There are two options in the ECHO Program - AAS Degree or Certificate:

Associates Degree Plan:
This is a two-year Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree upon successful completion of the Health Occupations Core Curriculum the first year and acceptance into the ECHO program and successful completion of the specialty and any support courses. This degree plan includes support courses and prerequisites necessary to meet the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools guidelines for accreditation.

The student must successfully complete each course in the degree plan before the Associate of Applied Science degree is granted. This degree plan includes support courses and prerequisites necessary to meet the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools guidelines for accreditation. It is accepted that the student will be well prepared to enter the workforce as an entry-level echocardiographer.

Certificate Plan:
Applicants meet general admission requirements to the college as outlined in the college catalog. To be considered for admission into the Echocardiology Technology certificate program, the applicant must qualify under ONE of the following categories:

1. Have earned an Associate or Bachelors Degree in ONE of the following health fields with a cumulative grade point average of 2.85 on the degree plan coursework: Radiologic Technology, Nursing, Respiratory Therapy, Physical Therapy Assistant, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Medical Laboratory Technology, or Nuclear Medicine Technology. Some other health fields may also be considered on an individual basis.
   
   NOTE: Students actively pursuing one of the above Associate or Bachelors Degrees may apply to the certificate program providing the degree will be conferred no later than May 31, 2001 of that acceptance period. Students who have been provisionally accepted must maintain a minimum 2.85 grade point average through the completion of their degree and must also submit official transcripts no later than May 31, 2001 verifying completion of the degree to be considered eligible for admission to the certificate program.
   
   
2. Have earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in a pure science discipline such as Physics, Biology, etc. B.S. degree graduates from a science discipline will be considered on an individual basis to determine if they qualify to apply to the Echocardiology Technology certificate program.
   

The certificate applicant must also demonstrate basic knowledge, by coursework or testing, of basic electrocardiography and pharmacology to place them at the same level of competence as the students completing the HOCC curriculum. Students actively pursuing one of the above Associate or Bachelors Degrees may apply to the certificate program providing the degree will be conferred no later than May 31 of the year of acceptance into the program.

Applicants to the Echocardiology Technology certificate option must have completed at least two of the following common learning courses with a minimum grade of "C" or higher:

ENGL 1301 - Composition I
MATH 1314/1414/1414 - College Algebra*
SPCH 1311 - Introduction to Speech Communication

* A 5-year time limit is imposed upon MATH 1314 and MATH 1414.

A potential certificate applicant who has not completed two of the above three common learning courses will be allowed to apply to the program by the March 31st application deadline, however, the applicant must be enrolled in those courses during the Spring 2001 semester and must complete those courses with a minimum grade of "C" or higher by May 10 to be considered in the final selection for the class.

The college guidelines on transfer of credit and advanced placement are followed. If equivalent courses were completed at a college or university outside the Dallas County Community College District, catalog course descriptions are required to verify transferability. If you have questions concerning these common learning courses, you are encouraged to contact Pamela Farley, Admissions Advisor, Health Occupations Admissions Office at 214.860.2029.

Students in the Certificate option program must successfully complete each course with a grade of "C" or better in the second-year level of the program before the Certificate of completion is awarded. It is accepted that the student will be well prepared to enter the workforce as an entry-level echocardiographer after graduation from the Echocardiology Technology Program.

Educational opportunities are offered by the Dallas County Community College District without regard to race, color, age, national origin, religion, sex, or disability. Admission of students to the Echocardiology Technology (ECHO) Program are made in accordance with the clearly defined and published practices of El Centro College.

Admission requirements include:

• Graduation from high school or successful completion of the General Education Development (GED) certificate.
• Completion of all requirements for admission as a full-time student to the college
• Attendance at a program information session
• Satisfactory scores on pre-entrance assessment testing.
• Meet TASP requirements
• Submission of a complete application packet to the Health Occupations Admissions Office during a designated filing period
• Submission of letters of reference
• Personal interview with selection committee
• Meet the competitive criteria and be formally accepted into the ECHO program

Applicants to the ECHO Program must meet college admission requirements as outlined in the El Centro College Catalog. The applicant must be a high school graduate, have successfully completed the General Education Development (GED) certificate, or be enrolled in a high school Tech Prep Health Cluster course or articulation agreement with the College.

If you are not currently enrolled in El Centro College, please contact the college Admissions Office (214.860.2311) to complete an application for college admission, or using your Internet browser, download and print a DCCCD college application for admission form. Adobe Acrobat must be installed on your computer to download this form.
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Potential applicants who are TASP exempt and have completed ENGL 1301 and MATH 1314 with a minimum grade of "B" are not required to complete further assessment testing. Students who have earned a grade of"C" in one or both of these two courses must achieve minimum scores on reading comprehension and/or mathematics assessment testing in order to apply to the ECHO program. A testing referral slip from the Health Occupations Admissions Office (Room A140) may be required.

All prospective students MUST achieve minimum assessment scores in reading comprehension and math skills. Students who are TASP exempt through previous coursework (including English and Math courses), previous degrees, or the "B or Better" provision are NOT exempt from reading comprehension and math assessment testing.

A testing referral slip from the El Centro College Health Occupations Admissions Office (Room A-140) is required to test. It is not necessary to make an appointment to complete assessment testing. For Assessment Center hours, please call 214.860.2178 at El Centro College. For further assistance regarding assessment testing, please consult the Health Occupations Admissions Office (214.860.2242).

Students may present any combination of the following reading and math tests with the designated minimum scores to fulfill the assessment testing requirement. TASP, SAT, and ACT scores are valid for five years from time of testing to date of application. All other test scores are valid for two years from time of testing to date of application to the ECHO program. The College may require additional testing for TASP requirements.

Various assessment tests and the minimum acceptable scores for each:

If the applicant does not achieve minimum required scores on the retest, the applicant must complete one of the following options to be granted a third and final testing opportunity during that application filing period. The three options are:

• enrolling in developmental coursework
• submit documented proof of obtaining tutoring
• enrolling in the Continuing Education course "College Fresh Start" which grants access to the College Learning Center for self-remediation utilizing computer programs, video/audio tapes, etc.

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Effective fall 1989, the Texas Legislature mandated that all new students entering Texas public colleges and universities be tested for basic skills proficiency (reading, writing, and math). In most cases, a degree or certificate cannot be awarded until a student has passed the Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP).

Students who have not earned at least three (3) credit hours of college-level coursework prior to Fall 1989, and who have not passed all sections of TASP, are considered "TASP vulnerable". It is in the student's best interests to resolve TASP issues prior to applying to the program. A student cannot be awarded a degree or certificate of completion for a Health Occupations program until TASP requirements are satisfied.

Assessment testing requirements does not reflect complete TASP policies or procedures instituted by the College or the State of Texas. Passing TASP is not required to apply to the program. However, if developmental coursework is required and the student is accepted into the program, the developmental coursework is added to the student's courseload. Developmental course requirements fall under the jurisdiction of the College Counseling Office. To determine your TASP status, please see a counselor in the College Counseling Center (214.860.2084).
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For the Associate Degree option, the first year consists of the Health Occupations Core Curriculum (HOCC); and enrollment in the HOCC and other required courses is open (no application required).

The ECHO program does not formally accept students until they have completed the Health Occupations Core Curriculum and other prerequisites (AAS Degree plan) or have a prior Health Occupations degree (Certificate plan). All potential students apply to the specialized ECHO career track during the spring semester. All support courses and admission requirements are expected to be met by both AAS Degree and Certificate plan students. Students accepted into the ECHO program begin the ECHO-specific courses in June.

The completed application packet should be submitted to the El Centro College Health Occupations Admissions Office on or before the application filing period deadline in March. Note that this process is separate from applying for general admission to the college. If you are not currently enrolled in El Centro College, please contact the college Admissions Office (214.860.2311) to complete an application for college admission, or using your Internet browser, download and print a DCCCD college application for admission form. Adobe Acrobat must be installed on your computer to download this form.

Students should submit the following materials to to apply to the program:

• Completed application form (form is obtained at the information session) including essay

• Signed "Statement of Student Responsibility" form (included with the application form)

• Assessment test scores indicating successful achievement of the minimum required reading comprehension and math scores

• An official transcript from each college attended must be submitted including a transcript from any Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD) campuses (only one DCCCD transcript is required). Only courses reflected on official transcripts will be considered in the ranking process. If student has completed courses equivalent to ENGL 1301 or SPCH 1311 at a college outside the DCCCD, a catalog course description for the course(s) must be submitted.

Allow six to eight weeks to receive official transcripts from colleges outside the DCCCD. If you have taken courses at more than one college in the DCCCD, only one DCCCD transcript is needed. · All science courses submitted must be completed no more than five years prior to program admission to the Medical Transcription Program.

SPECIAL NOTATION REGARDING OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS
If a college or university outside the DCCCD will not release an official transcript directly to the student, the transcript must be mailed directly to Patsy Jones-Strawther at the address below. If the transcripts have previously been mailed to the El Centro College Registrar's Office, the student should request a stamped photocopy of their transcript from the Registrar's Office to include with their Medical Assisting application materials. Please note that the student is solely responsible for ensuring that his/her transcripts are received in the Health Occupations Admissions Office by the filing deadline. Therefore, it is to the student's advantage to obtain transcripts personally if at all possible for submission with the rest of the application materials.

• Copy of the high school diploma or GED certificate

The above materials must be placed in a 9"x12" envelope and submitted in person or by mail to: following address:

Patsy Jones-Strawther
Health Occupations Admissions Office
El Centro College
Main and Lamar
Dallas, TX 75202-3604

Telephone: 214.860.2242 or E-mail (pfj5310@dcccd.edu) if you have additional questions.

Student should contact the persons completing the letter of reference forms to ensure that these are submitted to the Health Occupations Admissions Office by the reference prior to the application deadline in March.
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Applicants to the Echocardiology Technology program are required to have reference letters submitted on their behalf. Enclosed with the application packet are three Personal Inquiry Waivers and three Prospective Student Information Reference forms. The applicant should complete the waivers and mail each with a reference form to the three individuals whom the applicant has asked to serve as references. At least two of the three references must be from recent employers or instructors. No reference should be from a family member.

These individuals must return the reference forms directly to the attention of Patsy Strawther, Allied Health Admissions Assistant, in the Health Occupations Admissions Office. The reference materials must be received in the Health Occupations Admissions Office by March 31.
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Applicants will be selected for admission to the Echocardiology Technology Program based upon the following criteria:

• Cumulative GPA on all core curriculum/degree coursework
• Personal interview with the selection committee
• Personal recommendation letters
• Summary page (one original and one photocopy of the summary page are required)

The above items will be rated on a numerical basis according to assigned percentages. If two or more applicants have the exact point total, the submittal date of the applicant's completed packet will be used to break the tie.

A ranked list of applicants will be generated from highest point total to lowest point total and the class will be selected from the ranked list.

Certificate applicants compete for available spaces on an equal basis with the Degree plan students.

NOTE: Space is limited in the program. Completion of the core curriculum courses DOES NOT guarantee a student acceptance into the Echocardiology Technology program.
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A student who receives an acceptance letter is required to return a confirmation form to the Health Occupations Admissions Office within a specified timeframe to accept their space in the class. Failure to return the confirmation by the specified date or failure to attend the scheduled registration/orientation seminar for the accepted class will result in forfeiture of the student's space in that class.

Should any accepted student decline or forfeit their space prior to the beginning of classes in June, the next student from the ranked list will be contacted and offered that space in the class. Once this student has been contacted directly (or indirectly via voicemail, answering machine message, etc.), he/she must confirm acceptance within a 24 hour time period or forfeit acceptance to the class for that semester.

NOTE: Applications are not automatically "held over", therefore, students who are not selected for admission the semester for which they apply or students declining their acceptance for that semester must resubmit their application during the next filing period to be considered for the next admission opportunity. Once a student has been accepted for an imaging program (i.e. Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Echocardiology, or Invasive Cardiovascular Technology) and has begun classes in that program, the student will not be allowed to change programs during that acceptance period.
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