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Fall Semester 2023 Catalog

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Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Associate of Applied Science Degree

Overview

Offered at the Piedmont Summerville Site.

Entrance Dates: Fall
Length of Program: Six Terms
Credit Hours required for Graduation: 78

Admission: Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) is a competitive program. Students who meet the College admission criteria are eligible to enroll at the College to take prerequisite courses for this program. Prerequisite courses (ENGL 1101, Humanities/Fine Arts Area IV, PSYC 1101, MATH 1111, MATH 1127, PHYS 1110, PHYS 1110L, BIOL 2113, BIOL 2113L, BIOL 2114, and BIOL 2114L) must be completed with a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale by the designated deadlines to be evaluated for program admission. Students are REQUIRED to attend an informational session during the ranking cycle prior to consideration for acceptance into competitive admission programs.  Instructors will hold recruitment fairs/informational sessions on a rolling basis throughout the admissions cycle, January - May.

The academic ranking order for admission to the program is determined using the most recent grade for ENGL 1101, MATH 1111, MATH 1127, BIOL 2113, BIOL 2113L, BIOL 2114, BIOL 2114L, PHYS 1110, and PHYS 1110L. Students can retake a class to earn a higher grade. Students who are not selected for admission may consider another program or resubmit an admission application and a new Competitive Ranking Application for the next ranking cycle deadline. A high school diploma or GED is required for admission to the program. For additional information regarding this process, please contact the Admissions Office at (706) 771-4028. Refer to program related deadlines.

Program Description: The DMS Program provides quality didactic and clinical education experiences to prepare the students to enter the field as an entry-level Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. After completion of this program graduates will be able to work in a variety of settings. The program covers multiple modalities including: abdomen, small parts, obstetrics, gynecology, invasive procedures, and an introduction to vascular sonography. Graduates of the program will be able to analyze patient information, perform diagnostic ultrasound procedures, evaluate acquired images for pathology, display satisfactory communication skills and demonstrate professionalism.

Employment Opportunities: Diagnostic Medical Sonographers may pursue a career in hospitals, physician offices, outpatient imaging centers, travel companies, and ultrasound equipment companies.

Credentialing (Required):  As required for graduation, each student must sit for the Sonographic Physics and Instrumentation exam and a specialty registry exam in Abdomen or Obstetrics and Gynecology through the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).


Curriculum Outline

General Core Courses, 19 credits

ENGL 1101COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC

3
PSYC 1101INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLOGY

3
MATH 1111COLLEGE ALGEBRA

3
MATH 1127INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS

3
PHYS 1110CONCEPTUAL PHYSICS

3
PHYS 1110LCONCEPTUAL PHYSICS LAB

1
XXXX XXXX
HUMANITIES/FINE ARTS AREA IV*

3

*A list of General Education Area I, II, III, IV courses can be found in the General Education

Core Curriculum Section of this catalog.

Non-General Education Degree Courses, 8 credits

BIOL 2113ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I

3
BIOL 2113LANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY LAB I

1
BIOL 2114ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II

3
BIOL 2114LANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY LAB II

1
 

Occupational Courses, 51 credits

DMSO 1010FOUNDATIONS OF SONOGRAPHY

3
DMSO 1020SECTIONAL ANATOMY AND NORMAL SONOGRAPHIC APPEARANCE

3
DMSO 1040SONOGRAPHIC PHYSICS AND INSTRUMENTATION

3
DMSO 1050ABDOMINAL SONOGRAPHY I

3
DMSO 1060CLINICAL SONOGRAPHY I

4
DMSO 1070PELVIC SONOGRAPHY AND FIRST TRIMESTER OBSTETRICS

2
DMSO 1080SONOGRAPHIC PHYSICS AND INSTRUMENTATION REGISTRY REVIEW

1
DMSO 1090INTRODUCTION TO VASCULAR SONOGRAPHY

1
DMSO 1100CLINICAL SONOGRAPHY II

6
DMSO 2010OB SECOND AND THIRD TRIMESTERS

3
DMSO 2020SPECIALIZED SONOGRAPHIC PROCEDURES

2
DMSO 2030CLINICAL SONOGRAPHY III

8
DMSO 2040COMPREHENSIVE ABD AND OB/GYN REGISTRY REVIEW

2
DMSO 2050CLINICAL SONOGRAPHY IV

10

Notes:

  • A grade of “C” or higher is required for all courses.
  • The student is responsible for the cost of program health requirements. Prior to beginning scan lab and clinical rotations, students are required to submit completed medical and dental exam forms. All required immunizations including Hepatitis B, must be accompanied by documentation. Students who refuse to take the Hepatitis B vaccination must sign a declination form and be aware the clinical rotation sites may refuse them an opportunity to gain clinical experience and therefore may not be able to continue in the program.
  • A student that does not earn a grade of “C” or higher in a course with the DMSO prefix will be suspended from the program for one year. A student that does not earn a grade of “C” or higher in any two courses with the DMSO prefix will not be allowed to reenter the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program.
  • Natural Science courses older than five years will not be considered for program progression evaluation. Students will need to retake these courses to become eligible for program progression evaluation.
  • Conviction of a felony or gross misdemeanor may prohibit employment in the field and may make a student ineligible to take the registry exam(s) required for the profession. A background check and drug screen will be required prior to the student starting clinical rotations. For more information, contact the appropriate program advisor.
  • Student activities associated with the curriculum, especially while students are completing his or her clinical rotation, will be strictly educational in nature. Students will not be receiving monetary remuneration during this educational experience, nor will he or she be substituted for hired staff personnel within the clinical institution in the capacity of a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer.
  • Students will be required to provide their own transportation to clinical rotation sites which will be up to 35 miles from Augusta Technical College.
  • Prior to participation in campus/clinical labs, students are required to show proof of current health insurance. Students who cannot show proof of Health Insurance need to be aware that clinical practicum sites may refuse to allow them the opportunity to gain clinical experience at their facility.

Guided Pathway

You may click on any course below to view the course description and prerequisite information.

Students who do not follow the Course Sequence listed below may not be able to complete the program in the number of semesters shown.

Piedmont Summerville Day Program

PROGRAM NAME: Diagnostic Medical Sonography

AWARD: Associate of Applied Science Degree

CAMPUS: Piedmont Summerville Day Program

Year 1 Fall Semester

ENGL 1101COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC

3
MATH 1111COLLEGE ALGEBRA

3
BIOL 2113ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I

3
BIOL 2113LANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY LAB I

1
PSYC 1101INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLOGY

3

Year 1 Spring Semester

MATH 1127INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS

3
BIOL 2114ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II

3
BIOL 2114LANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY LAB II

1
PHYS 1110CONCEPTUAL PHYSICS

3
PHYS 1110LCONCEPTUAL PHYSICS LAB

1
XXXX XXXX
HUMANITIES/FINE ARTS AREA IV*

3

*A list of General Education Area I, II, III, IV courses can be found in the General Education

Core Curriculum Section of this catalog.

Year 1 Summer Semester

Students are ranked for admission to the program during the summer semester.

Year 2 Fall Semester

DMSO 1010FOUNDATIONS OF SONOGRAPHY

3
DMSO 1020SECTIONAL ANATOMY AND NORMAL SONOGRAPHIC APPEARANCE

3
DMSO 1040SONOGRAPHIC PHYSICS AND INSTRUMENTATION

3
DMSO 1060CLINICAL SONOGRAPHY I

4

Year 2 Spring Semester

DMSO 1050ABDOMINAL SONOGRAPHY I

3
DMSO 1070PELVIC SONOGRAPHY AND FIRST TRIMESTER OBSTETRICS

2
DMSO 1080SONOGRAPHIC PHYSICS AND INSTRUMENTATION REGISTRY REVIEW

1
DMSO 2020SPECIALIZED SONOGRAPHIC PROCEDURES

2
DMSO 1100CLINICAL SONOGRAPHY II

6

Year 2 Summer Semester

DMSO 2010OB SECOND AND THIRD TRIMESTERS

3
DMSO 1090INTRODUCTION TO VASCULAR SONOGRAPHY

1
DMSO 2030CLINICAL SONOGRAPHY III

8

Year 3 Fall Semester

DMSO 2040COMPREHENSIVE ABD AND OB/GYN REGISTRY REVIEW

2
DMSO 2050CLINICAL SONOGRAPHY IV

10

 

Accreditation

The program is accredited by The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS). The contact information for the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs is as follows: 9355 - 113th St. N, #7709, Seminole, FL, 33775, 727-210-2350, www.caahep.org.


Student Achievement Data is available on the program's student achievement data page.