Department of Imaging Sciences

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The faculty of the Department of Imaging Sciences, in conjunction with South College, provides a foundation of general education coursework that emphasizes the attainment of knowledge and skills as they relate to human relations, communication, ethics, critical and analytical thinking, and reasoning skills at the undergraduate level. The programs of study correlate didactic and clinical instruction enabling the students to become competent health professionals with a humanistic approach. This approach results in graduates who competently perform tasks as identified in their scope of practice as autonomous health care providers.

Vision Statement of the Department of Imaging Sciences

The Department of Imaging Sciences strives to provide a multi-disciplinary educational experience to prepare students who will qualify as contributing members of the allied health team dedicated to the conservation of life and the maintenance of health.

Philosophy of the Department of Imaging Sciences

The philosophy of the Department of Imaging Sciences dovetails with the mission of South College by:

1. Educating students to become responsible, enlightened, and productive citizens;
2. Providing skilled clinical practitioners who strive for excellence while promoting student sensitivity of the health care environment;
3. Fostering independent critical thinking, life-long learning, and the necessary skills to adapt to changing environments; and
4. Providing medical specialists that function and communicate effectively and who appreciate the social, mental, intellectual, physical, and spiritual factors that influence the health of diverse populations.

Admittance Decisions

Applicants to any Imaging Sciences program are ranked based on academic and interview scores. Emphasis is placed on math and science coursework related to Imaging Sciences at all degree levels. A minimum interview score of 25 out of a possible 40 is also required. Those programs admitting on a rotational basis do so annually and class sizes admitted are dependent on available clinical sites.

In addition to course work, each student must provide proof of ability to perform the skills needed to practice in the imaging sciences effectively. Health care facilities must meet federal guidelines, and students must also meet these requirements in order to be allowed to gain clinical experience in these facilities. To meet these requirements, each student must supply proof of a negative TB test, hepatitis B vaccine or waiver (if allowed by clinical affiliate), physical exam certifying ability to function in the required capacity, proof of immunizations (including MMR immunity/titer), and CPR training. Some clinical sites may also require proof of flu immunization. A criminal background check and drug screen are required for admission. If the background check reveals previous convictions, it is up to each clinical site to determine the eligibility of students to attend clinical at the site. Students who are denied clinical experiences due to past convictions may be unable to progress in the program which will result in failure to complete the required courses for the program. Students with past convictions are encouraged to contact the credentialing agency(s) to determine eligibility prior to program admission. Contact information may be obtained from the program faculty at the associated campus. In any case where a drug screen is positive and an authorized prescription is not produced to validate the presence of the drug in the individual’s system, a student may be disqualified as a candidate for admission. Upon notification of the drug screen results, the student will have 5 working days to provide prescription validation. Students are responsible for costs associated with any required testing.

Functional Capacities

Applicants to any Imaging Sciences program must be able to meet the following functional capacities. Students who believe they will not be able to meet one or more of these requirements without accommodation must notify the Imaging Sciences Department Chair and a determination will be made on a case-by-case basis whether reasonable accommodation may be made. In no instance will an accommodation be made which will put the applicant, other students, or patients at risk.

Academic Progression and Retention

Students admitted into any program are required to earn a minimum grade of “C” in all major courses. Students earning less than a “C” in any major course will not be allowed to continue in the current rotation of courses, must reapply for admission to the program in a later rotation, and must repeat the course earning a grade of “C” or higher. No guarantee of readmission is made.

To progress in the Bachelor of Science in Health Science concentrations, a student must earn a minimum of a “C” in all required 3000 and 4000 courses within the first two attempts.

Grading Scale

The grading scale utilized in all Department of Imaging Sciences administered didactic courses is as follows:

The grading scale used by the Imaging Sciences Department for clinical courses are as follows:

Associated Program Costs

Students in programs requiring clinical rotations are responsible for all costs associated with completing clinical requirements. Examples include (but are not limited to) required physical exams, immunizations, drug screenings, background checks, health insurance, Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certificates, purchase of required uniforms, and transportation to and from clinical assignments.

Program Termination

Students accepted into any program in the Department of Imaging Sciences are expected to demonstrate professional behavior and demeanor. Professional behavior encompasses a broad range of expectations, including the expectation of trustworthiness and at all times keeping the welfare of the individual receiving care a priority. To this end, any instance of student intent to misrepresent facts will be cause for immediate program dismissal.

• Misrepresentation of facts, verbal or written, including but not limited to the following situations, is prohibited.
  • Bribery
  • Deliberate withholding information about a patient, patient care, and/or self
  • Plagiarism
  • Presenting another student’s work as one’s own
  • Cheating in any form
  • Forgery or falsification in any form
• Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited. Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are immediately responsible to the course instructor. Students are expected to respect and follow the South College Academic Honor Code.

Grounds for immediate termination from the Department of Imaging Science programs include:

1. Receiving a grade of “D” or “F” in any major course listed in the curriculum.
2. Insubordination.
3. The conviction and/or known use of, distribution of, or possession of illegal drugs or controlled substances.
4. Failure to accomplish didactic and/or clinical assignments.
5. Unprofessional, unsafe, and/or unethical conduct.
6. Academic dishonesty in related or professional courses.
7. Participant clinical agencies retain the right to reject any student whose behavior may be hazardous to the agency. In this case, students may not be permitted to continue to progress in the program.

Any student wishing to reapply to any program must contact the Imaging Sciences Department Chair and follow the Program Readmission policy outlined in the Imaging Sciences Department Policy Manual.

Readmission

Students will be considered for readmission to an Imaging Science Department program only one time on a space available basis.

Students desiring readmission to the first quarter of the Radiography or Diagnostic Medical Sonography program must reapply and will be evaluated with new program applicants. Program readmission consideration to second or any subsequent quarters requires a formal Letter of Intent from the student submitted to the Department Chair one quarter prior to the desired readmission date.

Nuclear Medicine applicants desiring readmission to the first or second quarters must reapply and will be ranked with new applicants. Program readmission consideration to the third or fourth quarters requires a formal Letter of Intent from the student submitted to the Department Chair and Program Director one quarter prior to the desire readmission date.

Students withdrawing from a program due to pregnancy may reapply for program readmission as delineated by the pregnancy policy in the Imaging Sciences Department Policy Manual.

Programs

• Diagnostic Medical Sonography, AS
• Radiography, AS

• Health Science, Imaging Concentrations, BS

• Computed Tomography, Certificate
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Certificate
• Nuclear Medicine, Certificate

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