Program: AS-25595

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) Program fosters and supports creative and positive learning experiences within an atmosphere of academic excellence and continuous improvement. The goal of the program is to prepare competent entry-level general sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography is the specific imaging modality that uses special equipment to direct high-frequency sound waves into the patient’s body. A sonographer is a highly skilled professional who operates equipment that collects reflected echoes and forms an image that may be videotaped, transmitted, or photographed for interpretation and diagnosis by a physician. There are several areas of specialization in the field of sonography: Abdomen, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Echocardiography, Vascular Technology, Neurosonology, and Ophthalmology.

The DMS Program provides an organized curriculum that includes General Education courses in addition to the required core courses. The program emphasizes the responsibilities of the sonographer in promoting high clinical standards within the field of sonography. These responsibilities include independent decision making and critical-thinking skills that are vital in assisting physicians in their diagnoses.

The Sonography Program is offered at the Polk State College Airside Center in Lakeland. Classes are scheduled Monday through Friday, during both day and evening hours.

Accreditation

The Sonography Program is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP),25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Suite 158, Clearwater, FL 33763; telephone: 727.210.2350; email address: www.caahep.org.

Admission Criteria

The following are the minimum requirements for admission to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program:

1. The prospective student must gain acceptance to Polk State College as a credit-seeking student with all required admission documents received by the Registrar’s Office. 
2. The student must complete any required Developmental Education courses.
3. The student must have an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher at the time of admission to the program.
4. The student must complete all the following prerequisite courses (prior to admission into the program) with a grade of C or better:

• ENC 1101 - College Composition I
    
• MAC 1105 - College Algebra
    
• BSC 2085C - Human Anatomy and Physiology I
    
• BSC 2086C - Human Anatomy and Physiology II
    
• HSC 1531 - Medical Terminology
    
• PHY 2020C - Fundamentals of Physics
    

Note: Prerequisites to a program and admission to a program can change. A student who is not yet admitted to the program may be required to take additional or alternate prerequisites prior to admission to the program. 

Additional Program Requirements

The Program Director provides information regarding the completion of additional admission requirements with the letter of acceptance. Admission requirements to be completed after admission into the program:

1. Submission of a physical examination and essential functions examination. 
2. Completion of immunizations and communicable disease screenings.
3. Completion of a drug screening.
4. Certification in CPR (current).
5. Submission of a signed Affidavit of Moral Character attesting to the non-committance of specific criminal acts.
6. Completion of a Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) background check.

Admission Process

A student seeking admission may receive a DMS Program Application from Student Services at any College location or online at: www.polk.edu/dms. The application must be submitted by August 31 of each year for a January start date. Failure to submit the required documentation by the deadline prevents the student from starting in the upcoming class.

A selection committee meets during September for evaluation of applications using the following criteria: college grade point average, number of credits completed that apply to the General Education requirements for the AS in Diagnostic Medical Sonography degree, prior healthcare experience related to the field of study, and established residency within Polk, Highlands, or Hardee County. Letters of acceptance are mailed before the end of September.

Note: The College reserves the right to make changes in the admission criteria as circumstances require. Every reasonable effort is made to communicate changes in the program to potential students.

Program Cost

The cost of the program is approximately $11,000. This cost estimate includes course fees, books, uniforms, and national registry fees.

Potential Earnings

Potential salary and wage information can be found through the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov/ooh) or via www.salary.com. Salaries vary depending on geographical location, type of facility, and years of experience.  

Certification Examination

Following the completion of all requirements for graduation from the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program, the graduate is eligible to sit for the national registry exam administered by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS). After successful completion of this exam, the graduate earns the Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) credential.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):
After successful completion of the program, the graduate is able to:
PLO1: Demonstrate professional judgement, ethical standards, and critical thinking skills expected of an entry level sonographer.
PLO2: Demonstrate ability to utilize oral and written communication.
PLO3: Demonstrate ability to practice basic patient care skills.
PLO4: Demonstrate correct ergonomics scanning techniques.
PLO5: Demonstrate ability to identify normal and abnormal anatomy in the general concentration of ABD and OB/GYN Sonography.
PLO6: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Sonographic principles and instrumentation.
PLO7: Describe and discuss importance of professional development through continuing education.