Diagnostic Medical Sonography (Abdomen & OB/GYN), AAS

Requirements for Admissions to the Associate of Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Admission to the Associate of Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) is on a selective basis. Selection recommendations are made by the Division of Nursing & Allied Health Selection Committee to the Dean. The number of students selected each year will depend upon a number of factors, including the accreditation standards mandated by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS), as well as financial, personnel, and other resources available to the DMS program. Students must meet the following minimum criteria to be considered eligible for selection into the DMS program:

1. Be fully admitted as a student to LSU Eunice.
2. Submit to the Division of Health Sciences and Business Technology a completed DMS Selection Application Form accompanied by all required documents and a $10 non-refundable application fee. These materials must be received no later than March 1st of the year for which selection is being sought.
3. Meet the general admission requirements of the University.
4. Complete each pre-requisite course with a grade of C or better and have a prerequisite cumulative, minimum GPA of 2.5.
5. Have an overall (cumulative) grade-point average of 2.0 or higher.
6. Complete the TEAS admission exam (an alternate admission exam may be required in lieu of the TEAS exam).
7. Be able to perform the physical and mental requirements of the discipline of DMS as identified on the Health and Physical Examination form and the ADA requirements in the Student Orientation Manual.
8. Complete all of the prerequisite courses by time of selection.

Meeting the minimum criteria does not guarantee admission into the DMS Program. Eligible applicants will be considered on a competitive basis. Selection decisions for the fall class are made at the conclusion of the prior spring semester.

Selection into the DMS Program

The Division of Health Sciences and Business Technology will admit classes into the DMS program in the fall semester of each year. Selection decisions for the fall class are made at the end of the prior spring semester. Courses taken during the spring semester will be considered during the selection process. Selection decisions will normally be made and communicated to students by the first week in June. Though students not selected may reapply for admission to a subsequent class, such students must complete the entire application process and will remain subject to the eligibility requirements specified above.

Criteria for Selection

Required prerequisite courses taken during the spring semester of application are included in the selection process.

The following criteria are used in calculating the applicant’s ranking for selection:

1. Completion of 26 hours of required courses with a grade-point average of 2.5 or higher.
2. Entrance exam (TEAS) score (or alternate admissions test as decided by DMS faculty).
3. Cumulative academic record and prerequisite GPA.
4. Licensure/certification in a health-care profession OR a previously earned degree.
5. The GPA in core courses.
6. Number of core courses repeated.
7. Work history consisting of a full-year in a health-related or customer-service oriented field documented by submitting letter from direct supervisor on organization’s letterhead.
8. Attendance at programmatic general orientation in spring of application period.
9. Louisiana resident will be given priority in selection.

Upon selection into the DMS Program the student is required to fulfill the following:

1. Complete forms and submit fees for background investigations required by health care facilities.
2. Receive a negative drug screen report.
3. Students admitted to the DMS program must submit a completed DMS Program Health Form within 10 working days prior to the beginning of the semester of entry. These forms will be e-mailed to applicants with notification of acceptance for enrollment in DMS courses.
4. Submit all documents requested by the LSU Eunice DMS program by published deadlines. Failure to submit requested documents by due dates will prohibit continuance in the program.
5. Once selected and notified, the Program Director for DMS must be notified of the applicant’s commitment to accept or reject selection into the program.
6. Upon acceptance by the applicant to enter the LSU Eunice DMS program, the student accepts and agrees to abide by all published University, Division, and program policies regarding student conduct and academic standing.

Health information, background checks, initial drug screens and random drug screens will be managed by the student through a secure online information management service for a fee which will be paid by the student. All health related information, immunization records, TB testing report, and lab data must be recorded on official medical provider/company stationary. Data submitted in any other format will be rejected.

Retention/Progression Guidelines

Acceptance into the LSU Eunice DMS program entitles the student to progress through the DMS curriculum along with the class (cohort) to which he or she is admitted. In order for a student to be retained and progress in the curriculum, a student must:

1. Maintain an LSU and an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher.
2. Maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher in all required DMS courses
3. Complete all DMS courses with a grade of “C” or better. The grading scale for all DMS courses is: A - 93-100; B - 85-92; C - 77-84; D - 65-76; F - below 65.
4. Maintain current CPR certification (CPR for Heathcare Providers) and annual TB testing.
5. Maintain health/immunization requirements.

Failure to successfully complete any DMS course (excluding DMS 1000), for either academic or other reasons, will require that the student apply for readmission to the DMS program if the student wishes to continue in the program. A student repeating a DMS course must concurrently re-enroll in the co-requisite DMS courses. Re-enrolling in a co-requisite course in which the student had previously received a passing grade will not be counted as repeated DMS course hours for the dismissal policy. The most recent grade earned will be the grade for the course. The purpose for requiring re-enrollment in co-requisite courses is to assure that DMS students receive the most current health care information.

A student applying for reentry into a DMS course must apply the next time the course is offered. If not accepted, the student may reapply once more when the course is offered again (2 years from the first time the student enrolled in the course). After 2 attempts of reentry, the student will not be considered again for reentry into the DMS course in which the student was unsuccessful or if the student does not reapply within a 2 year period after last enrollment. If the student wishes to pursue DMS curriculum at LSU Eunice, including after the two year period, an application to the DMS program must be completed along with all current requirements for selection. The application will be placed with the pool of students applying for initial entry into the DMS program. If selected, the reentry student would begin the first semester of DMS courses. All re-entry students must have skill re-validation at the beginning of the semester. Science and College Algebra courses taken 7 years earlier must be repeated prior to reapplication.

Transfer DMS Students

Students who wish to transfer with DMS credits are subject to the “Requirements for Readmission”, “and “Retention/Progression Guidelines” specified above. DMS will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Students requesting transfer into the DMS Program must:

1. Arrange a personal interview with the DMS Program Director.
2. Provide a transcript of all previous college work at the time of the interview.
3. Submit a course description and course content from completed DMS courses at the time of the interview.
4. Submit a Letter of Good Standing from prior accredited DMS program(s). This letter from the administrative head of the prior program(s) should be mailed directly to the DMS Program Director, to be received by the time of the interview.
5. Have earned a minimum grade of “C” in required DMS courses and have enrolled in DMS course(s) only once.
6. Submit transcripts from all previously attended universities or colleges to the Office of Admissions for evaluation and the applicant must be classified as fully admitted prior to selection to the DMS program or the application is considered invalid.

Special Provisions and Requirements

In addition to meeting all other specified curricular requirements, DMS students must (1) meet immunization and physical examination requirements, (2) maintain CPR Certification (CPR for Healthcare Providers) for the duration of the program, and (3) assume responsibility for providing their own transportation to and from clinical agencies.

Dismissal

Students may be dismissed from a DMS course and/or the DMS program for any of the following reasons:

1. A deliberate attempt to cover up any error or negligent performance during clinical experiences.
2. Repetitive performance of unsafe behaviors during clinical experiences.
3. Performance of unethical or illegal behaviors during clinical experiences.
4. Failure to comply with clinical agency policies and regulations.
5. Breach of patient or agency confidentiality by inappropriate management of information in any form.
6. Cheating or plagiarism (See LSU Eunice’s Code of Student Conduct located in the Student Handbook).
7. Violation of the LSU Eunice Code of Student Conduct.
8. A positive report on any random drug screen.
9. Requested dismissal from a clinical facility by clinical affiliate staff or LSU Eunice faculty and staff.
10. Committing a breach in the DMS Program policy on the conduct of social media usage.

The LSU Eunice faculty reserves the right to recommend termination of a DMS student when health and/or personal conduct requires such action.

Associate of Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography Curriculum