Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Discover
In our Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography program, you’ll work to build the skills needed to direct sound waves into a patient using special imaging equipment that helps doctors assess and diagnose medical conditions. This procedure is commonly known as an ultrasound or sonogram.
Depending on the campus, you may take fully in-person courses or select a hybrid format that combines online learning activities with hands-on, campus-based labs. Either way, you’ll also conduct diagnostic ultrasound procedures in clinical settings under the guidance of experienced professionals. By the time you graduate, you’ll have worked to develop entry-level knowledge and skills in sonography with a focus on abdomen-extended sonography and obstetrics and gynecology sonography. You’ll also be eligible to apply to write the certification exam administered by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).
Develop Essential Skills In
- Ultrasound procedure
- Medical sonographic equipment
- Patient care
- Professional communication
Hybrid Delivery
The program is offered in a hybrid delivery model at the Atlanta, Asheville, Knoxville, and Nashville campuses. Admission months for cohorts rotate.
See All Imaging Science Programs
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Tuition and Fees
Available Locations
Ranked #6 in the
Southeast Region
2023-2024 for
Associate Level
Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Ranked #13 in the
Nation 2023-2024 for
Associate Level
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
Examples of Scholarships and Grants That May Be Available (Check with Your Campus Financial Aid Office For More Information)
21st Century Scholarship
Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program
TN Promise
Yellow Ribbon
Concentrations in this Program
Ready For Your Next Step?
You May Enjoy This Line of Study If You…
-
Appreciate significant attention to detail -
Really like exploring and digging deeper for clues and information -
Enjoy being a part of a team that is working to find answers -
Are very disciplined -
Consistently provide quality patient care and education -
Stay committed to lifelong learning and growth
Go even further with South College!
Knoxville Campus Program Effectiveness
Atlanta Campus Program Effectiveness
Asheville Campus Program Effectiveness
Nashville Campus Program Effectiveness
Program Goal and Learning Outcomes
The goal of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is to prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for the abdominal sonography-extended and obstetrics and gynecology sonography concentrations.
Graduates of this program will develop skills to:
- Be clinically competent to perform appropriate procedures and record anatomic, pathologic, and/or physiologic data;
- Apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to exercise discretion and judgment in performance of diagnostic sonography;
- Demonstrate appropriate communication skills; and
- Demonstrate professionalism and growth in the profession.
The program will continually monitor program effectiveness through assessment and evaluation to ensure that the needs of the community are met.
Admission Requirements
General admission to South College does not guarantee admission to the Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography degree program. Students who apply to the Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography program and fully meet the admission requirements but are not selected due to the unavailability of cohort spots may request to apply at another South College campus location. Applicants interested in the program are required to visit the college and meet individually with an admissions representative and program faculty to ascertain if their goals can be met by the college. Prospective students declaring Diagnostic Medical Sonography as their major must be generally admitted to South College and meet the following requirements in order to be considered for full admission to the program:
Effective with any cohort beginning Fall 2025 or later, the HESI (Health Education Systems, Inc.) examination will be a mandatory component of the admissions process for the DMS program at all campuses. Applicants will be required to complete the HESI exam as part of their application to assess their readiness for the program. This examination evaluates key academic skills necessary for success in healthcare-related fields, including areas such as math, critical thinking, learning style, personality style, vocabulary, and anatomy & physiology. Additional information about the HESI is available from the DMS Department at each campus.
- Complete the Sonography program application form. The application deadline is available in the Department of Imaging Science at the applicable campus.
- Submit documentation of a minimum high school and/or college cumulative GPA of 2.75. All official transcripts must be provided.*
- Meet minimum score requirements on the college entrance examination, OR present documentation of a score of 19 or higher on the ACT Assessment Examination, OR present documentation of a 900 combined score or higher on the SAT I examination, OR meet the South College requirements for admission as a transfer student.
- Admission to the cohort is based on the successful completion or transfer of the following prerequisite courses or their equivalents with a grade of “C” or better in a maximum of two attempts. If a student is unsuccessful in two attempts of any of the listed courses at South College, they will no longer be eligible for the program. Withdrawal from the same course twice at South College will count as a failed attempt.
- Complete BIO 1030 Anatomy & Physiology for Imaging Science or equivalent; MAT 1100 College Algebra (or higher) or MAT 2501 Statistics; PHY 2010 General Physics I and PHY 2020 General Physics I Lab; AHS 1010 Medical Terminology; and RAD 1125 Introduction to Imaging Sciences & Patient Care with a minimum grade of “C” or higher in a maximum of two attempts at South College.*
- Complete a communications skills course that may be met by a variety of courses including Speech, English, or Composition with a grade of “C” or higher in a maximum of two attempts at South College*.
- Complete a HESI-A2 assessment*. Applicants are required to take the HESI-A2 assessment as part of the application process. Applicants have two attempts to complete the exam before the application deadline date set by the associated campus. The cost of the first attempt will be paid by South College. Costs associated with a second attempt is the responsibility of the applicant. While there is no minimum overall score requirement, applicants are strongly encouraged to achieve a high score to remain competitive.
- For applicants seeking readmission, a retake of the exam is not required if already taken. Reentries must have taken the exam with South College within the past 2 years. Readmission eligibility will be assessed based on previous academic performance and adherence to program policies. Readmittance is at the discretion of the campus Program Director and clinical affiliate availability.
- Complete a mandatory on-campus or online information session.
- Meet specific health and/or essential functions pertinent to the responsibilities performed by the Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. Drug and background screenings are required by clinical affiliates. Failure to pass the screenings may disqualify a student as a candidate for admission.
- Be able to commit to full participation in a rigorous educational program that requires class participation (whether onground or online depending on track), on campus lab participation, significant out-of-class preparation time, and clinical education assignments off-campus. Students may be required to attend clinical education assignments up to 2 to 3 hours distance from the base campus as assignments are made in consideration of the student’s home address.
*Each of these areas may be used to rank applicants for full program admission. If minimum standards are met by more applying students than clinical seats, these rankings determine program admission.
Admittance Decisions
Applicants to any Imaging Science program are ranked based on academic scores. Emphasis is placed on math and science coursework related to the Imaging Sciences at all certificate and degree levels. The weight distribution for ranking is as follows: Science (Anatomy & Physiology, Introduction to Imaging Sciences and Patient Care) & Math: 60%, Medical Terminology and Communication: 15%, and HESI: 25%. Those programs admitting on a rotational basis and class sizes admitted are dependent on available clinical sites.
In addition to coursework, each student must provide proof of ability to perform the skills needed to practice in the imaging sciences effectively. Healthcare facilities must meet federal guidelines, and students must also meet these requirements in order to be allowed to gain clinical experience in these facilities. To meet these requirements, each student must supply proof of a negative TB test, hepatitis B vaccine or waiver, physical exam certifying ability to function in the required capacity, proof of immunizations (including MMR immunity), and CPR training. A criminal background check and drug screen are required for admission. If the background check reveals previous convictions, it is up to each clinical site to determine the eligibility of students to attend clinical at the site. Students who are denied clinical experiences due to past convictions may be unable to progress in the program which will result in failure to complete the required courses for the program. In any case where a drug screen is positive and an authorized prescription is not produced to validate the presence of the drug in the individual’s system, a student may be disqualified as a candidate for admission. Upon notification of the drug screen results, the student will have 5 working days to provide prescription validation. Students are responsible for costs associated with any required testing.
Accreditation
Asheville
The South College Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography – Abdomen-Extended and Obstetrics and Gynecology Sonography program offered at the Asheville campus was granted continuing accreditation on May 19, 2023 by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) (9355-113th St. N., #7709, Seminole, FL 33775, 727-210-2350, www.caahep.org) based on the recommendation from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCDMS). The next review is anticipated in 2028.
Atlanta
The South College Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography – Abdomen-Extended and Obstetrics and Gynecology Sonography program offered at the Atlanta campus was granted the initial 5 year accreditation award on September 1, 2021 by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) (9355-113th St. N., #7709, Seminole, FL 33775, 727-210-2350, www.caahep.org) based on the recommendation from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCDMS), 6021 University Boulevard, Suite 500, Ellicott City, MD 214043, (443) 973-3251; www.jrcdms.org. The next review is anticipated in 2026.
Indianapolis
The South College Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography – Abdomen-Extended and Obstetrics and Gynecology Sonography program offered at the Indianapolis campus was granted the initial 5 year accreditation award on September 23, 2024 by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) (9355-113th St. N., #7709, Seminole, FL 33775, 727-210-2350, www.caahep.org) based on the recommendation from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCDMS), 6021 University Boulevard, Suite 500, Ellicott City, MD 214043, (443) 973-3251; www.jrcdms.org. The next review is anticipated in 2029.
Knoxville
The South College Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography – Abdomen-Extended and Obstetrics and Gynecology Sonography program offered at the Knoxville campus was granted continuing accreditation on July 17, 2020 by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) (9355-113th St. N., #7709, Seminole, FL 33775, 727-210-2350, www.caahep.org) based on the recommendation from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCDMS). The next review is anticipated for 2025.
Nashville
The South College Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography – Abdomen-Extended and Obstetrics and Gynecology Sonography program offered at the Nashville campus was granted the initial 5 year accreditation award on March 15, 2019 by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) (9355-113th St. N., #7709, Seminole, FL 33775, 727-210-2350, www.caahep.org) based on the recommendation from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCDMS). The next review is anticipated for 2024.
Orlando
The South College Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography – Abdomen-Extended and Obstetrics and Gynecology Sonography program offered at the Orlando campus has a site visit scheduled for pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) (9355-113th St. N., #7709, Seminole, FL 33775, 727-210-2350, www.caahep.org) based on the recommendation from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCDMS), 6021 University Boulevard, Suite 500, Ellicott City, MD 214043, (443) 973-3251; www.jrcdms.org. This step in the process is neither a status of accreditation nor a guarantee that accreditation will be granted.
Pittsburgh
The South College Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography – Abdomen-Extended and Obstetrics and Gynecology Sonography program offered at the Pittsburgh campus was granted the initial 5 year accreditation award on July 22, 2024 by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) (9355-113th St. N., #7709, Seminole, FL 33775, 727-210-2350, www.caahep.org) based on the recommendation from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCDMS), 6021 University Boulevard, Suite 500, Ellicott City, MD 214043, (443) 973-3251; www.jrcdms.org. The next review is anticipated in 2029.
Got A Question? South College Frequently Asked Questions
What is the tuition for South College?
Tuition and fees for South College students vary by program, and tuition rates are tiered based on the number of credits taken each quarter. For example, in our undergraduate programs, students taking 10-20 credits per quarter are charged one quarterly tuition rate based on their program, while students in the same program taking 1-5 or 6-9 credits are charged different tuition rates. Our tuition rates are designed such that South College students who take a high number of credits per quarter may be able to complete their program at a lower total cost than students who take fewer credits per quarter. Contact our admissions team who can help you prepare the budget for the field of study you want to pursue. And don’t forget we also offer numerous grants, scholarships, and financial aid packages to those that qualify.
More InfoDoes South College offer Financial Aid?
Yes! Financial aid for South College is available to those who qualify. Students at South College have access to a range of financial aid to provide the economic assistance they need to pay for college. Aid is available in the form of scholarships, grants and awards, work-study programs, and loans. We’re happy to participate in numerous federal, state, and private student aid programs, and to offer funding directly. In addition to federal and state financial aid, South College institutional grants can reduce out-of-pocket expenses for qualified military-affiliated students, first responders, and recent high school graduates. Visit our financial page or contact our admissions team. We want you to succeed! Let us help you give your dream direction and address your financial aid questions.
More InfoIs South College Accredited?
Yes! South College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award degrees at the doctorate, educational specialist, master’s, baccalaureate, and associate levels, as well as certificates. With over 100 programs and concentrations and campuses on multiple states the state authorizations have been obtained. Visit the link to see the full listing. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the appropriate licensing board to confirm whether a South College program will meet the requirements for professional licensure in that state. South College will assist with this information for fully online programs. For on-ground/hybrid programs, the institution ensures that the program meets requirements for the state in which the campus is located.
More InfoHow do I apply to South College?
Visit South College and see for yourself what the college has to offer. Campus tours include a personal admissions consultation, campus facility tour and more! When you are ready to start your journey at South College, submit an online application or speak with an admissions representative. Once your application is received, we will begin building your personalized plan to pursue the chosen degree or certificate program based on your interest. We want you to have the best possible educational experience. To learn more about the educational opportunities available for your future, Apply today!
Apply NowDo you Offer Housing?
South College offers a wide range of degree and certificate programs in areas such as business, healthcare, legal studies, education, criminal justice, and technology. At this time, we do not currently offer housing options. Our expansive online study and hybrid options allow our students to learn wherever they are located, and often with the flexibility of their own convenient time. With academic advisors that support the students throughout their tenure at South College, along with tutors, study groups, and a student success team, students at South College have resources at their fingertips to assist them in their educational pursuits and may be able to guide towards housing areas close to the campus of their choice. The individual attention and support provided by our faculty and staff helps to set us apart. Students interested in a more personalized learning experience are often attracted to South College over other larger universities and colleges in our campus locations. Request more information about South College today!
More InfoLooking for South College Consumer Information?
South College was founded in 1882 and focused on serving students who want a hands-on, relevant education that can have a meaningful impact on their lives. South College strives to provide quality instruction, resources, and support services based on systematic and ongoing assessment and evaluation of objectives/outcomes to ensure the development of student abilities necessary for the achievement of positive student outcomes and the mission/vision of the college. The institution establishes policies and procedures to maintain compliance with applicable federal, state, and accrediting requirements. Click below to learn all about South College’s history, and who we are as an institution today.
More InfoDoes South College accept Transfer Students?
Yes! Credit for transfer work may be given if it was taken at an accredited collegiate institution, if it is equivalent to courses offered at South College, and if it carries a grade of C or better. Any coursework taken over seven years ago may be denied transfer credit if the material is outdated. Policies for the acceptance of any graduate level transfer credit are determined by the associated program faculty within guidelines determined by the institution. We want students to succeed and will do our best to help you in your journey to apply transfer credits to those who qualify. Contact admissions for assistance for your transfer individualized plan and consideration and learn about transfer specifications and time limits by course here:
More InfoWhat Kind of Certificate & Degrees does South College Offer?
South College is a regionally accredited private co-educational, institution with non-residential campuses in Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee; Asheville, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Orlando, Florida. Students can pursue academic programs at all levels, including professional certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. New academic programs are added frequently in response to local, regional, and national employment trends, and South College is committed to providing programs at all levels with innovative course content and teaching platforms. Explore all the programs and come back often as we regularly add new programs that may spark your interest!
More InfoOnline vs On-Campus – What Is Best?
Since its founding 141 years ago, South College‘s mission has been to serve students who want a hands-on, professional focused education. Today this means offering traditional classroom experiences along with accelerated, hybrid, and online learning options. It means small class sizes, modern labs, and campuses that are convenient to large numbers of students. Most of all, it means experienced instructors who provide real world experiences in their classes and lead in-depth discussions on the concepts taught. South College also offers non-traditional distance-learning programs, allowing students to earn a college degree online providing more flexibility with the same level of quality education and experience from all academic programs offered. This option is great for potential students who are working a full-time job or are not in travel distance to one of the learning sites. Online vs. campus? You decide. Get the student experience you desire in the program that fits your style best on your road to success!
More InfoDoes South College Have Programs for Active or Retired Military?
As an institution of higher education, South College recognizes its responsibility to society and supports both institutional and individual commitments to service. South College encourages its administration, faculty, and staff to invest their knowledge, experience, and expertise in community, professional, and institutional service. South College’s core values of excellence, responsibility, and integrity serve as the foundation for assessing the quality of institutional, school/departmental, and individual performance in achieving this mission. South College is grateful for the service and sacrifice of our military and their families. We are happy to provide the South College Military Grant to support our military – past and present – in the pursuit of their education and skill development. The South College Application Fee is waived for all active-duty military members, veterans, their spouses, and their dependent children who receive this Grant.
More Info