Diagnostic Medical Sonography, A.S.

The 57 units listed below, plus all MSJC General Education Option A requirements are required to earn an Associate in Science degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. See counselor for recommended vocational and academic courses.

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is a non-transfer AS degree program, consisting of a cohort group completing 4 semesters + 1 summer semester which includes a 12-month clinical internship. This program is competitive in nature due to the greater number of applicants as compared to the number of available clinical internships. This degree program provides an opportunity for students to be educated and trained in the healthcare career of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. The objective of the program is to graduate students who are competent and confident in providing excellent patient care in the field of sonography.

The goal of our DMS program is to prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior)  learning domains. Students will demonstrate a high competency in anatomy and pathology, as seen on the ultrasound exam. Students will be evaluated on didactic learning in Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation, hands-on scanning skills, communication skills, patient care, and critical thinking ability.

Students will practice ultrasound scanning skills with ultrasound equipment in the campus lab. Those skills will be applied and enhanced in an affiliated medical center by training on the job with a licensed sonographer scanning patients. The DMS program prepares the student to work in an ultrasound department performing abdomen, superficial structures (thyroid, breast, and testicular), gynecology, obstetric, and basic musculoskeletal ultrasound exams. Additional vascular and musculoskeletal didactic and lab training is included in the program curriculum, although our program has not pursued vascular or musculoskeletal accreditation at this time.

The didactic education will prepare the student for taking the national exams of the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS). These exams include Sonography Physics and Instrumentation (SPI), Abdominal (ABD), and Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB-GYN).

Diagnostic Medical Sonography Department Page

AS.DMS

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Prerequisites

Consult the Multi-Criteria Point System for admission requirements. Prerequisites in this program will be enforced. Review admission and application information.

MSJC General Education Option A

Plan of Study Grid
Fall Semester 1Units
DMS-100 Fundamentals of Diagnostic Medical Sonography 2
DMS-101 Pathophysiology 3
DMS-503 Patient Care Techniques for Imaging Professionals (formerly DMS-103) 3
DMS-525 Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation I (formerly DMS-125) 2
 Units10
Spring Semester 1
DMS-102 Sonography Medical Ethics 3
DMS-504 Clinical Observation (formerly DMS-104) 2
DMS-110 Sectional Imaging 2
DMS-120 General Sonography Scanning Lab (formerly Abdomen Scanning) 1.5
DMS-122 Ultrasound Pathology I 3
DMS-535 Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation II (formerly DMS-135) 2
 Units13.5
Summer 1
DMS-514 Clinical Experience I (formerly DMS-114) 5
 Units5
Fall Semester 2
DMS-524 Clinical Experience II (formerly DMS-124) 10
DMS-130 Obstetric/Gynecology Scanning 1.5
DMS-132 Ultrasound Pathology II 3
DMS-140 Introduction to Vascular Imaging 2
 Units16.5
Spring Semester 2
DMS-134 Ultrasound Seminar 2
DMS-136 Clinical Experience III (formerly Clinical Experience IV) 10
 Units12
 Total Units57

Language Requirement: Some CSU's require the equivalency of an intermediate language proficiency for graduation. Please see a counselor for more detail regarding specific CSU major and graduation requirements. 

Note: AREA G (Math Competency) can be demonstrated by a high school math course at or above the level of Algebra 2 with a grade of C or better.

Course Title Credits
MSJC General Education Option A24
Program Prerequisites20-22
DMS Program Courses57

Program Prerequisites

Course Title Credits
AH-105Medical Terminology3
ANAT-101Human Anatomy & Physiology I4
ANAT-102Human Anatomy & Physiology II4
COMM-100Public Speaking3
or COMM-103 Interpersonal Communication
or COMM-103H Honors Interpersonal Communication
MATH-105College Algebra (or higher)3-4
or MATH-140 Introduction to Statistics
PHY-100Physical Science in Modern Society (formerly Conceptual Physics) (or higher)3
Total Units20-21

DMS Program Courses

Course Title Credits
Semester One
DMS-100Fundamentals of Diagnostic Medical Sonography2
DMS-101Pathophysiology3
DMS-503Patient Care Techniques for Imaging Professionals (formerly DMS-103)3
DMS-525Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation I (formerly DMS-125)2
Semester Two
DMS-102Sonography Medical Ethics3
DMS-504Clinical Observation (formerly DMS-104)2
DMS-110Sectional Imaging2
DMS-120General Sonography Scanning Lab (formerly Abdomen Scanning)1.5
DMS-122Ultrasound Pathology I3
DMS-535Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation II (formerly DMS-135)2
Summer
DMS-514Clinical Experience I (formerly DMS-114)5
Semester Three
DMS-524Clinical Experience II (formerly DMS-124)10
DMS-130Obstetric/Gynecology Scanning1.5
DMS-132Ultrasound Pathology II3
DMS-140Introduction to Vascular Imaging2
Semester Four
DMS-134Ultrasound Seminar2
DMS-136Clinical Experience III (formerly Clinical Experience IV)10
Total Units57

The sonography courses must be taken in a specific sequence, students must attain a minimum grade of “C” or above in all required courses in order to obtain the degree.

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