Clinical Chemistry Syllabus for 2017-2018
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Course

MLAB-2501-001 Clinical Chemistry

Prerequisites

<p>Corequisite: MLAB 2266</p>

Course Description

An introduction to the principles, procedures, physiological basis and significance of testing performed in Clinical Chemistry. Includes quality control, reference values and safety.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact your advisor, the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(5 sem hrs; 4 lec, 4 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Clinical Chemistry: Fundamentals and Laboratory Techniques, Donna L. Larson. 2017, ISBN: 978-1-4557-4214-1

Mosby's Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference,  2015, ISBN: 978-0-323-22576-2 
(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
• Calculator
• Transparent ruler
• 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 will 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 in Clinical Chemistry;
2. Evaluate specimen acceptability for chemical analysis;
3. Compare and contrast human body chemistry levels under normal and abnormal conditions;
4. Explain and perform procedures found in a clinical chemistry laboratory; and
5. Evaluate laboratory test outcomes 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

• 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.

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

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:
 

Chemistry Lecture = 60% of the total grade

Chemistry Final = 20% of the total grade
Chemistry Lab = 10% of the total grade
Work Ethics = 10% of the total grade
 

Seven major examinations will be given over the lecture and reading material. A comprehensive final will also be given at the end of the course in both the lecture and laboratory portions of this course. Quizzes may be given, announced or unannounced at any time, so the student is advised to complete all assignments in a timely manner in order to be successful on quizzes. No credit will be given for assignments, study questions, etc... turned in/submitted after the specified due date. A total accumulative point system is used, and then the points are weighted according to the categories, as noted above, in order to calculate the final grade average and is comprised of the following:

• Assignments (Lab experiments, 5-15 points possible, each; study questions, 10 points possible; Notebooks, 50 points possible; etc.)
• 7 major Lecture Examinations (100 points possible per exam), 1 lab practical (300 points possible)
• 1 comprehensive final exam (Primarily covers lecture material, however laboratory procedures may be included, in the context of their relationship to the lecture material)
• Quizzes (10-50 points possible, each)
• Work ethics: (0-10 points possible per lecture and per lab, based on student demonstration of positive work ethic qualities, as evaluated by their instructor(s)). In addition, there will be discussions over each of the work ethics. Students will be required to post answers and also to give feedback regarding other student's postings. Each work ethic assignment will be worth an additional 10 points, based on the grading rubric for discussions.

1 comprehensive lecture final exam (200 points, possible)
1 comprehensive lab exam, with written and practical components (200 total points, possible)

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 10 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 = 90.0% - 100.0% of the total points possible for this course
• B = 80.0% - 89.9% of the total points possible for this course
• C = 70.0% - 79.9% of the total points possible for this course
• F = 69.9% 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.  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.  

Once a student logs into an 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, but strongly encouraged to complete and submit all questions for each lab on or before the due date , in order to receive at least some credit for the missed lab.

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".

Attendance

Attendance and punctuality will be noted in this course in both lecture and in lab. Additionally, punctuality will be appraised in turning in assignments, completing exams and activities, labs, quizzes, etc. Students should be aware that these are an important component of their Work Ethics evaluations each week.

Calendar

Additional Information