Graduation Requirements and Grading for the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program

Students are eligible for graduation when they have fulfilled the following:

• Clinical requirements — Successful completion of all mandatory clinical competencies.
• Scholastic requirements — Complete all mandatory course curriculum
  • Achievement of a "C" (2.0) grade average in all courses
• Have fulfilled all financial obligations to the school/hospital
• Completed all registry review assignments

Having completed these requirements, the graduate will be eligible to take board examinations from the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography in Abdomen, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Vascular Technology.

Clinical Comprehensive Evaluations

Students must demonstrate competency in all required examinations via the Froedtert Hospital Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program standards.

Junior Terminal Clinical Competency Assessment

The evaluations must meet a passing grade of 80%. Competency evaluations that do not meet the 80% standard must be repeated.

Scholastic Requirements

Complete all mandatory curriculum with the minimum of a "C" (2.0) grade average in all courses.

Early Release

Students who meet all the requirements ahead of the scheduled program completion time may apply for early release following the process laid out in the Froedtert Hospital Diagnostic Medical Sonography Student Handbook.

Certification Students who meet all the requirements of graduation will be eligible to apply for AB, OB/GYN, and RVT examination offered by the ARDMS under prerequisite 2. (some students may be eligible under 3B)

Grading

Academic Year

The first academic year runs from September to August. It is divided into two 16-week semesters and one 14-week summer session.

The second academic year runs from September to June. It is divided into two 16-week semesters and one 8-week summer session.

The total program length is 22 months.

Credit

The unit of credit is the semester hour. It represents one lecture per week (60 minutes) for 16 weeks.

Grading Scale

The grade point average (GPA) is computed by dividing the total grade points earned by the total credit hours attempted.

Scholastic Standing

• Good Standing — Students are in good standing if a "C" (2.0) average is earned in all courses. The student must achieve a “C: or higher in all Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program course work, clinical evaluations, proficiency simulations, and all final examinations at the end of the semester. If the student grade is below 80% in any of the aforementioned outcomes at the end of a semester, he/she can be dismissed from the program under the discretion of the faculty. If the student remains in the program, he/she is placed on Academic or Clinical Probation.
• Probation — A student who does not earn a "C" (2.0) in all courses, but whose semester grade point is 2.0 or above ("C") will be placed on probation. This probationary period will last one semester. If the student violates his/her probation with an evaluation grade below 80%, he/she may be dismissed from the program. The student may request independent study however; this will be at the Instructor’s discretion.
• Termination — A student who does not maintain a cumulative grade point of 2.0 ("C") will be dismissed from the program.. Any student who fails two courses in one semester will be terminated even if their cumulative grade point does not drop below a 2.0. A student who fails the comprehensive final examination as described by the comprehensive final may also be dismissed.

Computation of Grades

Didactic course grades will be calculated by dividing the total number of points achieved for the course by the points possible. Each course will consist of homework assignments, unit exams and a final examination. Interns will be provided a course syllabus outlining the course structure on the first day of each course. Clinical education grades are computed using weighted averages of competency evaluations, Clinical instructor's evaluations, staff technologists' evaluations, attendance and assignments. Each semester, the intern will be provided the weighting for the calculation of grades at the start of the semester as the weights are adjusted as the intern progresses through the clinical education.