Diagnostic Medical Sonography STEPS Session

1. Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Advanced Certificate
4 semester program beginning each Fall on
the Grand Strand Campus.
Admission is based on weighted criteria.
Applications Due: March 15 for the next
available Fall semester.
Late or incomplete applications will not be
reviewed for admission.

2. 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 slide 3 and
may be printed from the “Forms” box on the Libguides page.)
2. Complete the 11 prerequisite courses (slide 4) with grades of C
or higher and within the required Departmental time limits.
3. Achieve 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,
http://Libguides.hgtc.edu/healthscience)
5. View the Diagnostic Medical Sonography online Departmental
Information Session found on www.hgtc.edu/healthscience.
6. Submit a completed application, to the Admissions office on any
campus, by the application deadline of March 15.

3. This is an example
of the Additional
Admission
Placement
Requirement
Affidavit. The full
document may be
found in the Forms
box on the
Libguides page.
Complete and
submit the
Affidavit to the
Admissions office.
Do not complete
the Background
Check or Drug
Screen process
until after
receiving
notification of
being accepted
into your program
and receiving
instructions on
when to do so.

4. Diagnostic Medical Sonography Prerequisite Courses
Required GPA of 2.5 and grades of C or higher
ENG 101* – English Composition
MAT 110 or 120** – College Algebra or Probability and Statistics
CPT 101/CPT 170/COL 105 -Introduction to Computers (5 yr. time limit)/Microcomputers
(5 yrs.)/Freshman Seminar
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 placement test scores: ENG 032 - ENG 100 - ENG 101 – ENG 102
**Math Progression/dependent on placement 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 placement test scores:
Accuplacer: Reading – 75, Sentence Skills – 81, Algebra - 75
Compass: Reading – 85, Writing – 78, Algebra – 46
SAT: Verbal - 480, Math – 460
ACT: Reading -19, English – 19, Math-19

5. Online Department Information Session
The Medical Imaging Sciences online information
session provides important information about
classes, clinicals, fees, jobs, and other information
you need to know about working in the field of
Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Many of your
questions will be answered by viewing this
required presentation.
You will find the online Information Session on the
Health Science Libguides page you are currently
viewing or on www.hgtc.edu/healthscience.

6. Weighted Criteria
The scoring criteria in the next slide is used to
determine which applicants will be accepted into the
DMS program. The 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.

7. CRITERIA POINT SCALE
Previous Allied Health Experience Involving Patient Care: Certification
Required
 1 year or more of full-time work (32hrs/wk equivalency) in a
clinical/hospital setting requiring patient care within 2 years.
OR
Recent graduates of an AS degree or higher in Allied
Health/Nursing within 2 years.
 1 year of part time or volunteer work (10 minimum wk/
equivalency) in a clinical/hospital setting requiring patient care
within 2 years.
OR
Recent graduates of certificates/diplomas in Allied
Health/Nursing within 2 years.
10 Points
7 points
Established HGTC student with at least 12 or more semester hours
(excluding developmental courses)
10 Points
Education and Academic Rigor: (maximum 50 points)
AHS102/104 _____ BIO210 _____ BIO211 _____
CPT101/CPT170/COL105 _____ ENG101 _____ MAT120/110
_____ PSY201 _____ SPC205 _____ PHY 118 _____
Humanities _____
A=5 points
B-3 points
C=1 point
Residency (as established by the College)
Horry-Georgetown County
In-State/Out-of-County
2 points
1 point
Previous College Performance
Master Degree
Bachelor Degree
Associate Degree
4 points
3 points
2 points
Max Points 76 points
WEIGHTED VALUES FOR SELECTION PROCESS

8. Be the Best Applicant You Can Be!
Applying with the highest number of points you can obtain is important!!!
Ways to Increase your points:
Take 12 or more credit hours (excluding developmental courses) at HGTC.
Apply 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 receive one
point for that course in the “Education and Academic Rigor” section of the
weighted criteria but an A in the course will give you 5 points. Consider
retaking MAT 120, or take MAT 110 ( which has a prereq of MAT 102), to
achieve a higher grade. Your grades in your other prereq courses are just as
important. Discuss options for increasing points in this category with your
Health Science Advisor.
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.
Apply for and obtain residency status – Visit
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 an important part of this process. Read the application and
instructions carefully.
Obtain 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, EKG Tech,
and CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant).

9. Obtain a Certification in a Patient Care Field
(optional – to increase points)
If you are health care certified and have worked in a patient care field for a
year or longer within the 24 months prior to applying for the DMS program 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. Submit
this letter with your application. The DMS Department will review it and
determine if you qualify for “Previous Allied Health Experience” points.
You may also obtain certifications in the Allied Health areas listed below to
receive points in the “Previous Allied Health Experience” section of the
weighted criteria on the application. Please submit copies of all health care
certifications with your application to receive points. Certifications must be
obtained within two years of applying for the program unless you were
employed in your field of certification within the two years prior to applying
and are submitting a letter from your employer along with your certification.
Phlebotomy Certification
HGTC offers a 2 semester 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. Then you will be eligible to take AHS 143 –
Phlebotomy Skills – to complete your certification.
CNA Certification
HGTC offers CNA certification by taking the course AHS 163- Long-Term Care. A
CNA certificate may also be obtained through the Workforce Development
Department of HGTC. You may view more information about this course at
www.hgtc.edu/jobtraining.

10. 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.

11. The following requirements must be completed AFTER initial
acceptance into the program.
The college will provide you with the instructions about when
and how to complete these requirements if you are notified of
acceptance. 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 a $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 $112.00.
The return of an unfavorable CBS and/or UDS may result in a student being
removed from the 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 $112 again. The Background Check, drug
screening, and payment of $112 will be required each 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 approximately$69. You will also
purchase a book and a mask.

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.
FIRST SEMESTER (FALL) SECOND SEMESTER (SPRING)
DMS 112 OB/GYN I
DMS 101 Sonographic
Instrumentation I
DMS 114 DMS Cross Sectional Anatomy DMS 124 OB/GYN II
DMS 164 Introduction to Clinical
Education DMS 155 Clinical Education I
THIRD SEMESTER (SUMMER) FOURTH SEMESTER (FALL)
DMS 120 Sonographic Instrumentation II DMS 122 Abdominal Sonography
DMS 166 Advanced Clinical Education DMS 167 Imaging Practicum

13. Thank you for completing the Diagnostic Medical
Sonography STEPS session.
HGTC reserves the right to change the program
admission requirements at any time. You will be
required to adhere to any changes made at the
time you submit your application.
Please review and submit the checklist, below
the STEPS session on the Libguides page, to
receive credit for viewing this required session.
Please include your H number (Student ID
number) when submitting the checklist.