Medical Sonography
Selective Admission Process
APPLICATION PERIOD:
March 15, 2010 through May 21, 2010
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Medical Sonography is a rapidly growing imaging specialty in the field of health care, using high frequency sound waves to produce images of internal body structures. Students are taught the skills needed to produce high quality images through in depth instruction. This includes classroom as well as hands-on experience in the lab and clinical settings. Coursework includes introduction to sonography and patient care, sonographic physics, abdominal sonography, obstetrical/gynecological sonography and vascular sonography. With the proper use of equipment, the medical sonographer will produce high quality images for the physician to make a diagnosis.
Graduates of the program may find employment in hospitals, imaging centers, medical clinics, mobile companies, education and equipment applications or sales. Average starting salary is approximately $45,000/year.
The Medical Sonography program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Medical Sonography Program is to prepare individuals to function in the professional medical community as clinically competent, entry-level sonographers. This knowledge and skill is obtained through in-depth instruction in the classroom, as well as hands-on experience in lab and clinical settings. Graduates are strongly encouraged to seek certificaiton by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography, or other recognized accrediting agencies.
GENERAL ADMISSION INFORMATION
It is important that all potential applicants for the Sonography Program understand the selective admissions process. Potential applicants who wish to file an Intent to Apply to the Sonography Program must first meet minimum requirements. Please review carefully the information regarding minimum requirements and other pertinent information listed below.
All minimum requirements must be met prior to filing your Intent to Apply to the program. It is the potential applicants' responsibility to ensure that all requirements are met by the established deadline. Sonography deadlines, guidelines, and policies apply equally to all students; thus, there can be no exceptions.
COUNSELING
If you have questions or concerns regarding the selective admissions process, please contact Counseling located in A-220 or at the North Campus in room NA-100.
MINIMUM SONOGRAPHY PROGRAM ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
1. PLACEMENT TEST
To be considered for admission to the program, all potential applicants must meet the minimum requirements on placement test.
REQUIRED CUTOFF SCORES
ASSET | Compass |
Accuplacer (CPT) |
SAT |
ACT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 Writing | 70 Writing | 86 Sentence | 470 Verbal or Reading & Writing | 19 English |
| 41 Reading | 81 Reading | 80 Reading | 500 Math | 19 Reading |
| 41 Numerical | 47 Pre-Algebra | 55 Arithmetic | 20 Math | |
| 41 Elementary Alg. Or 30 Intermediate Alg. | 46 Algebra | 55 Elementary Alg. |
If a potential applicant scores less than the minimum cut-off scores on an appropriate Placement Test, he/she will be required to complete the essential sequence of developmental courses. If the student completes all of the required developmental courses with a grade of "C" or better prior to the application deadline date and meets the other minimum requirements, he/she may then file an Intent to Apply to the Program.
Prior completion of English 111 or its equivalent and Math 115 or higher with a grade of “C” or higher may eliminate taking the Placement Test.
Any combination of Placement Tests may be taken twice in twelve (12) consecutive months and must have been taken in the last five years. Applicants who violate the testing policy will not be disqualified. However, when a Sonography applicant has tested more than twice in twelve consecutive months, only the first two attempts will be considered in the application process. Placement Test scores which violate the testing policy will be disregarded.
If the Placement Test has been taken at another community college (in the past five years), it is the student's responsibility to ensure that the scores are transferred to Cape Fear Community College.
Accommodations for testing due to special needs may be made with the Coordinator of Disabilities Services (A-215A) or call (910) 362-7012.
2. MINIMUM GPA
All potential applicants must have and maintain an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher in all post-secondary coursework completed at Cape Fear Community College. If your GPA is below 2.5 and you have not been enrolled in CFCC for 3 consecutive years, you may be eligible for "Academic Forgiveness". (See page 22 in the current 2009 -2010 catalog.)
3. BIOLOGY
All students who wish to apply for the Sonography Program must have completed a Biology course in high school or college and achieved a grade of "C" or higher. Applicants who have taken the GED may also meet this requirement if they achieved a standard score of 45 or 450 on the GED natural Science Test. Interested applicants who need to meet the Biology requirement may complete either BIO 106, 110, 111, 163, or BIO 168.
4. ALGEBRA
All students who wish to apply for the Sonography Program must have completed anAlgebra course in high school or college and achieved a grade of "C" or higher. Interested applicants who need to meet the algebra requirement must complete either MAT 070, MAT 080, MAT 115, or higher.
5. PHYSICS
All students who wish to apply for the Sonography Program must have completed a Physics course in high school or college and achieved a grade of "C" or higher. Interested applicants who need to meet the Physics requirement may take PHY 110 and 110A or PHY 151.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Potential applicants to the Medical Sonography Program must first apply to and be accepted to attend Cape Fear Community College. Potential applicants to the Medical Sonography Program who are currently enrolled at CFCC may proceed to Step 2.
STEP 1: APPLICATION TO CAPE FEAR COMMUNITY COLLEGE
COMPLETE THE CFCC GENERAL ADMISSIONS APPLICATION
PLACEMENT TESTING
Complete appropriate placement testing if required by the Admissions Office and meet minimum cut-off scores on Placement Test, or complete required sequence of developmental courses.
REQUEST OFFICIAL HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT OR GED SCORES
Official transcripts should be mailed to the Admissions and Records Office from the institution(s) attended, or can be hand delivered in an envelope sealed by a representative of the school(s) attended.
REQUEST OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS FROM ALL COLLEGES OR SCHOOLS ATTENDED
Official transcripts from all schools attended since high school should be mailed to the Admissions and Records Office from the institution(s) attended or be hand delivered in an envelope sealed by a representative of the school(s) attended. These will be reviewed for possible transfer credit.
STEP 2: INTENT TO APPLY TO THE MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY PROGRAM
ATTEND AN INFORMATION SESSION
Thursday, October 15, 2009 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Room L-107
Friday, January 29, 2010 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Room L-107
Thursday, March 25, 2010 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Room L-107Certificates of attendance will be given at the completion of the information session and must be submitted to the Counseling Office (Room A-220 Downtown of Room NA-100 North Campus) at the time you file your "Intent to Apply".
FILE INTENT TO APPLY
An "Intent to Apply" for the Sonography Program may be completed in the Counseling Office (A-220 - Downtown & NA-100 - North Campus) during the application period of March 15, 2010 through May 21, 2010. ALL POTENTIAL APPLICANTS MUST APPEAR IN PERSON AT CAPE FEAR COMMUNITY COLLEGE. AN INTENT TO APPLY WILL NOT BE TAKEN OVER THE TELEPHONE OR BY MAIL/WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE.
The "Intent to Apply" form is not an application to the Sonography Program.
PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES BUREAU (PSB) ADMISSIONS EXAM
Students who meet the minimum requirements will be scheduled to take the HEALTH OCCUPATIONS PSB Admissions exam. Potential applicants to the Sonography program may take the Health Occupations PSB once per application period. Results can be renormed for students applying to more than one allied health program within the same or previous year for a $10.00 fee. Those who have taken the Health Occupations PSB for Sonography in previous years should be aware that only those scores from the two most recent attempts within the last 5 years will be considered.
- A $20.00 fee will be charged to take the PSB exam. The PSB exam fee must be paid by check, cash or credit card at the time the PSB exam is scheduled. If there are circumstances beyond the applicants control and he/she misses the scheduled test date and provides documentation of the extenuating circumstance, the Director of Counseling MAY choose to issue a "Stand By Pass" for testing. A "Stand By Pass" does not guarantee admission to the test; Admission to the test may be determined by seat availability.
- A study guide for the PSB Exam can be accessed at: http://cfcc.edu/testingservices/. In addition, there are several resources that can be used to help prepare for this exam such as a dictionary, 8th grade arithmetic textbooks, high school science textbooks, GED Study Guide, SAT Study Guide, and the ARCO Nursing School & Allied Health Entrance Exams by Marion F. Gooding, R.N., Ph.D. The CFCC Learning Lab (910) 362-7137 offers tutoring for the PSB exam.
POINT COUNT REVIEW AND APPLICATION
Potential applicants scoring above the minimum percentile cut-off scores of 30 percent in each of the seven (7) areas of the PSB will be notified to meet with a counselor for a review of their admissions point count. At this time an Application for the Sonography Program will be completed.
SONOGRAPHY SELECTION PROCESS
Up to ten (10) students will be admitted to the Sonography program for Fall of 2010.
The point system was implemented as an objective means for evaluating Sonography applicants. Twenty five percent (25%) of applicant's total points will come from the PSB exam and seventy five percent (75%) of total points will come from related high school and/or college classes completed prior to the application deadline, health care experience and recent graduation from an accredited imaging program.
Sonography applicants will be ranked based upon points earned, and the students with the highest number of points will be selected. If two or more students have the identical point count total, the date that the "Intent to Apply" form was completed in the Counseling Office will be the determining factor.
POINT SYSTEM
See the Point Count Worksheet for point values.
PRIOR HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE LEVEL CLASSES
Sonography applicants may earn points for the completion of general education courses in CFCC's Sonography curriculum with a grade of "C" or higher. Humanities and Fine Arts electives are listed on pages 72-73 in the 2009-2010 catalog. Students needin g a Humanities course are encouraged to take HUM 115. If choosing a foreign language, the elective must be a third level course; i.e. FRE 211, GER 211 or SPA 211.
NOTE: Students applying in the spring 2011 for entry into the Sonography program in the fall 2011 will receive points for HUM 115 Critical Thinking only.
In order for the Biology credits to apply to the A.A.S. Medical Sonography curriculum requirement the Biology course must have been completed within five (5) years of the start date of the Sonography Program. Acceptable biology courses include Bio 163 or BIO 168 and BIO 169.
The five-year requirement will be waived for Radiography professionals who have been employed full-time (32 hours per week of more) for a minimum of one year within the last two years. (Verification required.)
POINTS FOR THE PSB EXAM
Scores in all 7 areas of the PSB Exam - Verbal, Arithmetic, Non-Verbal, Spelling, Reading Comprehension, Natural Science and the Vocational Adjustment are used in calculating the points earned in this section. Scores from the 7 areas are averaged and 25% of this value is used toward the applicant's total points.
POINTS FOR PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE
Students may earn points for previous work experience as a Registered Radiography Professional OR if a recent graduate of an accredited imaging program in Radiography.
15 points will be received for one of the following:
A recent graduate of an accredited radiography program
- Must have graduated within the last 2 years (Verification required)
- Minimum GPA of 2.75.
- Must submit official transcripts.
OR
A registered Radiologic Technologist RT(R)
- Worked full time within the last 2 years for a minimum of one year.
- Full time is 32 hours/week or more.
- Must hold a valid registry license (a copy must be submitted).
Applicants must submit proper documentation on official letterhead, sign and dated by supervisor or personnel/human resource officer and include: the beginning and ending dates of employment; average number of hours worked per week; description of job duties and applicant’s current employment status. (Acceptable experience is at the discretion of the Director of the Program).
POINTS FOR INFORMATION SESSION
Certificates of attendance will be given at the completion of the information session and must be submitted to the Counseling Office (Room A-220) at the time the "Intent to Apply" is filed. Ten (10) points will be awarded for attending one Information Session only if the Certificate of Attendance is submitted at this time.
NOTE: An applicant's point count is confidential; please do not call to inquire about your point count. To protect your privacy, point count totals will not be discussed on the telephone.
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE
All Sonography applicants will receive notification by mail of their status for the upcoming program year. Applicants not selected may reapply for admission to the program for the next academic year.
Sonography applicants who are selected based upon their point count are conditionally accepted into the program pending the submission and review of medical history form provided by Cape Fear Community College. Acceptance is also conditional on the results of a required urine drug screen and criminal background check.
Students who are selected will be notified when to complete the following:
Medical Reports
All completed health/medical reports must be received by the specified date noted in acceptance letter.
Policy Manual
Students are required to read the Medical Sonography Program Student Policy Manual on-line prior to attending the new student orientation. Policies will be discussed and students during the orientation and students will have an opportunity to ask questions. Students will sign a statement to verify that they have read the policy manual.
CPR
Students must also submit documentation of current CPR 2-year certification (infant, child and adult certification required).
Drug Screening/Criminal Background Check
Nine (9) panel urine drug screen is mandatory. Methadone will be included in the urine drug screening. Drug screen can be completed no sooner than one week prior to the Medical Sonography Program new student orientation. Any drug screens completed prior to this date will not be accepted. In addition to the initial drug screening, at their discretion, clinical sites may require a drug screening and/or a criminal background check prior to allowing students into the clinical setting (If required, any associated fees will be the responsibility of the student). Testing positive on the drug screening, or evidence of tampering with a specimen, will disqualify a student from participation from the clinical assignment. In addition, certain criminal activity, as evident by a criminal background check may also disqualify a student from clinical participation. Please be aware that failure to participate in a clinical assignment based on either the drug screening or criminal background check will result in dismissal from the Sonography Program. Cape Fear Community College will not accept the background checks. It is your responsibility to hold this report for the clinical site when needed. For further information, students should see the "Drug and Alcohol Policy" in the CFCC Student Handbook (pgs. 50-52). Information will be disseminated in orientation/registration with the Lead Instructor.
Students selected for the Sonography Program must be aware that traveling outside of New Hanover County is necessary for clinical education. Some clinical sites are over 50 miles outside of Wilmington. Travel is required during all 5 semesters of the program. Students must provide their own transportation to clinical sites.
Standards for the Medical Sonography Program
The following are some of the required occupational standards for this program.
- Lift up to 50 lbs
- Push stretchers, wheelchairs and heavy equipment
- Able to distinguish colors correctly
- Communicate in the English language
- Hearing to meet Core Performance Standards
- Utilize computer keyboards
- Able to communicate well with others
- Able to reach, bend and stoop often to meet Core Performance Standards
- Vision to meet Core Performance Standards (with or without vision correction)
- Must be ambidextrous while scanning a patient
- Have good eye-hand coordination
- Walk and stand frequently
Work environments in sonography can be mentally and physically challenging. The following are some mental challenges and situations faced by sonographers.
- Adjust equipment settings to provide high quality images
- Exposure to disease, blood, and body fluids
- Assess patients quickly and determine what needs to be done
- Work well in an environment that is sometimes chaotic and disruptive
- Must give clear and concise directions to patients for each procedure
- Accept constructive criticism
- Always be polite and professional, even in stressful situations
- Maintain patient confidentiality
- Caring for patients with IV’s, bed pans and other devices
- Scans include scrotums, breast, vaginal, and rectal
- Utilize critical thinking with clinical findings
- Able to distinguish normal anatomy from abnormal while scanning patients
- Communicate well with others
- Correlate clinical information with your findings
- Communicate written and verbal information to physicians
- Lunch breaks and hours of work can change from day to day
- Patients vary in age from infant to geriatric
- Possible on-call responsibilities
CORE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
| ISSUE | STANDARD | SOME EXAMPLES OF NECESSARY ACTIVITIES (Not all Inclusive) |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | Ability sufficient for clinical judgement. | Correlate clinical information with your findings. |
| Interpersonal | Abilities to interact with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds | Establish rapport with patients/clients and colleagues. Accept constructive criticism. |
| Communication | Abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written form | Explain exams to the patients and or family members. Write reports and verbally explain all findings to a physician. |
| Mobility | Physical abilities sufficient to move heavy objects into and out of small rooms. Ability to stand for long periods of time. |
Push stretchers with patients on them up and down hallways and into rooms. Maneuver patients in wheelchairs. Bend, stoop, reach, and lean often. Move heavy equipment throughout the hospital. |
| Motor Skills | Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective patient care and proper use of ultrasound equipment. | Use both hands at the same time to operate equipment Lift up to 50 lbs. Caring for patients with bedpans, IVs, and other devices. |
| Hearing | Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs | Hears monitor alarms. Hear patient cries for help. Hear emergency codes throughout the hospital. Hear patients tell you about their health history. |
| Visual | Ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in field of sonography | Ability to distinguish colors correctly. Operate ultrasound equipment in a dimly-lit room, watching all images on a monitor. Distinguish normal anatomy from abnormal. |
| Confidentiality | Ability to maintain patient confidentiality. | All patient exams should be kept confidential. Some exams are very personal and include scrotums, breast, vaginal, and rectal. |
PROGRESSION POLICY
Students admitted to the Radiography Program must achieve or have achieved a "C"
in each course in the curriculum in order to progress semester by semester.
Grading Policy
| A | Excellent | 92-100 |
| B | Good | 84-91 |
| C | Average | 76-83 |
| D | Poor | 68-75 |
Approximate Costs for Medical Sonography Program
| Before Fall Registration | Third Semester (Summer) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Uniforms | $175.00 | Tuition/Fees (in-state) | $ 715.50 |
| Embroidery from CJs Personal Touch | 8.00/top | Tuition/Fees (out-of-state) | $3202.40 |
| Shoes (clinical) | 50.00 | Mileage to school and clinical sites | Varies |
| Watch with a second hand | 20.00 | Meals | Varies |
| Medical Examination, TB test, HEP-B Vac, etc | varies | ||
| CPR certification (2 year) | varies | ||
| NCUS Student Membership (prorated) | 7.50 | ||
| Criminal background check/Drug screening | Varies | ||
| First semester (Fall) | Fourth semester (Fall) | ||
| Tuition/Fees (in-state) | $ 868.50 | Tuition/Fees (in-state) | $ 868.50 |
| Tuition/Fees (out-of-state) | 3929.30 | Tuition/Fees (out-of-state) | 3929.30 |
| Books | 800.00 | Books | 150.00 |
| Liability Insurance (paid at business office) | 15.00 | Insurance | 15.00 |
| *Notebooks | 15.00 | *Notebooks | 10.00 |
| Mileage to school and clinical sites | Varies | Mileage to school and clinical sites | Varies |
| Meals | Varies | Meals | Varies |
| Calculator | 10.00 | ||
| Second Semester (Spring) | Fifth Semester (Spring) | ||
| Tuition/Fees (in-state) | $ 715.50 | Tuition/Fees (in-state) | $ 766.50 |
| Tuition/Fees (out-of-state) | $3202.00 | Tuition/Fees (out-of-state) | $3444.70 |
| Books | 150.00 | Books | 100.00 |
| *Notebooks | 10.00 | *Notebooks | 10.00 |
| NCUS Meeting (registration, travel, hotel, meals, etc) | 380.00 | NCUS Meeting | 380.00 |
| NCUS Annual renewal fee | 15.00 | NCUS Annual renewal fee | 15.00 |
| Mileage to school and clinical sites | Varies | Mileage to school and clinical sites | Varies |
| Meals | Varies | Meals | Varies |
Tuition costs may vary.
* 3-ring notebooks are required to keep neat class, lab and clinical notes organized.
Tuition & Fees
Payment can be made by cash, check, VISA, MasterCard, financial aid, or a third-party sponsorship. All forms of payment must be received by the Business Office to be officially registered.
Visit the Medical Sonography web page for more information and answers to frequently asked questions.
Sonography Curriculum
| Course | Title | Class hrs | Lab hrs | Clinical hrs | Credit hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIRST YEAR FALL SEMESTER | |||||
| BIO 163 | Basic Anatomy and Physiology | 4 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| MAT 115 | Mathematical Models | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| SON 110 | Introduction to Sonography | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| SON 130 | Abdominal Sonography I | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| PHY 110 | Conceptual Physics | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Total | 18 | ||||
| FIRST YEAR SPRING SEMESTER | |||||
| SON 111 | Sonographic Physics | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| SON 120 | SON Clinical Education I | 0 | 0 | 15 | 5 |
| SON 131 | Abdominal Sonography II | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| SON 140 | Gynecological Sonography | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 13 | ||||
| FIRST YEAR SUMMER TERM | |||||
| PSY 150 | General Psychology | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| HUM | Humanities/Fine Arts Elective | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| SON 121 | SON Clinical Education II | 0 | 0 | 15 | 5 |
| SON 241 | Obstetrical Sonography I | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 13 | ||||
| SECOND YEAR FALL SEMESTER | |||||
| ENG 111 | Expository Writing | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| SON 220 | SON Clinical Education III | 0 | 0 | 24 | 8 |
| SON 242 | Obstetrical Sonography II | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| SON 250 | Vascular Sonography | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Totals | 15 | ||||
| SECOND YEAR SPRING SEMESTER | |||||
| SON 221 | SON Clinical Education IV | 0 | 0 | 24 | 8 |
| SON 289 | Sonographic Topics | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| SON 225 | Case Studies | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| ENG 114 | Professional Research and Reporting | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| SON 272 | Advanced Pathology | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Totals | 15 | ||||
| TOTAL CREDIT HOURS: 74 | |||||
A credit hour equals:
1 hour of class
3 hours of lab
3 hours of clinical
A semester credit hour is equal to 16 hours of classroom instruction or 48 hours of laboratory or clinical instruction.
