Radiologic Science Major: Diagnostic Medical Sonography with General/Vascular Emphasis - BS

Admission

Admission to the program is on a competitive basis. The number of students admitted to the major is dependent on the number of clinical internship sites and their student capacity. Diagnostic medical sonography class sizes are approximately eight. Applications are available on each school of diagnostic medical sonography website (linked below) or on UWL's Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program website.

1. Students are advised to apply for admission to the professional program early in the late fall prior to desired admission, after having taken or registered for all general education and pre-professional requirements.
2. Applicants are required to have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and a grade of "C" or higher in all general education and pre-professional courses. Applicants are required to have a minimum pre-professional grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
3. Students must have a recent set of immunizations prior to admission to comply with hospital policy.
4. Applicants are considered without regard to sex, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, or parental status.
5. Students for whom English is a second language must earn a minimum score of 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 100 (internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a score of 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam within two years prior to application to the program.
6. Students will need to have their current CNA with 100 hours of documented patient care experience.
7. Students must have current CPR certification in adult, child and infant through the AHA with the Basic Life Support CPR.
8. Students must have completed eight hours of job shadowing in ultrasound.
9. Applications must be submitted in full by mid-December deadline to the school of diagnostic medical sonography.

Selection Process 

The university sponsors up to eight- twelve clinical interns each year. The size of the program is limited by these internships. Students must make formal application to the program during the fall semester. Refer to the sample degree plan tab.

The school of diagnostic medical sonography maintains a selection committee composed of representatives from the university, healthcare community, and the clinical affiliates. The committee evaluates each application on the basis of the applicant’s past academic performance (a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for admission into the professional program), their references, their past work experience, and the results of a formal interview. Based on these factors, the applicants are ranked and accepted for entry into the professional program.

Acceptance is effective at the beginning of the third year and conditional upon successful completion of courses in progress at the time of notification of acceptance. Selection is also conditional upon students’ compliance with state laws for caregivers including submission to a criminal background check. Students take the professional core courses in La Crosse.

Students who successfully meet program requirements in the professional core courses will interview with the clinical internship sites and upon selection by one of the sites will be placed for the clinical internship. 

Diagnostic medical sonography program affiliated clinical internship sites:

• University of Wisconsin Hospital, Madison, WI

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This course will also fulfill general education requirements.

²

Students whose math placement exam places them in MTH 151 or higher are not required to take MTH 150, but are required to meet minimum requirements of the General Education: Mathematical/Logical Systems and Modern Languages Category. STAT 145 is encouraged.

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Students in this major are exempt from the General Education Program's writing emphasis requirements and will instead be expected to meet the writing requirements from the accredited off-campus curriculum.

• General education
• Baccalaureate degree requirements

Baccalaureate degree requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:

1. Fulfill the general education requirements.
2. Complete at least one ethnic studies (diversity) course.
3. Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
4. Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.^{1, 2}
5. At least 40 credits must be earned in 300/400 level courses. Transfer courses earned or transferred at the 300/400 level apply to this requirement.
6. Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA^{1, 2} in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
7. A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
8. Submit an application for graduation via the "Apply for Graduation" link in the WINGS Student Center as soon as the student has registered for his or her final semester or summer term in residence. December and winter intersession graduates should apply by May 1. May and summer graduates should apply by December 1.

¹

Grade point average requirements for some programs will be considerably higher than 2.00. Re-entering students may be required to earn credits in excess of the 120 needed for graduation in any curriculum in order to replace credits earned in courses in which the content has changed substantially in recent years. Each case will be judged on its own merit.

²

The grade point average recorded at the time the degree is awarded will not be affected by future enrollment.

No degree will be awarded unless all requirements are fulfilled and recorded within 30 days after the official ending date of each term.

Below is a sample degree plan that can be used as a guide to identify courses required to fulfill the major and other requirements needed for degree completion. A student's actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Also, this sample plan assumes readiness for each course and/or major plan, and some courses may not be offered every term. Review the course descriptions or the class timetable for course offering information.

The sample degree plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UWL in the fall term. Students should use the Advisement Report (AR) in WINGS and work closely with their faculty advisor(s) and college dean’s office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.

General Education Program
The general education curriculum (Gen Ed) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include Gen Ed placeholders to ensure completion of the general education requirements. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. Gen Ed courses may be taken during winter term (January between the semesters) and summer to reduce the course load during regular terms (fall and spring). Students should consult with their advisor and/or the college academic services director in their college/school for assistance with course and schedule planning. Refer to the general education requirements for more specific details.

At least 40 credits of the 120 credits required must be earned at the 300/400-level. 

Note: New students and transfer students with 15 or fewer credits earned are required to take FYS 100 First-Year Seminar (3 cr.) during one of their first two semesters at UWL.

This sample degree plan does not establish a contractual agreement. It identifies the minimum requirements a student must successfully complete, to qualify for a degree, in a format intended to assist the student in planning their academic career. Actual degree plans may differ.

This major is exempt from the CSH College Core requirement.

¹

This course will also fulfill general education requirements.

²

Students whose math placement exam places them in MTH 151 or higher are not required to take MTH 150, but are required to take STAT 145 and meet minimum requirements of the General Education: Mathematical/Logical Systems and Modern Languages Category.

³

Or PHY 103 and PHY 104.

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This course should be taken off-campus during the summer.