Diagnostic medical sonography steps session

1. Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Certificate
4 semester program
Admission is based on weighted criteria.
Applications Due:
March 15 of each year to apply for the
following Fall semester on the Grand
Strand Campus.
Next class available Fall of 2016 –
application deadline March 15, 2016.
Late or incomplete applications will not be
reviewed for admission.

3. To Apply for the DMS program you must:
1. Apply to and be accepted at HGTC, which includes paying
the $30 application fee, submitting official high school and
college transcripts and submitting the “Additional
Admission/Placement Requirements Affidavit.”( The
Affidavit is viewable on the next slide and may be printed
from the “Forms” box on the Libguides page.)
2. Complete the 11 prerequisite courses with grades of C or
higher and within the required Departmental time limits.
3. Have a 2.5 GPA on all prerequisite/core courses completed.
4. Sign and submit the Medical Technical Standards
Form.(Found in the “Forms” box on the Libguides page.)
5. Attend an Info Session with the Medical Imaging Science
Department. Info Session dates and times are on your main
Libguides page.

4. Diagnostic Medical Sonography Prerequisite Courses
Required GPA of 2.5 with only C’s or higher accepted
Prerequisites
ENG 101* – English Composition
MAT 110 or 120** – College Algebra or Probability and Statistics
CPT 101 -Introduction to Computers (5 yr. time limit)
BIO 210 ***– Anatomy and Physiology I
BIO 211 – Anatomy and Physiology II (5 yr. time limit)
PHY 118 – Medical Imaging Science – May choose PHY 201 instead
SPC 205 – Public Speaking
PSY 201 – General Psychology
AHS 102 – Medical Terminology (10 yr. time limit)
AHS 110 – Patient Care Procedures(10 year time limit) – Normally offered summer
semester – Must complete BIO 210 first – May substitute AHS 141 or a
healthcare certificate in a field such as Phlebotomy, CNA, Limited
General Rad Tech, etc.
Humanities – choose one humanities(ART 101, 105, 108, ENG 201, 202, 205, 206, 208,
209,214,224,FRE 201,202,HIS 101,102,201,202, MUS 105, PHI 101, 110, 201,
REL 103, SPA 201, 202, THE 101)
*English Progression/dependent on test scores: ENG 032-ENG 100-ENG 101 – ENG 102
**Math Progression/dependent on test scores: MAT 032-MAT 101-MAT 120
MAT 032-MAT 101-MAT 102-MAT 110
***BIO 210 has a prerequisite of BIO 101, BIO 112 or CHM 110 or the required test scores:
Compass: Reading – 85, Writing – 78, Algebra – 46
SAT: Verbal - 480, Math – 440
ACT: Reading -19, English – 19, Math-21

5. Information Session with the Department Chair
This session will be attended in person. No need to
schedule ahead - just show up.
During this time the Medical Imaging Sciences faculty
will inform you about classes, clinicals, fees, jobs, and
many things you need to know about working in the
field of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. This is a great
time to have your questions answered.
You will be able to take a tour of HGTC’s Medical
Imaging Science educational facilities and see the
state of the art equipment you will be training to use.
The dates and times of the sessions are available on
your health science Libguides page,
http://libguides.hgtc.edu/healthscience

7. The scoring criteria in the previous slide is used to
determine which applicants will be accepted into the
DMS program.10 students with the highest number of
points are accepted each year.
Every year scores vary. Based on prior years students
with 49 points or higher were accepted. Obtaining
these points does not guarantee acceptance.
Acceptance depends on your points vs. the points of
the other applicants at that time. Therefore
admissible points may change each review period.
Acceptance into the DMS program is limited and
competitive. There is no guarantee of acceptance.
Your grades are very important. Even though the
minimum GPA requirement is 2.50 you should strive
for a much higher GPA.

8. Be the Best Applicant You Can Be!
Applying with the highest number of points you can obtain is
important!!!
Increase your points by:
Taking 12 or more credit hours (excluding developmental courses) at HGTC.
Applying for and obtaining residency status – go to
http://www.hgtc.edu/admissions/residency.html for a residency application. Obtaining a
South Carolina driver’s license and car registration (if the car is in your name) are normally
an important part of this process. Read the application and instructions carefully.
Applying with the best grades possible! The grades on your prerequisite courses play a
large part in DMS acceptance. Have a C in MAT 120? You will only receive one point for a C
but if you have an A you receive 5 points. Consider retaking MAT 120 or take MAT 110 (has
a prereq of MAT 102) to achieve a higher grade. Your grades in your other prereq courses
are just as important.
You can also increase your points by increasing your GPA as you will see in the Academic
Rigor section of the point criteria. You can use the calculator on the Libguides page to see
how much your GPA will increase by retaking or taking a different course in the same
prereq category and receiving a higher grade. Always check with financial aid before
retaking courses as it may affect your Satisfactory Academic Progress if you retake too
many or already have W’s, F’s or D’s in other courses.
Obtaining certification in a patient care field. This is a great way to increase your points
and gain skills for a job. Working full time in the health care field with your certification
increases your points even more.
Popular certifications in the health care field include Phlebotomy and CNA (Certified
Nursing Assistant).

9. Be the Best Applicant You Can Be!
Phlebotomy Certification
HGTC offers a 2 semester, 5 course Phlebotomy certificate which can be
obtained while you are completing your prereqs for DMS.
Complete AHS 102, BIO 112 or 210, AHS 141 and AHS 106 first and then you will
be eligible to take AHS 143 – a Phlebotomy clinical class – to complete your
certification. You will then be eligible for extra points on your DMS Application.
CNA Certification
A CNA may be obtained through the Workforce Development Department of
HGTC. You may view more information about this course at
www.hgtc.edu/jobtraining. Completion of this certificate will make you eligible
for extra points on your DMS application.
If you are health care certified and have worked in a patient care field for a
year or longer within the last 24 months you may be eligible for extra points
on your application. Obtain a letter from your employer, on letter head, which
includes your employers contact information, a brief description of your job
and the dates you have been employed. The employment must be within the
last two years. Submit this letter with your application. The DMS Department
will review it and determine if you qualify for “Previous Experience” points.
Please submit copies of all health care certifications with your application to
receive points. Certifications must be obtained within the last two years –
unless you are currently employed in your field of certification and are
submitting a letter from your employer along with your certification.

10. These requirements must be completed AFTER being accepted
into the program. The college will provide you with the
instructions about when to complete these requirements in your
notification of initial acceptance into the program. Please plan
ahead to cover the costs of these items. Failure to complete
these requirements within the designated time frame will
prohibit your progression into the program.
• Submit $500.00 deposit to reserve your seat. This is an out of pocket expense
– not covered by financial aid.
• Pass Certified Background Check and Drug Screening – cost to you is $106.00.
The return of an unfavorable CBS and/or UDS may result in student being
removed from desired program. Clinical sites/facilities determine applicant’s
eligibility to participate in clinical studies based on their policies. If you
complete the background check before being instructed to do so you will have
to redo it and pay the $106 again. The Background Check and payment of $106
will be required every semester while in the program.
• Complete a Health Physical and submit proof of required immunizations.
(Physical cost is your responsibility so plan ahead financially.)
• Show proof of current Health Care Providers CPR. You may take a class through
HGTC’s Workforce Development Department. Register at
www.hgtc.edu/jobtraining. This course costs $69 and in addition will require
the purchase of a book and mask.

11. Other expenses for which you are responsible may include,
but are not limited to the items listed here. These are
approximate and costs may vary slightly.

12. Diagnostic Medical Sonography is a 4 semester Certificate program
beginning each Fall semester(August) on the Grand Strand
Campus. Classes and clinicals associated with this program are
during the day. Once accepted you will attend year round,
including summer. Please plan ahead financially as you may not
receive financial aid for the summer.
Clinicals rotations will vary but require attendance 2-4 days per
week dependent on the semester. Students may have to travel up
to a 50 mile radius to fulfill clinical requirements so
transportation and gas money must be available.

13. Thank you for completing the Power
Point STEPS session.
Please view the checklist
underneath the STEPS session on
the Libguides page and submit it to
receive credit for the required
session.
You will need your H number
(Student ID number) to submit the
checklist.