Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Associate of Applied Science
Occupational Major
Health Sciences
Founders Hall 112 • Phone (215) 968-8353 (option 5)
Curriculum Code No. 2205
The Associate Degree of Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) Program is designed to prepare the student to perform diagnostic ultrasound examinations required of an entry-level sonographer in the abdomen-extended and obstetrics & gynecology concentrations. Sonography uses sound waves to generate an image for the assessment and diagnosis of various medical conditions on a broad spectrum of patients.
Classes are conducted at the Lower Bucks campus and clinical experience at varied locations.
To prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for the abdomen-extended and obstetrics & gynecology sonography concentrations.
Graduates of this program are able to:
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills during the performance of sonographic procedures to provide optimum diagnostic services.
- Perform sonographic procedures appropriately and accurately recording all anatomic and physiologic information for interpretation by a physician.
- Demonstrate effective communication skills with patients and all members of the healthcare team
- Conduct themselves in a professional manner.
Admission Procedures
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program has a limited number of spaces and admission into this program is very competitive.
To apply for the Associate of Applied Science of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, please complete the following requirements and steps:
- Applicants must be at least 18 years of age
- Submit an application with Bucks County Community College designating Diagnostic Medical Sonography as their major.
- Submit previous college transcripts, if applicable, for evaluation by the Registrar.
- Complete any placement exams that are required by Bucks County Community College.
- Conditional approval will be based on the completion of 35 credits from the courses in the general education framework, listed below. The 35 credits must be completed with a final grade by the start of the first DXMS course. The GPA for the 35 credits must be 2.5 or better
- COLL101- College Success Seminar
- BIOL181- Anatomy and Physiology I (C or better)
- BIOL182- Anatomy and Physiology II (C or better)
- PHYS106- Physics A (C or better)
- MATH120- College Algebra
- COMM110- Effective Speaking
- COMP110- English Composition I
- COMP111- English Composition II
- MEDA120- Medical Terminology (C or better)
- PSYC110- Introduction to Psychology
- Arts/Humanities Elective
- Science and Math courses must be taken within past 7 years prior to applying.
- Applications are accepted from January 1st to 31st of each year. Please complete an application during this time period. Accepted students are notified by the first week of March.
- After meeting all the admission criteria, students who are Bucks County residents and have completed the highest number of credits in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program of Study at Bucks will be considered first.
Once accepted into the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program, students will be required to:
- Purchase a uniform from preferred uniform vendor.
- Purchase all textbooks and materials.
- Assume all responsibility for transportation to and from the clinical sites assigned.
- Obtain and maintain current CPR certification.
- Obtain and maintain Immunization records.
- Complete an FBI Fingerprint Criminal Background Check, a PA Criminal Background check, Child Abuse clearance and drug screening (until clearance is received, program acceptance is provisional and may be rescinded).
- Show proof of health insurance coverage for the student.
DMS Program Requirements
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIOL181 Anatomy and Physiology I A,7 | 4 |
| BIOL182 Anatomy and Physiology I A | 4 |
| COLL101 College Success Seminar | 1 |
| COMM110 Effective Speaking A,B,4,5 | 3 |
| COMP110 English Composition I A,B,2,10 | 3 |
| COMP111 English Composition II A,2,4,10 | 3 |
| DXMS100 Introduction to Sonography/Patient Care A | 3 |
| DXMS101 Cross Sectional Anatomy in Sonography A | 3 |
| DXMS200 Physics and Instrumentation in Sonography I A,9 | 2 |
| DXMS201 Sonography of the Abdomen with Lab A | 4 |
| DXMS202 Sonography of Superficial Parts/Vascular Structures with Lab A | 3 |
| DXMS210 Clinical Experience in Sonography I A | 2 |
| DXMS211 Sonography of OB/GYN with Lab A | 4 |
| DXMS212 Physics and Instrumentation in Sonography II A | 2 |
| DXMS215 Clinical Experience in Sonography II A | 3 |
| DXMS220 Clinical Experience in Sonography III A | 3 |
| MATH120 College Algebra A,B,6 | 4 |
| MEDA120 Medical Terminology | 3 |
| PHYS106 Physics A A,B,7 | 4 |
| PSYC110 Introduction to Psychology A,B,2,3,8 | 3 |
| Arts/Humanities Elective C,1 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 64 |
Recommended Semester Sequence
The courses in the major must be taken in the designated sequence order, as the curriculum builds from one semester to the next. Students may need more time to complete major course requirements based on placement testing or completing prerequisite coursework for general education courses.
The AAS of diagnostic medical sonography is a total of 64 credits. The 64 credits takes the full-time student six semesters to complete. The course cycle begins in the summer, not fall, thereby allowing graduates to enter the job market at the same time as those of comparable schools in the area.
Summer I
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| COLL101 College Success Seminar | 1 |
| MEDA120 Medical Terminology | 3 |
| COMM110 Effective Speaking A,B,4,5 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 7 |
Fall I
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| MATH120 College Algebra A,B,6 | 4 |
| BIOL181 Anatomy and Physiology I A,7 | 4 |
| PSYC110 Introduction to Psychology A,B,2,3,8 | 3 |
| COMP110 English Composition I A,B,2,10 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 14 |
Spring I
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIOL182 Anatomy and Physiology I A | 4 |
| PHYS106 Physics A A,B,7 | 4 |
| COMP111 English Composition II A,2,4,10 | 3 |
| Arts/Humanities Elective C,1 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 14 |
Summer II
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| DXMS100 Introduction to Sonography/Patient Care A | 3 |
| DXMS101 Cross Sectional Anatomy in Sonography A | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 6 |
Fall II
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| DXMS200 Physics and Instrumentation in Sonography I A,9 | 2 |
| DXMS201 Sonography of the Abdomen with Lab A | 4 |
| DXMS202 Sonography of Superficial Parts/Vascular Structures with Lab A | 3 |
| DXMS210 Clinical Experience in Sonography I A | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours | 11 |
Spring II
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| DXMS212 Physics and Instrumentation in Sonography II A | 2 |
| DXMS211 Sonography of OB/GYN with Lab A | 4 |
| DXMS215 Clinical Experience in Sonography II A | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 9 |
Summer III
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| DXMS220 Clinical Experience in Sonography III A | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 3 |
A Course requires prerequisites.
B Placement testing required
C Consult the list of courses approved for this subcategory. Any course may be chosen.
1 Satisfies Arts/Humanities.
2 Satisfies Critical Thinking.
3 Satisfies Diversity.
4 Satisfies Information Literacy.
5 Satisfies Oral Communication.
6 Satisfies Quantitative Literacy.
7 Satisfies Scientific Literacy.
8 Satisfies Social Sciences.
9 Satisfies Technological Competence.
10 Satisfies Writing.