Diagnostic Medical Sonography, A.S.
The 58 units listed below, plus all MSJC Local General Education 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 for the Abdominal sonography–Extended and Obstetrics and Gynecology sonography concentrations. 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 the 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), Abdomen (AB), and Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB-GYN).
Diagnostic Medical Sonography Department Page
AS.DMS
Design Your Future!
Begin by exploring MSJC program maps to find career or transfer opportunities. Program maps show the recommended course sequence that leads to graduation or transfer. The maps were developed by program experts to give you the skills and knowledge you need to succeed.
- Starting in Spring? Choose Fall Semester 1 courses.
- Are you a part-time student? Start Fall Semester 1 courses and follow the course sequence.
Prerequisites
Consult the Multi-Criteria Point System for admission requirements. Prerequisites in this program will be enforced. Review admission and application information.
MSJC Local General Education
| Fall Semester 1 | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| DMS-500 | Fundamentals of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (formerly DMS-100) | 3 |
| DMS-501 | Pathophysiology I (formerly DMS-101) | 3 |
| DMS-503 | Patient Care Techniques for Imaging Professionals (formerly DMS-103) | 3 |
| DMS-525 | Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation I (formerly DMS-125) | 2 |
| Units | 11 | |
| Spring Semester 1 | ||
| DMS-540 | Introduction to Vascular Imaging (formerly DMS-140) | 2 |
| DMS-504 | Clinical Observation (formerly DMS-104) | 2 |
| DMS-510 | Sonography Cross-Sectional Anatomy (formerly DMS-110) | 2 |
| DMS-520 | Abdomen & Superficial Structures Scanning Lab (formerly DMS-120) | 1.5 |
| DMS-522 | Ultrasound Pathology I (formerly DMS-122) | 3 |
| DMS-535 | Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation II (formerly DMS-135) | 2 |
| Units | 12.5 | |
| Summer 1 | ||
| DMS-514 | Clinical Experience I (formerly DMS-114) | 5 |
| Units | 5 | |
| Fall Semester 2 | ||
| DMS-524 | Clinical Experience II (formerly DMS-124) | 10 |
| DMS-530 | Obstetric/Gynecology Scanning Lab (formerly DMS-130) | 1.5 |
| DMS-532 | Ultrasound Pathology II (formerly DMS-132) | 3 |
| DMS-502 | Sonography Medical Ethics (formerly DMS-102) | 3 |
| Units | 17.5 | |
| Spring Semester 2 | ||
| DMS-534 | Clinical Experience III (formerly DMS-136) | 10 |
| DMS-538 | Ultrasound Seminar (formerly DMS-134) | 2 |
| Units | 12 | |
| Total Units | 58 | |
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.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MSJC Local General Education | 27 | |
| Program Prerequisites | 20-21 | |
| DMS Program Courses | 58 | |
Program Prerequisites
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AH-105 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| ANAT-101 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 |
| ANAT-102 | Human Anatomy & Physiology II | 4 |
| COMM-C1000 | Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
| or COMM-C1004 | Interpersonal Communication | |
| or COMM-C1004H | Interpersonal Communication - Honors | |
| MATH-105 | College Algebra (or higher) | 3-4 |
| or STAT-C1000 | Introduction to Statistics | |
| PHY-100 | Physical Science in Modern Society (formerly Conceptual Physics) (or higher) | 3 |
| Total Units | 20-21 | |
DMS Program Courses
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester One | ||
| DMS-500 | Fundamentals of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (formerly DMS-100) | 3 |
| DMS-501 | Pathophysiology I (formerly DMS-101) | 3 |
| DMS-503 | Patient Care Techniques for Imaging Professionals (formerly DMS-103) | 3 |
| DMS-525 | Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation I (formerly DMS-125) | 2 |
| Semester Two | ||
| DMS-504 | Clinical Observation (formerly DMS-104) | 2 |
| DMS-510 | Sonography Cross-Sectional Anatomy (formerly DMS-110) | 2 |
| DMS-520 | Abdomen & Superficial Structures Scanning Lab (formerly DMS-120) | 1.5 |
| DMS-522 | Ultrasound Pathology I (formerly DMS-122) | 3 |
| DMS-535 | Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation II (formerly DMS-135) | 2 |
| DMS-540 | Introduction to Vascular Imaging (formerly DMS-140) | 2 |
| Summer | ||
| DMS-514 | Clinical Experience I (formerly DMS-114) | 5 |
| Semester Three | ||
| DMS-502 | Sonography Medical Ethics (formerly DMS-102) | 3 |
| DMS-524 | Clinical Experience II (formerly DMS-124) | 10 |
| DMS-530 | Obstetric/Gynecology Scanning Lab (formerly DMS-130) | 1.5 |
| DMS-532 | Ultrasound Pathology II (formerly DMS-132) | 3 |
| Semester Four | ||
| DMS-534 | Clinical Experience III (formerly DMS-136) | 10 |
| DMS-538 | Ultrasound Seminar (formerly DMS-134) | 2 |
| Total Units | 58 | |
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.
Discover information about careers that interest you!
- Take a Career Quiz to learn about yourself and receive career suggestions based on your interests.
- Search available in-demand jobs in your career areas of interest and find up-to-date salaries and education requirements.
- Find the MSJC Program that connects your interests to a career.
Note: There are no guaranteed positions for students completing these programs. Education and work experience required will vary by employer. The salary and benefits for specific occupations will be dependent on work experience, education, background, and employer.