Health Professions: Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Application and Admission Application Requirements Selection Process Admission Procedure Official catalog information Required classes Class Schedule Health Professions Application

Application Requirements

• Completion of courses:
  All accepted students will be required to complete the first semester of general education courses successfully prior to the start of sonography coursework. Any student not successfully completing general education coursework will be replaced with an alternate candidate who has completed all general education coursework.
• Deadline May 15th to apply
  Students must complete a Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program application and submit it by May 15 for the class that begins each August to the Domicile Health Professions and Records, TCC-Virginia Beach Campus, in the Princess Anne Building, Room A100-A, as well as the general admissions application of the college. Students may be admitted to the program at a later date if vacancies are available. You will be contacted shortly after the deadline date concerning your application.
• Transcripts
  All official transcripts (if applicable) must be on file at Tidewater Community College, Central Records/Office of the Registrar, P.O. Box 9000, Norfolk, VA 23509-9000 to be considered for the program.
• Essay and Interview
  Applicants are required to complete an assigned essay and have a personal interview with the program representative(s).
• Medical Exam
  Students who have been accepted into the program must submit documentation of a medical examination prior to entering the program.
• Background Check
  Criminal background/sex offender check
• Grades
  Students who receive a final grade lower than a "C" in any DMS course must obtain permission from the program director to continue in the program.
• Transportation
  Selected learning experiences will be provided by cooperating area hospitals and facilities. Students are expected to provide transportation to such facilities.
• Other expenses
  Purchase of items, such as uniforms and accessories, are the financial responsibility of the individual.
  
  For more information on the DMS Program at TCC call the Program Director, Felicia M. Toreno at (757) 822-7271.

Student Selection Process

• Depending upon the number of applications, only selected applicants, based on their academic record, may be considered for the program.
• Positions in this program are very limited, so program faculty are not able to interview or accept all applicants who meet the basic admissions requirements. See further notes below:
  • Applicants to all health professions programs must be categorized in priority jurisdictions by the program application deadline date. State applicants will be considered prior to out-of-state applicants.
  • One semester of English, two social science electives, and a humanities elective will be required of all students. The Admissions Committee will invite selected applicants to come in for a personal interview.
  • Students will be required to complete an essay as part of the application process. Details will be sent to those students invited to interview for the program.
  • Applicants will be notified of the committee's decisions by mail as soon as possible after all applicants have been interviewed.
  • Fifteen students will be accepted each year. Sonography classes will begin each January in the Spring Semester
  • Applicants who are accepted will be required to submit evidence of a complete physical examination and a criminal background/sex offender check before the beginning of the fall semester. No students with a felony background will be admitted into the program.
  • No visible tattoos, facial piercing or gaugings (earlobe piercing enlargements) are allowed.
  • The program maintains an absence and attendance policy stricter than the College policy.
  • The program demands a high level of critical thinking skills.
  • The program requires a high volume of reading for homework assignments.
• Applicants will be ranked according to the health professions admissions ranking scale. Admissions decisions will be made based on the applicant's ranking, which considers area of residence, academic record and medical background.
• Students will accumulate points during the admissions process based on residency, previous formal allied health education, and all non-sonography classes that have already been completed. Please refer to the ranking scale found in this packet.
• All applicants must be eligible to enroll in ENG 111 and BIO 141 in order to be considered for entrance into the program.
• It is strongly recommended that applicants apply early, deadline May 15th, and make sure all transcripts are received before the deadline.
  To improve your chances of being accepted, it is strongly suggested that you complete as many of the general education courses in the DMS curriculum as possible.
• Courses that can be competed prior to the start of the program and will earn applicants points in the application process include:
• BIO 141 Human Anatomy and Physiology I,
• MTH 126 Mathematics for Allied Health (or higher),
• PHY 100 Elements of Physics (or higher college physics),
• English 111 College Composition,
• two Social Science electives,
• a Humanities elective,
• HLT 143 Medical Terminology,
• SDV 101 Orientation to Health Care, and
• ITE 115 Basic Computer Literacy or a demonstration of computer competence.
• Social Ethics, PHI 226, is recommended as a humanities elective

Computer Competency
Information about Tidewater Community College’s computer competency requirements can also be viewed online or picked up in the Admissions Center.

Financial Aid
Information on grants, loans, and scholarships is available from the Financial Aid Office and can be reached by calling (757) 822-7292.

Check Application Status
Contact Gloria Singleton at the Domicile and Records Office in the Princess Anne Building, Room A100-A, Virginia Beach Campus, or call (757) 822-7340 to check on your application folder. Please take the time to verify receipt of your application and transcripts. Due to the number of applicants, only students with completed applications will be considered for the program.

Application Procedure

The following steps must be completed by May 15:

___ 1. Complete the required TCC applications. Health Professions Application

___ 2. Take the English and math placement tests at the College as soon as possible. Consult the Counseling Office (757-822-7212) to determine your need to take these placement tests and for dates the tests will be given. All developmental work indicated by the Placement Tests must be completed satisfactorily prior to the beginning of the program. All students accepted into the program MUST place into ENG 111. No students will be offered interviews unless developmental work has been completed and students are able to take MTH 126 and ENG 111 during the Fall semester.

___ 3. Attend a DMS open house.  Open house is held the third Thursday of every month (except December) on the Virginia Beach campus in room MN 121 of the Regional Health Professions Center, Building M from 4 to 5 p.m.

___ 4. Have all official transcripts of previous college records or higher educational experience sent directly to Central Records Office.

___ 5. Submit an unofficial transcript along with the Health Professions application. Transcripts often delay the evaluation of applications, and this will help ensure you receive “points” for all classes completed by the application deadline.

___ 6. Meet program application benchmarks.  Note:  Benchmarks may change based on the number of program applicants.

      a.  Be a Virginia Resident

      b.  Complete math and English placement tests

      c.  Take Medical Terminology

      d.  Earn a grade of A or B in BIO 141

      e.  Take a formal medical hands-on program

      f.  Maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher

___ 7. Students will earn points for medical background. Formal education will earn the following points:

Information on this web site is subject to change. Students should check periodically to see if materials have been updated.

Tidewater Community College maintains and promotes equal opportunity without regard to ethnicity, color, gender, age (except where gender or age is a bona fide occupational qualification), religion, handicap, national origin, or other non-merit factors. Disclosure of social security number, age, gender, and ethnicity is optional.

NOTES:
* Program requirements may change in accordance with federal, state, or industry standards. Call 822-7257 or visit this web site.

* In order to graduate with the Associate in Applied Science degree, you must meet the college’s computer competency requirement. Consult your academic advisor or counselor to determine how to satisfy this requirement.

Tidewater Community College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the associate degree.

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