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 Abdominal, Superficial, 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)
CUW Diagnostic Medical Sonography program
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 enrolled in the DMS program will continue to pay Concordia tuition during the program for 2 fall and 2 spring semesters, no tuition is charged for 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.
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DMS 301 | Superficial Sonography | 2 |
| DMS 311 | Sonographic Principles and Instrumentation I | 2 |
| DMS 312 | Sonographic Principles and Instrumentation II | 2 |
| DMS 321 | Vascular Sonography I | 3 |
| DMS 322 | Vascular Sonography II | 2 |
| DMS 323 | Vascular Sonography III | 2 |
| DMS 331 | Abdominal Sonography I | 4 |
| DMS 332 | Abdominal Sonography II | 3 |
| DMS 333 | Abdominal Sonography III | 2 |
| DMS 341 | Ob & Gyn Sonography I | 3 |
| DMS 342 | Ob & Gyn Sonography II | 3 |
| DMS 351 | Case Reports 1 | 1 |
| DMS 352 | Case Reports 2 | 1 |
| DMS 371 | Clinical Practicum I | 3 |
| DMS 373 | Clinical Practicum III | 4 |
| DMS 374 | Clinical Practicum IV | 3 |
| DMS 403 | Musculoskeletal Sonography | 2 |
| DMS 414 | Sonography Principles and Instrumentation Review | 1 |
| DMS 424 | Pediatric Sonography | 2 |
| DMS 443 | Ob & Gyn Sonography III | 3 |
| DMS 444 | Ob & Gyn Sonography IV | 3 |
| DMS 453 | Case Reports 3 | 1 |
| DMS 454 | Case Reports 4 | 1 |
| DMS 460 | Professional Development in Sonography | 1 |
| DMS 475 | Clinical Practicum V | 6 |
| DMS 477 | Clinical Practicum VII | 7 |
| DMS 480 | Registry Review | 3 |
| Total Hours | 70 | |
Program Admission
Candidates must already hold a Bachelor of Science degree with documentation of the following specified college level courses:
- Anatomy & Physiology (Grade B or higher)
- Medical Terminology (Grade B or higher)
- Pathophysiology (Grade B or higher)
- Medical Law & Ethics (Grade B or higher)
- College Math, Algebra of higher (Grade B or higher)
- Interpersonal communication (Grade B or higher)
- General Physics (Grade C or higher)
Additional Requirements
- Documentation of 100 hours worked in health care profession or in direct patient care environment.
- If applicant does not have patient care experience, they will be required to complete Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), pass the State License Exam and complete a minimum of 100 hours worked as CNA.
- Job Shadowing before applying: 4 hours in General Sonography
- CPR for Healthcare Providers (if accepted)
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
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.