DMS3
Program Description
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography associate degree program is a sequence of courses that provides educational opportunities to individuals in didactic and clinical environments that will enable them to gain skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to graduate and become successful entry level employees in the field of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. The profession requires critical thinking skills, judgment, and the ability to provide appropriate health care services. Sonographers use high frequency sound waves to produce dynamic visual pictures of internal body structures. The images are evaluated by physicians, usually radiologists to make a medical diagnosis. Course work includes sonographic physics, sonographic identification of normal and abnormal anatomy, physiology, pathology, and pathophysiology of the abdomen, pelvis, and small parts of the adult, pediatric, and fetal patient, clinical application courses, interventional sonography, journal and case study review, and comprehensive registry reviews. In order to begin the clinical requirements, students must complete tuberculosis skin test, supply proof of immunization, undergo a background check, and submit to a drug screen test. The program’s clinical affiliates are located within a 60-mile radius of Gwinnett Technical College. Program graduates receive an associate of applied science degree with a major in Diagnostic Medical Sonography and have the qualifications of an entry-level sonographer.
The Gwinnett Technical College Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program 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).
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Suite 158
Clearwater, Florida 33763
Phone: 727- 210-2354
Fax: 727-210-2354
www.caahep.org
JRC-DMS
6021 University Boulevard, Suite 500
Ellicott City, MD 21043
Phone: 443-973-3251
Fax: 866-738-3444
www.Jrcdms.org
Program students are eligible to take the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography credentialing examinations (SPI, AB, OB/GYN) once specific program criteria are met. This program is only offered full-time, during the day.
View the Diagnostic Medical Sonography AAS Program Fact Sheet for additional information.
Employment Opportunities
A variety of entry level positions are available in a wide range of health care settings such as hospitals, imaging centers, physician offices, mobile units and specialty clinics.
Prerequisites
Length of time to complete prerequisites varies depending on applicants’ transfer credit and/or testing results. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the admissions office once pre-requisites have been completed. File completion does not guarantee acceptance. Prerequisites must be completed by deadline FYES 1000 , BIOL 2113L and BIOL 2113L , BIOL 2114 and BIOL 2114L , MATH 1111 , ENGL 1101 , PHYS 1110 , PHYS 1110L , PSYC 1101 . The following courses are required for graduation but may be taken as pre-requisites or while in the DMS program: HUMN 1101 or ENGL 2130 or ARTS 1101 or MUSC 1101 or RELG 1101 .) Please see the competitive health application at http://www.gwinnetttech.edu/enrollment/forms-documents/ for additional information.
Applicant Information
Students applying to the DMS program are encouraged to volunteer as a patient in the sonography lab. Once accepted into the DMS program, bonus points for volunteering will be awarded during the student’s first semester. Volunteering as a patient allows the student to gain insight into program atmosphere, program rigor and basic introduction to the field of sonography.
Graduation Requirements
Students are required to pass Level I-III Imaging Competencies with a 70 or better during specified semesters; Level IV imaging competencies with an 78 or better; Level V imaging competencies with an 85 or better in multiple DMSO clinical courses. Students must pass the ARDMS Sonographic Principles and Instrumentation credentialing examination before the start of semester 4. A specific number of clinical hours are needed to meet graduation requirements. These clinical assignments may be during dayshift or second shift. Students must attempt the ARDMS AB and OB/GYN credentialing examinations during their last semester. Additional graduation requirements apply.
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