Sonography - DMIS.AS

Applying to this Program

All applications for consideration for acceptance into the program should be received by the Admissions Office no later than March 31 of the application year.

Applicants to this program must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Completion of a high-school or college-level chemistry course with a lab with a grade of C or better.
2. Completion of  BIO-231  and BIO-231L  (or its equivalent) with a grade of C or better.
3. Completion of a college-level general physics course such as PHY-221  / PHY-221L  with a grade of C or better.
4. Completion of a college-level math course such as MAT-101  , MAT-115  , MAT-122   or MAT-124   with a grade of C or better.
5. Completion of ENG-101   (or its equivalent) with a grade of C or better.
6. Completion of MED-100  (or its equivalent) with a grade of C or better.
7. A short essay stating why you want to be a sonographer.

The admissions process is competitive, with ten students being accepted every fall. Admissions standards can be viewed at: http://www.stcc.edu/academicaffairs/pdfs/Sonography2015,pdf .

This is a two-year (including summer semesters) full-time Associates Degree day program that must be completed in a sequential manner. There is no availability of part-time, evening, or weekend components. There are required clinical internships at area hospitals that may require driving as far as Hartford to the south and Greenfield to the north. Background check and drug testing are also required.  

Applying for Re-Admission to this Program

Students who leave this health program before completing it may apply for re-admission.  Students reapplying to the program must resubmit an application, all supporting documents and essay with updated official transcripts. Click here  for information about the re-admission policy and process. 

Program Goals

The goal of STCC DMS program is “to prepare competent entry level general sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.”

Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program Objectives

1. Provide technical and related offerings that will enable qualified individuals to become skilled entry-level Diagnostic Medical Sonographers.
   • Objective: Provide instruction in medical ultrasound physics and instrumentation, ultrasound procedures and anatomic patterns, and hands-on clinical training that will enable graduates to successfully complete the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (A.R.D.M.S.) credentialing exams in abdominal ultrasound and obstetrical and gynecologic ultrasound.
2. Provide the technical and related background that will enable these entry-level sonographers to become skilled leaders in the field of Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
   • Objective: Improve student’s critical thinking skills by challenging them in other areas of imaging and medicine that impact the provision of sonographic services beyond abdominal and OB/Gyn ultrasound. Topics include ultrasound department organization and management, regulatory oversight, computer-based medical imaging technologies, the integrated contribution of other imaging modalities to patient diagnosis, and instruction in selected vascular ultrasound exams.
3. Anticipate and meet the needs of the region, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the nation for competent and educated workers in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
   • Objective: Provide additional general college-level instruction such that students successfully completing the Program will earn an Associates in Science degree in Medical Imaging with a concentration in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
   • Objective: Respond to the needs of the local sonographic community with Continuing Education offerings that will allow them to bring increased knowledge and competency to the care of their patients.
   • Objective: Become a continuing Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (S.D.M.S.) CME provider for clinical instruction.

4. Recognize the individual needs of a Program student.
   • Objective: Provide ongoing counseling and academic review to all Program students to ensure that any student with special needs will be referred to the appropriate College support service. Special needs include but are not limited to academic tutoring, learning disabilities, study skills and test taking, and emotional support.

(DMIS.AS) Curriculum

Total (DMIS.AS) Curriculum Program Credits: 61

Department Personnel