Diagnostic Medical Sonography

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:

Field of Interest

Health Sciences

Type

Certificate

Academic Plan

Diagnostic Medical Sonography (CER)

Academic Plan Code

5656

Total Credits Required

69-83

Catalog Year

2020-2021

What You'll Learn

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.

Career Opportunities

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

* Wage information sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Program. Updated May 2019.

Admission Criteria

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.

Course Sequence by Term

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

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during 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	No requisites or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in RDG100, or RDG100LL, or higher, or eligibility for CRE101. One year of high school or one-semester of college level chemistry is strongly recommended. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in RDG100, or RDG100LL, or higher, or eligibility for CRE101. One year of high school or one semester of college-level biology and chemistry is strongly recommended. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (BIO156, or BIO156XT, or BIO181, or BIO181XT, or one year of high school biology) and (RDG100, or RDG100LL, or higher, or eligibility for CRE101). CHM130 or higher or one year of high school chemistry suggested but not required.	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	Prerequisites: Appropriate writing placement test score, or a grade of C or better in ENG091 or ESL097 or WAC101, or a grade of B or better in ALT100, or (a grade of C in ALT100 AND Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL OR WAC101 OR ENG100A+). or Prerequisites: Appropriate writing placement test score, or a grade of C or better in ENG091 or ESL097 or WAC101, or a grade of B or better in ALT100, or (a grade of C in ALT100 AND Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL OR WAC101 OR ENG100A+).		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	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (BIO160 or BIO201) and (HCC145 or HCC146), or a graduate of a related medical program of study or currently registered as a technologist in radiography, nuclear medicine, radiation therapy or sonography. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT090, or higher level mathematics course, or eligibility for MAT120 or higher as indicated by appropriate placement. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT182 or MAT187 or MAT220 or MAT221 or eligibility for MAT220 as indicated by appropriate placement or one year high school Trigonometry with a grade of C or better or permission of Department or Division.		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

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
BIO201 or BIO202	Human Anatomy and Physiology I or Human Anatomy and Physiology II	Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in (BIO156 or BIO156XT or BIO181 or BIO181XT or one year of high school biology) and RDG100 or higher or eligibility for CRE101. CHM130 or higher or one year of high school chemistry suggested but not required. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in BIO201 or BIO201XT.	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	Prerequisites: Admission to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program or permission of Instructor.			1

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
BIO202	Human Anatomy and Physiology II	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in BIO201 or BIO201XT.	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

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Credits
DMS110	Introduction to Diagnostic Sonography	Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.	Critical course	1
DMS120	Ultrasound Imaging: Abdominal Procedures I	Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.	Critical course Gateway course	3
DMS120LL	Ultrasound Imaging: Abdominal Procedures I Laboratory	Prerequisites or Corequisites: DMS120.	Critical course Gateway course	1
DMS145	Clinical Pathology for Diagnostic Imaging	Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.		1
DMS150	Sonographic Principles and Instrumentation I	Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.	Critical course Gateway course	2
DMS150LL	Sonographic Principles and Instrumentation Laboratory	Prerequisites or Corequisites: DMS150.	Critical course Gateway course	1
DMS155	Introduction to Clinical Care for Sonography	Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.		1
ICE/DMI/DMS220	Sectional Anatomy	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (BIO160 or BIO201) and (HCC145 or HCC146), or a graduate of a related medical program of study or currently registered as a technologist in radiography, nuclear medicine, radiation therapy or sonography.		3

Spring Semester (Term 5)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Spring Semester (Term 5)
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Credits
DMS121	Ultrasound Imaging: Abdominal Procedures II	Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.		3
DMS130	Ultrasound Imaging: OB/GYN Procedures	Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.	Critical course Gateway course	3
DMS151	Sonographic Principles and Instrumentation II	Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.		2
DMS161	Clinical Practicum II-AA	Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.		1
DMS162	Clinical Practicum II-AB	Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.		2
DMS163	Clinical Practicum II-AC	Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.		3
DMS210	Concepts of Vascular Imaging	Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.	Critical course Gateway course	2
DMS210LL	Concepts of Vascular Imaging Laboratory	Prerequisites or Corequisites: DMS210.	Critical course Gateway course	1

Summer Semester (Term 6)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Summer Semester (Term 6)
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Credits
DMS140	Ultrasound Case Studies: Part I	Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.	2
DMS171	Clinical Practicum III-AA	Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.	2
DMS172	Clinical Practicum III-AB	Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.	2
DMS261	Clinical Practicum IV-AA	Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.	2
DMS281	Ultrasound Registry Preparation Seminar: Physics and Instrumentation		1

Fall Semester (Term 7)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Fall Semester (Term 7)
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Credits
DMS235 or DMS255	Ultrasound Breast Imaging or Pediatric Sonography	Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program. or Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program, or Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) credentialed and permission of Program Director.	0–3
DMS225	High Risk Obstetric/Gynecology Sonography	Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.	1
DMS240	Ultrasound Case Studies: Part II	Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.	2
DMS262	Clinical Practicum IV-AB	Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.	3
DMS285	Intermediate Vascular Technology	Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.	2

Spring Semester (Term 8)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Spring Semester (Term 8)
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Credits
DMS241	Ultrasound Case Studies: Part III	Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.	2
DMS270	Clinical Practicum V-AA	Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.	1
DMS263 or DMS271	Vascular Clinical Practicum I or Clinical Practicum V-AB	Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program. or Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.	2
DMS272 or DMS273	Clinical Practicum V-AC or Vascular Clinical Practicum II	Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program. or Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.	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	Prerequisites: Admission to Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.	2
DMS286LL	Advanced Vascular Technology Laboratory	Prerequisites or Corequisites: DMS286.	1

Course Area Key

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

Disclaimer

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.

Other Versions

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: