Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Associate of Applied Science
Program Overview
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program educates the student in a career as a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. A diagnostic medical sonographers is a highly-skilled professional who use specialized equipment to create sonograms of structures inside the human body and collaboratively work with radiologists and other specialized physicians to assist effectively toward a medical diagnosis.
Upon completion of this program, the student will be eligible to sit for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists-Sonography ARRT(S) exam, to become a Registered Technologist–Sonography RT(S).
Program Mission
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program strives to provide an educational experience that will produce competent entry-level medical sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.
Job Opportunities
Salary
Salaries for Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographers vary depending on the setting (hospital, private practice, home health, outpatient rehab centers, etc.) and location. The average annual salary for new Registered Sonographers for this region is approximately $65,000 a year.
Program Costs
The tuition and fees schedule for the DMS student is the same as for regular college students. See the current LC catalog to determine fees. Students are charged tuition and fees based on their residency classifications at the time of registration. The tuition and fees schedules are based on semester hours. Additional expenses for DMS students include the purchase of a uniform(s), a watch, tennis shoes, books software, liability insurance, and Standard Exam fees. TB skin test, immunizations, a physical exam, CPR certification fees, CastleBranch, personal laptop, DMS software needed throughout the program, and Trajecsys are at the student's expense.
The approximate costs for special items for the DMS student are as follows (these fees are subject to change according to current applicable rates):
- Admission Costs (background check, physical, CPR, etc.) $300.00
- Uniforms $350.00
- Books $2,500.00
- SDMS Membership/DMS Club Fees $150.00
- Capstone review $150.00
- Laptop/Software $1,000.00
Accreditation
Laredo College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate and baccalaureate degrees as well as certificates. Contact the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, telephone (404) 679-4500, at http://www.sacscoc.org for questions about the accreditation of Laredo College.
The Laredo College Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is an ARRT-approved, educational program. Upon graduating from the program, the students are eligible to follow the Primary Eligibility Pathway to seek the ARRT(S) credential. For more information, please click here: ARRT(S)
Marketable Skills
In addition to acquiring the knowledge and skills required to become a diagnositc Medical Sonographer, students also develop marketable skills that are valued by employers. These skills include:
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
Complaints
Community members may submit concerns or complaints about Laredo College's DMS Program, faculty, students, or program graduates. Comments must be submitted by completing the Complaint Referral Form. Completed forms should be emailed to Hortencia Gonzalez, Associate Professor and Diagnostic Imaging Program Director at hortencia.gonzalez@laredo.edu.
Campus Location
Laredo College South Campus
College of Helath Sciences
5500 South Zapata Highway
Laredo, TX. 78046
For additional information, students may contact Ms. Hortencia Gonzalez at 956-721-5262 or via email hortencia.gonzalez@laredo.edu.
Program Effectiveness Data
Data collection in progress.
Admission Information
1. Application
2. Selection Process
2. Admission into the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is based on:
a. GPA (25%) The student must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or greater and achieve a grade of "C" or better on all required prerequisite courses. A student who has not attended LC must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or greater from each academic institution attended and a grade of "C" or better on all prerequisite courses.
b. Entrance Exam HESI Admission’s Test (25%) HESI Information.
c. Introduction to Sonography course (25%)
d. Interview (25%)
3. The top 20 finalists according to GPA, Entrance Exam, and Introduction to Sonography scores will be considered. The top 10 finalists who score the highest on the admission criteria (GPA, entrance exam, Introduction to Sonography scores, and Interview) will be invited to join the DMS program in the fall semester.
4. The applicant will be notified by LC's official means of communication regarding the program admission status.
3. Acceptance
A student accepted into he DMS program must submit the following prior to the first day of class (the student is responsible for all fees associated with these procedures):
Program Student Handbook
To access 2023-2024 DMS Student Handbook, click here
Plan of Study
Recommended Course Sequence | Semesters Offered | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Pre-Requisites | ||
BIOL 2301– Anatomy and Physiology I (C) | Fall, Spring, Summer I & II | 3 |
MATH XXX – College Math Course | Fall, Spring, Summer I & II | 3 |
ENGL 1301 – Composition I (C) | Fall, Spring, Summer I & II | 3 |
PHYSICS 1315 – Physical Science I | Fall, Spring, Summer I & II | 3 |
PHYSICS 1115 – Physical Science I Lab | Fall, Spring, Summer I & II | 1 |
DMSO 1210 – Introduction to Sonography | Fall, Spring, Summer I & II | 2 |
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS | 15 Hours | |
First Semester - Fall Admission | ||
DMSO 1201 – Techniques of Medical Sonography | Fall | 2 |
DMSO 1202 – Basic Ultrasound Physics | Fall | 2 |
BIOL 2302 – Anatomy and Physiology II (C) | Fall | 3 |
PHIL 2306 – Introduction to Ethics (C) | Fall | 3 |
DMSO 1260 – Clinical - DMS/Sonographer and US Technician | Fall | 2 |
12 Hours | ||
Second Semester – Spring | ||
DMSO 1242 – Intermediate Ultrasound Physics | Spring | 2 |
DMSO 1341 – Abdominopelvic Sonography | Spring | 3 |
DMSO 2305 – Sonography of Obstetrics/Gynecology | Spring | 3 |
DMSO 1261 – Clinical – DMS/Sonographer and US Technician | Spring | 2 |
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS | 10 Hours | |
Summer Session I | ||
DMSO 1262 – Clinical – DMS/Sonographer and US Technician | SSI | 2 |
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS | 2 Hours | |
Summer Session II | ||
DMSO 1263 – Clinical – DMS/Sonographer and US Technician | SSII | 2 |
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS | 2 Hours | |
Third Semester – Fall | ||
DSVT 1103 – Introduction to Vascular Technology | Fall | 1 |
DMSO 2242 – Advanced Obstetrics Sonography | Fall | 2 |
DMSO 1355 – Sonographic Pathophysiology | Fall | 3 |
DMSO 2260 - Clinical – DMS/Sonographer and US Technician | Fall | 2 |
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS | 8 Hours | |
Fourth Semester – Spring | ||
PSYCH 2314 – Life Span Growth and Development | Spring | 3 |
DMSO 2253 – Sonography of Superficial Structures | Spring | 2 |
DMSO 2245 – Advanced Sonography Practices | Spring | 2 |
DMSO 2230 – Advanced Ultrasound and Review | Spring | 2 |
DMSO 2261 - Clinical – DMS/Sonographer and US Technician | Spring | 2 |
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS | 11 Hours | |
AAS DEGREE MINIMUM: 60 SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS/PATHWAY TOTAL: 60 SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS |
(C) This course coutns for the Core Curriculum at any public college or university in Texas