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DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY (B.S., A.S., Certificate )
School of Health Sciences

Studies in diagnostic medical sonography are offered at the bachelor’s, associate, and certificate levels. The curriculum fosters  didactic and clinical skills in the application of high-frequency sound waves to image internal body structures and some of their functions for medical diagnosis.

This clinical program is designed for those who have completed appropriate college credits, graduates of health sciences programs recognized by the American Medical Association, and registered, licensed, or certified medical professionals. Upon successfully completing the requirements of the program, graduates will be eligible to apply to the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers for examinations in Physics, Abdomen, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cardiovascular Principles, Vascular, and Echocardiography.

Program Application and Admission
Admission to this program is selective, and acceptance at Mountain State University does not guarantee admission to the program. Application is limited to graduates of an AMA-approved health sciences program, RNs, and those who have successfully completed appropriate prerequisites. Those who have not earned or transferred 40 acceptable semester hours must complete these prerequisite hours by the end of the spring semester in which they apply to the DMS program:

Anatomy and physiology
10
College algebra
3
Computer science
3
English and communication
9
Humanities and fine arts
3
Introduction to health science
3
Medical terminology
3
Physics
3
Psychology
3

All students must complete or be enrolled in these prerequisites by the end of the spring semester in which they apply to the DMS program and must pass an entrance examination based on prerequisite coursework. Because the DMS program has a rolling admission policy, there is no application deadline. Qualified applicants who apply early are accepted as soon as their completed application is reviewed. It is strongly suggested, however, that you submit your application no later than March 15. Qualified applicants who apply after that date will be accepted until the class is filled and then placed on a waiting list. Applicants who have completed their prerequisites at MSU and are otherwise qualified are given preference over those who are transferring prerequisites from other colleges or universities. The clinical program begins immediately following the end of each spring semester.

Eligibility for a degree or certificate in diagnostic medical sonography requires completion of both program-level clinical requirements and University-wide general studies requirements. Those who successfully complete the requirements for a certificate or associate degree are eligible to apply for graduation during fall semester; bachelor’s degree candidates are eligible to apply during the second summer session.

Program Requirements
Program progress requires a 2.5 grade point average and a minimum grade of C in each DMS and prerequisite course.

B.S. Suggested Sequence
Prerequisites
First Semester
BIOL 215 Human A&P I 
4
BIOL 215L  Human A&P I Lab
1
ENGL 101 English Composition I
3
HLTH 211  Medical Terminology
3
MATH 120 College Algebra 
3
PSYC 201 Principles of Psychology 
3
Humanities/fine arts elective
3
Total
20
Second Semester
BIOL 216 Human A&P II  
4
BIOL 216L Human A&P II Lab
1
ENGL 102 English Composition II
3
HLTH 103  Intro to Health Science1
2
HLTH 103L Intro Health Sci Skills Lab*   
1
PHYS 101 Introduction to Physics
3
Communication elective
3
Computer science elective
3
   Total
20

* HLTH 212 Medical Terminology II can be taken in place of HLTH 103 and 103L.

After DMS Program Admission
Mini-mester
DMS 101  Intro to DMS Principles
3
  
Summer 1
DMS 200  Medical Ethics and Law
3
DMS 202 Ultrasound Physics      
3
DMS 203 Cross-Sectional Anatomy
3
Total
9
Summer 2
DMS 204 Ultrasound Instrumentation
3
DMS 205 Normal Sonography Clinical
4
DMS 206 Pathological Images Sono
3
    Total
10
Fall
DMS 207 Abdominal Sonography 
5
DMS 212  Sonography Clinical Lab 
2
DMS 213  Small Parts/PV Doppler Sono
3
DMS 304  Clinical Pathophysiology
4
Total
14
Spring
DMS 208  OB/GYN Sonography
5
DMS 209 Sonography Clinical A
5
DMS 215  Sonography Clinical Lab
3
    Total
13
Summer Clinicals (May-August)
DMS 214 Sonography Clinical B 
6
Fall
DMS 218 Sonography Clinical C 
9
DMS 301  Cardiovascular Ultrasound  
Physics and Instrumentation
3
DMS 302  Vascular Sonography
3
Total
15
Spring
DMS 300 Clinical Pharmacology
2
DMS 303 Cardiovascular Sonography   
4
DMS 305 Cardiovascular Sono Clin A   
6
DMS 401 Sonography Clinical Lab
3
Total
15
 
Summer Clinicals
DMS 403 Cardiovascular Sonography  
Clinical Lab B 
7
Social science elective 
6
Total
13
Degree total
138
A.S. Suggested Sequence
Prerequisites
First Semester
BIOL 215 Human A&P I
4
BIOL 215L  Human A&P I Lab
1
ENGL 101 English Composition I
3
HLTH 211  Medical Terminology
3
MATH 120 College Algebra
3
PSYC 201 Principles of Psychology 
3
Humanities/fine arts elective
3
      Total
20
Second Semester
BIOL 216 Human A&P II
4
BIOL 216L Human A&P II Lab
1
ENGL 102 English Composition II 
3
HLTH 103  Intro to Health Science* 
2
HLTH 103L Intro to Health Sci Skills Lab* 
1
PHYS 101 Introduction to Physics
3
Communication elective    
3
Computer science elective
3
Total
20

* HLTH 212 Medical Terminology II can be taken in place of HLTH 103 and 103L.

After DMS Program Admission
Mini-mester
DMS 101  Intro to DMS Principles
3
Summer 1
DMS 200  Medical Ethics and Law
3
DMS 202 Ultrasound Physics      
3
DMS 203  Cross-Sectional Anatomy
3
Total
9
Summer 2
DMS 204 Ultrasound Instrumentation
3
DMS 205 Normal Sonography Clinic
4
DMS 206 Pathological Images Sono
3
    Total
10
Fall
DMS 207 Abdominal Sonography
5
DMS 212  Sonography Clinical Lab 
2
DMS 213  Small Parts/PV Doppler Sono
3
DMS 304  Clinical Pathophysiology
4
Total
14
Spring
DMS 208  OB/GYN Sonography
5
DMS 209 Sonography Clinical A
5
DMS 215  Sonography Clinical Lab
3
    Total
13
Summer Clinicals (May-August)
DMS 214 Sonography Clinical B 
6
Fall
DMS 218 Sonography Clinical C 
9
Total
9
Total DMS clinical reqmts
64
Degree total
104

Certificate in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
A program of study leading to vascular, echo, and cardiovascular certificates in diagnostic medical sonography is available for those who wish only to complete the clinical component of the curriculum. This option is open only to graduates of AMA-approved health sciences programs who are licensed, registered, or certified in their medical profession. Prerequisites in math and physics apply. Contact the diagnostic medical sonography program director for details.

 
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Mountain State University • PO Box 9003 Beckley, WV 25802
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