Diagnostic Medical Sonography • Associate in Applied Science

Occupational Program

Colleague Code: AAS.SONO

Curriculum Code: DMS 101

Program Information:

This program prepares students for an occupation in the professional field of diagnostic medical sonography (ultrasound). The career cluster includes registered diagnostic medical sonographers in hospitals, clinics, or imaging centers.

• The first semester of this program begins in June and the DMS program of study must be taken in its entirety to meet AAS degree requirements.
• The DMS program includes 66 credits made up of DMS, general education, and program support courses. Coursework includes didactic (lecture), laboratory, and clinical classes.
• Students are involved in more than 1,200 contact hours of clinical experience during the two-year program.
• DMS students must earn a minimum grade of "C" or higher in all courses with a prefix of DMS for program progression.
• DMS students must earn a minimum grade of "C" or higher in all other required courses of the degree program. These include BIO 175, BIO 176, EGL 101, HLT 109, PHY 100, and PSY 101.
• The following college-level curriculum requisites must be completed prior to the beginning of the DMS program's first clinical course (DMS 201).
  • Communication skills, English, speech or composition course (EGL 101 or EGL 103),
  • General physics course and/or radiographic physics courses (PHY 100, PHY 101, PHY 102, PHY 201, RAD 110 and RAD 111),
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology courses (BIO 175 and BIO 176), and
  • Medical Terminology (HLT 109)

• National certification as a sonographer requires graduates to pass board examinations. The DMS program prepares students to take the registry exams administered by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
• This program is conducted on a limited-enrollment basis. Admissions to this program involves additional procedures

Admission Requirements:

• Submit the LLCC admissions application. Admission to the college does not guarantee admission to the DMS program.
• Have high school transcripts with proof of graduation or GED certificate sent to the LLCC Records office.
• Submit official transcripts from all colleges ever attended to be evaluated by the LLCC Records office.
• Have a 2.5 GPA or higher for all previous college courses.
• Register and attend a DMS Information Session. The DMS program has limited enrollment, and student selection criteria are covered in detail during the information session. Dates of information sessions are available online at LLCC Diagnostic Medical Sonography Info Session Registration and may be obtained from the LLCC Health Professions Department at 217-786-2449.
• Have a minimum of Proficient score on the TEAS test taken within the past two years (scores may be accepted from any location offering the TEAS testing), or have a prior associate or bachelor's degree.
• The following college-level course must be completed with a grade of "C" or higher prior to program admission:
  • Algebra, statistics, or higher mathematics course (MAT 105, MAT 113, MAT 120, MAT 141, or higher)
• Qualify to take BIO 175 Human Anatomy and Physiology I.
• Provide documentation of an out-of-district agreement, if needed (this only applies to students who reside outside the LLCC service district).
• Submit the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program application with the assistance of a Health Professions Student Success Coach. Each year the DMS program applications are due by 5:00 pm on the first Friday of February.
• Provide evidence of satisfactory physical health required of practitioners to carry out the tasks of this occupation.
• The following factors may be considered for competitive selective admission: TEAS exam score, grades in prerequisite courses, currency of completed math prerequisite, prior degree(s), grades in prior non-DMS courses required for the degree, overall GPA, existing professional certification as a sonographer or radiographer, completion of the LLCC Healthcare Entry-Level Professional Skills (HELPrS) Program, and prior application.

Additional Program Requirements:

• Instructions and deadlines for these and other requirements are provided after program admission. You are responsible for any fees associated with these requirements.
  • Attend a mandatory DMS New Student Orientation.
  • Submit signed DMS Program Student Handbook forms.
  • Submit a current physical and proof of various immunizations (TB testing and flu vaccination are required annually).
  • Pass an annual drug screen and fingerprint background check.
  • Submit proof of BLS certification for health care providers from the American Heart Association.
  • Other program requirements may apply.

Recommended Course Sequence:

First Semester:

BIO 175	Human Anatomy and Physiology I	4
EGL 101	Composition I	3
PHY 100	Conceptual Physics	3

Second Semester:

BIO 176	Human Anatomy and Physiology II	4
DMS 101	Fundamentals of Sonography	2
DMS 104	Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation I	3
DMS 105	Scanning Lab I	3
DMS 110	Introduction to Normal Sonographic Imaging	2

Third Semester:

DMS 102	Abdominal Sonography I	2
DMS 103	Obstetrics and Gynecology Sonography I	2
DMS 108	Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation II	3
DMS 109	Scanning Lab II	3
HLT 109	Medical Terminology	3

Fourth Semester:

DMS 201	Clinical Practicum I	2
DMS 107	Obstetrics and Gynecology Sonography II	2

Fifth Semester:

DMS 111	Scanning Lab III	1
DMS 200	Introduction to Vascular Sonography	3
DMS 203	Clinical Practicum II	6
DMS 106	Abdominal Sonography II	2

Sixth Semester:

DMS 204	Advanced Sonography Seminar	3
DMS 205	Clinical Practicum III	7
PSY 101	Introduction to Psychology	3

Course Requirements:

Required General Education Courses

BIO 175	Human Anatomy and Physiology I	4
BIO 176	Human Anatomy and Physiology II	4
EGL 101	Composition I	3
PHY 100	Conceptual Physics	3
PSY 101	Introduction to Psychology	3

Required Program Courses

DMS 101	Fundamentals of Sonography	2
DMS 102	Abdominal Sonography I	2
DMS 103	Obstetrics and Gynecology Sonography I	2
DMS 104	Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation I	3
DMS 105	Scanning Lab I	3
DMS 106	Abdominal Sonography II	2
DMS 107	Obstetrics and Gynecology Sonography II	2
DMS 108	Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation II	3
DMS 109	Scanning Lab II	3
DMS 110	Introduction to Normal Sonographic Imaging	2
DMS 111	Scanning Lab III	1
DMS 200	Introduction to Vascular Sonography	3
DMS 201	Clinical Practicum I	2
DMS 203	Clinical Practicum II	6
DMS 204	Advanced Sonography Seminar	3
DMS 205	Clinical Practicum III	7

Required Program Support Courses

HLT 109

Medical Terminology

3