Allied Health Programs

Admission and Retention Procedures

Minimum Terms of Eligibility

To be eligible for consideration for admission to an Allied Health Program, the applicant must, except as may be provided for by a specific program, meet the following minimum requirements:

  1. Be granted degree admission status at Southwest
  2. Submit an application for admission and all required credentials by the published deadline
  3. Complete all prerequisite courses specified for the program to which one is applying prior to the beginning of the term for which admission is being sought
  4. Have a cumulative GPA of no less that 2.0 on any attempted college-level courses
  5. Complete all prerequisite testing required for the program to which one is applying
  6. Provide evidence of physical and/or emotional ability to carry out the essential requirements of the program and evidence of freedom from communicable diseases and from drug and alcohol addiction

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Procedures and Criteria of Admission

  1. Admission to Allied Health and Nursing programs is granted based on criteria established by each specific program.
  2. Students must complete and file an Application for Special Admission to each program for which they wish to be considered.
  3. Application deadlines listed are enforced. Applications received after these dates will be considered only if space is available in the class.
  4. A specific program may have established certain minimum prerequisite requirements that the student must meet in order to be considered for admission.
  5. The Southwest Office of Admissions and Records receives and processes each Special Application for Admission.
  6. The Southwest Office of Admissions and Records calculates the earned Admission Index of each eligible applicant and ranks all applicants accordingly.
  7. The Admission Index is derived by multiplying the earned score on each of the applicable variables by the assigned weight, and then summing the results. The particular variables applicable to each program are listed under each program heading in the following section.
  8. The Admissions Committee of each program reviews and certifies the eligibility of all applicants.
  9. The Admissions Committee of each program shall consider the highest-ranking students up to the maximum number admissible as admitted to the next official class. All other students shall remain as alternates until the published last date to enroll for the term in which the class is scheduled to begin.
  10. The Southwest Office of Admissions and Records shall notify in writing each applicant of his or her admission status.
  11. Each admitted applicant must formally accept admission in writing by the specified date.
  12. If an admitted applicant declines admission or fails to notify the program of acceptance by the designated date, the student's position in the class will become vacant and offered to the highest ranking alternate.

Eligible applicants who fail to gain admission to a given class may reapply for admission to the next official class. Those who do so will be evaluated and ranked in accordance with the above procedures and without consideration to previous evaluation and ranking. Rank in one admission process does not establish the right to the same or similar rank in another admission process.

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Appeal of Admission Index and Ranking

If an applicant does not agree with the Admissions Committee's calculation of his/her Admission Index or assigned rank, the applicant may request a review by the department head and, subsequently, by the dean of the division. Such appeals must be made in writing within 15 working days of the date on which the notice of the appellant's admission status was mailed.

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Dismissal Policy

A student dismissed from an Allied Health Sciences program for academic reasons may be considered for readmission under the specific program's readmission policy on a space available basis. Any student receiving a second academic dismissal may not be considered for readmission into the program for two years. Violation of classroom procedures, clinical procedures or personal misconduct will result in disciplinary action and can result in immediate dismissal from the program and the College. Disciplinary actions can result from, but are not limited to, such examples as conduct dangerous to others, disorderly conduct, misuse of or damage to property, misuse of documents or identification cards, or violations of state or federal laws. Procedures for disciplinary action and/or dismissal from Allied Health programs, and related appeal procedures, are listed in the Student Handbook under the section entitled Student Conduct and Disciplinary Policies. Handbooks are available in the Counseling and Advising Center.

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Readmission to Allied Health Sciences Program

A student who has incurred academic dismissal from an Allied Health Sciences program may be eligible to be considered for readmission. Such students are evaluated and ranked in accordance with the procedures set forth by each specific program and readmission granted on a space available basis. To be eligible for consideration, the student must:

  1. Have been separated from the program at least one (1) full academic year, exclusive of summer term.
  2. Comply with the procedures for regular admission described previously
  3. Submit an essay demonstrating that the conditions which led to the academic dismissal no longer exist and that he/she is prepared to and capable of making satisfactory progress in the program

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Malpractice Insurance Requirement

All students admitted to an Allied Health Sciences program are required to purchase and maintain malpractice insurance while enrolled in the program.

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Associate of Applied Science Degree Curricula

Students are required to complete both general education and career-specific courses to qualify for the Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree. Each A.A.S. degree program requires approximately 15 credit hours related to the arts and sciences. Additionally, each degree program requires the completion of designated courses and clinical or practical experiences. See General Education section of this catalog. Please refer to each program's listing for information related to general education and prerequisite course requirements. Some programs require specific courses from the general education groupings:

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Career-Related Course Requirements

Specific career-related course requirements are described for each degree program under the department that sponsors the program. Please refer to those pages for more detailed information.

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Background Checks

Affiliates that provide clinical rotation sites may require students to have a criminal background check. Students will be responsible for the costs of such checks and making any arrangements for the background check.

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