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 with lab (usually two semester course sequence of at least 8 credit hours)
  • Physics or Physical Science Lecture
  • College Algebra
  • Medical Terminology
  • English Composition
  • Oral Communications
• Cumulative GPA:  3.0
• Cumulative GPA for Math and Sciences:  3.0 (Physics, Anatomy and Physiology, College Algebra)
• 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 

Pre-admissions Entrance Requirements:

• Completion of all program prerequisites prior to submitting an application.  Must earn a "C" or higher:
  • Anatomy and Physiology with lab (usually two semester course sequence of at least 8 credit hours)
  • Physics or Physical Science Lecture
  • College Algebra
  • Medical Terminology
  • English Composition
  • Oral Communications
• Cumulative GPA:  3.0
• Culumative GPA for Math and Sciences:  3.0 (Physics, Anatomy and Physiology, College Algebra)
• 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 stlcc.edu/enroll.

Program of Study

Options

Cardiac Sonography

Medical Sonography