Clinical Chemistry Syllabus for 2026-2027
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Instructor Information

Course Information

AI Statement

Collusion is defined as “the unauthorized collaboration with another person or by any other means, including artificial intelligence (AI) and computer translators, in preparing work for fulfillment of course requirements.” Using AI like (ChatGPT or Google Gemini) to create a document is considered colluding. The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence on specific assignments is at the discretion of the instructor.

Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Reporting

Amarillo College prohibits discrimination and harassment based on sex, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, under Title IX and Texas Education Code §51.253–255. Faculty and staff are mandatory reporters and must share any related concerns with the Title IX Coordinator at titleix@actx.edu. Reports and additional information are available at https://www.actx.edu/hr/title-ixtitle-ix. Confidential counseling and advocacy services are available through the Counseling Center and Advocacy & Resource Center.

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.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

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:

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.

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 .

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

MLAB-2401-001 Clinical Chemistry

Prerequisites

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 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

Hours

(4 sem hrs 3 lec 3 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 in class testing with Respondus lockdown browser installed
• 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

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 are weighted as follows:
Chemistry Lecture = 65% of the total grade

Chemistry Final = 25% of the total grade
Chemistry Lab = 5% of the total grade
Work Ethics = 5% of the total grade

Six major examinations, one per unit and equally weighted, are given over the lecture and reading material. Homework questions for each chapter/unit must be completed before the beginning of the class in which that content will be discussed.  At the beginning of class there will be a quiz over the homework questions, and if the student has not completed the homework questions they will not be allowed to take the quiz. A Unit Review Packet is assigned ahead of each Unit Exam to reinforce high-yield content and must be submitted for credit. 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:

• Unit Exams (6 total, 65% of the Lecture category) – 100 points possible each (600 points total)
• Quizzes (15% of the Lecture category) – 20 points possible each
• Homework (10% of the Lecture category) – 20 points possible each
• Unit Review Packets (6 total, 10% of the Lecture category) – 20 points possible each (120 points total)
• 1 comprehensive Final Exam, combining a written lecture final and a Lab Practical component (written and hands-on)
• Data Collection (50% of the Lab category) – 20 points possible per lab
• Study Questions (50% of the Lab category) – 20 points possible per lab
• Work Ethics: Attendance, punctuality, and professionalism in both lecture and lab are evaluated weekly and recorded as the Work Ethics grade. Punctuality is also assessed in the timely completion of assignments, exams, quizzes, and labs. A brief learning survey is also administered periodically to assess student preparation with the assigned Reading Guide content, worth 5 points per survey and factored into the Work Ethics grade.

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

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

• A = 90% – 100% of the total points possible for this course
• B = 80% – 89% of the total points possible for this course
• C = 75% – 79% of the total points possible for this course
• F = Below 75% 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 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 in emergency situations, such as the student's hospitalization just prior to the final exam or a serious injury on the day of the final exam. Incompletes will not be granted for vacation plans, transportation difficulties, appointments, or similar situations. Students who need to request an incomplete must do so prior to the scheduled time for the final exam, with appropriate documentation provided 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 AC Connect, 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 automatically result in being dropped from a course, and WILL result in a grade of “F”.  Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped.

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 withdraw from the college during a given semester may reapply for admission to the program. Once the student has actually begun the program, they must complete all MLAB major courses within 36 months.

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline. Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education for the first time in 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 website.

Examinations and quizzes may not be made-up. 

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, PUNCTUALITY & WORK ETHICS

“Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class in accordance with the requirements of the course as established by the instructor.” (Amarillo College Student's Rights and Responsibilities Publication)

Attendance is defined as being present, alert, and engaged for the entire class or lab session, in both in-person and virtual formats. Students who fall asleep or fail to participate may be asked to leave and will be marked absent. For this program, instances of tardiness or leaving a class period more than 15 minutes early will result in an absence, and any student who leaves class or lab early is counted absent.

Absences are monitored and evaluated in determining a student's final course grade; a student with less than 90% attendance in class or lab may fail the course, as absenteeism jeopardizes successful completion. Students must report any anticipated class or lab absence to the instructor in advance.

Attendance and punctuality will be noted in this course in both lecture and lab. Punctuality is also assessed in the timely completion of assignments, exams, activities, labs, and quizzes. Students should be aware that these are important components of their weekly Work Ethics evaluations.

Calendar

Additional Information