Academic Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Through classroom lectures and hands-on experience, including an externship, students in our Associate Diagnostic Medical Sonography program, students will be taught:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Medical Terminology
• Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation
• Vascular, abdominal, gynecology, and obstetrics sonography
• Problem-solving techniques in the basic concepts of physical science
• Ethics and professionalism
• How to demonstrate entry-level clinical knowledge, skills, and attitudes in the care of patients undergoing ultrasound procedures
• Gain hands-on experience alongside your peers in on-campus ultrasound labs utilizing a variety of industry-standard ultrasound machines

At Smith Chason College, our commitment to comprehensive education extends beyond the classroom. Through our externship programs, we integrate theoretical knowledge with practical experience, empowering our students to thrive in their respective fields. Collaborating with hospitals and clinics nationwide, we offer hands-on learning opportunities under a mentor’s guidance. Whether aspiring to become proficient sonographers, MRI technologists, or healthcare professionals, our students gain invaluable real-life experience, supporting their goals to become exceptional practitioners prepared to meet the demands of their chosen profession. 

These experiences are typically conducted toward the end of the program, allowing students to apply their accumulated knowledge in real-world settings. Moreover, these opportunities often serve as a gateway to potential job opportunities, enabling students to forge connections and establish themselves within their chosen field even before graduation. At Smith Chason College, we believe in equipping our students with not only the requisite skills but also the practical experience and industry connections necessary to support them on their journey toward a successful career in healthcare. 

Program Objectives:

Graduates of the AAS Diagnostic Medical Sonography program will:

1. Apply knowledge of patient medical history, laboratory data and clinical indications to facilitate optimal diagnostic finding.
2. Provide patient education related to diagnostic testing and promote principles of good health.
3. Integrate knowledge of cross-sectional and relational anatomy with physiology, pathophysiology, and pathology, as it relates to appropriate sonographic image acquisition for accurate diagnosis by the interpreting physician.
4. Safely perform diagnostic exams using appropriate sonographic instrumentation technique sand proper sonographer ergonomics with patient positioning in a variety of clinical settings.
5. Exercise discretion, professional judgment, and ethical behavior when performing diagnostic services and communicating with patients and healthcare professionals.
6. Apply knowledge and skills to register and complete nationally recognized certification exams.

Class schedules are subject to change. Students will be notified of any change prior to the start of the quarter. Not all schedules are available at all campuses. Speak to an admissions representative to learn more about which schedules are available for your requested start date. 

Weekday/Weeknight:   

• Mornings: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM  
• Evenings: Monday through Friday, 5:30 PM – 10:30 PM 

Weekend:  

• Saturday – Sunday, 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM  
• Friday – May be required

All applicants must meet the Smith Chason College General Admissions Requirements and pass the entrance exam to be eligible for enrollment.

Entrance Exam  

All applicants for the Academic Associate Degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography program must pass the Wonderlic entrance exam with a minimum passing score of 25 at all College campuses.

About Tuition and Fees

Knowing what to expect is important when planning for your college education. We understand that this can be a big commitment for you in your life and for your finances. Combining quality with value is important and we aspire to give you both.

The current schedule of tuition and fees is included in the latest School Catalog under “Tuition and Fee Schedules”. The cost is dependent on the term and location; for exact financial information please contact your local representative.

See details about Tuition here

Financial Aid is available.

Smith Chason College is eligible to participate in federal financial assistance programs, California state aid programs, approved for the training of veterans and eligible persons, private student loans, and scholarships. Learn more about financial options available to those who qualify at Smith Chason College on our Financial Aid page

There are a few different areas of the medical imaging field; diagnostic medical sonography deals specifically with ultrasound equipment, which utilizes high-frequency sound waves. These sound waves bounce off of the organs, bones, or tissues of a patient’s body and can be analyzed in order to discover abnormalities, assess problems, and diagnose potential conditions. Sonographers can often specialize in particular fields, like obstetrics and gynecology, vascular, musculoskeletal, abdominal, cardiac, pediatric, neurology, and more. No matter which specialization you’re in, though, the goal is the same: to provide clear images that teams of medical professionals can use to help decide the best method of treatment and get patients the care they need.

Depending on where you choose to work and the kind of facility you’re a part of, you’ll have a number of different responsibilities under your day-to-day jurisdiction. A lot of times, it’ll be tasks like:

• Taking steps to prepare the patients, physically and mentally, for the procedure
• Speaking with them in order to get their medical histories and answer any questions they may have about the ultrasound
• Prepping and using the ultrasound machine to take images and review them for quality and coverage of the area needed
• Cleaning and maintaining the imaging equipment in between procedures
• Recording your findings in patient records and collaborating with physicians, nurses, and other practitioners to aid in diagnosis and assessment

In order to successfully find employment as a medical sonographer, you’ll often need to start with a degree program like the Academic Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography at Smith Chason College. We offer an accredited program that can prepare you to enter this area of healthcare with the right knowledge and skills, including helping you with relevant registries once you graduate. Medical sonographers should also:

• Have good hand-eye coordination—Taking ultrasounds involves moving pieces of equipment right where they need to go, all while keeping an eye on what’s happening on a screen.
• Be detail-oriented—Ultrasounds must be precise and the differences between healthy and unhealthy may be subtle, so having a strong eye for details will be a big advantage.
• Possess strong technical skills—Digital medical imaging equipment can be complex, so sonographers must feel comfortable with computers.
• Be calm and professional—Sonographers work closely with patients, and many times these are people dealing with a lot of worry and stress, which means a calm bedside manner is vital.

The U.S. is seeing a rapid aging of our population, and with that is coming a rising demand for medical needs and services. Medical sonographers will be a necessary part of diagnosing and determining treatment for everything from cancer to blood clots, heart disease to diabetes. Which is why the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects jobs for diagnostic medical sonographers to grow much faster than average—19% through 2030.

All different kinds of healthcare facilities, organizations, clinics, and labs are in need of trained medical sonographers, from urgent care centers to diagnostic labs, physicians’ offices to outpatient clinics. According to the BLS, though, over 60% of sonographers worked in hospital settings, including:

• State and local hospitals
• Research hospitals
• Private hospitals
• Children’s hospitals
• And more

Smith Chason College graduates are eligible to sit for their registry exams to become registered sonographers. Smith Chason strongly recommends obtaining certifications to provide you with the best knowledge and opportunities when entering the medical imaging field. Registry reviews and assistance with the registry exam process are available for students as they navigate through their program.

Review our Pathways to Registry for Academic Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography students to learn more about our suggested pathway and which exams are included in the program cost.

Other registries to consider after Graduation and in your career: 

• Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer® (RDMS®)
• ARDMS Abdomen (AB)*
• ARDMS Breast (BR)*
• ARDMS Obstetrics & Gynecology (OB/GYN)*
• ARDMS Pediatric Sonography (PS)**
• ARDMS Musculoskeletal Sonographer (MSKS)

The eligibility prerequisites of all registries can be changed at any time without Smith Chason College’s knowledge or consent. This document is meant to be a guide only, there are additional steps and requirements not listed here, and all students should refer to the Smith Chason registry disclosure and review the registry’s website for the most up-to-date information. Your previous education may allow you to have registry eligibility not addressed here, please see the registry’s website for details. 

Yes, Smith Chason College  is accredited by the ACCSC (Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges).

Our programs work in cooperation with community partners nationally in the medical field, including but not limited to hospitals, rehabilitation centers, clinics, and assisted living.

Externships and clinical rotations may be attended during daytime hours, evenings, or weekends as approved by externship/clinical sites and Smith Chason. Students are responsible for transportation to and from their externship site and may be required to travel more than 75 miles from the campus each way including out of the area or out of state.

In addition, our partners require that we ensure that our students participating in externships or clinical practice at their facilities have required vaccinations, health screenings, and clear background checks.

All programs at our college require clinical applications on real patients as required by the Boards that license our graduates. Therefore, any person enrolling at Smith Chason will be required to perform all clinical requirements to meet graduation and state board requirements.

6 months for our Bachelor and Associates medical imaging students.

Yes. Smith Chason College is eligible to participate in federal financial assistance programs, California state aid programs, approved for the training of veterans and eligible persons, private student loans, and scholarships. Learn more about financial options available to those who qualify at Smith Chason College on our Financial Aid page

Smith Chason also offers and accepts a variety of scholarships. Our Smith Chason Scholarship booklet contains a sampling of various scholarships granted by Smith Chason and other sources for you to consider as you embark on your educational journey. Scholarships can be a great source of additional assistance to help you fund your education and your future!

For other scholarships not listed in our booklet, please visit FastWeb, an online resource to search over 1.5 million scholarships.

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*Smith Chason College does not control the availability, validity or selection criteria of outside scholarships. Scholarships and financial aid is available to those who qualify

Yes, graduates who have successfully completed all parts of their program are eligible to sit for their registry and NCLEX exams. This includes the SPI and CCT which can be taken after completing PHY202 and CAR220 respectively, ARRT(S), ARRT(MR), ARMRIT, ARDMS, NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN after graduation.  Smith Chason strongly recommends obtaining certifications to provide you with the best knowledge and opportunities when entering the medical imaging and nursing field. Smith Chason provides registry reviews, NCLEX prep with  robust ATI program and assistance with the exam process.

See our Pathways to Registry for Medical Imaging Students for more information.