Diagnostic Medical Sonography, A.A.S.

Diagnostic medical sonography is a form of medical imaging that employs high-frequency sound waves, also known as ultrasound, to generate images of organs, tissues, and blood flow. These images aid medical professionals in evaluating organs and soft tissue structures within the body, such as the brain, abdomen, and peripheral blood vessels. An illustrative example of sonography includes the images expectant parents see of their unborn child, which are created using ultrasound technology. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is an anticipated 39% growth in demand for sonography technicians by 2022, a rate significantly higher than many other occupations.

After successfully completing this program, you will have the ability to:

• Incorporate anatomy, physiology and physics to the field of Diagnostic Ultrasound.
• Perform exam protocols in a sequential manner.
• Manage appropriate patient care.
• Manage DMS equipment proficiently.
• Uphold sonographic professional standards.
• Incorporate content to the lab and clinical setting.
• Evaluate images you have taken.
• Communicate appropriately to the setting.

Discover the prerequisites and coursework needed for the DMS program. For detailed requirements, check our catalog.

Degree Requirements

See the path to becoming a sonographer with our program map. For a comprehensive guide, visit our catalog.

Program Map

The applicant pool for programs in the School of Health Sciences is highly competitive. Submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance into the Health Sciences program. Applicants must meet with a School of Health Sciences advisor before applying to a program and may be required to attend an orientation for Allied Health-related programs. All communication from the School of Health Sciences will be sent to your TCC email.

1. Prospective Diagnostic Medical Sonography students who have not been enrolled at TCC within the past year must complete an application for admission to the College. They should submit their high school and previous college transcripts and ACT scores to the Metro Campus Student Completion Services office at 909 South Boston, Tulsa, OK 74119. Incomplete submissions will not be considered for admission into the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program. Admission to TCC does not guarantee admission to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.
2. Applications for the DMS program must be submitted online by April 1. Apply to Program.
3. Eligible applicants to be interviewed for consideration for admission into the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program will be notified through their TCC email regarding their selection status.

Program Admission Requirements

• College GPA of 2.5.
• ACT Composite Score of 18 (completed within the last 5 years).
• Completion of prerequisite courses with a grade of "C" or better. These courses must be completed before the application deadline:
  • BIOL 1314 - Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology
  • ENGL 1113 - Composition I
  • MATH 1513 - Precalculus I
  • PHYS 1114 - General Physics I
• Students must be able to travel to local and distant clinical sites.
• An extensive criminal background check is required by all clinical affiliates. This check includes, but is not limited to, a seven-year county of residence nationwide criminal history check, national sexual predator screening, Social Security check, and Medicare/Medicaid fraud screening.
• All Health Sciences students participating in clinicals must complete these background checks, immunizations, and a drug screening test by the School of Health Sciences office deadline before the first clinical rotation. Any positive findings may be subject to review by the clinical affiliates and could potentially prevent the student from completing clinical requirements.

English Language Proficiency

An official iBT® TOEFL (internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language) test score or an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Band score is required as proof of English proficiency for any international student for whom English is a second language and is applying to any TCC health sciences program. Students who have graduated from a U.S. high school will not be required to take the iBT TOEFL or IELTS tests. Your scores must be current within 2 years of the semester for which you are applying.

For health sciences students, the minimum sub-scores on the internet-based TOEFL (iBT®) are 21 for Writing, 24 for Speaking, 20 for Reading, and 20 for Listening, with a total minimum score of 85.

For students choosing the IELTS test, acceptable scores include 6.5 for Reading, 6.5 for Listening, 7.5 for Speaking, and 6 for Writing, for a total IELTS Band score of 6.5. These required minimum scores must be met for each of the four sub-tests on a single exam. A total score that does not meet the sub-score minimums does not meet the requirement. Exceptions to this policy may be considered on an individual basis.

Students must visit the ETS website to find a TOEFL iBT testing site, register, and pay for the test. Students may go to the IELTS website to find an IELTS testing center and register and pay for the test. Both tests cost approximately $190. Students are highly encouraged to take practice tests to prepare for these important tests. Your official scores, including all sub-scores, must be sent directly to the TCC Registrar’s Office.

Perquisites¹: 14 credit hours

• BIOL 1314 Human Anatomy & Physiology
• MATH 1513 College Algebra
• ENGL 1113 Composition I
• PHYS 1114

¹Prerequisite for Fall course work includes sitting for the ARDMS SPI Exam

First Fall

• DMS 1103 Acoustical Physics and Instrumentation
• DMS 1002 Intro to Diagnostic Medical Sonography
• ALDH 1323 Medical Terminology
• COMM 1113 Public Speaking

First Spring

• DMS 1223 Abdominal Sonography I
• DMS 1233 Ob/Gyn Sonography I
• DMS 1213 Acoustical Physics and Instrumentation II
• DMS 1242 Sonography Clinical Practice I (1 day a week)
• HIST 1483 or1493 American History

Summer

• DMS 1263 Neurosonography and Small Parts Ultrasound
• DMS 1252 Sonographic Clinical Practice II (3 days a week)

Second Fall

• DMS 2123 Abdominal Sonography II
• DMS 2133 Ob/Gyn Sonography II
• DMS 2034 Sonography Clinical Practice III (3 days a week)

Second Spring

• DMS 2131 Ultrasound Seminar
• DMS 2153 Vascular Ultrasound
• POLS 1113 American Federal Government
• DMS 2148 Sonography Clinical Practice IV (4 days a week)

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program at TCC complies with the 2008 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Any student requiring special accommodations or classroom modifications should see the Accessibility Resources at TCC.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography involves the provision of direct care for individuals and is characterized by the application of knowledge in the skillful performance of patient care functions in the diagnostic medical sonography lab and clinical sites. Therefore, in order to successfully complete the classroom, clinical and laboratory requirements, all students must possess certain characteristics. The purpose of this section is to provide the student/applicant an understanding of the physical demands and communication skills required for the program based on tasks performed by Diagnostic Medical Sonographers working in the field.

The common work environment for a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer and for a student studying for the same profession would include the following:

• Constant contact and communication with patients, the public and other members of the healthcare team.
• Decision making on patient care based on assessment of the patient.
• Moving and manipulating heavy equipment and patients. Frequent and timely operation of computers and telephones.
• Moving patients for such activities as moving a patient in a stretcher or wheel chair, and assisting in the lifting of patients, for example, moving a patient in the bed or moving from a stretcher to a bed or the DMS lab patient table.
• Exposure to pathogens through bodily fluids, secretions, mucous, and blood.

An applicant/student must possess:

• Sufficient visual acuity such as is needed for the observation required for patient assessment including visualizing patient monitors, response to therapy and care, and to assist the clinician in handling very small needles, guide wires and other equipment.
• Sufficient auditory perception to receive verbal communication from patients and members of the health care team who often are wearing face masks and to assess health needs of patients through the use of monitoring devices such as cardiac monitors, various alarms, stethoscopes, fire alarms, life support equipment, etc.
• Sufficient gross and fine motor coordination to respond promptly and implement the skills, including the manipulation of tools and equipment required in scanning patients for diagnostic medical sonography examinations.
• Sufficient communication skills (speech, reading, writing) to interact with individuals and communicate their needs promptly and effectively as may be necessary in the individual’s interest.
• Sufficient intellectual and emotional function to plan and implement care for individuals including the ability to demonstrate emotional stability to function effectively under stress and the ability to adapt to a changing, unpredictable environment.

Physical Requirements

Student Sonographers must be able to:

• Lift more than 50 pounds routinely
• Push and pull routinely
• Bend and stoop routinely
• Have full use of both hands, wrists and shoulders
• Distinguish audible sounds

Technical Standards

Observation

• Ability to participate actively in all demonstrations, laboratory exercise, and clinical experiences in the professional program component and to assess and comprehend the condition of all clients assigned to him/her for examination, diagnosis, and treatment.
• Such observation and information usually require functional use of visual, auditory, and somatic sensations. (Sensations arising from the skin — such as touch, pressure, cold, warmth, and pain)

Examples

• Attend class, lab and clinic with minimal absences
• Adequately view sonograms live, simulated, and/or recorded), including color distinctions and the ultrasound unit control panel simultaneously while performing the scan/exam in the low light settings required for sonographic imaging
• The ability to distinguish gray scale images on computer screen and view/operate ultrasound control panel in ambient to low lighting.
• Recognize normal and pathologic sonographic characteristics of organs, tissues, and blood flow.
• Recognize, interpret and respond to facial expressions and body language.
• Recognize and respond to soft voices or voices under protective garb.
• Distinguish audible sounds from both the patient and the ultrasound equipment (Doppler).

Communication

Ability to communicate effectively in English using verbal, non-verbal and written formats with faculty, other students, clients, families and all members of the healthcare team.

Examples

• Elicits and transmits information to patients, staff, fellow students, instructors, and other members of the health care team.
• Receive/ comprehend, write, and interpret verbal and written communication in the academic and clinical settings.
• Complete all assignments within scheduled time frame
• Obtains relevant patient clinical information, responds to questions, interprets physician’s orders, and communicates sonographic findings to physician interpreter in both verbal and written formats.

Critical Thinking

The ability to analyze information objectively and make a reasoned judgment.

Examples

• Exhibit openness to contradictory ideas.
• Assess issues raised by contradictory ideas and justify solutions and determine effectiveness of applied solutions.
• Receive and react appropriately to constructive criticism.
• Demonstrates effective clinical decision making to perform sonographic scans/exams in all clinical and lab within required time frames.

Motor

Sufficient motor ability to execute the movement and skills required for safe and effective care and emergency treatment

Examples

• Static and dynamic strength sufficient to lift some patients, move heavy equipment on wheels (up to 500 lbs.) and to move patients in wheelchairs and stretchers.
• The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time (including walking, standing or being upright continuously for 8-12 hours)
• Ensures proper and safe patient positions, movement of the ultrasound unit and other equipment in all settings.
• Staminal and trunk strength to push and pull, bend and stoop routinely.
• Dynamic and trunk strength to perform sonographic scans/exams while sitting or standing 80% of the time (dependent on the clinical setting and/or situation).
• Full use of hands, wrists and shoulders, (arm-hand steadiness, control precision, dynamic flexibility, extend flexibility, finger dexterity, quickly move arms).
• Demonstrates manual dexterity and fine motor movements to manipulate the ultrasound transducer and control panel simultaneously while achieving the diagnostic objective of the scan/examination (control precision, dynamic flexibility, extent flexibility, finger dexterity, and multi-limb coordination).
• Dynamic strength, stamina, static strength, control precision, manual dexterity to exert and maintain probe pressure (exert of up to 40 lbs. of sustained/continuous pressure) necessary to acquire ultrasound images.
• Completes lab and clinical scan competencies successfully and within scheduled time frame.
• Assisted medical devices are worn at all times in class, lab, and clinic (glasses, contacts, hearing aids, supports/braces etc.)

Intellectual

Ability to collect, interpret and integrate information and make decisions

Examples

• Completes assignments, exams, quizzes successfully within scheduled time frame
• Read, comprehend, retain, and apply relevant information in textbooks, medical records, and professional literature.
• Apply knowledge and learning to new situations and problem-solving scenarios.
• Collect and evaluate pertinent patient data and information to determine relevance to the requested sonographic scan/exam. Integrate medial history and current symptoms to determine the appropriate protocol and tailor the sonographic scan/exam to the patient’s needs.
• Determine if any contraindications, insufficient patient preparation, or the patient’s physical and/or mental condition will affect the patient’s ability to tolerate the sonographic scan/exam/procedure.
• Measure, calculate, reason, analyze and synthesize sonographic information during the performance of the scan/exam and on appropriate acquired images and/or video clips.
• Organize and accurately perform the individual steps in a sonographic procedure in the proper sequence.
• Process, respond, and draw conclusions from the sonographic images, recognize and correct inconsistencies, correlate clinical information and sonographic findings and make specific assessments and determinations based on those findings and established criteria.
• Uses professional judgment to adapt the protocol for the patient’s condition to optimize scan/exam results
• Notifies supervising physician(s) if emergency care is needed based on the sonographic findings and patient conditions.

Behavior and Social Attributes

• Possess the emotional health and stability required for full utilization of the student‘s intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all academic and patient care responsibilities and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with clients and other members of the health care team.
• Possess the ability to tolerate taxing workloads, function effectively under stress, adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in clinical setting with patients.
• Possess compassion, integrity, concern for others, and motivation.
• Possess the ability to demonstrate professional behaviors and a strong work ethic.

Examples

• Manage fast paced and heavy didactic and clinical schedules and deadlines. Perform sonographic scans/exams in fast paced clinical settings and during clinical situations including emergency situations.
• Maintain focus and remain on task to function effectively during instruction and performance of sonograms under stressful conditions while exercising appropriate judgment. Responds to rapidly changing and unpredictable circumstances.
• Complete daily work load including technically difficult patients, emergency scans/exams, and added scans/exams within allotted time frames.
• Demonstrate integrity, concern for others/compassion, appropriate interpersonal skills, interest and motivation.
• Manage personal life and/or obligations to maintain focus on didactic and clinical course requirements, maintain focus on the patient at all times and in all settings (including lab and clinic).
• Accept and utilize scanning critiques, self-assessment, and feedback to improve sonographic knowledge and skills.
• Collaborate with classmates to develop professional demeanor in all settings and with all individuals; manage emotions and responses to evaluations and/or feedback.
• Comply with the Sonographic Scope of Practice and Clinical Practice Standards - Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

Professionalism

Ability to maintain professional appearance and to implement measures to maintain own health

Examples

• Implement standard precautions
• Follow established procedures for personal hygiene.
• Demonstrate a preventative approach to stress management
• Adhere to the DMS Dress standards in class, lab and clinical sites.
• Attend class, lab and clinic with minimal absences
• Provide patient-centered ethical and compassionate care
• Comply with the Code of Ethics for the Profession of Diagnostic Medical Sonography - Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
• Maintain compliance as outlined in DMS Student Program Handbook, DMS Student Clinical Handbook, TCC Student Handbook.

TCC is committed to ensuring that otherwise qualified students with disabilities are given equal access through reasonable accommodations in programs and services. Students who wish to request reasonable accommodations are encouraged to contact the Educational Access Center to start the process for documenting their disability and determining eligibility services.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography Students with disabilities are expected to perform all the essential functions of the program with or without accommodation. While the DMS Program will make every effort to work with our students with accommodations, it is important to note that a faculty member has the right to challenge an accommodation request if he/she believes the student is not qualified and/or if the accommodation would result in a fundamental alteration of the class.

All college students, whether disabled or not, must adhere to the TCC student standards of conduct.

Connect with fellow DMS students by joining the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Student Organization. For additional information, please reach out to the DMS faculty.

Clubs & Organizations

• Essential Functions & Technical Standards - DMS
• Applicant Score - DMS

DMS Program Effectiveness Data

Philosophy

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program at TCC is dedicated to providing quality education for its students in order to promote excellence in the science of sonography. The DMS Program strives to provide academic and clinical experiences that will produce competent and compassionate sonographers as well as instilling life-long learning values and to assist students in achieving their professional and personal goals.

The program’s emphasis is on didactic as well as skill competency in the following areas: 

• Abdominal
• Small Parts
• Male Pelvis
• Obstetric
• Female Pelvis
• Vascular Ultrasound

Mission Statement

To prepare students for entry-level jobs in Abdominal, OB/GYN, and Vascular sonography as well as instilling life-long learning values and assists students in achieving their professional and personal goals.

Goals

To prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for the following concentrations:

• Abdominal sonography – Extended
• Obstetrics and gynecology sonography
• Vascular sonography

Goals & Objectives

A competency-based evaluation system is utilized throughout the program. The student must achieve a predetermined level of competency in the academic, laboratory, and clinical courses in order to receive passing grades for the course. On completion of the TCC program in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, the graduate will function as a knowledgeable entry-level sonographer, demonstrating clinical proficiency in Abdominal, OB GYN, and Vascular Sonographic procedures and support behavior skills that reflect professionalism, effective communication, and time management skills.

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program at TCC is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS).

CAAHEP

9355 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
727-210-2350
caahep.org

JRC-DMS

6021 University Boulevard, Suite 500
Ellicott City, MD 21043
443-973-3251
jrcdms.org