Diagnostic Medical Sonography BAS Degree
This general sonography program is full time, starts in the Fall, and is a total of 21months/5 semesters. The first 2 semesters; courses are held at the Arvada Campus. Full time clinical internship is off campus and begins in the 3rd summer semester and continues full time into the Fall and Spring semesters.
Upon completion of the degree, students will be able to take national certification examinations from the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS), in the following areas:
- Ultrasound Physics (SPI)
- Abdomen (AB), Obstetrics/Gynecology (OB/GYN), and Registered Vascular Technology (RVT) for the General track or
- Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) for the Echocardiography Track
A qualifying degree is required for entry into the program; 2 year associates degree, preferably in an allied health accredited program or two year equivalent credits from a 4-year university. A two year degree is defined as 24 full-time consecutive calendar months or 60+ full semester credits or 84+ quarterly credits.
A two-year allied health degree is defined as patient care related, clinical internship/externship as credit hours (not clock hours) on transcript, and a national certification/registry/ or licensing exam is required to perform job duties.
In addition to a qualifying degree, there are required general education courses and pre-requisites. The required prerequisite courses must be complete by no later than the month of December of the year before student applications are due in the following spring semester.
Admission to the sonography program is through a competitive selection process. Applications are accepted once a year from January to the end of February for the fall semester start of the same year. Information sessions are held regularly throughout the year. Please contact an advisor or visit the website for details and the most up to date information: www.rrcc.edu/academic-programs/diagnostic-medical-sonography.
Upon acceptance into the program, students can expect to spend 36-40 hours per week in the classroom or at clinical internship. Internships take place in healthcare facilities. Students can expect to rotate through a variety of clinical shifts, including days, nights, weekends, and overnights. Additional fees apply for some DMS courses.
Required Prerequisites
Requirements List
| BIO 2101 | Human Anatomy & Phys I w/Lab: SC1 | 4 |
| BIO 2102 | Human Anatomy & Phys II w/Lab: SC1 | 4 |
| COM 1150 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| or higher | |
| DMS 1001 | Introduction to Sonography | 2 |
| ENG 1021 | English Composition I: CO1 | 3 |
| or higher | |
| HPR 1040 | Comprehensive Medical Terminology | 3 |
| MAT 1340 | College Algebra: GT-MA1 | 4 |
| or higher | |
| PHY 1111 | Physics Alg-Based I/Lab: SC1 | 5 |
| RTE 2055 | Multiplanar Sectional Imaging | 2 |
Total Credit Hours: 30
Undergraduate Requirements
Requirements List
30-34 credits from an associate’s degree or university equivalent credits
Total Credit Hours: 30-34
Upper Division Requirements
Choose one of the tracks below, either the DMS General Ultrasound or Echocardiography Ultrasound
DMS General Ultrasound Requirements List
| DMS 3000 | Sonography Principles and Instrumentation | 3 |
| DMS 3070 | General Clinical Observation | 2 |
| DMS 3211 | General Sonography Scan Lab | 3 |
| DMS 3221 | Abdominal Sonography I | 3 |
| DMS 3222 | Abdominal Sonography II | 3 |
| DMS 3223 | Small Parts Sonography | 2 |
| DMS 3331 | Obstetrics and Gynecology Sonography I | 2 |
| DMS 3332 | Obstetrics and Gynecology Sonography II | 3 |
| DMS 3411 | Vascular Sonography Lab | 3 |
| DMS 3441 | Abdominal Vascular Sonography | 2 |
| DMS 3442 | Peripheral Vascular Sonography | 2 |
| DMS 3443 | Cerebrovascular Sonography | 2 |
| DMS 4071 | General Clinical Sonography I | 6 |
| DMS 4072 | General Clinical Sonography II | 12 |
| DMS 4073 | General Clinical Sonography III | 12 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 60 |
Echocardiography Ultrasound Requirements List
| DMS 3000 | Sonography Principles and Instrumentation | 3 |
| DMS 3551 | Adult Cardiac Anatomy | 3 |
| DMS 3552 | Adult Cardiac Physiology | 3 |
| DMS 3111 | Adult Echocardiography Scan Lab I | 5 |
| DMS 3112 | Adult Echocardiography Scan Lab II | 6 |
| DMS 3560 | Adult Echocardiography Pathology | 2 |
| DMS 3080 | Echocardiography Clinical Observation | 2 |
| DMS 3555 | Introduction to Pediatric Echocardiography | 2 |
| DMS 4081 | Echocardiography Clinical I | 6 |
| DMS 4082 | Echocardiography Clinical II | 12 |
| DMS 4083 | Echocardiography Clinical III | 12 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 56 |
Total Credit Hours: 120