 |
Felicia Toreno, PhD, RDMS,
RVT
DMS-Program Director
Tidewater Community College
1700 College Crescent
Virginia Beach, VA 23453
ftoreno@tcc.edu |
Beginning in the fall semester of 2005, the Diagnostic Medical
Sonography program will be a five semester (21 month) Associate
in Applied Science (AAS) degree program!
Ultrasound is an imaging modality used to diagnose medical pathologies.
It uses high frequency sound waves to produce an image on a video
monitor. This two-dimensional gray scale image is produced when
sound waves are reflected back toward the transducer from body
tissues. The curriculum provides knowledge required to use ultrasound
equipment, identify cross-sectional anatomical parts, and identify
various pathologies. Students are provided clinical education experience
in several area hospitals and other approved sites to perfect their
skills in ultrasound scanning.
The Ultrasound program at TCC is the only program in the state
of Virginia. The program is accredited by CAAHEP in collaboration
with the Joint Review Committee for Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
This means that you are able to sit for the National Ultrasound
Registry Boards immediately following completion of this program.
These pages will provide the following information about the program:
Information packets containing the information on these pages
can be downloaded at this site, or copies of the necessary
documents may be requested
at (757) 822-7255.
If you have any additional questions, please call the Counseling
Center (757) 822-7212, or attend the Division
of Health Professions DMS Information Session which
is held on the third Thursday of each month from 4:00 p.m. to
5:00 p.m.
in
the
Lynnhaven
Building on the Virginia Beach Campus in room E-122. Please check
with the secretary in room E-113 for the information session's
room
number. The Health Professions Division also holds an Open House
for general program information on the third Thursday of each month
on the Virginia Beach Campus, Room E-132 in the Lynnhaven Building.
between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Download the Health Professions Programs
and Open House Information flyer.
DMS
Program Information Presentation
Interested in the Diagnostic Medical
Sonography program? Take some time to
view an information session about the program!
Program Information Presentation
Admission Requirements
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.
Students must complete a Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program
application and submit it by May 15 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. 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. Applicants are required to complete an assigned
essay and have a personal interview with the program representative(s).
Students who have been accepted into the program must submit
documentation of a medical examination prior to entering the
program. 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. Selected learning experiences will be provided
by cooperating area hospitals and facilities. Students are expected
to provide transportation to such facilities. 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.
Admission
Information
Deadline for applying to the program is May 15, for the class
that begins each August. You will be contacted shortly after
the deadline date concerning your application. Depending upon
the number of applications, only selected applicants, based
on their academic record, may be considered for the program.
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program requires an application
to both Tidewater
Community College and to the Health Professions
Division. Both forms are available online. The
Health Professions Program application is located online
here. The
Tidewater Community College application is here.
Information about Tidewater
Community College’s computer
competency requirements can also be viewed
online or picked up in the Admissions Center. Information on
grants, loans, and scholarships is available from the Financial
Aid Office and can be reached by calling (757) 822-7292.
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.
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. 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 and academic record.
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, 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
The Health Professions Division holds
an Open House for general program information on the third
Thursday of each month on the Virginia Beach Campus, Room E-132
in the Lynnhaven Building. You may drop by any time between
2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to ask any questions you may have.
The DMS program will have its program information session from
4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Room E-122.
PLEASE NOTE:
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.
The following steps must be completed by May
15:
___ 1. Complete a TCC college application for admission, and
a Health Professions Application indicating that Diagnostic Medical
Sonography is your curriculum choice. Return the applications
to the Domicile Health Professions and Records Office in the
Princess Anne Building Room A100-A, TCC-Virginia Beach Campus.
If you already have submitted this application, omit this step.
___ 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. Contact the Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Program Director, Felicia Toreno, if you have questions
not answered in this packet
about the application process, program, or career. The director's
office is in the Lynnhaven Building, Room E-125; the telephone
number is (757) 822-7271.
___ 4. Have all official transcripts of previous college records
or higher educational experience sent directly to Central Records
Office, Tidewater Community College, 7000 College Drive, Portsmouth,
Virginia 23703.
___ 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. Students will be admitted to the program on a “point” system.
The following courses may be completed prior to the start of
the program and will earn applicants points during the application
process:
| Subject |
Points/A |
Points/B |
Points/C |
| BIO 141 Human Anatomy & Physiology I |
30 |
15 |
10 |
| College math (MTH 126 or higher) |
25 |
15 |
10 |
| PHY 100 Elements of Physics (or higher physics) |
25 |
15 |
10 |
All remaining courses earn the following: |
| Subject |
Points/A |
Points/B |
Points/C |
| English 111 College Composition I |
5 |
3 |
1 |
| Two (2) Social Science electives |
5 |
3 |
1 |
| A Humanities elective (Recommend PHI 226 Social Ethics) |
5 |
3 |
1 |
| HLT 143 Medical Terminology |
5 |
3 |
1 |
| SDV 101 Orientation to Health Care |
5 |
3 |
1 |
ITE 115 Basic Computer Literacy
(or documentation of computer competence) |
5 |
3 |
1 |
___ 7. Students will earn points for medical background. Formal
education will earn the following points:
|
30 points -
|
Radiography senior students or registered radiographers |
| 25 points |
Other two-year health programs |
| 15 points |
One-year programs |
| 10 points |
CNA programs and licensure – Applicants with no medical
background should consider taking a nurse aide (CNA) course
in order to earn some points in this category. This is also
a very good way to obtain patient care skills and be sure
that a hands-on health care field is really what you want
from a career choice. |
| 3 points |
Work only |
___ 8. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure
that the domicile office receives all documentation,
including the application and transcripts
by the application deadline of May 15 (effective 2006).
NOTES:
-
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.
Criminal Background Check
Health Professions students assigned to clinical rotations
or internships at some healthcare facilities are personally
responsible for completing the required background checks or
screenings and assuring that results are obtained by the healthcare
or medical facility that asks for them. Prospective DMS students
are hereby notified that they will be required to
complete a criminal/sex offender background check. All
accepted students must complete this background check or they
will be replaced with an alternate student. Students
are required to bear the costs of such tests. It will be the
decision of
the clinical affiliate (healthcare or medical facility) whether
the student will be allowed to participate in the clinical
activities should there be positive criminal or sex offender
results. Tidewater Community College does not assume any responsibility
for obtaining or evaluating the results of a criminal background
check, drug screen or other check, maintaining the records
of results or for delivering them to clinical sites. Students
may not request to be assigned only to those sites that do
not require such checks. Students who refuse to undergo a criminal
background check or drug screen or other required check may
not be able to be placed at another facility and consequently
may not be able to complete program requirements and graduate.
Tidewater Community College will make reasonable efforts to
place all enrolled students in clinical training.
Students are also reminded that licensing boards for certain
health care occupations and professions may deny, suspend or
revoke a license or may deny the individual the opportunity
to sit for an examination if an applicant has a criminal history
or is convicted or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to a felony
or other serious crime. Successful completion of a health professions
program of study at Tidewater Community College does not guarantee
licensure, the opportunity to sit for a licensure examination,
certification or employment in the relevant heath care occupation.
The vendor for criminal background checks is Certified Background. 
Procedure
1. Please complete the vendor information and make direct payment to the vendor.
The vendor will provide you with a passcode and a PDF file of the results.
2. It is your responsibility to provide your CBI results to
the agency requesting it within 24 hours after the first day
of classes (which is also the day of final notification of
clinical placement sites). To initiate completion of your CBI
please contact the selected vendor, provide the required data,
sign the release and provide payment to the vendor.
3. Please be sure to keep a hard copy of your own PDF file
for your personal records.
Instructions:
1. Go to www.certifiedbackground.com.
2. Click on "Students"
3. In the Package Code Box, enter id37
4. You will see a page with information about our package and its contents, costs,
etc.
Download instruction
sheet.
Curriculum Guide
ASSOCIATE
OF APPLIED SCIENCE DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY
|
Curriculum
|
First Year
|
|
|
| Fall Semester |
|
|
BIO
|
141 |
Human Anatomy and Physiology I (1) |
(4)
|
| HLT |
105 |
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation |
(1)
|
| HLT |
143 |
Medical Terminology I |
(3)
|
| MTH |
126 |
Mathematics for Allied Health (1) |
(3)
|
| PHY |
100 |
Elements of Physics |
(4) |
| SDV |
101 |
Orientation to Health Care
|
(1)
|
| |
|
Total Credits |
16 |
| |
|
|
|
| Spring Semester |
|
|
| DMS |
206 |
Introduction to Sonography |
(2) |
DMS
|
207 |
Sectional Anatomy |
(2) |
| DMS |
208 |
Ultrasound Physics Instrumentation I |
(3) |
| DMS |
211 |
Ultrasound Imaging I |
(4) |
| DMS |
231 |
Clinical Education I |
(2) |
| ENG |
111 |
College Composition I (1) |
(3) |
| |
|
Total Credits |
16 |
| |
|
|
|
| SECOND YEAR |
|
|
|
| Summer Semester |
|
|
|
DMS
|
209 |
Ultrasound Physics Instrumentation II |
(3) |
| DMS |
221 |
Ultrasound Seminar I |
(3) |
| DMS |
232 |
Clinical Education II |
(4) |
| |
|
Total Credits |
10 |
| |
|
|
|
Fall Semester
|
|
|
|
| DMS |
212 |
Ultrasound Imaging II |
(4) |
| DMS |
223 |
Introduction to Vascular Ultrasound |
(3) |
| DMS |
233 |
Clinical Education III |
(5) |
Humanities Elective (2)
|
|
|
(3) |
| |
|
Total Credits |
15 |
| |
|
|
|
Spring Semester
|
|
|
|
| DMS |
222 |
Ultrasound Seminar II |
(3) |
| DMS |
234 |
Clinical Education IV |
(6) |
| Social Science Elective (2) |
|
|
(3) |
| Social Science Elective (2) |
|
|
(3) |
| |
|
Total Credits |
15 |
| |
|
|
|
| Minimum Credits Required 72 |
1. Placement test or prerequisite
required.
2. Eligible courses are listed
on page 157 in the 2004-2005 catalog
or on-line at www.tcc.edu/academics/programs/elective.htm.
See your academic advisor or counselor
to
choose
the appropriate course(s).
PREREQUISITES:
Students will be required to
successfully complete the general
education
courses listed in semester one
prior
to taking ANY sonography classes.
If a student does not successfully
complete
the
fall semester they will
be
replaced with an alternate candidate
who has already completed the
general education
coursework.
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.
Printable Information Packet
To download
the packet you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed
on your computer. If you do not have Acrobat Reader, its free.
Information
Packet
Contact: ftoreno@tcc.edu
Disclaimer
|
