Parasitology/Mycology Syllabus for 2020-2021
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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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

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The Tutoring for Success policy applies to any student whose grade or performance in the course falls below a departmentally determined minimum threshold. In either of those cases, the instructor will direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. Under this policy, the instructor will follow specific departmental guidelines governing the use, duration, and grade component of the tutoring need.

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 course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are 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. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

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Course

MLAB-1231-002 Parasitology/Mycology

Prerequisites

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 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:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact 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

(2 sem hrs; 1 lec, 3 lab)

Class Type

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Medical Parasitology - A Self-Instructional Text - 7th Edition, Leventhal & Cheadle, ISBN-13: 978-0-8036-7579-7

Textbook of Diagnostic Microbiology by Connie R. Mahon, Donald C. Lehman and George Manuselis Lippincott, 2019, ISBN: 978-0323089890 (Previously purchased)

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

Mosby's Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference, 2011, ISBN: 0-323-07405-7 (Previously purchased)

Supplies

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

• Textbook(s) and/or lab manual
• 2 inch notebook
  • Tabs/dividers
  • Numbering dots
• Scientific calculator
• Transparent ruler
• Map colors/colored pencils
• Computer
• 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.

Students may not use books, computer websites, phones, smartwatches or collaborate with another individual when completing quizzes, exams, or assignments in this course unless specifically directed to do so by their instructor.

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 SMARTWATCHES
Cellular telephones and smartwatches are disruptive during lecture and lab sessions. Phones and smartwatches should be turned-off or silenced during class time. If the student anticipates an emergency during class time, they should inform the instructor.

Phones and smartwatches may not be used during exams and quizzes. Phones may not be used as a calculator during exams and quizzes.

 

Personal Computers

Personal computers with internet access are required for the majority of in class exams. Respondance Lockdown Browser must be downloaded and will be used for all exams and quizzes. The exams and quizzes must be taken in class unless you have made arrangements with the instructor. Missing class and taking quizzes or exams at another location will result in a zero for that quiz or exam.

Computers use during class must be limited to class activities.

Text/Instant Messaging is NOT permitted when lectures and labs are in session. It is disruptive and disrespectful to fellow students and the course instructor. Students who are caught engaging in either of these will be subject to disciplinary action including, but not limited to:

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.

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
If a student is having a problem with the course policies or the instructor, he or she should first try and resolve any such problems through the instructor. If the problem is not resolved, the student may proceed to the Program Director, the Dean of Health Sciences, Vice President of Academic Affairs, and the College President, IN THAT ORDER.

Grading Criteria

This is a Hybrid course. All lecture material will be covered online through PowerPoints, videos, exercises, etc. The laboratory section of this course will be On-Campus Mondays from 12:30-3:00 pm throughout the semester. Students will be expected to do all reading, tests, and other assignments online and be prepared with any questions that may arise to be asked during laboratory hours. The instructor will always be available via email to answer any questions. 

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

Lecture (55% of total grade)

          4 Parasitology exams 

          2 Mycology Exams 

           Notebooks 

Laboratory (20% of total grade)

           Laboratory assignments 

           Lab Practical

Work Ethics (5% of total grade)

            Weekly assessments (Discussion Boards and Lab Participation) 

Comprehensive Final Exams = 20%

            Parasitology Final (Comprehensive)

            Mycology Final (Comprehensive)

         

Study questions/assignments are given in conjunction with each section covered in this course. 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. Additional points will be added to exam grades for that week upon completion of the study questions. Points awarded will be based on completeness and accuracy with the maximum amount of points being 10. 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.

If a student makes below a 75% on an exam, they will be required to submit the study questions for the following exam before they are allowed to take that exam.

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.

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.

Attendance

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class. Attendance is included in the Work Ethic grade throughout the course which is a component of the overall grade for this course. Attendance includes arriving for class late and leaving early.  Less than 90% attendance in a course may result in failure of the course.  Students are required to notify faculty in advance of class absence.

Calendar

Additional Information

No additional information available