Diagnostic Medical Sonography, AAS

The Associates of Applied Science degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography program provides educational experiences and all coursework necessary to prepare the student as sonographer and qualify the graduate for the credential exam offered by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS) for Abdominal Sonography-Extended, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Vascular concentrations.

Applying for the DMS program at Temple College  

Students desiring admission to the DMS program must:

1. Be admitted to Temple College.
2. Attend a DMS information session. Dates of the session are posted on the Temple College DMS web page.
3. Complete the HESI test with a minimum score of 80% in each area (Anatomy and Physiology, Math, and Reading).  The composite score will be used to award points. You may take the HESI test twice during the application year and it must have been completed within the past year.
4. Furnish all official transcripts from all schools attended including all prerequisite course grades.
   1. All official transcripts must be sent directly to the Admissions & Records Office. A separate copy of your transcript should be sent to the DMS Department.
   2. The prerequisites must be completed prior to the start of the DMS Program, with a minimum of a “C” in each course and a collective GPA of 2.5.
   3. Students who apply for admission while prerequisite courses are still in progress may furnish official transcripts after the application process closes, provided a letter addressing this fact accompanies the application. 
5. Submit a copy of any health care credential already earned (if applicable).  If you already carry a credential or license, obtained before the application deadline, you must be in good standing with your credentialing or licensing body.

 Admission into the DMS program is competitive.

1. Admission is based on GPA in general education courses that apply to the DMS curriculum, admission exam score (HESI), healthcare licensure/certification if applicable, and interview results.
2. Prerequisite courses MUST be completed with a 2.0 or higher and an overall GPA of 2.5 higher to be eligible for consideration. Courses must be completed within the last 5 years, or subject to approval by DMS Department Chair. Required courses are: MATH 1314   College Algebra; PHYS 1401  /PHYS 1407   College Physics, ENGL 1301  English Composition, and BIOL 2401   Anatomy and Physiology I.
3. Co-Requisite courses may be completed prior to application, but MUST have a 2.0 GPA or higher with an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher;
4. Applicants are ranked according to a ranking criterion.  The highest-ranking applicants will be asked to interview with the DMS Admissions Committee.  Those applicants selected for the interview process will be provided with a date and time for the interview.
5. After the completion of the interview, the highest candidates will be offered conditional acceptance in the program.

Conditional Acceptance

Students accepted into the program must submit the following within 2 weeks of notification of conditional acceptance:

1. Submit a completed medical examination form verifying good physical and mental health. Documentation should include the physician notation that the applicant should be able to perform the physical requirements of the program.  Refer to the application packet for current technical standards.
2. Submit immunization records or titer results for required immunizations.  See application packet for current requirements. 
3. Provide documentation of a satisfactory criminal background check. See application packet for current requirements.
4. Provide documentation of current American Heart Association BLS Healthcare provider CPR Card. 

Promotion

Once a student begins the DMS program curriculum, it is expected that the student will continue to progress directly to the next semester’s courses. In order to do this, the student must:

1. Have completed all required courses with a “C” grade (2.0 based on a 4.0 scale) or better.
2. Be concurrently enrolled in required academic courses for that semester, or have previously passed these courses with a minimum grade of “C” (2.0).
3. Maintain good academic standing according to Temple College polices.
4. Meet all general Temple College requirements (be approved for registration).

In all DMS courses, the following grading scale will be used:

 

Numerical Value Letter Grade Points

92-100                   A                             4.0

85-91                     B                             3.0

78-84                     C                             2.0

Below 78               F                              0

Clinical Experiences and Travel Requirements

A significant portion of the student’s learning experience occurs at clinical sites that provide access to large numbers of patients presenting for specific sonographic examinations.  Some of these clinical sites may be far from the main campus.  DMS students must be available for clinical rotations during day, evening, and weekend shifts. Temple College and the DMS Department assume no responsibility for expenses incurred because of travel or transportation required to satisfy course requirements. 

Accommodations

Students must be able to successfully complete all course and program requirements to complete the program.  Applicants who believe they have a disability that will require accommodations during the application process or during their enrollment should contact the DMS Department as early as possible.