200 Ferris Drive
Big Rapids, MI 49307
(231) 591-2270
[email protected]
Associate Degree
Locations:
Ferris Main Campus
Classes are held on the main campus in Big Rapids, online, or in a mixed delivery format. https://ferris.eduWhy Choose Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Sonographers are taught to work independently and to operate highly technical ultrasound equipment to acquire sonographic images. Diagnostic Medical Sonographers use high frequency sound waves to produce images and data that assist health care professionals diagnose various disease and disease processes. Physicians depend on the sonographer's assistance with interpretation of the images to evaluate many body parts and structures, especially of the abdomen and pelvis.
Graduates of the program are eligible to write the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) Sonography Principles and Instrumentation Examination as well as the Abdomen, and Obstetrics and Gynecology specialty exams.
Program Details
Admission Requirements
New Student Admission Requirements
- 2.70 High School GPA (on a 4.00 scale) (2.50 -2.69 with college approval)
- Minimum Composite Score of ACT 18/SAT 950 OR 3.0 High School GPA (on a 4.00 scale) and Composite ACT 17/SAT 900
Transfer Student Admission Requirements
- 2.00 GPA (on a 4.00 scale)
Admission Requirements to the Professional Sequence
- Students must obtain a grade of B- or higher in the following courses: BIOL 109, MATH 115, and PHYS 130
- Students must obtain a grade of C or higher in the following course: COHP 100
- Students must obtain a grade of C- or higher in the following course: ENGL 150
- All MATH and BIOL courses must meet the above requirements within two attempts. A withdrawal, W grade, counts as an attempt.
College Requirements - 58 Credits Required
Qualifying Courses - Credits Required Met in University General Education Requirements or College of Health Professions (COHP) Core Curriculum
These courses are qualifying courses for entry into the Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) major and are used to meet some University General Education Requirements and College of Health Professions (COHP) Core Curriculum requirements.
- COHP 100 - Orientation to Medical Vocabulary Credit Hours: 1 (Met in College of Health Professions (COHP) Core Curriculum and Requires a C or Higher)
- BIOL 109 - Basic Human Anatomy-Physiology Credit Hours: 4 (Met in University General Education Requirements and Requires a B- or Higher)
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Choose 1 of 4
- MATH 115 - Intermediate Algebra Credit Hours: 3 (Met in University General Education Requirements and Requires a B- or Higher)
- MATH 116 - Intermediate Algebra-Num Trig Credit Hours: 4 (Met in University General Education Requirements and Requires a B- or Higher)
- MATH 117 - Contemporary Mathematics Credit Hours: 4 (Met in University General Education Requirements and Requires a B- or Higher)
- MATH 120 - Trigonometry Credit Hours: 3 (Met in University General Education Requirements and Requires a B- or Higher)
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- PHYS 130 - Concepts in Physics Credit Hours: 4 (Met in University General Education Requirements and Requires a B- or Higher)
- ENGL 150 - English 1 Credit Hours: 3 (Met in University General Education Requirements and Requires a C- or Higher)
College of Health Professions (COHP) Core Curriculum - 5 Credits Required
- COHP 100 - Orientation to Medical Vocabulary Credit Hours: 1
- COHP 101 - The U.S. Health Care System Credit Hours: 3
- COHP 102 - Safety Issues in Health Care Credit Hours: 1
Major Courses - 53 Credits Required
- SONO 100 - Introduction to DMS Credit Hours: 1
- SONO 102 - Intro to Sonographic Imaging Credit Hours: 1
- SONO 104 - Intro to Ultrasound Physics Credit Hours: 3
- SONO 111 - Pathophys of Abdominal Organs Credit Hours: 4
- SONO 112 - Abdominal Imaging Lab Credit Hours: 1
- SONO 115 - Sono Cross Sectional Anatomy Credit Hours: 1
- SONO 117 - Intro to Sonographic Interpret Credit Hours: 2
- SONO 118 - GYN Imaging Credit Hours: 1
- SONO 119 - GYN Imaging Lab Credit Hours: 1
- SONO 121 - Introduction to OB/GYN Imaging Credit Hours: 2
- SONO 122 - OB/GYN Imaging Lab Credit Hours: 1
- SONO 131 - Hemo and Doppler Prin of Sono Credit Hours: 1
- SONO 132 - Hemodynamics - Doppler Lab Credit Hours: 1
- SONO 280 - Clinical Internship 1 Credit Hours: 8
- SONO 282 - Clinical Internship 2 Credit Hours: 8
- SONO 283 - OB/GYN Imaging 2 Credit Hours: 3
- SONO 284 - Clinical Internship 3 Credit Hours: 6
- SONO 285 - Sonographic Interpretation 2 Credit Hours: 4
- SONO 287 - Management in DMS Credit Hours: 1
Notes
- Students who return to the university after an interrupted enrollment, not including summer semester, must normally meet the requirements of the curriculum which are in effect at the time of their return, not the requirements which were in effect when they were originally admitted.
- Credit Variance - Credits required may vary based on course placement, prerequisites, etc. If you have questions, contact your advisor.
Suggested Semester Layout
Consult Advisor to Approve Your Customized Plan in MyDegree
First Year
For spring and summer semester, students may complete general education (non-SONO courses) and/or other degree or certificate courses while waiting for admission to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) program.
Fall Courses
- BIOL 109 - Basic Human Anatomy-Physiology Credit Hours: 4
- PHYS 130 - Concepts in Physics Credit Hours: 4
- COHP 100 - Orientation to Medical Vocabulary Credit Hours: 1
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- MATH 115 - Intermediate Algebra Credit Hours: 3
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Or
- MATH 116 - Intermediate Algebra-Num Trig Credit Hours: 4
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Or
- MATH 117 - Contemporary Mathematics Credit Hours: 4
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Or
- MATH 120 - Trigonometry Credit Hours: 3
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- ENGL 150 - English 1 Credit Hours: 3
- FSUS 100 - Ferris State Univ Seminar Credit Hours: 0 To 1
Total Credits: 15-16
Second Year
Fall Courses
- SONO 104 - Intro to Ultrasound Physics Credit Hours: 3
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- COMM 105 - Interpersonal Communication Credit Hours: 3
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or
- COMM 221 - Small Group Decision Making Credit Hours: 3
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- PSYC 150 - Introduction to Psychology Credit Hours: 3
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- SONO 100 - Introduction to DMS Credit Hours: 1 and
- SONO 102 - Intro to Sonographic Imaging Credit Hours: 1
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- SONO 112 - Abdominal Imaging Lab Credit Hours: 1
- SONO 115 - Sono Cross Sectional Anatomy Credit Hours: 1
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- PHIL 220 - Ethics in Health Care Credit Hours: 3
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Or
- PHIL 320 - Biomedical Ethics Credit Hours: 3
Total Credits: 15
Spring Courses
- COHP 102 - Safety Issues in Health Care Credit Hours: 1
- ENGL 250 - English 2 Credit Hours: 3
- SONO 111 - Pathophys of Abdominal Organs Credit Hours: 4
- COHP 101 - The U.S. Health Care System Credit Hours: 3
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- SONO 118 - GYN Imaging Credit Hours: 1
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And
- SONO 119 - GYN Imaging Lab Credit Hours: 1
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- SONO 131 - Hemo and Doppler Prin of Sono Credit Hours: 1
- SONO 132 - Hemodynamics - Doppler Lab Credit Hours: 1
Total Credits: 15
Summer Courses
- SONO 117 - Intro to Sonographic Interpret Credit Hours: 2
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- SONO 121 - Introduction to OB/GYN Imaging Credit Hours: 2 and
- SONO 122 - OB/GYN Imaging Lab Credit Hours: 1
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- SONO 134 - SONO Internship Prep Credit Hours: 1
- SONO 181 - Small Parts and Invasive Procedures Credit Hours: 2
Total Credits: 8
Third Year
Fall Courses
- SONO 280 - Clinical Internship 1 Credit Hours: 8
- SONO 283 - OB/GYN Imaging 2 Credit Hours: 3
- SONO 287 - Management in DMS Credit Hours: 1
Total Credits: 12
Spring Courses
- SONO 282 - Clinical Internship 2 Credit Hours: 8
- SONO 285 - Sonographic Interpretation 2 Credit Hours: 4
Total Credits: 12
Progression Policy
- A letter grade of “C” or higher is required for all Sonography Program courses including
core and general education courses.
- Any student that receives less than a “C” in one SONO course must stop the Sonography sequence. They must re-apply to the program to repeat the course the next time it is offered (if a seat is available).
- A student receiving a grade of less than a “C” in any two SONO courses (or two unsuccessful attempts in the same course) will be dismissed from the program.
- The following courses must be passed with a C or better within three attempts: CCHS 101, CCHS 102, PSYC 150, ENGL 250, COMM 105 or 221and PHIL 216 or 320 or the student will be dismissed from the program.
- All general education requirements must be completed before internship. Any student not completing all general education requirements will not be allowed to enter internship.
- If at any time a student’s college GPA falls below a 2.0 they will be dismissed from the Sonography program.
- Any student with a conviction or criminal record is advised to contact the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography at 301-738-8401 or www.ardms.org in regards to their ability to take the registry examinations upon completion of the program
- Students may need to relocate for clinical internship during the second year of the program
- Information in regard to the DMS program is mailed to last address provided. It is the student’s responsibility to maintain current contact information with the college. Contact the Timme Center for Student Services to update your records
Skills needed to be a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer per the Society for Diagnostic Medical Sonography include:
- Lift more than 50 pounds routinely
- Push and pull routinely
- Bend and stoop routinely
- Have full use of both hands, wrists and shoulders
- Distinguish audible sounds
- Adequately view sonograms, including color distinctions
- Work standing on their feet 80% of the time
Interact compassionately and effectively with the sick or injured - Assist patients on and off examining tables
- Communicate effectively with patients and other health care professionals
- Organize and accurately perform the individual steps in a sonographic procedure in the proper sequence
If you determine that you are unable to do any of the skills listed and you have a documented disability, you will then need to determine if a reasonable accommodation can be provided. Throughout your educational program, you will find yourself in a variety of learning experiences. You will need to take into consideration the specifics of each position and the percentage of time the skill will be needed in order to determine if reasonable accommodations can be provided. To request an accommodation, you will need to contact the Disability and Accessibility Resource Center at (231-591-3057) and present documentation of your disability.
Mission
The mission of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is to prepare graduates with the knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors needed to function effectively as a sonographer.
Vision
The mission of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is to provide didactic, laboratory and internship experience that prepare students to succeed after graduation.
Goals
To prepare competent entry-level general sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.
Contact Information
College of Health Professions
(231) 591-2270
[email protected]
Accreditation
The Ferris State University DMS Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs - www.caahep.org upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs
9355 – 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, Fl 337755
727-210-2350
The History of Sonography
