Parasitology/Mycology Syllabus for 2021-2022
Return to Syllabus List

Instructor Information

Course Information

COVID-19 Protocols

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 Student Service Center office 112. 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:

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.

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 .

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

• Portable tablet or laptop for testing with Respondus Lockdown Browser installed

• Scientific calculator

• Internet access

• Printer and printing supplies

• 2-inch notebook with dividers

• Disposable, medical grade, latex free gloves

• Disposable lab coats

• Pens/pencils/paper/sharpies

• Handouts

Student Performance

Students are expected to complete all reading assignments, written assignments, quizzes and exams.  All assignments, as well as their due dates are noted on the course calendar.  It is the student’s responsibility to check the course calendar regularly, and complete all assignments by their due date.  If a student knows that he or she is going to be absent when an assignment is due, he/she needs to contact the course instructor to turn in the assignment early.  Laboratory assignments cannot be made up.  If a student misses a lab session, he/she needs to review that lab sessions and complete any questions that accompany the assignment.

MLAB 1231 – Parasitology/Mycology Learning Objectives

Cognitive Objectives:

After attending lecture, reading the assigned materials, and completing all assignments and activities for this course, the student will be able to do the following:

1. State the general characteristics of parasites.
2. State the scientific and common names of organisms that parasitize humans.
3. State the geographic distribution and relative incidence of the medically important parasites.
4. Describe the life-cycle of various parasites, including vectors and intermediate hosts.
5. Discuss the epidemiology and medical importance of parasitic infections.
6. Describe the morphology of adult and larval forms of various parasites.
7. Discriminate between the cyst and trophozoite stages on the basis of the morphologic criteria.
8. Describe the basic laboratory test procedures utilized to identify parasitic infections, including instrumentation, procedural principles, specimen requirements, and troubleshooting.
9. Discuss how the development of genetic resistance to chemicals affects protozoal diseases.
10. Predict the effects of immunosuppression on patients harboring various parasites.
11. Discuss safety precautions to use when working with systemic pathogens.
12. Identify various fungi from microscopic/macroscopic appearance, biochemical characteristics, hair fluorescence, growth requirements, epidemiology, and pathology.
13. Predict the prognosis and propose viable treatment options for infections with parasites/fungi.
14. Given a scenario and/or laboratory data, the student will evaluate the information given and formulate a probable diagnosis for human infection with various parasites/fungi.
15. Recommend reflex testing, as appropriate, for definitive diagnosis of parasitic/fungal infections.

Psychomotor Objectives:

After attending lecture and laboratory sessions and reading the assigned materials, the student will be able to:

16. Demonstrate knowledge of the vocabulary utilized in this course by completing all study questions and other assigned learning activities.
17. Resolve case studies in Parasitology/Mycology based on information provided.
18. Collaborate on classroom discussions and question/answer sessions.
19. Perform laboratory exercises as directed and answer all questions associated with each individual laboratory assignment.

Affective Objectives:

During this section, the students will exhibit the following professional behaviors, as evaluated in the Work Ethics component of this course:

20. The student will attend all lecture and laboratory sessions.
21. The student will perform all reading assignments, take his/her exams/quizzes, and complete all assigned activities independently, unless asked to work with a partner.
22. The student will demonstrate the honesty and integrity to perform these tasks, as expected, with emphasis on quality and timeliness.
23. The student will participate in discussions regarding honesty, integrity and responsibility, as they relate to legal and ethical issues in the clinical laboratory.
24. The student will demonstrate respect for his/her classmates, instructor, and all other students regardless of their race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion or disability.

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, 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.

Phones and Smartwatches

Phones and smartwatches are disruptive during lecture and lab sessions. Phones and smartwatches should be turned-off during class time, or set on vibrate 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 371-5300

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.

Grading Criteria

This is a Hybrid course. Lecture material and lab will be covered in-person. Additional assignments will be given in an online format. The lecture and laboratory components of this course will be weighted as follows:

Lecture (55% of the total grade)

              4 Parasitology Exams

              2 Mycology Exams

              Assignments

              Notebook

Lab (15% of the total grade)

Lab Experiments/Study Questions: Please note that if the lab has study questions associated with it, they will be due at the beginning of class/lab. Study questions are to prepare the student for the laboratory exercise. The student will not be permitted to participate in lab if they have not completed the study questions.

              Lab Practical

Work Ethics (10% of the total grade)

              Weekly assessments (Lecture, Discussion Boards, Lab Participation)

Points awarded will be based on ALL areas defined in the Work Ethics component of this course including: Attendance, Character, Teamwork, Appearance, Attitude, Productivity, Organization, Communication, Cooperation, and Respect. Failure to demonstrate positive work ethics in any of these components will result in points being deducted from the student’s work ethics grade. If the student is disruptive to the class or lab, they will be asked to leave for the remainder of the day, and will not be awarded points for work ethics.

Final Exam (20% of the total grade)

              Parasitology Final (Comprehensive)

              Mycology Final (Comprehensive)

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.

Late Assignment Policy

Students are required to observe and abide by all assignment due dates. Assignments turned in after the specified date will only be accepted at the discretion of the instructor. Assignments that are time-sensitive, or are required prior to completing other tasks (ex. Pre-lab assignments), may not be accepted.

Zero credit or reduced credit (maximum grade given will be equivalent to a reduction in 2 letter grades) will be given for assignments turned in after the specified date. This is at the discretion of the instructor. It is essential that students be aware of all assignment due dates.

Mandatory Tutoring

If a student makes a grade below a 75% on any given exam, they will be required to attend and show proof of a minimum of 1 hour of tutoring as directed by the instructor. Tutoring will need to be completed prior to the next exam. If there are scheduling conflicts, the instructor must be notified immediately in order to provide alternative skill-building assignments.

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 also 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 (unless the instructor determines extreme situation attributed). Students will be given a specific date and time during which they are to complete exams/quizzes. Laboratory sessions cannot be made-up under any circumstances due to the nature of the laboratory environment and viability of specimens. Laboratory study questions may be turned in no more than 1 week late to receive half credit. 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".

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 Associate Dean of Health Sciences, the Dean of Health Sciences, the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, the Vice President of Academic Affairs, and the College President, IN THAT ORDER

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