Division of Associated Medical Sciences

Carver College of Medicine

Division of Associated Medical Sciences

Head:
Web site: http://www.medicine.uiowa.edu/DAMS/index.htm

The Division of Associated Medical Sciences includes five academic programs: the Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Nuclear Medicine Technology, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, Physician Assistant, and Radiation Sciences Programs. The division provides academic coordination for students in each program.

The Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Nuclear Medicine Technology, and Radiation Sciences Programs offer a Bachelor of Science in addition to a certificate of completion. Students in those programs usually enroll initially in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and are assigned a faculty advisor from the Division of Associated Medical Sciences.

The Physician Assistant Program and the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science Program offer graduate degrees, which are awarded by the Graduate College: Master of Physician Assistant Studies (M.P.A.S.), Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in physical rehabilitation science, and Master of Arts (M.A.) in physical therapy (for students working toward the Ph.D. in physical rehabilitation science).

Although each program in the division has its own admission requirements, all require a similar foundation in the biological, chemical, and mathematical sciences. Physics, physiology, computer science, biochemistry, general statistics, and psychology are required by some programs and are highly recommended for others. Students should plan their study programs carefully to avoid conflicts in specifically required courses. It is imperative that students consult with their program advisor to assure the proper sequencing of courses.

The general academic policies described here govern all five of the division's programs. For descriptions of each program, summaries of each profession, curriculum outlines, prerequisite and admission requirements, and lists of courses, see Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Nuclear Medicine Technology, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, Physician Assistant Program, and Radiation Sciences in the Catalog.

Academic Rules and Procedures

Advising

When students declare their intended major to be one of the programs in the Division of Associated Medical Sciences, they are assigned to that program for academic advising.

Admission

Students are admitted to the Carver College of Medicine at the time of formal admission to a Division of Associated Medical Sciences program. Admission policies and procedures vary from program to program. See the individual program descriptions in the Catalog or contact the programs for details about admission. Students may be admitted as degree or nondegree candidates (special students). Nondegree candidates are subject to Carver College of Medicine rules for academic probation and dismissal.

To be considered for admission to a Division of Associated Medical Sciences program, applicants must have the cumulative grade-point average (all college work attempted) specified by the program: clinical laboratory sciences, at least 2.50 overall and 2.50 in math and science; nuclear medicine technology, at least 2.50; physical therapy, at least 3.00; physician assistant, at least 3.00; and radiation sciences, at least 2.50. Admission committees give special attention to grades in the sciences, particularly the prerequisite science courses required by the individual programs.

Health Insurance, Immunizations

All health professions students are required to provide proof of health insurance coverage when they register at The University of Iowa. Contact the University Benefits Office or see Insurance/Health/Graduate Student or Health Science Major on its web site (http://www.uiowa.edu/hr/benefits/healthinfo/index_grad.html) for details.

Students admitted to Division of Associated Medical Sciences programs must show proof that they have had a recent physical examination, including routine laboratory procedures and immunizations. For more information, contact Student Health Service.

Graduation Requirements for the Bachelor of Science

General Requirements

A Bachelor of Science at The University of Iowa requires a minimum of 120 s.h. of credit; specific degree programs may require more. The number of semester hours required after admission to a specific program varies from program to program. Students should consult the program description and/or program director for more specific information.

The general requirements for graduation include quality as well as quantity of work completed. Candidates must earn a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in all college work attempted, all work undertaken at The University of Iowa, and all graded work attempted after admission to the Carver College of Medicine. Students enrolled in a program that uses the pass/fail/honors grading system must pass all courses required to complete the program.

The residence requirement may be met by earning the final consecutive 30 s.h. in residence, or 45 of the last 60 s.h. in residence, or an overall total of 90 s.h. in residence.

Nonresident instruction includes course work and correspondence study at other colleges, universities, and institutions; and course work in other undergraduate colleges at The University of Iowa. Some undergraduate course work in other University of Iowa colleges may count toward residency requirements; contact the individual Division of Associated Medical Sciences programs for information.

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program requirements vary from program to program. Students must check the requirements of the specific Division of Associated Medical Sciences program or degree objective. Specific requirements for the major are listed in each program's description.

Double Majors

Students may earn more than one major in the Carver College of Medicine by meeting the requirements for each major.

Two Bachelor's Degrees

Students who want to earn two bachelor's degrees, each from a different college, may do so under a combined degree program. They must have their combined course of study approved by the dean of the Carver College of Medicine and the dean of the other college to be eligible for a combined degree program.

Second Bachelor's Degree

Students who already possess a bachelor's degree and who want to earn an additional bachelor's degree must complete at least 30 s.h. consecutively in the Carver College of Medicine. Students who hold a B.A. or B.S. are considered to have completed the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program except for the foreign language component. Holders of other degrees must meet college and program degree requirements. Students with a B.A. or B.S. must satisfy the residence requirement for a bachelor's degree at Iowa. Candidates for a second bachelor's degree must apply for the degree through the University's Office of Admissions.

Combined Bachelor's Degree

Students may earn two University of Iowa bachelor's degrees in a combined degree program in the Carver College of Medicine and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Although students begin their academic program in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, they must be eligible for admission to the Carver College of Medicine Bachelor of Science program in clinical laboratory sciences, nuclear medicine technology, or radiation sciences.

Students who select the combined degree program must meet the bachelor's degree requirements specified by both colleges. The exact length of time necessary to complete the program is determined by the major areas of study selected in each college. Students who enter the combined degree program are assigned two faculty advisors, one in the major department of the Carver College of Medicine and the other in the major department of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Students interested in the combined degree program should see the director of the Bachelor of Science program of their choice in the Carver College of Medicine.

Minors

Students graduating from the Carver College of Medicine may earn a minor or minors in any degree-granting department or program in the college outside of their major department or in another college of the University by meeting that department's requirements for the minor. Generally, students must earn a minimum of 15 s.h. in the minor.

Application for Degree

Students who want to be considered for graduation must file an Application for Degree with the Office of the Registrar before the deadline for the session in which the degree is to be conferred. Students who want to have a minor listed on their transcript must indicate this on the degree application form so that completion of the requirements for the minor can be verified.

Duplication

Duplication occurs when students take the same course more than once or when they take a course that duplicates the content of a course they already have completed satisfactorily. Regression occurs when students take a course that is less advanced or at a lower level than one in the same subject that they already have completed satisfactorily. Duplication and regression are assessed by the registrar at the time of graduation analysis. Semester hours earned by duplication or regression do not count toward the number of semester hours required for graduation.

Graduation Honors

Approximately 10 percent of the division's graduating students may be recognized for their scholastic achievement upon recommendation by the program and with the dean's approval. Minimum criteria have been established for the following designations: distinction, high distinction, and highest distinction.

Registration and Grading

Information about tuition and fees, registration, and deadlines is available from the Office of the Registrar. Students who add or drop a course after registration or who register late are assessed a fee. Each course dropped after the deadline results in a W (withdrawal) on the transcript (see Changes in Registration below). Students are not allowed to register for full-semester courses after the second week of the semester or the first week of the summer session. Students must register for off-cycle courses before the first day of the course. The maximum permitted registration is 20 s.h. in a regular semester and 10 s.h. in the summer session. Students must obtain permission from the head of the division to register for more than the maximum semester hours allowed.

Changes in Registration

Courses may be added with the signatures of the advisor and the course instructor at any time during the first one-fifth of the course. They may be dropped at any time during the first two-thirds of the course. Approval is required from the head of the Division of Associated Medical Sciences for all other changes in registration and is granted only in extraordinary circumstances. Students are assigned a mark of W (withdrawn) for any course dropped after the first one-fifth of the course.

Students who have registered for courses offered for variable or arranged credit may change the number of semester hours with the signatures of the instructor, the advisor, and the head of the division at any time before the end of the first two-thirds of the course.

Other changes in registration (such as to audit for zero credit) may be made only during the first one-fifth of the course.

It is the student's responsibility to see that the change of registration form is approved by the necessary individuals and delivered to the Registration Center. Changes in registration become effective on the date the completed form is submitted to the Registration Center.

Withdrawal of Registration

Students may withdraw registration without academic penalty at any time before the end of the first four-fifths of the course, but no credit is given for the course. Later withdrawal results in automatic assignment of an F. Students who withdraw are not reinstated after the deadline for that session.

Grading Procedures

Grading procedures vary from program to program. Students should consult individual program policy statements for information.

Auditing Courses

Students may register to audit a course with approval of the appropriate program director and course instructor. In addition to obtaining these signatures, students must register for zero credit in the course to be audited. The mark of R (registered) is assigned if the student's attendance and performance are satisfactory; if they are unsatisfactory, the mark of W (withdrawn) is assigned. Courses completed with a mark of R do not meet any college requirement and carry no credit toward graduation. Auditing may not be used as a second-grade-only option.

Second-Grade-Only Option

Repeating courses for the second-grade-only option is allowed in extraordinary circumstances. To repeat a course for the second-grade-only option, students must obtain the signatures of the course instructor, the program director, and the dean on a special form obtained from the program office. The properly signed form must be presented to the Office of the Registrar before the end of the first one-fifth of the course. Both grades remain on the permanent record, but only the second one is used to calculate grade-point average and hours earned.

Incompletes

A grade of I (incomplete) may be reported if the reasons for inability to finish the course satisfactorily are acceptable to the program director and the course instructor. There also must be evidence that the course work will be finished within a reasonable length of time, usually by the end of the next academic session. Incompletes not removed by the deadline for submission of final grades for the next session result in the assignment of a grade of F. Changing the grade when an incomplete has been converted to an F requires the signature of the dean on a change of grade form.

Credit by Examination

The procedure for the acceptance of and the granting of credit by examination varies from program to program. Consult the program director for information.

Reports to Students

Instructors contact any student whose work falls below the minimum acceptable level once the problem is recognized. Grades are reported on the student's transcript, following University protocol. No formal midterm reports are given.

Courses Offered by Other University of Iowa Colleges

Division of Associated Medical Sciences students who enroll in courses offered by other University of Iowa colleges are governed by those colleges' rules in matters regarding the courses. See http://www.uiowa.edu/~provost/deos/crossenroll.doc for details.

Recognition for Academic Achievement

The University of Iowa and the Carver College of Medicine recognize academic achievement every fall and spring semester.

Dean's List

Undergraduate students who have a grade-point average of 3.50 or higher on 12 s.h. or more of graded work during a given semester (excluding summer sessions) and who have no semester hours of I (incomplete) or O (no grade reported) during the same semester are recognized by inclusion on the Dean's List for that semester.

President's List

Undergraduate students who have a grade-point average of 4.00 on 12 s.h. or more of graded work for two consecutive semesters (excluding summer sessions) and who have no semester hours of I (incomplete) or O (no grade reported) during the same semesters are recognized by inclusion on the President's List.

Academic Progress, Probation, Dismissal

Students are expected to maintain satisfactory academic and professional standards and to demonstrate reasonable progress toward the degree and certificate. Students who fail to maintain satisfactory academic progress or professional standards of behavior as determined by their program may be placed on probation or dismissed from the program. Probation serves as a warning that the student will not graduate unless his or her academic performance and/or professional behavior improves.

Students on probation are restored to good standing by the program director upon evidence that the problem has been corrected. Such action is usually taken at the end of a semester or session. Entering students may be admitted on probation if they fail to meet the minimum stated standards for admission.

Continued unsatisfactory scholarship or unprofessional behavior may result in dismissal from a program. Students dismissed from a program must reapply for admission through the regular, established program admissions process, following review by the Division of Associated Medical Sciences executive committee, at least four months before the requested date of readmission.

Students placed on probation or dismissed from a program are notified in writing of these actions by the program director; copies are placed in their files.

Students are expected to attend classes regularly. Students who miss classes or examinations because of illness are expected to present evidence that they have been ill. Any other absences must be approved in advance by the course instructor.

Any offense against good order committed by a student in a classroom, clinical setting, or laboratory may be dealt with by the instructor or referred to the program director. The instructor reports in writing any disciplinary action taken against a student to the program director. Repeated or exceptional instances are reported to the dean.

Academic Misconduct

Plagiarism and Cheating

All cases of plagiarism and cheating in the Carver College of Medicine are reported to the dean with a statement of relevant facts. The program director and the instructor may submit recommendations for appropriate disciplinary action.

The individual instructor may reduce the student's grade, including assignment of the grade of F in the course. A report of this action is sent to the student, the program director, and the dean.

The dean, or a faculty committee appointed by the dean, may impose the following or other penalties, as the offense warrants: disciplinary probation, requirement of additional hours for the degree, suspension from the program for a period of time, or recommendation of expulsion from the program.

Appeals Procedure

Students who want to appeal a decision should appeal in writing to the dean within two weeks after the date of receipt of the decision in writing.

Financial Aid

Students in Division of Associated Medical Sciences undergraduate programs are eligible to apply for undergraduate financial aid. Scholarships, grants, loans, and part-time job placement are administered by the University's Office of Student Financial Aid and are awarded on the basis of demonstrated need. Part-time work in related areas is sometimes available.

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Publication Notice
Page content was reviewed in September 2007.


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