Diagnostic Medical Sonography - A.A.S. Degree (Career)
For curriculum information, contact the Division of Health, Science, and Technology—Room SET-430.
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
Suggested Semester 1
Suggested Winter Term
| COMM 101 | Introduction to Human Communication | 3 |
| | OR | |
| COMM 105 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| | OR | |
| COMM 110 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
Suggested Semester 2
Suggested Summer Term
Suggested Semester 3
Suggested Winter Term
Suggested Semester 4
Total Credit Hours: 70
Admission to this program is based upon successful completion of BIOL 101, BIOL 203 and 204, PHYS 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 121, BIOL 101, BIOL 203, BIOL 204, MATH 138 and PHYS 101. A grade of 3.0 or higher is required for BIOL 203, BIOL 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
Suggested Semester 1
Suggested Winter Term
| COMM 101 | Introduction to Human Communication | 3 |
| | OR | |
| COMM 105 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| | OR | |
| COMM 110 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
Suggested Semester 2
Suggested Summer Term
| DMSU 212 | Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation II | 3 |
| DMSU 252 | Clinical Sonography II | 2 |
Suggested Semester 3
Suggested Winter Term
Suggested Semester 4
| DMSU 257 | Clinical Practicum V | 4 |
| DMSU 286 | Vascular Registry Review | 2 |
| DMSU 287 | Introduction to Abdominal and Cardiac Sonography | 2 |
| DMSU 288 | Introduction to Abdominal and Cardiac Sonography Lab | 1 |
Total Credit Hours: 67
Admission to this program is based upon successful completion of BIOL 101, BIOL 203 and 204, PHYS 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 121, BIOL 101, BIOL 203, BIOL 204, MATH 138 and PHYS 101. A grade of 3.0 or higher is required for BIOL 203, BIOL 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
Suggested Semester 1
Suggested Winter Term
| COMM 101 | Introduction to Human Communication | 3 |
| | OR | |
| COMM 105 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| | OR | |
| COMM 110 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
Suggested Semester 2
Suggested Summer Term
| DMSU 212 | Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation II | 3 |
| DMSU 252 | Clinical Sonography II | 2 |
Suggested Semester 3
Suggested Winter Term
Suggested Semester 4
Total Credit Hours: 67
Admission to this program is based upon successful completion of BIOL 101, BIOL 203 and 204, PHYS 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 121, BIOL 101, BIOL 203, BIOL 204, MATH 138 and PHYS 101. A grade of 3.0 or higher is required for BIOL 203, BIOL 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.
A graduate should be able to
- Identify and demonstrate the legal and ethical aspects and responsibilities of the sonographer.
- Prepare the patient for the sonographic examinations based upon the appropriate specialty.
- Demonstrate proper instrumentation of ultrasound equipment and proper scanning techniques and protocols of human body organs.
- Demonstrate preparation for the ARDMS Registry examination of the area of study.
- Demonstrate how sonographic instruments work.
- Identify anatomical structures in the different sectional planes and compare the changes due to the pathology to normal anatomy.
The goals of this program are
- To prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for abdominal sonography-extended.
- To prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for obstetrics and gynecology sonography.
- To prepare competent entry-level adult cardiac sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.
- To prepare competent entry-level vascular technologists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.