Diagnostic Medical Sonography, AAS (Effective Fall 2024)

Program Start Date: Fall term
Minimum Program Length: 90 academic weeks; 6 consecutive terms, day; 80 credits

Program Goal

The goal of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is to prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for the following concentrations it offers:

 

Abdominal sonography - Extended Adult

Obstetrics and gynecology sonography

Vascular sonography

 

Program Description

Sonographers look at multiple anatomical systems, assist with procedures, and evaluate blood flow patterns. Sonography is sometimes referred to as ultrasound. The images taken by sonographers are used to aid doctors in diagnosis of diseases and abnormalities.

Practical Experience

Students acquire competency and proficiency via lab simulations and clinical experiences in affiliated hospitals, medical imaging centers, OB/GYN offices and doctor’s offices.

 

Professional Opportunities

Diagnostic medical sonographers have the opportunity to work in many types of medical facilities including but not limited to hospitals, medical imaging centers, OB/GYN offices, vascular offices, oncology centers, and primary care facilities.

 

Unique Aspects

A criminal background investigation (CBI) and drug testing are required at student expense for each Health and Human Services student who has been accepted into a Spartanburg Community College curriculum program of study. For more information, please visit the Criminal Background Investigations and Drug Testing Policy section of the SCC webpage.

 

Program Learning Outcomes

1. The program will graduate students who are clinically competent to perform appropriate procedures and record anatomic, pathologic, and/or physiologic data.
2. The program will graduate students who apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to exercise discretion and judgement in performance of sonographic exams.
3. The program will graduate students who demonstrate appropriate communication skills.
4. The program will graduate students who will demonstrate professionalism and growth in the profession.
5. The program will graduate students who will attempt to obtain national credentialling success for the offered concentrations.
6. The program will graduate students who will demonstrate national credentialing success in offered concentrations.
7. The program will graduate students who will become employed as sonographers.
8. The program will monitor retention rate.
9. The program will monitor the graduate survey return rate and composite score.
10. The program will monitor employer survey return rate and composite score.

 

Phase I and II

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is a two-year full-time Associate in Applied Science degree program offered at the Giles (Main) SCC campus. The program consists of six semesters and is divided into two phases. Phase I (prerequisites and general education) includes prerequisite courses that must be completed prior to applying for Phase II. Phase II includes the Diagnostic Medical Sonography professional curriculum. 

 

Completion of Phase I does not guarantee progression to Phase II of the program. Upon successful completion of all prerequisite courses, qualified students may apply for acceptance into Phase II of the program.  A selective ranking system is used that includes the grades earned in Phase I, attendance of an information session, and the grade point average related to the Phase I courses. 

Semesters 1-2 consist of completion of Phase I (prerequisites and general education courses.) Phase II (professional curriculum) is designed to be completed in semesters 3-6.

 

Prerequisite Courses

(required for admission to the program):

            COL 103 - College Skills

            MAT 110 – College Algebra

            BIO 112 – Basic Human Anatomy and Physiology

            PHY118 – Medical Imaging Physics

            AHS 102 – Medical Terminology

 

Semester Display

 

 

 

*Science and math courses can be completed no more than 5 years prior to the first day of the program.

*Prerequisite courses must be completed PRIOR to acceptance into the program. Students are encouraged to complete ALL courses listed above prior to being accepted.

 

 

 

 

 

Total Credits: 80