examination. Incompletes are granted only for emergency situations such as hospitalization of the student just prior to the exam, serious injury to the student on the day of the exam, etc. Incompletes will not be granted for situations involving vacation plans, transportation difficulties, appointments, etc. Students who need to request an incomplete must do so prior to the scheduled time of the final exam with appropriate documentation given to the instructor.

Attendance

Attendance will be noted in the lecture portion of the course, and in lab. Additionally punctuality will be appraised by attendance and also in turning in assignments, completing exams and activities, laboratory exercises, etc. Students should be aware that these are an important component of their Work Ethics evaluations each week.

Calendar

Additional Information

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