General Admission Requirements
Courses to Take the First Two Years
Obtain an Application for Admission
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Other Career Opportunities in Radiologic Science
Biomedical & Radiological Technologies
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Career Opportunities in Health Science
Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Bachelor of
Science in Radiologic Sciences
Print Version (4 page PDF file)
General Program Information
Radiologic sciences consist of administering ionizing radiation and other
forms of energy to provide technical information and help a physician diagnose
and treat diseases and injuries. Radiologic sciences include diagnostic medical
sonography, medical dosimetry, nuclear medicine technology and radiation
therapy. Although closely related, each involves its own instrumentation,
application techniques, safety practices and patient services.
The Department of Biomedical and Radiologic Technologies offers two pathways into the bachelor of science in radiologic sciences degree program with a major in diagnostic medical sonography. College students with no previous health care credentials may transfer 60 semester hours of liberal arts courses (junior transfer, or those certified in a radiologic science may obtain advanced professional studies (degree completion program). The department also offers a certificate program in diagnostic medical sonography.
Following is information for junior transfer students. For information about the degree completion or certificate programs, contact the Office of Academic Admissions.
Programs Offered
The department offers majors in diagnostic medical sonography, nuclear
medicine technology and radiation therapy for college junior transfers. The
student declares one of the three majors when entering the program and completes
two years (five semesters) of course work in the chosen major.
A dual certification (double) major is available for those who wish to combine two majors in radiologic sciences. The length of program depends on the combination of disciplines, but in all cases it will be longer than a single-major option. The applicant must declare intent to seek a double major upon submitting an application and interview for both disciplines prior to acceptance to ensure a place in the class.
Professional Tasks and Working Environment
The diagnostic medical sono grapher uses diagnostic sound waves to provide
the supervising physician with medical images and information. The sonographer
applies human anatomy and patho physiology principles to produce images for
specific patient situations and needs. Respon sibilities may include image
production through patient positioning and operation of clinical
instrumentation, patient care, quality control, technical assistance with
interventional procedures, image manipulation and processing and preliminary
interpretation of sonographic images.
Certification
Program graduates are eligible to sit for the certification exams of their
disciplines upon satisfactory completion of their program.
Skills and Interests Suited to a Career in Radiologic Sciences
A person entering this field should have technical and math/science
proficiency, computer comfort, self-motivation, empathy, emotional
stability, people skills and a strong work ethic. Graduates work directly with
patients to obtain diagnostic information or to treat with ionizing radiation.
Employment and Career Opportunities
Employment opportunities are abundant and varied for qualified diagnostic
medical sonographers. Increasing demand for sonographic services has provided
many job opportunities in various service divisions of hospitals and medical
clinics, physicians’ offices, public health
institutions and research facilities.
Salary Information
Diagnostic medical sonographers earn mean entry-level salaries of
$40,000-$49,000 with a baccalaureate degree.
General Admissions Criteria
Admission decisions are based on college grade point averages; personal
interviews; and assessment of motivation, knowledge of the discipline(s) and
personal qualities appropriate for the profession and for successful completion
of the program. Completion of the liberal arts (core) courses and current CPR
and first aid certification are required before beginning the program (see the
Frequently Asked Questions section for more information on core
completion). Computer literacy is also expected.
A minimum overall GPA of 2.30 is required for previous college work. Competitive GPAs for accepted applicants are typically much higher than the minimum requirements.
Applicants whose first language is not English must submit official TOEFL scores, with a minimum score of 550 paper-based (213 computer-based) required for consideration. Information on the TOEFL may be obtained through the Office of Academic Admissions.
All applicants must document at least eight hours of shadowing/observation in diagnostic medical sonography, prior to or concurrent with application. For dual certification, eight hours of shadowing in each discipline must be documented. This experience can be arranged by contacting a convenient institutional imaging or therapy department. Documentation must be submitted directly to the department on facility letterhead and signed by an authorized agent of the facility where the shadowing/observation was conducted.
Technical Standards
In addition to demonstrating personal characteristics appropriate for a
health professions career, students must satisfy general and specific technical
standards for this program. Please visit
www.mcg.edu/sah/radsci/dmstechstand.html to review
these requirements.
Estimated Full-Time Academic Expenses
| Tuition | Fees | Books/Supplies/Other | |
| Per semester | $1,819* | 293 | 1000** |
* Non-residents of Georgia pay an additional $5,457 tuition per semester. Residents of Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina and Russell and Lee counties in Alabama receive a waiver of non-resident tuition.
** Costs vary by major. Please check with your department for details.
(Costs are for 2005-2006. All tuition charges, board, room rent or other charges are subject to change at the end of any academic term.)
Estimated Living Expenses
| On- or off-campus apartment | Commuter | |
| 9 months | $13,869 | $9,864 |
| 12 months | 18,492 | 13,152 |
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Financial aid and other assistance is available. MCG participates in all
federal student aid programs as well as state and private programs. MCG helps
students fund their education through grants or scholarships, loans, a service
commitment program and/or employment.
Academic Common Market
The MCG Department of Biomedical and Radiologic Technologies participates in
the Academic Common Market for diagnostic medical sonography. Students from
Louisiana, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia may petition their home state
to learn whether they qualify for in-state tuition at MCG.
Accreditation/Review
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 1970
Chicago, IL 60601-2208
(312) 553-9355
Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Joint Review Committee on Education
in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
2025 Woodland Drive
St. Paul, MN 55125-2998
(651) 731-1582
When and How to Apply
For best chance of acceptance, application to this program should be made
during the fall preceding the fall in which admission is sought to allow
adequate time receipt of all required information. All application materials
should be RECEIVED in MCGs Office of Academic Admissions by March 1.
Applications completed after this date are considered on a remaining space
available basis. Complete applications include the application, references,
official academic materials, documentation of shadowing hours, and documentation
of professional certifications, if applicable. If accepted to the program,
documentation of current CPR and First Aid certification is required upon
enrollment.
How to Get an Application
To receive an application for this degree program, visit
www.mcg.edu/admissions, or call or
write:
Office of Academic Admissions
170 Kelly Building–Administration
Medical College of Georgia
Augusta, Georgia 30912
Telephone: (706) 721-2725 or 1-800-519-3388
E-mail: underadm@mcg.edu
Web site: www.mcg.edu/admissions
Frequently Asked Questions
I’m interested in radiologic sciences, but I’m not sure which major I want to pursue. Should I apply to all majors and decide later?
No. Each major is different enough to require detailed investigation by the applicant. A blanket application to the various majors suggests lack of effort to sufficiently determine which one or two majors are the best fit. Applicants are encouraged to read about the fields, do clinical observations and speak with professionals to make an informed decision. Volunteer or paid work is not required, but applicants must spend at least eight hours observing each major area to which they apply. The department can arrange observations if you need assistance in arranging them.
I’m interested in the dual certification. Does it matter in which order I take the two majors?
Yes, it does. Applicants to the dual certification program will be advised by the department faculty as to the sequence to take in pursuing the two.
If I apply for one major, then decide later that I want dual certification, can I go into the second discipline after my junior year?
Possibly. You must be accepted into the second discipline through competition with other applicants that year for available positions. Generally, our current students are given priority over new applicants when they have comparable academic records.
Can I work part time while in the program?
Most of our curriculum is full time. Because of requirements for clinical practice, students generally spend 35 to 40 hours a week in class, labs and clinical practice. This does not include time for study. Our experience has shown that students who attempt rigorous work commitments in addition to the rigorous school schedule, especially outside Augusta, have not been highly successful in program performance. If you must maintain employment, limit your work to 10 to 20 hours per week, preferably on weekends. Some senior-level courses are scheduled for evenings and/or weekends and may conflict with a work schedule.
Can I attend the program part time?
All entry-level courses (junior year, certificate and senior-level courses for double majors) are full time. Advanced courses (senior courses for single majors) may be taken part time. In fact, we have programs through which students may complete the senior year over a two-year period, since courses are available to suit a variety of lifestyles and schedules.
Most senior-year courses are offered in a flexible non-traditional format, either online or via interactive real-time satellite classroom delivery at specific classroom sites in several areas in Georgia. If you are interested in distance education, you should contact program faculty to determine whether you are suited to these learning methods.
Must I complete all my prerequisite core courses before I can be accepted?
No. We can consider your application before you have completed all of the prerequisites. There is a page in the application to indicate where and when you took or plan to take each prerequisite. Make sure the courses you need will be offered the semester you plan to take them.
On a case-by-case basis, applicants who have not completed all prerequisites may be offered provisional acceptance pending satisfactory completion of prerequisites.
What do you mean by proof of certification in CPR and first aid?
We will accept a course titled First Aid on your transcript or a copy of your card indicating that you completed a first aid course. You must send us a copy of your card showing CPR certification valid through your first semester on campus. If your CPR certification has expired, you must complete a recertification course. Your certification must remain current through your program of study here.
Can I enter the MCG program during spring semester?
Our courses are designed so that fall semester courses are prerequisite to spring semester courses. New students begin only during fall semester.
Will the dual certification program provide me with the same skills in each area as the single majors would?
No. A dual major provides basic entry-level skills in two disciplines. A single major provides specialized skills beyond entry level in that discipline.