Diagnostic Medical Sonography AAS: 530

(TP/SS): 530

Students who plan to major in diagnostic medical sonography will be assigned the temporary major of pre-diagnostic medical sonography, with POS code 530, until they are officially admitted to the diagnostic medical sonography program. Students may take preparatory courses and courses that fulfill General Education requirements during the waiting period. As an alternative to being assigned a temporary major, students waiting for admission to the diagnostic medical sonography program may choose to major in general studies or any other open-admission program. The Admissions and Records Office at Takoma Park/Silver Spring will assign a matriculated code once students are admitted to the diagnostic medical sonography program.

This curriculum, accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, requires a minimum of two years of didactic and clinical experience. It provides a foundation for graduates to become highly skilled in providing patient services using diagnostic ultrasound under the supervision of a physician in hospitals, offices, and other health care settings. Reflected ultrasound waves are utilized by the sonographer to display images on a video monitor of body tissues. The sonographer is responsible for performing the examinations, providing patient care, and recording anatomical, pathological, and/or physiological data for interpretation by the physician.

Admission requirements, including specific selection criteria, have been established by the Board of Trustees; see the Admissions and Registration section of this catalog.

Students need to meet prerequisites for first-semester courses. Each of the diagnostic medical sonography courses builds on materials offered in previous courses. Students in this curriculum are required to achieve a grade of C or better in each sonography course and maintain current CPR certification while enrolled in the program.

Upon completion of this curriculum, the graduate will receive an AAS and be eligible to apply to take the national registry exam, administered by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, in one or more of the following specialties: abdominal sonography, breast sonography, obstetrics/gynecology sonography, adult echocardiography, pediatric echocardiography, or vascular sonography.