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Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Building

Diagnostic Medical Sonography - A.A.S. Degree (Career)

For curriculum information, contact the Health Sciences Division—Room HS-236—443-518-1560.

The diagnostic medical sonography degree prepares graduates for entry-level positions in the field of general, vascular, and cardiac sonography in hospitals, medical and specialty offices, imaging centers, clinics, and other health care agencies. This full-time, two-year associate of applied science degree is designed to teach students the skills necessary to perform routine, emergency, and interventional sonography procedures. This area of study is rigorous in both the number of clinical internship hours and academic standards required. Prospective students are required to have a strong background in anatomy and physiology, mathematics, and health-related studies. Didactic courses may be offered in either online or hybrid class formats, and students will need to be familiar with the distance learning environment. The laboratory portion of the courses will be offered in labs on campus. Clinical experiences will be conducted at facilities within or around the Howard County area. Second-year students and graduates may be eligible to apply for either the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS), the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), or the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) certification examinations.

General Track - 281A

Suggested Summer Term

Course NumberTitleCredits
BIOL 101General Biology

4

BIOL 203Anatomy and Physiology I

4

MATH 138Statistics

4

PHYS 101Technical Physical Science

4

Suggested Semester 1

Course NumberTitleCredits
ENGL 121College Composition

3

BIOL 204Anatomy and Physiology II

4

DMSU 101Introduction to Sonography

2

DMSU 112Sectional Anatomy for Imaging Professionals

3

Suggested Winter Term

Course NumberTitleCredits
SPCH 101Introduction to Human Communication

3

OR

SPCH 105Fundamentals of Public Speaking

3

OR

SPCH 110Interpersonal Communication

3

Suggested Semester 2

Course NumberTitleCredits
DMSU 130Abdomen Ultrasound

3

DMSU 131Abdomen Ultrasound Lab

1

DMSU 211Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation I

3

DMSU 251Clinical Practicum I

1

Suggested Summer Term

Course NumberTitleCredits
DMSU 140Ultrasound OB/GYN I

2

DMSU 141Ultrasound OB/GYN I Lab

1

DMSU 212Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation II

3

DMSU 252Clinical Sonography II

2

Suggested Semester 3

Course NumberTitleCredits
DMSU 132Pediatrics and Small Parts Ultrasound

2

DMSU 133Pediatrics and Small Parts Ultrasound Lab

1

DMSU 142Ultrasound OB/GYN II

3

DMSU 143Ultrasound OB/GYN II Lab

1

DMSU 256Clinical Practicum III

3

PSYC 101General Psychology

3

Suggested Winter Term

Course NumberTitleCredits
DMSU 254Clinical Sonography IV

1

Suggested Semester 4

Course NumberTitleCredits
DMSU 200General Registry Review

2

DMSU 201Vascular Sonography Introduction

2

DMSU 202Vascular Sonography Introduction Lab

1

DMSU 257Clinical Practicum V

4

Total Credit Hours: 70

Admission to this program is based upon successful completion of BIOL 101BIOL 203 and 204PHYS 101, and MATH 138. Anatomy and Physiology courses must be completed within five (5) years prior to admission to the first sonography course. BIOL 101 and PHYS 101 must be completed within ten (10) years prior to clinical admission. A grade of “C” or better is required in diagnostic medical sonography and general education courses. Prerequisite courses required for the DMS program are ENGL 121BIOL 101BIOL 203BIOL 204MATH 138 and PHYS 101. A grade of 3.0 or higher is required for BIOL 203BIOL 204, and PHYS 101. An overall GPA of 2.5 or higher is required from prerequisites.

A course grade of “C” (75%) or greater in all DMS program didactic courses is required for progression in the program. A course grade of “B” (85%) or greater in all DMS program clinical courses is required for progression in the program. Failure to meet this requirement will result in withdrawal from the DMS program and will require re-admission to the program the following academic year.

Vascular Track - 281B

Suggested Summer Term

Course NumberTitleCredits
BIOL 101General Biology I

4

BIOL 203Anatomy and Physiology I

4

MATH 138Statistics

4

PHYS 101Technical Physical Science

4

Suggested Semester 1

Course NumberTitleCredits
ENGL 121College Composition

3

BIOL 204Anatomy and Physiology II

4

DMSU 101Introduction to Sonography

2

DMSU 112Sectional Anatomy for Imaging Professionals

3

Suggested Winter Term

Course NumberTitleCredits
SPCH 101Introduction to Human Communication

3

OR

SPCH 105Fundamentals of Public Speaking

3

OR

SPCH 110Interpersonal Communication

3

Suggested Semester 2

Course NumberTitleCredits
DMSU 182Ultrasound Vascular I

3

DMSU 183Ultrasound Vascular I Lab

1

DMSU 211Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation I

3

DMSU 251Clinical Practicum I

1

Suggested Summer Term

Course NumberTitleCredits
DMSU 212Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation II

3

DMSU 252Clinical Sonography II

2

Suggested Semester 3

Course NumberTitleCredits
DMSU 256Clinical Practicum III

3

DMSU 283Physiologic Testing for Vascular Sonographers

3

DMSU 284Ultrasound Vascular II

3

DMSU 285Ultrasound Vascular II Lab

1

PSYC 101General Psychology

3

Suggested Winter Term

Course NumberTitleCredits
DMSU 254Clinical Sonography IV

1

Suggested Semester 4

Course NumberTitleCredits
DMSU 257Clinical Practicum V

4

DMSU 286Vascular Registry Review

2

DMSU 287Introduction to Abdominal and Cardiac Sonography

2

DMSU 288Introduction to Abdominal and Cardiac Sonography Lab

1

Total Credit Hours: 67

Admission to this program is based upon successful completion of BIOL 101BIOL 203 and 204PHYS 101, and MATH 138. Anatomy and Physiology courses must be completed within five (5) years prior to admission to the first sonography course. BIOL 101 and PHYS 101 must be completed within ten (10) years prior to clinical admission. A grade of “C” or better is required in diagnostic medical sonography and general education courses. Prerequisite courses required for the DMS program are ENGL 121BIOL 101BIOL 203BIOL 204MATH 138 and PHYS 101. A grade of 3.0 or higher is required for BIOL 203BIOL 204, and PHYS 101. An overall GPA of 2.5 or higher is required from prerequisites.

A course grade of “C” (75%) or greater in all DMS program didactic courses is required for progression in the program. A course grade of “B” (85%) or greater in all DMS program clinical courses is required for progression in the program. Failure to meet this requirement will result in withdrawal from the DMS program and will require re-admission to the program the following academic year.

Cardiac Track - 281C

Suggested Summer Term

Course NumberTitleCredits
BIOL 101General Biology I

4

BIOL 203Anatomy and Physiology I

4

MATH 138Statistics

4

PHYS 101Technical Physical Science

4

Suggested Semester 1

Course NumberTitleCredits
ENGL 121College Composition

3

BIOL 204Anatomy and Physiology II

4

DMSU 101Introduction to Sonography

2

DMSU 112Sectional Anatomy for Imaging Professionals

3

Suggested Winter Term

Course NumberTitleCredits
SPCH 101Introduction to Human Communication

3

OR

SPCH 105Fundamentals of Public Speaking

3

OR

SPCH 110Interpersonal Communication

3

Suggested Semester 2

Course NumberTitleCredits
DMSU 203ECG for Cardiac Sonographers

3

DMSU 204Echocardiography I

3

DMSU 205Echocardiography I Lab

1

DMSU 211Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation I

3

DMSU 251Clinical Practicum I

1

Suggested Summer Term

Course NumberTitleCredits
DMSU 212Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation II

3

DMSU 252Clinical Sonography II

2

Suggested Semester 3

Course NumberTitleCredits
DMSU 206Echocardiography II

3

DMSU 207Echocardiography II Lab

1

DMSU 256Clinical Practicum III

3

PSYC 101General Psychology

3

Suggested Winter Term

Course NumberTitleCredits
DMSU 254Clinical Sonography IV

1

Suggested Semester 4

Course NumberTitleCredits
DMSU 201Vascular Sonography Introduction

2

DMSU 202Vascular Sonography Introduction Lab

1

DMSU 208Cardiac Registry Review

2

DMSU 257Clinical Practicum V

4

Total Credit Hours: 67

Admission to this program is based upon successful completion of BIOL 101BIOL 203 and 204PHYS 101, and MATH 138. Anatomy and Physiology courses must be completed within five (5) years prior to admission to the first sonography course. BIOL 101 and PHYS 101 must be completed within ten (10) years prior to clinical admission. A grade of “C” or better is required in diagnostic medical sonography and general education courses. Prerequisite courses required for the DMS program are ENGL 121BIOL 101BIOL 203BIOL 204MATH 138 and PHYS 101. A grade of 3.0 or higher is required for BIOL 203BIOL 204, and PHYS 101. An overall GPA of 2.5 or higher is required from prerequisites.

A course grade of “C” (75%) or greater in all DMS program didactic courses is required for progression in the program. A course grade of “B” (85%) or greater in all DMS program clinical courses is required for progression in the program. Failure to meet this requirement will result in withdrawal from the DMS program and will require re-admission to the program the following academic year.

The goals of this program are

  1. To prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for abdominal sonography-extended.
  2. To prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for obstetrics and gynecology sonography.
  3. To prepare competent entry-level adult cardiac sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.
  4. To prepare competent entry-level vascular technologists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.

A graduate should be able to

  1. Identify and demonstrate the legal and ethical aspects and responsibilities of the sonographer.
  2. Prepare the patient for the sonographic examinations based upon the appropriate specialty.
  3. Demonstrate proper instrumentation of ultrasound equipment and proper scanning techniques and protocols of human body organs.
  4. Demonstrate preparation for the ARDMS Registry examination of the area of study.
  5. Demonstrate how sonographic instruments work.
  6. Identify anatomical structures in the different sectional planes and compare the changes due to the pathology to normal anatomy.

This program is in the Health Sciences Pathway.

Guided Pathways is a nationwide educational strategy that provides a structured and collaborative approach to student success. Guided Pathways connect students to the specific resources in an intentional and deliberate way in order to support student success.

For information about advising, please visit the Advising web page.

View the Health Sciences Pathway activities calendar

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Course NumberTitleCredits