Diagnostic Medical Sonography: Wilmington

Allied Health

A.A.S. Degree (W)

Diagnostic Medical Sonography is the art and science of employing high frequency sound waves to image organs, vessels, masses, and fluid accumulations within the body. The skilled sonographer, qualified by academic and clinical training, assists the physician in assessing both disease processes and the state of well-being. The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), 25400 US Highway 19N., Suite 158, Clearwater, FL 33763, (727) 210-2350, http://www.caahep.org, upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS) 6021 University Blvd., Suite 500, Ellicott City, MD 21043, (443) 973-3251 phone, (443)738-3444 fax, http://www.jrcdms.org, to prepare students for national certification in general sonographic learning concentrations.

Courses are offered on campus and at a variety of clinical affiliates. Employment opportunities in this dynamic field exist in a wide range of settings such as hospitals, clinics, and doctors' offices. Other opportunities are available in veterinary medicine, industry, sales, mobile services, and the private sector. Academically ready students can apply to the program following the guidelines of the Allied Health competitive admission process. Interested applicants should review the information provided here and contact their program advisor for application requirements.

Program Graduate Competencies

The Program Graduate Competencies listed below identify the major learning goals related to your specific program of study and identify the knowledge and skills you will have when you graduate to be successful in your chosen field.

  1. Perform competently a full range of diagnostic medical sonographic procedures pertaining to their learning concentration.
  2. Utilize professional verbal, nonverbal, and written communication skills in patient care, procedure intervention, and professional relationships.
  3. Act in a professional and ethical manner and comply with professional scope of practice.
  4. Integrate critical thinking and problem solving skills as expected of a healthcare professional.

Core Curriculum Competencies

The Core Curriculum Competencies listed below identify what you will be able to do as a graduate, regardless of your program of study. You will acquire these core competencies through general education courses and program-specific coursework. You will be expected to use relevant technology to achieve these outcomes:

  1. Apply clear and effective communication skills.
  2. Use critical thinking to solve problems.
  3. Collaborate to achieve a common goal.
  4. Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct.
  5. Use information literacy for effective vocational and/or academic research.
  6. Apply quantitative reasoning and/or scientific inquiry to solve practical problems.

Graduation Requirements

Core Courses

ENG 101Composition I

3

ENG 102Composition II

3

MAT 162Statistical Reasoning

4

PSY 121General Psychology

3

SOC 213Ethical Issues in Healthcare

3

SSC 100First Year Seminar

1

Program/Major Courses

DMS 106Intro to Patient Care/Sonography

3

DMS 108Intro to Clinical Internship I

1

DMS 109Intro to Clinical Internship II

1

DMS 110Acoustical Physics

3

DMS 113Gynecological Sonography

2

DMS 114Obstetrical Sonography

2

DMS 121Abdominal Sonography I

2

DMS 122Abdominal Sonography II

2

DMS 201Clinical Internship I

3

DMS 202Clinical Internship II

7

DMS 203Clinical Internship III

7

DMS 210Scanning Applications

1

DMS 211Abdominal Sonography III

1

DMS 230Special Topics

2

VAS 111Vascular Techniques I

3

VAS 112Vascular Techniques II

3

VAS 213Vascular Techniques III

3

Program/Major Support Courses

BIO 100Medical Terminology

3

BIO 120Anatomy & Physiology I

5

BIO 121Anatomy & Physiology II

5

BIO 130Disease Process/Pathophysiology

3

CHM 110General Chemistry

4

PHY 111Conceptual Physics

4

Suggested Pathway to Graduation (Course Sequence Sheet)

Semester 1

SSC 100First Year Seminar

1

BIO 120Anatomy & Physiology I

5

CHM 110General Chemistry

4

ENG 101Composition I

3

MAT 162Statistical Reasoning

4

PHY 111Conceptual Physics

4

DMS 106Intro to Patient Care/Sonography

3

Semester 2

BIO 100Medical Terminology

3

BIO 121Anatomy & Physiology II

5

ENG 102Composition II

3

DMS 108Intro to Clinical Internship I

1

DMS 113Gynecological Sonography

2

DMS 121Abdominal Sonography I

2

VAS 111Vascular Techniques I

3

Semester 3

BIO 130Disease Process/Pathophysiology

3

DMS 109Intro to Clinical Internship II

1

DMS 110Acoustical Physics

3

DMS 114Obstetrical Sonography

2

DMS 122Abdominal Sonography II

2

VAS 112Vascular Techniques II

3

Semester 4

DMS 201Clinical Internship I

3

DMS 210Scanning Applications

1

DMS 211Abdominal Sonography III

1

Semester 5

PSY 121General Psychology

3

DMS 202Clinical Internship II

7

VAS 213Vascular Techniques III

3

Semester 6

SOC 213Ethical Issues in Healthcare

3

DMS 203Clinical Internship III

7

DMS 230Special Topics

2

To complete program requirements, you must pass the above courses and earn at least 88 credits. The number of courses and credits required for graduation may be more depending on your need for developmental education courses and the elective choices you make (if electives are a part of the program). Some programs also have college-level courses that you must take if you do not score at a certain level on the College Placement Test. If this applies to your program, the courses are listed at the top of the sequence sheet before the first semester of the course list.

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