Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Degree Overview

A Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography will prepare students to enter into the exciting and growing field of medical imaging. Certified Sonographers are professionals in the health care industry who assist physicians in the use ionizing radiation or radio waves to produce images that are crucial to diagnosis and treatment of disease. Programs range in length from 1 year to 4 years depending on the specialization chosen, the program selected, and the number of credit hours required.

Benefits

Why should you earn a Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography?

• Earning a Bachelors Degree can prepare you to assume a leadership role and advance within your profession.
• Certified Sonographers are in high demand in health care settings throughout the United States.
• Earning this degree provides you hands-on experience with the latest modalities and equipment used in the field.
• With several different areas of specialization and a wide array of opportunities in the health care market, obtaining a Bachelors Degree can provide you with the tools to target your career search to specific areas of interest.
• Average salaries ranged between $48,890 and $67,670 a year according to the bureau of labor statistics.

Areas of Study

The specific requirements to obtain a Bachelor’s in Diagnostic Sonography differ depending on the specialty and the program you select. The courses listed below are classes you can expect to encounter in earning this degree. Please consult your specific course curriculum for a detailed listing of course requirements and credit hours.

• Anatomy
• Abdominal Sonography
• Image Analysis
• Gynecologic Sonography
• Doppler Sonography
• Physiology
• Cardiac and Vascular Sonography
• Medical Ethics
• Pharmacology
• Physics
• Patient Care

Career Opportunities

Below is a list of some of the opportunities available to those holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. This list is not comprehensive, and should serve only as a guide to possible opportunities:

• 3D and 4D Commercial Sonographer
• Vascular Sonographer
• Gastric Sonographer
• Sonography Instructor
• Ultrasound Technologist
• Management Positions within Imaging Departments

In addition, the workplaces are diverse:

• Private Medical Office
• Hospital Emergency Room
• Hospital Operating Room
• Commercial 3D and 4D Sonogram Companies
• Classroom or Medical College

What You Need to Know

Students obtaining the degree can become registered sonographers, or take additional credit hours to specialize in a particular field. To obtain the Bachelors Degree, students are required to obtain hands on experience in the form of Clinics and/or Clinical Internships. Depending on the program, anywhere from 10 credit hours to more than 30 credit hours are required. These credit hours may be spent doing internships at doctors offices, hospitals, mobile imaging companies, industrial research centers, government agencies, and/or in labs at the degree-granting institution. Students may also be required to pass National Board Exams to become certified as a Skilled Technologist and/or to obtain necessary state licensing.

Requirements

Admission requirements vary depending on the program of choice. A high school diploma or GED is usually required, along with transcripts and letters of recommendation. Some schools have more stringent admissions standards, requiring a minimum high school GPA. For information on applying to a program, you should consult the admissions office of that institution, or review the programs application requirements.

Accreditation

Because future employers need a standard by which to judge all applicants, regardless of school attended, they typically request that transcripts come from colleges accredited by one or both of the following two entities:

CAAHEP – Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
www.caahep.org

JRC-DMS – Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
www.jrcdms.org

Also, upon completing the course of study, graduates will want to become certified by participating in the National Credentialing Examination:

RDMS – Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (also a professional organization)
www.ardms.org

Professional Organizations

Diagnostic Medical Sonography is a quickly changing field. It will benefit the sonographer to be a member of a professional organization dedicated to keeping its members informed in the latest advancements and to helping members thrive in a fast-paced career choice. Some are listed below:

ARDMS – American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
www.ardms.org

SDMS — Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography
www.sdms.org