Diagnostic Medical Sonography Certificate (M)
Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) is a multi-specialty profession utilizing high frequency sound waves to image the human body. Sonographers use their knowledge of anatomy, physiology and applied critical thinking to assess function and the presence of disease processes. Sonographers work under the guidance of an interpreting physician in a variety of health care settings.
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Certificate is a 21 month continuous full time program providing designed to provide students with the academic (didactic) and clinical education required to learn sonography. The program offers hands-on experience through the on-campus ultrasound lab as well as diverse clinical rotations encompassing a variety of specialties in Abdomen Extended, Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Vascular Sonography.
This certificate award option is available to qualified candidates meeting the required pre-requisites (see program admission tab). In addition to a transcript evaluation, qualified candidates must be invited to participate in an interview with the selection committee in order to be placed in the program. Students applying for the certificate are encouraged to discuss requirements and placement availability with CUW admission counselors and the Department Chair for Imaging.
All DMS students who successfully meet DMS program requirements will earn a certificate of completion and are qualified to apply for national certification exams.
Accreditation
The professional and clinical programs affiliated with CUW are accredited, upon recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCDMS), by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Program Learning Outcomes
- DMS students will apply Christian ethics to patient interactions. (GLO 1)
- DMS students will effectively provide patient care that recognizes and serves a diverse patient community. (GLO 2)
- DMS students will record, analyze, and process diagnostic data and other pertinent observations to provide high quality information for interpreting physicians. (GLO 3)
- DMS students will demonstrate critical thinking and judgment in the performance of sonographic and/or related diagnostic services. (GLO 4)
- DMS students will demonstrate strong interpersonal skills with patients, supervising staff, team members and interpreting physicians to improve patient outcomes and experience. (GLO 5)
- DMS students will integrate pertinent patient history and supporting clinical data to facilitate optimum diagnostic results to improve patient outcomes. (GLO 6)
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DMS 3010 | Superficial Sonography | 2 |
| DMS 3110 | Sonographic Principles and Instrumentation I | 2 |
| DMS 3120 | Sonographic Principles and Instrumentation II | 2 |
| DMS 3210 | Vascular Sonography I | 3 |
| DMS 3220 | Vascular Sonography II | 2 |
| DMS 3230 | Vascular Sonography III | 2 |
| DMS 3310 | Abdominal Sonography I | 4 |
| DMS 3320 | Abdominal Sonography II | 3 |
| DMS 3330 | Abdominal Sonography III | 2 |
| DMS 3410 | Ob & Gyn Sonography I | 3 |
| DMS 3420 | Ob & Gyn Sonography II | 3 |
| DMS 3510 | Case Reports I | 1 |
| DMS 3520 | Case Reports II | 1 |
| DMS 3710 | DMS Clinical Education I | 3 |
| DMS 3720 | DMS Clinical Education II | 4 |
| DMS 3730 | DMS Clinical Education III | 3 |
| DMS 4740 | DMS Clinical Education IV | 6 |
| DMS 4030 | Musculoskeletal Sonography | 2 |
| DMS 4140 | Sonography Principles and Instrumentation Review | 1 |
| DMS 4240 | Pediatric Sonography | 2 |
| DMS 4430 | Ob & Gyn Sonography III | 3 |
| DMS 4440 | Ob & Gyn Sonography IV | 3 |
| DMS 4530 | Case Reports III | 1 |
| DMS 4540 | Case Reports IV | 1 |
| DMS 4600 | Professional Development in Sonography | 1 |
| DMS 4750 | DMS Clinical Education V | 7 |
| DMS 4800 | Registry Review | 3 |
| Total Hours | 70 | |
The CUW Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) Program is a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredited program. The program is full time conducted over 2 fall semesters, 2 spring semester, and 1 summer. Students in the CUW DMS program will receive academic coursework and lab instruction by CUW faculty and participate in clinical rotations through affiliated hospitals and clinics. This CUW DMS program curriculum and course descriptions can be found in the catalog. Grades will be issued for each course in all academic and clinical portions of the program.
Application, Pre-requisite Requirements
Acceptance into the CUW DMS program is not guaranteed. Candidates for the Certificate award must already hold a Bachelor of Science degree with documentation of the following specified college level courses: * Retaking a course: students are allowed to retake each required course one additional time
- Anatomy & Physiology (Grade B (3.0) or higher)
- Medical Terminology (Grade B (3.0) or higher)
- Pathophysiology (Grade B (3.0) or higher)
- Medical Law & Ethics (Grade B (3.0) or higher)
- College Math, Algebra of higher (Grade B (3.0) or higher)
- Interpersonal communication (Grade B (3.0) or higher)
- General Physics (Grade C (2.0) or higher).
Additional requirements
- Each student is required to complete a minimum of 100 hours of patient care experience by December 31 of application year. Patient care experience can be met by one of the following:
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) *this is the best options for students without previous education/training in the below areas.
- Certified Medical Assistant (MA)
- Radiologic Technologist (RT)
- Surgical Technologist
- Respiratory Therapist
- Paramedic
- Nurse (LPN/RN/NP)
- 4 hours of Job Shadowing before applying
- Application and Letter of Recommendation
- Upon acceptance into DMS program: CPR for Healthcare Providers. Classes are occasionally offered on campus for a fee
- AP Scores: only scores of 4 or higher will be accepted as credit for all required science courses in this program, a score of 3 or higher is accepted for all other transfer-eligible coursework
DMS Program Acceptance - Student Selection
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) program is competitive and students are not guaranteed acceptance into the program(s). In addition to the pre-professional course/grade requirements, DMS applicants will be considered based on a variety of application requirements including but not limited to: letters of recommendation, number of patient care hours, hours shadowing in sonography, and an interview(s). Qualified applicants will be invited to interview. Interview preparation is strongly encouraged as the interviews and academic performance comprise a significant portion of the candidate's placement score.
Other Program Requirements
Health Status
Accepted students must demonstrate compliance of all the following:
-
Annual physical examination and updated health history
-
Negative test for tuberculosis, as shown by a negative Mantoux test, a negative QuantiFERON-TB test (annually)
-
Immunity to rubeola, mumps and rubella as shown by a positive titer or documented vaccine
-
Immunity to varicella as shown by a positive titer, or evidence of two vaccinations
-
Seasonal influenza vaccine (annually)
-
Covid-19 vaccine *check with department chair/advising for the most up to date information
Medical Insurance
Background Check & Drug Screen
Technical Standards
All applicants to the School of Diagnostic Medical Sonography are notified of the minimum requirements appropriate to the profession of sonography.
- Lift more than 50 pound routinely
- Push and pull routinely
- Bend and stoop routinely
- Have full use of both hands, wrists and shoulders
- Distinguish audible sounds
- Adequately view sonograms, including color distinctions
- Work standing on their feet 80% of the time
- Interact compassionately and effectively with the sick or injured
- Assist patients on and off examining tables
- Organize and accurately perform the individual steps in a sonographic procedure in the proper sequence
Students must be able to perform the essential functions of the profession and meet the academic and clinical standards of the curriculum. Students seeking reasonable accommodations to the professional technical standards should initiate a request with advising, department chair and/or program director.
Tuition
Students in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program (Certificate Award) will pay 4 semesters of tuition (2 fall and 2 spring) and do not pay for summer, or any overload tuition charges. Students will be charged the current per semester certificate tuition for the specified academic year.