Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Program Description
A diagnostic medical sonographer is qualified by professional credentials and academic and clinical experience to provide diagnostic patient care services using ultrasound. The scope of practice includes those procedures, acts, and processes permitted by law for which the individual has received education and clinical experience, demonstrated competency, and completed the appropriate credentialing, which is the standard of practice. Coursework includes using sonography relevant to gynecology, obstetrics, abdominal subjects, superficial structures, and vascular applications.
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program was established in 1984. It is accredited by CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs) in conjunction with the CoA Committee on Accreditation, known as the JRC-DMS (Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography).
After eighteen consecutive months of competency-based classroom, laboratory, and clinical preceptorship instruction, students receive the Certificate of Achievement and may choose to complete an Associate in Science degree option. Students are eligible to take the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) exams.
Program Goals: To prepare competent entry-level diagnostic medical sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for the abdominal-extended and obstetrics and gynecology sonography concentrations.
Learn more about the program on the Diagnostic Medical Sonography website.
Program Learning Outcomes
The program's goals align with the institution's mission and focus on student learning outcomes (SLOs) that meet college and state requirements. These SLOs are integrated into the accreditation process, with each course having its own specific SLOs. The primary program learning outcomes (PLOs) include:
- Students demonstrate essential knowledge, technical skills, analytical skills, interpersonal skills, and diagnostic abilities within the scope of practice for diagnostic medical sonography.
- Students demonstrate essential knowledge and values related to professional demeanor, including the implementation of confidentiality and privacy in the practice of diagnostic medical sonography.
Career Opportunities
Students typically pursue technical careers in the hospital, clinic, and office. With additional technical experience, career positions may include supervisory positions as travelers or independent contractors. Most management, corporate, and education positions require a baccalaureate or Master's degree in a related field.
Award Type(s)
- AS = Associate in Science Degree
- CA = Certificate of Achievement
Units Required
- Major: 115
- Certificate(s): 115
Program Application
Admittance to this program is through an application process. Program information, admission criteria, and application to the program can be found on the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program website.
Program Prerequisites
Must be completed with a grade of "C" or better unless otherwise noted.
- High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
- Successful completion of a two-year Allied Health Program with direct patient care experience such as Radiologic Technology, Respiratory Therapy, Registered Nurse and/or bachelor degree from an accredited institution in the United States in a science/medically related discipline such as premed, registered nurse, or kinesiology with physical therapy assistance experience. Not all healthcare positions can or will provide the appropriate experiences. Please see the program website for more information.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 40A & BIOL 40B & BIOL 40C | HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY I and HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY II and HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY III 1 | 15 |
or a semester of Anatomy and a semester of Physiology with laboratories 1 | ||
| PHYS 2A | GENERAL PHYSICS (or equivalent) 1 | 5 |
| Intermediate Algebra or equivalent | 5 | |
| ENGL 1A | COMPOSITION & READING | 5 |
| or ENGL 1AH | HONORS COMPOSITION & READING | |
| or ESLL 26 | ADVANCED COMPOSITION & READING | |
or equivalent | ||
| AHS 52 | MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY (or equivalent) | 4 |
- 1
Must be completed with a minimum GPA of 2.5.
Associate Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| English Proficiency | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| ENGL 1A | COMPOSITION & READING | 5 |
| ENGL 1AH | HONORS COMPOSITION & READING | 5 |
| ESLL 26 | ADVANCED COMPOSITION & READING | 5 |
| or equivalent | ||
| Ethnic Studies | ||
| Any course in the ETHN (Ethnic Studies) subject code, currently approved for Area F of CSU GE and Area 7 of IGETC | ||
| Mathematics Proficiency | ||
| College-level math course at or above the level of Intermediate Algebra | ||
A minimum of 90 units is required1 to include:
- Completion of one of the following general education patterns: Foothill General Education, CSU General Education Breadth Requirements or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
- Core courses (115 units)
- 1
Additional elective course work may be necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement for the associate degree.
Note: All courses pertaining to the major must be taken for a letter grade. In addition, a grade of "C" or better is required for all core courses used for the degree or certificate.
Core and Support Courses
Core Courses
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Quarter | Units | |
| DMS 50A | DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY PRINCIPLES & PROTOCOLS | 4 |
| DMS 50B | SONOGRAPHY & PATIENT CARE | 2 |
| DMS 60A | CRITIQUE & PATHOLOGY I | 2 |
| DMS 72A | DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY PROCEDURES & APPLICATIONS | 11.5 |
| Units | 19.5 | |
| Winter Quarter | ||
| DMS 51A | SECTIONAL ANATOMY | 3 |
| DMS 53A | DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY I | 2 |
| DMS 54A | GYNECOLOGY | 2 |
| DMS 60B | CRITIQUE & PATHOLOGY II | 2 |
| DMS 70A | CLINICAL PRECEPTORSHIP I (32 hrs/wk for 13 wks) | 11.5 |
| Units | 20.5 | |
| Spring Quarter | ||
| DMS 52A | PHYSICAL PRINCIPLES OF DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY I | 2 |
| DMS 53B | DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY II | 2 |
| DMS 54B | GYNECOLOGY & OBSTETRICS | 2 |
| DMS 60C | CRITIQUE & PATHOLOGY III | 2 |
| DMS 70B | CLINICAL PRECEPTORSHIP II (32 hrs/wk for 12 wks) | 10.5 |
| Units | 18.5 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Summer Session | ||
| DMS 52B | PHYSICAL PRINCIPLES OF DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY II | 2 |
| DMS 53C | DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY III | 2 |
| DMS 55A | OBSTETRICS I | 2 |
| DMS 60D | CRITIQUE & PATHOLOGY IV | 2 |
| DMS 70C | CLINICAL PRECEPTORSHIP III (32 hrs/wk for 11 wks) | 9.5 |
| Units | 17.5 | |
| Fall Quarter | ||
| DMS 55B | OBSTETRICS II | 2 |
| DMS 56A | VASCULAR SONOGRAPHY | 3 |
| DMS 60E | CRITIQUE & PATHOLOGY V | 2 |
| DMS 70D | CLINICAL PRECEPTORSHIP IV (32 hrs/wk for 13 wks) | 11.5 |
| Units | 18.5 | |
| Winter Quarter | ||
| DMS 52C | PHYSICAL PRINCIPLES OF DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY III | 2 |
| DMS 56B | ADVANCED APPLICATIONS OF VASCULAR TECHNOLOGY | 2 |
| DMS 60F | CRITIQUE & PATHOLOGY VI | 2 |
| DMS 70E | CLINICAL PRECEPTORSHIP V (32 hrs/wk for 12 wks) | 10.5 |
| DMS 80A | ADVANCED SONOGRAPHIC PRINCIPLES | 4 |
| Units | 20.5 | |
| Total Units | 115 | |
Certificate Requirements
Certificate of Achievement in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
- Units: 115
The certificate of achievement is awarded upon completion of the core courses. General education courses are not required; however, the prerequisites and application requirements must be met.