Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Coming to COC Fall 2025
College of the Canyons is excited to announce the offering for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (Ultrasound) Program! The program will be housed in the planned new Health and Natural Sciences (Fall 2026) building at our Canyon Country Campus. Program is planned to offer approximately 700 Didactic Hours and 1100 Clinical hours.
Courses will include:
- Abdominal and Small Parts Sonography
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Vascular Sonography
- Ultrasound Physics
Graduates of the program will receive an Associates of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. The program is in the development process and expected to be CAAHEP accredited.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) is a multi-specialty profession comprised of abdominal sonography, obstetrics and gynecologic sonography, vascular sonography, and other emerging clinical areas. Ultrasound is the second most utilized form of diagnostic imaging available today behind X-ray.
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program will prepare students for entry-level positions in hospitals and other health care facilities. Upon completion of the curriculum, the student will be awarded an Associate of Science degree. The student will be eligible to apply for exams offered by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) and/or the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). Demonstration and maintenance of competency through certification by the ARDMS and/or ARRT is the standard of practice in sonography, and maintenance of certification in all areas of practice is endorsed and required in all major hospitals and clinics.
CURRICULUM HIGHLIGHTS
- Will develop the technical skills necessary for operating ultrasound equipment through the knowledge of ultrasound physics and instrumentation for quality image acquisition and optimization.
- Will ensure students have a strong understanding of human anatomy and physiology to accurately locate and assess anatomical structures, recognize, and document a wide range of normal and abnormal conditions, diseases, and anomalies using ultrasound imaging.
- Will emphasize the importance of ethical behavior and professionalism in providing patient-centered care, recognizing and respecting diverse cultural backgrounds and values of patients.
- Will encourage a commitment to lifelong learning, as the field of medical ultrasound is continually evolving with advances in technology and techniques.
PROGRAM TIMELINE and STRUCTURE
- Program will be a 2-year program.
- Program will be cohort based with a continuous and collaborative learning experience.
- Didactic courses will have 700+ hours of classroom/lab instruction in sequential order.
- Clinical experience begins in Semester 2 with a total of approximatively 1100 hours.
- Student will be eligible to sit for the registry exams upon completion of all degree requirements.
PROGRAM MISSION
The mission of the College of the Canyons' Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is to educate and empower students with the knowledge and clinical competency to provide exceptional patient care, enhance patient outcomes and attain gainful employment. Graduates will gain the ability to obtain licensure, produce and evaluate high-quality diagnostic images as entry-level sonographers through the ethical and proficient use of diagnostic medical imaging, contributing to the well-being of individuals within a diverse global community.