The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is designed for students who wish to explore the field of sonography, as well as those who have made a career decision to seek certification from the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS). Diagnostic medical sonographers are highly specialized members of the health care team who provide patient services using ultrasound under the direction of a physician. Sonographers provide care essential to diagnostic ultrasound imaging by operating equipment and performing examinations for medical diagnosis. Sonographers have an in-depth knowledge of physics, disease processes, physiology, cross-sectional anatomy, positioning and sonographic techniques necessary to create ultrasound images. Knowledge of darkroom techniques, equipment maintenance, record keeping and film processing are also part of the job.
Careers in the field of diagnostic sonography can be found in hospitals, clinics, doctors` offices, and mobile imaging centers. Research, applications, teaching and marketing may be available to sonographers who wish to explore careers in business or industry.
Educational information: Clinical affiliations include a cooperative effort with a number of area hospitals, clinics and doctors` offices. Clinical training is required by the ARDMS prior to sitting for the registry examination. This program will prepare students for the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographer examinations in abdomen, obstetrics, and vascular technology.
Details
Important information you’ll need when applying for admission:Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.
Due to the requirements of the program accrediting body, the course of study requires many hours of classroom and clinical time.
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is open to all students who successfully complete the program prerequisites. Full-time day students must apply to the program and be accepted prior to registering for course offerings. The full-time program is 21 months in length.
This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:
- Collect and interpret diagnostic information from the ultrasound exam.
- Obtain, review, and record pertinent patient history and supporting clinical data to facilitate optimal diagnostic results.
- Communicate effectively in a culturally responsive manner with patients and the healthcare team.
- Exercise professional and ethical behavior in a medical setting.
- Develop lifelong learning practices in sonography and healthcare.
Successful completion of this certificate may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based annual median wages* for this program. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information.
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
$57,190 Show expanded career information for Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
$88,710 Show expanded career information for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
1. Formal application and admission to the program.
2. Background check requirements: Admission to an Allied Health program requires that students be in compliance with the Maricopa County Community College District Background Check Standards. Upon conditional program enrollment, the student must comply with all requirements of the MCCCD Background Check Policy.
3. Clinical health and safety requirements must be met. Upon conditional program enrollment, the student must comply with all requirements of the MCCCD Clinical Health and Safety Policy.
4. Inability to comply with background check requirements and/or clinical health and safety requirements at the start of classes may result in cancellation of enrollment.
The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:
- Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
- The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
- Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
- Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include AAA/CPD150, AAA/CPD150AC, CPD104, and AAA115/CPD115. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
Full-time Sequence
Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO160 or BIO156 or BIO181 or BIO201 | Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology or Introductory Biology for Allied Health or General Biology (Majors) I or Human Anatomy and Physiology I | Students are required to take BIO160 or the sequence of BIO156 or BIO181, BIO201, & BIO202. One year of high school biology with a C or better is equivalent to BIO156 or BIO181. | SG or SQ or SQ | 4 | |
| ENG101 or ENG107 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC | 3 | ||
| MAT15+ | College Algebra/Functions | Or higher level Math Course | MA | 5 | |
| DMI105 or PHY101 or PHY111 | Fundamentals of Radiation Physics or Introduction to Physics or General Physics I | SQ | 3–4 | ||
| HCC145 or HCC146 | Medical Terminology for Health Care Professionals or Common Medical Terminology for Health Care Professionals | OR Graduate of an allied health education program that is patient care related | 3 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO201 or BIO202 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I or Human Anatomy and Physiology II | Students are required to take BIO160 or the sequence of BIO156 or BIO181, BIO201, & BIO202. One year of high school biology with a C or better is equivalent to BIO156 or BIO181. | SG | 0–4 | |
| DMS101 | Patient Care in Diagnostic Sonography | 1 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO202 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | Students are required to take BIO160 or the sequence of BIO156 or BIO181, BIO201, & BIO202. One year of high school biology with a C or better is equivalent to BIO156 or BIO181. | SG | 0–4 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMS110 | Introduction to Diagnostic Sonography | Critical course | 1 | ||
| DMS120 | Ultrasound Imaging: Abdominal Procedures I | Critical course Gateway course | 3 | ||
| DMS120LL | Ultrasound Imaging: Abdominal Procedures I Laboratory | Critical course Gateway course | 1 | ||
| DMS145 | Clinical Pathology for Diagnostic Imaging | 1 | |||
| DMS150 | Sonographic Principles and Instrumentation I | Critical course Gateway course | 2 | ||
| DMS150LL | Sonographic Principles and Instrumentation Laboratory | Critical course Gateway course | 1 | ||
| DMS155 | Introduction to Clinical Care for Sonography | 1 | |||
| ICE/DMI/DMS220 | Sectional Anatomy | 3 |
Spring Semester (Term 5)
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMS121 | Ultrasound Imaging: Abdominal Procedures II | 3 | |||
| DMS130 | Ultrasound Imaging: OB/GYN Procedures | Critical course Gateway course | 3 | ||
| DMS151 | Sonographic Principles and Instrumentation II | 2 | |||
| DMS161 | Clinical Practicum II-AA | 1 | |||
| DMS162 | Clinical Practicum II-AB | 2 | |||
| DMS163 | Clinical Practicum II-AC | 3 | |||
| DMS210 | Concepts of Vascular Imaging | Critical course Gateway course | 2 | ||
| DMS210LL | Concepts of Vascular Imaging Laboratory | Critical course Gateway course | 1 |
Summer Semester (Term 6)
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMS140 | Ultrasound Case Studies: Part I | 2 | |||
| DMS171 | Clinical Practicum III-AA | 2 | |||
| DMS172 | Clinical Practicum III-AB | 2 | |||
| DMS261 | Clinical Practicum IV-AA | 2 | |||
| DMS281 | Ultrasound Registry Preparation Seminar: Physics and Instrumentation | 1 |
Fall Semester (Term 7)
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMS235 or DMS255 | Ultrasound Breast Imaging or Pediatric Sonography | 0–3 | |||
| DMS225 | High Risk Obstetric/Gynecology Sonography | 1 | |||
| DMS240 | Ultrasound Case Studies: Part II | 2 | |||
| DMS262 | Clinical Practicum IV-AB | 3 | |||
| DMS285 | Intermediate Vascular Technology | 2 |
Spring Semester (Term 8)
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMS241 | Ultrasound Case Studies: Part III | 2 | |||
| DMS270 | Clinical Practicum V-AA | 1 | |||
| DMS263 or DMS271 | Vascular Clinical Practicum I or Clinical Practicum V-AB | 2 | |||
| DMS272 or DMS273 | Clinical Practicum V-AC or Vascular Clinical Practicum II | 2 | |||
| DMS282 | Ultrasound Registry Preparation Seminar: Abdominal and Small Parts Imaging | 1 | |||
| DMS283 | Ultrasound Registry Preparation Seminar: Obstetrics and Gynecology | 1 | |||
| DMS284 | Ultrasound Registry Preparation: Vascular Imaging | 1 | |||
| DMS286 | Advanced Vascular Technology | 2 | |||
| DMS286LL | Advanced Vascular Technology Laboratory | 1 |
Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.
Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.
- FYC = First Year Composition
- MA = Mathematics
- SG = Natural Sciences General
- SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.
Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.
View MCCCD’s curriculum website for the Certificate of Completion in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (http://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm?id=153830).
At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.
The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. Other versions of this pathway map from different catalog years are available below:
| Catalog Year | Effective Dates |
|---|---|
| 2019-2020 | 5/28/2019 – 5/25/2020 |