Imaging Science

Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography

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Earn your associate degree in diagnostic medical sonography to begin working toward opportunities in medical imaging today.

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In our Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography program, you’ll work to build the skills needed to direct sound waves into a patient using special imaging equipment that helps doctors assess and diagnose medical conditions. This procedure is commonly known as an ultrasound or sonogram.

Depending on the campus, you may take fully in-person courses or select a hybrid format that combines online learning activities with hands-on, campus-based labs. Either way, you’ll also conduct diagnostic ultrasound procedures in clinical settings under the guidance of experienced professionals. By the time you graduate, you’ll have worked to develop entry-level knowledge and skills in sonography and provide quality care as part of a healthcare team. You’ll also be eligible to apply to write the certification exam administered by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).

Develop Essential Skills In
  • Ultrasound procedure
  • Medical sonographic equipment
  • Patient care
  • Professional communication

Hybrid Delivery

The program is offered in a hybrid delivery model at the Atlanta, Asheville, and Nashville campuses. The Asheville and Nashville campuses admit a hybrid cohort in June. The Atlanta campus admits a hybrid cohort in October.

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South College Imaging Science

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Tuition and Fees

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Examples of Scholarships and Grants That May Be Available (Check with Your Campus Financial Aid Office For More Information)

21st Century Scholarship

Available to Indiana students who are recent high school graduates which is designed to provide two years of tuition-free attendance to an approved school.

Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program

South College is an approved educational institution for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program. The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program establishes lottery-funded scholarships to reward Florida high school graduates for high academic achievement.

TN Promise

South College is proud to offer the TNP Scholarship for those that qualify helping to offset the first 2 years of tuition with required Community Service hours.

Yellow Ribbon

South College proudly participates in this program with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help pay for education for military members and Veterans.

Concentrations in this Program

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You May Enjoy This Line of Study If You…

  • Appreciate significant attention to detail
  • Really like exploring and digging deeper for clues and information
  • Enjoy being a part of a team that is working to find answers
  • Are very disciplined
  • Consistently provide quality patient care and education
  • Stay committed to lifelong learning and growth
Learning Outcomes

The goal of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is to prepare competent entry-level general sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains in the abdomen-extended and obstetrics/gynecology sonography concentrations.

Graduates of this program will develop skills to:

  • Be clinically competent to perform appropriate procedures and record anatomic, pathologic, and/or physiologic data;
  • Apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to exercise discretion and judgment in performance of diagnostic sonography;
  • Demonstrate appropriate communication skills; and
  • Demonstrate professionalism and growth in the profession.

The program will continually monitor program effectiveness through assessment and evaluation to ensure that the needs of the community are met.

Knoxville Campus Program Effectiveness
Atlanta Campus Program Effectiveness

Nashville Campus
DMS PROGRAM OUTCOMES2020-2021 (2021 Graduates) DATA
Cohort Completion Rate76% (16/21)
Job Placement Rate100%
ARDMS Exam Pass RateABD: 94% (15/16)
OB/GYN: 85% (11/13)
Asheville Campus
DMS PROGRAM OUTCOMES2020-2021 DATA
Cohort Completion Rate60% (9/15)
Job Placement Rate89%
ARDMS Exam Pass RateABD: 71% (5/7)
OB/GYN: 100% (5/5)

Admittance Decisions

Applicants to any Imaging Science program are ranked based on academic and interview scores. Emphasis is placed on math and science coursework related to the Imaging Sciences at all certificate and degree levels. A minimum interview score of 25 out of a possible 40 is required. Those programs admitting on a rotational basis do so annually and class sizes admitted are dependent on available clinical sites. In addition to coursework, each student must provide proof of ability to perform the skills needed to practice in the imagine sciences effectively. 

In addition to coursework, each student must provide proof of ability to perform the skills needed to practice in the imagine sciences effectively. Healthcare facilities must meet federal guidelines, and students must also meet these requirements in order to be allowed to gain clinical experience in these facilities. To meet these requirements, each student must supply proof of a negative TB test, hepatitis B vaccine or waiver, physical exam certifying ability to function in the required capacity, proof of immunizations (including MMR immunity), and CPR training. A criminal background check and drug screen are required for admission. If the background check reveals previous convictions, it is up to each clinical site to determine the eligibility of students to attend clinical at the site. Students who are denied clinical experiences due to past convictions may be unable to progress in the program which will result in failure to complete the required courses for the program. In any case where a drug screen is positive and an authorized prescription is not produced to validate the presence of the drug in the individual’s system, a student may be disqualified as a candidate for admission. Upon notification of the drug screen results, the student will have 5 working days to provide prescription validation. Students are responsible for costs associated with any required testing.


Functional Capacities

Applicants to any Imaging Sciences program must be able to meet the functional capacities outlined in the South College Catalog. Students who believe they will not be able to meet one or more of these requirements without accommodation must notify the Imaging Sciences Department Chair and a determination will be made on a case by case basis whether reasonable accommodation may be made. In no instance will an accommodation be made which will put the applicant, other students, or patients at risk.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography Certification/Licensure

Students successfully completing the Associate of Science degree program in Diagnostic Medical Sonography are eligible to apply for admission to write the certification examination administered by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).  Successful completion of the ARDMS examinations provides certification to practice as a registered sonographer in most states.

State licensure is currently required in NH NM, ND, and OR.  All other states do not require licensure. Passing of the certification exam is required in order to apply for state licensure. South College works with students in preparation to sit for the exam.

Admission Requirements

General admission to South College does not guarantee admission to the Associate of Science degree program in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Applicants interested in the program are required to visit the college and meet individually with an admissions representative and program faculty to ascertain if their goals can be met by the college. Perspective students declaring Diagnostic Medical Sonography as their major must be generally admitted to South College and meet the following requirements in order to be considered for full admission to the program:

  1. Complete the Sonography program application form.
  2. Submit transcripts from all colleges/radiography programs attended evidencing a minimum college/radiography program GPA of 2.75.*
  3. Meet minimum score requirements on the college entrance examination, OR present documentation of a score of 19 or higher on the ACT Assessment Examination, OR present documentation of a 900 combined score or higher on the SAT I examination, OR meet the South College requirements for admission as a transfer student.
  4. Complete BIO 1030 Anatomy & Physiology for Imaging Sciences, College Algebra (or higher) or Statistics, College-Level General Physics, a communications skills course which may be met by a variety of courses including Speech, English, or Composition, AHS 1010 Medical Terminology, and RAD 1125 Intro to Imaging Science and Patient Care. A minimum grade of “C” or better in a maximum of two attempts (including withdrawal) is required for each.*
  5. Complete and document a minimum of 5 clock hours of observation in a sonography department.
  6. Meet specific health and/or essential functions pertinent to the responsibilities performed by the Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. Drug and background screenings are required by clinical affiliates. Failure to pass the screenings may disqualify a student as a candidate for admission.
  7. Be able to commit to full attendance and participation in a rigorous educational program which requires class attendance, significant out–of–class preparation time, and clinical education assignments off-campus to geographically dispersed areas.

*Each of these areas is used to rank applicants for full program admission. If minimum standards are met by more applying students than clinical seats, these rankings determine program admission.

Accreditation

Knoxville

The South College Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography – Abdomen-Extended and Obstetrics & Gynecology Sonography Program offered at the Knoxville campus was granted continuing accreditation on July 17, 2020 by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) (9355-113th St. N., #7709, Seminole, FL 33775, 727-210-2350, www.caahep.org) based on the recommendation from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCDMS). The next review is anticipated for 2025.

Asheville

The South College Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography – Abdomen-Extended and Obstetrics & Gynecology Sonography Program offered at the Asheville campus was granted the initial 5 year accreditation award on November 17, 2017 by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) (9355-113th St. N., #7709, Seminole, FL 33775, 727-210-2350, www.caahep.org) based on the recommendation from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCDMS). The next review is anticipated in 2022.

Nashville

The South College Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography – Abdomen-Extended and Obstetrics & Gynecology Sonography Program offered at the Nashville campus was granted the initial 5 year accreditation award on March 15, 2019 by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) (9355-113th St. N., #7709, Seminole, FL 33775, 727-210-2350, www.caahep.org) based on the recommendation from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCDMS). The next review is anticipated for 2024.

Pittsburgh

The South College Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography – Abdomen-Extended and Obstetrics & Gynecology Sonography Program offered at the Pittsburgh campus has a site visit scheduled for pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org). This step in the process is neither a status of accreditation nor a guarantee that accreditation will be granted.

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