Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Certificate of Proficiency

Forest Park

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program provides a specialty in ultrasound technology for graduates of an associate degree or two-year hospital-based program in another allied health area. Students attend full-time and complete classroom work and clinical education in an affiliated ultrasound department. Students acquire skills in record keeping, reviewing and recording pertinent clinical patient history, performing the sonographic examination, providing for the comforts and needs of the patient during the examination, and recording the anatomic, pathologic and physiologic data for interpretation by the supervising physician.

Thoroughness, accuracy and empathy are traits needed by persons interested in this program. They also should be versatile and able to follow precise and detailed directions.

Graduates are eligible to take the certifying examination of the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in the specialty areas of abdomen and obstetrics-gynecology and adult echocardiography. Positions are available in hospital ultrasound departments, clinics, mobile services and private physicians’ offices.

Pre-admissions Entrance Requirements:

  • Completion of all program prerequisites prior to submitting an application.  Must earn a "C" or higher:
    • Anatomy and Physiology I and II with lab (two semester course sequence of at least 8 credit hours)
    • Physics or Physical Science Lecture
    • Precalculus Algebra or Introductory Statistics
    • Medical Terminology
    • English Composition
    • Oral Communications
  • Cumulative GPA:  3.0
  • Cumulative GPA for Math and Sciences:  3.0 (Physics or Physical Science Lecture, Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Precalculus Algebra or Introductory Statistics)
  • Only one repeat of a course prerequisite is allowed over a five year period
  • Complete 4 hours of job shadowing
  • Complete 120 hours in a patient care setting (can be voluntary service within a hospital or nursing home)
  • Math and science prerequisite courses must have been completed within five years of entering the program 

Interested in this program? Start the enrollment process by visiting the Apply to STLCC page.   

At the completion of the program, students are expected to:

  1. perform sonographic examinations of the abdomen, superficial structures, noncardiac\\nchest, and the gravid and nongravid pelvis according to protocol guidelines established by national professional organizations.
  2. identify the sonographic appearance of normal anatomic structures, including anatomic variants and normal Doppler patterns with vascular introduction.
  3. identify and appropriately document the abnormal sonographic and Doppler patterns of disease processes, pathology, and pathophysiology of the abdomen, superficial structures, non-cardiac chest, and gravid and nongravid pelvis.
  4. demonstrate proficiency in the performance of M-mode, two-dimensional, and Doppler (pulsed wave, continuous wave, color flow and power) echocardiographic studies.
  5. identify the sonographic appearance of normal cardiac anatomy, including anatomic variants and normal Doppler patterns with vascular introduction.
  6. identify and appropriately document the abnormal sonographic and Doppler patterns of cardiac disease\\nprocesses, pathology, and pathophysiology.
  7. discuss basic principles in ultrasound, vascular ultrasound, and ultrasound physics and instrumentation.
  8. identify sectional anatomy, hemodynamics, pathophysiologic principles, and pattern recognition as it relates to vascular sonography.

Program of Study

Core Curriculum
DMS 103Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation I2
DMS 104Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation II2
DMS 201Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation III2
Options
Select one of the following options:37
Cardiac Sonography
Medical Sonography
Total Credit Hours43

Options

Cardiac Sonography

DMS 127Introduction to Sonography3
DMS 112Cardiac Sonography I3
DMS 113Cardiac Sonography Scanning Techniques I2
DMS 114Cardiac Sonography Practicum I2
DMS 115Cardiac Sonography II3
DMS 116Cardiac Sonography Scanning Techniques II1
DMS 117Cardiac Sonography Clinical Applications 3
DMS 118Cardiac Sonography Practicum II3
DMS 207Cardiac Sonography III2
DMS 208Cardiac Sonography Practicum III4
DMS 209Cardiac Sonography IV4
DMS 126Introduction to Vascular Sonography3
DMS 128Introduction to Vascular Sonography Scanning Techniques1
DMS 211Cardiac Sonography Practicum IV3
Total Credit Hours37

Medical Sonography

DMS 127Introduction to Sonography3
DMS 105Medical Sonography I3
DMS 106Medical Sonography Scanning Techniques I2
DMS 107Medical Sonography Practicum I2
DMS 108Medical Sonography II3
DMS 109Medical Sonography Scanning Techniques II1
DMS 110Medical Sonography Clinical Applications 3
DMS 111Medical Sonography Practicum II3
DMS 202Medical Sonography III2
DMS 203Medical Sonography Practicum III4
DMS 204Medical Sonography IV4
DMS 126Introduction to Vascular Sonography3
DMS 128Introduction to Vascular Sonography Scanning Techniques1
DMS 206Medical Sonography Practicum IV3
Total Credit Hours37

Pre-admissions Entrance Requirements:

BIO 207Anatomy and Physiology I (MOTR LIFS 150LAP)4
BIO 208Anatomy and Physiology II4
Physics or Physical Science Lecture3-4
Precalculus Algebra or Introductory Statistics4
HIT 101Medical Terminology and Language4
ENG 101College Composition I (MOTR ENGL 100)3
COM 101Oral Communication I (MOTR COMM 100)3
Total Credit Hours25-26

Cardiac Sonography Option: 

New PlanGrids
First Year
Fall Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
DMS 127 Introduction to Sonography3Current enrollment in the Cardiac learning concentration, Diagnostic Medical Sonography program or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.See program prerequisite list
DMS 103 Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation I2Current enrollment in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
DMS 112 Cardiac Sonography I3Current enrollment in the Cardiac learning concentration, Diagnostic Medical Sonography program or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
DMS 113 Cardiac Sonography Scanning Techniques I2Current enrollment in the Cardiac learning concentration or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
DMS 114 Cardiac Sonography Practicum I2Current enrollment in the Cardiac Sonography learning concentration, Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
Credit Hours12
Spring Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
DMS 104 Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation II2DMS 103 or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
DMS 115 Cardiac Sonography II3DMS 112 or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
DMS 116 Cardiac Sonography Scanning Techniques II1DMS 113 or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
DMS 117 Cardiac Sonography Clinical Applications3DMS 112 or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency
DMS 118 Cardiac Sonography Practicum II3DMS 114 or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
Credit Hours12
Summer Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
DMS 207 Cardiac Sonography III2DMS 115 or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
DMS 208 Cardiac Sonography Practicum III4DMS 118 or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
Credit Hours6
Second Year
Fall Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
DMS 201 Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation III2DMS 104 or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.Apply for graduation
DMS 209 Cardiac Sonography IV4DMS 207 or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
DMS 126 Introduction to Vascular Sonography3Current enrollment in the Cardiac learning concentration, Diagnostic Medical Sonography program or permission of the program director, and Reading Proficiency.
DMS 128 Introduction to Vascular Sonography Scanning Techniques1 Current enrollment in the Cardiac learning concentration, Diagnostic Medical Sonography program or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
DMS 211 Cardiac Sonography Practicum IV3DMS 208 or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
Credit Hours13
Total Credit Hours43

Medical Sonography Option:

New PlanGrids
First Year
Fall Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
DMS 127 Introduction to Sonography3Current enrollment in the Cardiac learning concentration, Diagnostic Medical Sonography program or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.See program prerequisite list
DMS 103 Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation I2Current enrollment in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
DMS 105 Medical Sonography I3Current enrollment in the Medical Sonography learning concentration, Diagnostic Medical Sonography program or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
DMS 106 Medical Sonography Scanning Techniques I2Current enrollment in the Medical Sonography learning concentration or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
DMS 107 Medical Sonography Practicum I2Current enrollment in the Medical Diagnostic Sonography learning concentration or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
Credit Hours12
Spring Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
DMS 104 Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation II2DMS 103 or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
DMS 108 Medical Sonography II3DMS 105 or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
DMS 109 Medical Sonography Scanning Techniques II1DMS 106 or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
DMS 110 Medical Sonography Clinical Applications3DMS 105 or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
DMS 111 Medical Sonography Practicum II3DMS 107 or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
Credit Hours12
Summer Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
DMS 202 Medical Sonography III2DMS 108 or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
DMS 203 Medical Sonography Practicum III4DMS 111 or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
Credit Hours6
Second Year
Fall Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
DMS 201 Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation III2DMS 104 or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.Apply for graduation
DMS 204 Medical Sonography IV4DMS 202 or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
DMS 126 Introduction to Vascular Sonography3Current enrollment in the Cardiac learning concentration, Diagnostic Medical Sonography program or permission of the program director, and Reading Proficiency.
DMS 128 Introduction to Vascular Sonography Scanning Techniques1 Current enrollment in the Cardiac learning concentration, Diagnostic Medical Sonography program or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
DMS 206 Medical Sonography Practicum IV3DMS 203 or permission of the program director and Reading Proficiency.
Credit Hours13
Total Credit Hours43

*Click on the hyperlinked course number to view additional information about the course.

**Students completing a course that has been assigned a MOTR number may transfer that course to any public institution in Missouri. Those who complete CORE 42 requirements will have that verification on their transcript.

*** It is your responsibility to verify that the courses listed above will transfer to the four-year institution of your choice.  Maximize your transfer credits/classes by meeting with an academic advisor.