Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Program Description
A diagnostic medical sonographer is a healthcare professional qualified through academic preparation, clinical experience, and professional credentialing to provide diagnostic patient care using ultrasound. Their scope of practice includes procedures and activities permitted by law for which they have received appropriate education, demonstrated competency, and obtained the required credentials. Coursework emphasizes sonographic applications in gynecology, obstetrics, abdominal structures, superficial structures, and vascular imaging.
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program was established in 1984 and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) in collaboration with the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS).
After eighteen consecutive months of competency-based classroom, laboratory, and clinical preceptorship instruction, students earn the Certificate of Achievement and may choose to complete the Associate in Science degree option. Graduates are eligible to sit for the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) examinations.
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 emphasize student learning outcomes (SLOs) that meet both college and state requirements. These SLOs are integrated throughout the accreditation process, and each course includes its own specific outcomes. The primary program learning outcomes (PLOs) are:
- Students demonstrate essential knowledge, technical proficiency, analytical ability, interpersonal skills, and diagnostic competence within the scope of practice for diagnostic medical sonography.
- Students demonstrate professional values and behaviors, including adherence to confidentiality, privacy standards, and ethical conduct in the practice of diagnostic medical sonography.
Career Opportunities
Students typically pursue technical positions in hospitals, clinics, and private practice settings. With additional experience, opportunities may expand to include supervisory roles, travel assignments, or work as independent contractors. Most management, corporate, and educational 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 "P") or better unless otherwise noted. For the purposes of any GPA calculations for program prerequisites, the "P" grade is calculated the same as the "C" grade.
Cumulative GPA for all program prerequisite courses must be 2.5 or higher.
- High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
- Successful completion of a two-year allied health program from a regionally accredited institution, with direct patient care experience—such as radiologic technology, respiratory therapy, or registered nursing—is required. A bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution in a medically related discipline (e.g., nursing, kinesiology with physical therapy assisting experience) may also meet this requirement. Specific certificate programs—including medical assisting, emergency medical technology, or phlebotomy—combined with associated work experience may also qualify. Not all healthcare positions or programs provide the appropriate type of direct patient care experience. Please refer to the program website for detailed 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 | ||
or two semesters of a combined Anatomy and Physiology course with laboratories 1 | ||
| PHYS 12 | INTRODUCTION TO MODERN PHYSICS (or equivalent) | 5 |
| MATH 48A | PRECALCULUS I | 5 |
| ENGL C1000 | ACADEMIC READING AND WRITING | 5 |
| or ENGL C1000H | ACADEMIC READING AND WRITING - HONORS | |
| or ESLL 26 | ADVANCED COMPOSITION & READING | |
| AHS 52 | MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY 1 | 4 |
- 1
Science courses must be completed with a minimum GPA of 2.75.
Associate Degree Requirements
A minimum of 90 units is required1 to complete the associate degree, including:
- Core courses for the major (115 units total)
- Completion of one of the following general education patterns:
- Foothill College General Education
- California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)2
- 1
Additional elective course work may be necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement for the associate degree.
- 2
Cal-GETC began in Fall Quarter 2025. Students with catalog rights for Summer Session 2025 and previous catalog years may be able to use IGETC or CSU GE Breadth. Please see a counselor for more information.
Note: All courses pertaining to the major must be taken for a letter grade. A grade of "C" or better is required for all core courses used for the degree or certificate. In addition, the student must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0.
Refer to the Associate in Arts & Associate in Science Degree Requirements page for complete information about graduation requirements and catalog rights.
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 | |
Note: The course sequencing listed above represents the year/quarter during which each course in the program is normally scheduled; however, changes to this sequencing may occur.
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.