Anatomy and Physiology I Syllabus for 2026-2027
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Enrollment Center, Suite 700. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
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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

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

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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Statement on State-Authorized Courses at Amarillo College

For-credit academic and workforce education courses offered at Amarillo College are limited to the course options available in the statewide inventory for two-year public institutions. Courses in the state-authorized lower-division Academic Course Guide Manual and Workforce Education Course Manual have specific descriptions that prescribe course content and may include specific student learning outcomes. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) maintains and regularly updates these manuals. Amarillo College faculty and leaders ensure that these courses are aligned with THECB guidelines and evaluated based on student performance outcomes. Students enrolled in these courses are expected to engage with and learn course content. According to the AC Board of Regents Policy Manual, "faculty members are entitled to academic freedom in the conduct of research and teaching and are tasked with the associated responsibilities" (DGC). Students are entitled to academic freedom in the classroom, as well, and faculty "must not attempt to force on students a personal viewpoint and must at all times allow diversity of opinion" (Amarillo College Academic Affairs Manual).

Course

BIOL-2401-032 Anatomy and Physiology I

Prerequisites

Course Description

Anatomy and Physiology I is the first part of a two course sequence. It is a study of the structure and function of the human body including cells, tissues and organs of the following systems: integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous and special senses. Emphasis is on interrelationships among systems and regulation of physiological functions involved in maintaining homeostasis. The lab provides hands-on learning experience for exploration of human system components and basic physiology.

Student Resources Student 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

(4 sem hrs 3 lec 3 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Required:

Anatomy and Physiology: An Integrative Approach (2025 release), V.D. O'Laughlin, et. al

ISBN# 978-1-265-39484-4 (bound); ISBN# 978-1-265-21989-5 (loose leaf)

*can be purchased in a printed version (preferred) or potentially can be purchased as digital textbook

Anatomy and Physiology: An Integrative Approach, Laboratory Manual, cat/pig version, (2025 release), L. Day, et al

ISBN# 978-1-265-22014-3

*the lab manual can be purchased as spiral bound book (bookstore) -  preferred method

Supplies

Highly recommended:

Windows based PC (laptop or desktop), Mac Book (contact CTL for assistance in determining Blackboard compatibility), or preferred tablet (MS Surface, Apple iPad, etc) having audio and video capability, i.e., a webcam

     *Web browser for PC/Mac Book used for classwork, lectures, lab practicals, online quizzes must be Google Chrome

Chromebooks are not recommended due to infrequent compatibility issues with Blackboard Collaborate and online quizzing

Student Performance

Learning Outcomes:

1. Use anatomical terminology to identify and describe locations of major organs of each system covered.
2. Explain interrelationships among molecular, cellular, tissue and organ functions in each system.
3. Describe the interdependency and interactions of the systems.
4. Explain contributions of organs and systems to the maintenance of homeostasis.
5. Identify causes and effects of homeostatic imbalances.
6. Describe modern technology and tools used to study anatomy and physiology.
7. Apply appropriate safety and ethical standards.
8. Locate and identify anatomical structures.
9. Appropriately utilize laboratory equipment, such as microscopes, dissection tools, general lab ware, physiology data acquisition systems and virtual simulations.
10. Work collaboratively to perform experiments.
11. Demonstrate the steps involved in the scientific method.
12. Communicate results of scientific investigations, analyze data and formulate conclusions.
13. Use critical thinking and scientific problem-solving skills, including, but not limited to, inferring, integrating, synthesizing and summarizing to make decisions, recommendations and predictions.

Students 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

Grievance Procedure:

If a student is having a problem with the course policies and/or instructor, he/she should first try to resolve any such problem with the instructor. If the problem is not resolved, the student may proceed first to the Biology department chair (Dr. Dan Porter), then to the Dean of STEM (Dr. Edythe Carter), the Vice President for Academic Affairs (Frank Sobey), and lastly, the college President (Dr. Jamelle J Connor), IN THAT ORDER.  

Cell Phones are not prohibited during non-examination class meetings, but please be considerate of others. If your cell phone goes off during a quiz or practical you will receive a zero on that online quiz and a 25% reduction of your grade on that practical. 

TEXTING: Continuous texting in class by a student may be a distraction to others and shall be addressed on an individual basis by the instructor. If it is determined to be an issue, the student may be asked to leave the room. Continual abuse of this policy will result with the student being referred to the Dean of Student Services.

You may bring drink into lecture; however, if you spill something, please clean up after yourself. No food or drink will be allowed during the laboratory section of class.

Academic integrity is a core principle of Amarillo College. Therefore, any student that has been found to be dishonest through cheating on quizzes, lecture exams, or laboratory practicals will automatically receive a zero on that assignment. The subsequent student will also be referred to the Dean of Student Services.

Grading Criteria

GRADING:

100 - 90     A

80 - 89       B

70 - 79       C

60 - 69       D

Below 60   F      

Grades will not be curved nor will points be added to any grade. One-half point will be deducted for each misspelled word.

No make up will be given for missed lecture quizzes, major exams, manual credits or practicals. A grade of zero will be given for any missed lecture quiz or major exam.

COURSE INFORMATION

LECTURE:

One-half (50%) of the total grade for the semester

• 5 Major Exams, STC - Multiple Choice, completion/short answer, essay
• Quizzes, online - Average of at least 10 quizzes will be equal to one major exam (to be dropped, if applicable). Quizzes will consist of 10 questions. You will have up to 15 minutes to complete the quiz.

LABORATORY:

One-fourth (25%) of the total grade for the semester

• 3 lab practicals - Completion
• Common Assessment - observational study to be performed part in lab and outside of class and submitted online.
• Manual grade - Average of completed lab manual assignments will be equal to one practical grade (to be dropped). Assignments will be based on a 95 point scale and reviewed periodically throughout the semester.

FINAL EXAM:

One-fourth (25%) of the total grade for the semester

• Final exam (comprehensive); Multiple choice and 1 essay

SCIENCE TESTING CENTER:

All exams will be taken in the Science Testing Center (Ware, rm 123). Any exam not taken in the STC will result in an automatic zero. See STC for hours of operation. You will need to schedule your testing time and must present your AC ID when arriving to take a test.

https://bookings.cloud.microsoft/book/ScienceTestingCenter2@actx.edu/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true

SCIENCE ENRICHMENT CENTER:

Note: If a student receives a grade lower than a 75 on a major exam, that student MUST  attend a tutoring session of no less than 60 minutes in the Science Enrichment Center (Ware, rm 410) PRIOR to the next major exam. Tutoring may be virtual versus in-person; contact SEC (806 345-5536) for specifics; students must schedule a tutoring time. The SEC will do its best to accommodate a student’s schedule within the SEC hours of operation (see additional information below).

https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/ScienceTutoringCenter@actx.edu/bookings/

If the student fails to attend the 60 minute tutoring prior to the next major exam, that student WILL NOT BE ALLOWED to take the major exam. The student will receive a grade of zero on that major exam.

Attendance

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. It is your responsibility to attend class. Attendance will be audibly taken until the census day. Attendance will be taken electronically via the AVISO system. Students who attend class every day and participate usually do much better than those who do not.

A grade of W will be given for a student-initiated drop or withdraw on or before the day of drop (see college bulletin).

Calendar

Additional Information

Science Testing Center Hours:                               Science Enrichment Center Hours:

Monday - Thursday   8am - 9pm                                Monday - Thursday     8am - 8pm

Friday/Saturday         8/9am - 9/8pm                             Friday/Saturday          9am - 6pm

Sunday                     Closed                                        Sunday                       Closed

Dates of Importance:

Sept 7                     Labor Day - No class

Oct 19 - 23             Fall break - No class

Nov 24                    Last day to drop

Nov 25 - 27            Thanksgiving break - No class

Dec 10                     Last day of class

Dec 14 – 18           Finals Week