Admissions

Students receiving their first baccalaureate degree from the School of Health Professions must successfully complete the Texas Core Curriculum requirements (19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC), §4.28). The core curriculum consists of 42 SCH in specified component areas. If a student’s transcript from another Texas public college or university indicates that the student has completed that institution’s core curriculum, no additional core curriculum requirements will be imposed. If a student has not completed the core requirement at another Texas institution prior to entering the School of Health Professions, the student will be required to earn academic credits from a Texas public college or university to fulfill the School of Health Professions core curriculum course requirements.

The School of Health Professions does not offer lower-level core curriculum courses, but has developed a core curriculum in order to accommodate students who transfer from other states or private institutions. If a student enrolls at the School of Health Professions prior to completing the core curriculum requirements elsewhere, the student is responsible for completing the core curriculum requirements listed below. The student should obtain approval from his or her advisor prior to registering for courses intended to fulfill these requirements. The same requirements also apply to out-of-state students (Texas Education Code (TEC), §61.821 et seq.).

Texas Core Curriculum   42 SCH

Students receiving their first baccalaureate degree from the School of Health Professions must successfully complete the Texas Core Curriculum requirements (19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC), §4.28). The core curriculum consists of 42 SCH in specified component areas. If a student’s transcript from another Texas public college or university indicates that the student has completed that institution’s core curriculum, no additional core curriculum requirements will be imposed. If a student has not completed the core requirement at another Texas institution prior to entering the School of Health Professions, the student will be required to earn academic credits from a Texas public college or university to fulfill the School of Health Professions core curriculum course requirements.

The School of Health Professions does not offer lower-level core curriculum courses, but has developed a core curriculum in order to accommodate students who transfer from other states or private institutions. If a student enrolls at the School of Health Professions prior to completing the core curriculum requirements elsewhere, the student is responsible for completing the core curriculum requirements listed below. The student should obtain approval from his or her advisor prior to registering for courses intended to fulfill these requirements. The same requirements also apply to out-of-state students (Texas Education Code (TEC), §61.821 et seq.).

Nonacademic Technical Standards

Students who can fulfill the nonacademic technical standards and who have disabilities will need to disclose those disabilities at the beginning of the program, if reasonable accommodation is to be requested. Visit the Students with Disabilities section in this catalog for more information on requesting accommodations.

Each program’s accrediting agency may require additional standards. Contact the Program Director for information.

Sensory/Observational Skills

• Candidates for admission to the School of Health Professions must be able to observe demonstrations and participate in laboratory or clinical experiments and practices as required by the program of interest.
• Candidates must have visual acuity corrected to 20/20 and visual perception with respect to color. A color blindness test will be administered during orientation.
• Candidates must be able to visually identify probe colors on slides, computer readout and monitor, interpret reactions on slides, microwells and test tubes and visually identify cellular components and microorganisms under a microscope.
• Candidates must be able to view images for accuracy, view computer screens for extended periods, visually monitor patients during treatment and treatment planning procedures in dim light.
• Candidates must be able to hear various equipment alerts, sounds and signals and background sounds during equipment operations, distinguish phonetic sounds either mechanically or from conversation to perform procedures in low light and monitor patients via audio monitors during treatment and treatment planning procedures.

Physical and Motor Skills

• Candidates for admission to the School of Health Professions must have sufficient motor function to operate/manipulate and maintain a microscope and/or microtome and other laboratory equipment.
• Candidates must have the ability to obtain and/or verify patient samples, ambulate sufficiently to collect blood specimens from patients and possess sufficient stamina to tolerate physically taxing workloads.
• Candidates must be able to demonstrate manual dexterity required to process samples, operate, maintain and repair laboratory equipment or maintain balance while positioning patient and adjusting x-ray tube and/or perform all aspects of clinical laboratory testing or radiological procedures.
• Candidates must be able to lift 30 pounds of weight overhead, be able to reach up to six feet off floor, be able to move immobile patients from stretcher to treatment table and/or push wheelchair from waiting area to treatment room.
• Candidates for the MRI program must not have foreign bodies or medical implants that are contraindicated for the MRI environment.
• Candidates must be able to stand for long periods of time, maneuver through congested areas to perform positioning procedures and move and adjust medical equipment such as x-ray tubes.

Communication Skills

• Candidates for admission to the School of Health Professions must be able to communicate in English and medical terminology in oral and written form to faculty, staff, colleagues, other health care professionals, patients and visitors.
• Candidates must have the ability to participate in discussions in the classroom and clinical areas.
• Candidates must be able to complete and maintain written assignments and reports.

Intellectual/Conceptual, Integrative and Qualitative Skills

• Candidates for admission to the School of Health Professions must have the ability to measure, calculate, analyze, interpret, synthesize and evaluate data.
• Candidates must be able to comprehend three-dimensional and spatial relationships on a computer monitor or under a microscope and monitor and input clinical data.
• Candidates must have the ability to learn, prioritize and perform laboratory or radiologic testing.
• Candidates must have the ability to make sound judgement and correlate disease states with clinical data.
• Candidates must possess organizational skills and be able to problem solve in a timely manner and under stressful conditions.

Social Behavior and Professionalism

• Candidates for admission to the School of Health Professions must demonstrate the ability to follow instructions/procedures with accuracy and precision.
• Candidates must possess the ability to maintain intellectual and emotional stability and maturity under stress, while maintaining appropriate performance standards.
• Candidates must have the ability to manage time, organize workload and meet deadlines.
• Candidates must be able to function as a part of a team and learn to delegate responsibilities appropriately.
• Candidates must be able to exhibit respect of self and others and project an image of professionalism, including appearance, dress and confidence and maintain complete personal integrity and honesty.
• Candidates must be able to interact appropriately with diverse personalities and populations.
• Candidates must adhere to safety guidelines for self and others and be able to comply with standards and regulations required by external agencies.