The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program prepares the student to be a sonographer: a skilled healthcare professional who specializes in the use of ultrasonic imaging devices to produce diagnostic images, scans, videos or 3-dimensional volumes of anatomy and diagnostic data.
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program combines didactic and clinical study that enables the graduate to function in the medical community as a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. An Associate of Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography degree is awarded to those students who have successfully completed 67 credit hours of coursework. This includes 17 hours of general education credits and 50 sonography credits. The degree program is designed to be completed in four-semesters, 15 month time-frame of full-time study.
Upon successful completion of the program, students will be eligible to take the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) examinations in the areas of:
- Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI)
- Abdomen (AB)
- Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN)
To obtain the Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) credential, an individual must pass the Sonography Principles and Instrumentation Examination in addition to at least one other specialty exam. Learn more about the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers.
Graduates find employment in hospitals, physician’s offices, mobile services and private clinics.
ADMISSION DEADLINES
Spring Semester (January start)……………………… August 1
Click here to learn more about careers in diagnostic medical sonography.
Curriculum Plan for AAS in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
| Semester I | Total Credit Hours | Theory Hours | Lab Hours | Clinical Hours |
| DMS 200: Introduction to Sonography | 2 | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| DMS 220: Cross Sectional Anatomy | 2 | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| DMS 260: Instrumentation I | 3 | 45 | 0 | 0 |
| DMS 273: Abdominal & Small Parts Imaging | 5 | 45 | 60 | 0 |
| 12 | 150 | 60 | 0 | |
| Semester II | ||||
| DMS 250: Clinical I | 4 | 0 | 0 | 180 |
| DMS 261: Instrumentation II | 3 | 45 | 0 | 0 |
| DMS 271: OB/GYN Imaging | 5 | 45 | 60 | 0 |
| 12 | 90 | 60 | 180 | |
| Semester III | ||||
| DMS 272: Introduction to Vascular Ultrasound | 3 | 30 | 30 | 0 |
| DMS 290: Seminar I | 2 | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| DMS 240: Advanced Imaging | 3 | 45 | 0 | 0 |
| DMS 253: Clinical II | 8 | 0 | 0 | 360 |
| 16 | 105 | 30 | 360 | |
| Semester IV | ||||
| DMS 291: Seminar II | 2 | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| DMS 254: Clinical III | 8 | 0 | 0 | 360 |
| 10 | 30 | 0 | 360 | |
| Prerequisite Courses Human Anatomy & Physiology College Algebra or Statistics English Composition College or Radiologic Physics General Psychology | 4 3 3 4 3 | 45 45 45 45 45 | 45 0 0 45 0 | 0 0 0 0 0 |
| Totals | 67 | 600 | 240 | 900 |
The goal of the program is to prepare competent entry-level general sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains. Sonographers perform medical imaging using sophisticated ultrasound instrumentation.
SOUTHSIDE COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS DATA
The information below represents program effectiveness data from 2020 to 2022 for the Southside College of Health Sciences Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program. Click HERE to download.
The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) is an independent, not-for-profit organization founded in 1975 that administers examinations and awards credentials for Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer®, Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer®, Registered Vascular Technologist®, and RPVI ® – Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation®. ARDMS is the globally recognized standard of excellence in sonography and has certified more than 65,000 individuals.
Credentials awarded by ARDMS document personal achievement of recognized professional standards and are widely accepted in the medical community by sonography and vascular professional organizations.
Accreditation
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is accredited by:
Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) via the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS).
CAAHEP (Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs)
9355 - 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
Phone 727.210.2350
Fax 727.210.2354
www.caahep.org
Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS)
6021 University Boulevard, Suite 500
Ellicott City, Maryland 21043
Phone: 443.973.3251/ Fax: 866.738.3444
www.jrcdms.org
Sonography Disclosures
Associate's degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Sonographer and Ultrasound Technician
Program Length: 57 weeks
Students Graduating on Time
N/A* of Title IV students complete the program within 57 weeks
*Fewer than 10 students enrolled in this program. This number has been withheld to preserve the confidentiality of the students.
Program Costs*
$16,500 for tuition and fees
$1,000 - $1,500 for textbooks
Other Costs
Screening fee: $80
Compliance Website fee: $135 (approximate)
*The amounts shown above include costs for the entire program, assuming normal time to completion. Note that this information is subject to change.
Students Borrowing Money
The typical graduate leaves with N/A* in debt
*Fewer than 10 students completed this program within normal time. This number has been withheld to preserve the confidentiality of the students.
The typical monthly loan payment is N/A* per month in student loans with an interest rate of N/A*.
*Fewer than 10 students completed this program within normal time. This number has been withheld to preserve the confidentiality of the students.
Grading Scale
| Letter Grade | Numerical Equivalent | Meaning | Quality Points Per Credit Hour |
| A | 93-100 | Excellent | 4 |
| B+ | 89-92 | 3.5 | |
| B | 86-88 | Above Average | 3 |
| C+ | 83-85 | 2.5 | |
| C | 80-82 | Average | 2 |
| D+ | 77-79 | 1.5 | |
| D | 74-76 | Unsatisfactory | 1 |
| F | 0-73 | Failure | 0 |
Graduates Who Got Jobs
100% of program graduates got jobs according to the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools job placement rate.
Program graduates are employed in the following fields:
Licensure Requirements
Program meets licensure requirements in:
- Virginia
Disclosures
In adherence to federal requirements for disclosures regarding Professional Licensure programs under 34 §C.F.R. 668.43, effective July 1, 2020, please click here to view a table that discloses whether Southside College of Health Sciences’ (SCHS) DMS Program curriculum satisfies a state (including District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) professional board’s requirements to be eligible for licensure.
Last Updated: 5/13/2022
These disclosures are required by the U.S. Department of Education
For more information and course offerings and professional credentials, please call 804-765-5800.
