Saint Joseph’s University’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography Certificate is designed for students who have a college degree. Upon completion of program requirements, you will be eligible to take the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) examinations in physics Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI), abdomen (Abdomen) and obstetrics/gynecology (OB/Gyn). As a graduate of the certificate program, you will receive the preparation necessary to become an entry level general sonographer or ultrasound technologist in a hospital or outpatient center.
Associate Degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Saint Joseph’s University’s Associate Degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography is designed for students who do not currently hold a college degree. Under the supervision of qualified physicians, you will perform ultrasound exams utilizing high-frequency sound waves to image and evaluate organs, vessels and superficial structures of the body. You will be prepared to scan abdominal structures, obstetrics and gynecology, as well as perform limited vascular exams as an entry-level sonographer.
Upon completion of the program requirements, you will be eligible to take the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) examinations in sonographic physics, abdomen and obstetrics/gynecology. This 66-credit associate degree program can be completed in less than two years.
If you already have an associate degree or higher or have completed a two-year, post-secondary allied health program, we invite you to explore our Diagnostic Medical Sonography Certificate.
What is Diagnostic Medical Sonography?
Diagnostic medical sonography is a non-invasive medical imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to create real-time images, or sonograms, inside the body. These images help diagnose and monitor various medical conditions, including fetal development during pregnancy, abdominal and pelvic organ evaluation, cardiac and vascular assessments and musculoskeletal imaging.
Diagnostic medical sonographers operate ultrasound equipment using a transducer to send and receive sound waves, which are then processed by a computer to produce images. This imaging modality is widely employed in healthcare due to its safety, absence of ionizing radiation and versatility in diagnosing and tracking a range of medical issues.
What Sets Our Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program Apart
Opportunity to Practice Your Scanning Skills in Our Ultrasound Suite
Saint Joseph’s is home to the Center for Excellence in Practice, the first and only learning space of its kind in the Lancaster area. This 20,000-square-foot facility is made up of 24 rooms, including an ultrasound suite where you can practice your obstetric scanning skills on live patients. You’ll get to work with students from other programs in realistic sonography simulations that mirror real-life healthcare settings.
Diagnostic Medical Sonography Associate Degree Offered Both In Person and Online
While the associate program is primarily offered in person to provide hands-on learning, some courses are also offered online. The online courses are designed to meet the knowledge base in the career of sonography. Learn more about online learning at Saint Joseph's.
Small Group Classes
Students take clinical courses along with programmatic courses in a small classroom setting, offering 1:1 learning opportunities with faculty.
Guaranteed Clinical Placements
You are guaranteed clinical placements at locations in Pennsylvania. You will have the opportunity to experience working in clinical settings with expert faculty, helping transfer knowledge and skills from the classroom to in-person patient experiences. You will learn critical thinking, collaboration and problem-solving by engaging in realistic scenarios staged in real-world medical environments.
Taught by Experienced Diagnostic Medical Sonography Faculty
You will learn from and work alongside faculty who have a breadth of experience working in diagnostic medical sonography, ranging from abdomen and OB/GYN to vascular imaging. All faculty members are diagnostic medical sonographers who are currently working or held former positions in the field.
Why Study Diagnostic Medical Sonography in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania is home to top-tier hospitals, diagnostic centers and outpatient facilities seeking ultrasound technologists and diagnostic medical sonographers, including:
- Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health
- Wellspan Good Samaritan Hospital Lebanon
- Penn Medicine Chester County
- Tower Health Phoenixville Hospital
- Mainline Health Paoli Hospital
Program Details
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View required courses for this program in the academic catalog. Please contact us if you have any questions about the program curriculum.
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The Abdomen-Extended and Obstetric/Gynecology Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS).
CAAHEP
9355 – 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
727-210-2350JRC-DMS
6021 University Blvd., Suite 500
Ellicott City, MD 21043
443-973-3251 -
Saint Joseph's University – Lancaster’s tuition structure includes both per-credit tuition and program-specific fees.
PER-CREDIT TUITION:
The cost of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Associate Degree is $683 per credit for the 2024-2025 academic year.
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC FEES:
In addition to the per-credit rate, there are also program-specific fees for the following courses:
- When a student enrolls in DMS 224, they will be responsible for paying a fee totaling $5,575
- When a student enrolls in DMS 233, they will be responsible for paying a fee totaling $5,575
For a detailed breakdown and additional information, visit our Tuition & Fees page.
Program Effectiveness Data
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Total # of Graduates/Total # of Students Enrolled
Cohort Number and/or Track Name2022202120203 Yr. Avg. Retention RateCohort 1 DMS 202115/15 (100%) Enrolled Graduates Rate15/15 (100%) Enrolled Graduates Rate13/15 (87%) Enrolled Graduates Rate96% -
Total # of Graduates Employed in 6 Months/Total # of Graduates
Cohort Number and Concentration2022202120203 Yr. Avg. Job Placement RateCohort 1 DMS 202115/15 (100%) Employed Graduates13/15 (87%) Employed Graduates12/15 (80%) Employed Graduates89% -
Total # of Test Takers/Total # of Graduates
Cohort #Select Concentration20221Abdomen-Extended9/15 (78%) Graduate Test Takers1Obstetrics & Gynecology12/15 (80%) Graduate Test Takers -
Total # of Graduates Successfully Earning Credential/Total # of Test Takers
Cohort # & ConcentrationSelect Credentialing Exam(s)2022202120203-Yr. Avg. Success Rate1ABRDMS(AB)7/9 (78%) Successful Test Takers8/14 (57%) Successful Test Takers12/12 (100%) Successful Test Takers78%1 OB/GYNRDMS(OB/GYN)12/13 (92% Successful Test Takers11/15 (73%) Successful Test Takers13/13 (100%) Successful Test Takers89%
Curriculum
View sample curriculum information for this program in the academic catalog.
On Average, How Much Do Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Make?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary of a diagnostic medical sonographer in 2022 is $78,210.
Admission Information
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1. To be considered for admission, you must have graduated from an approved secondary school (or be on track to graduate), received a diploma from an accredited home school association or earned a GED.
2. High school or post-secondary college-level courses must include the following:
- At least four units of English
- At least three units of Social Sciences
- At least three units of Mathematics (Two (2) of which are at least the level of Algebra)
- Two (2) units of Science with a related laboratory or an equivalent (One (1) of which must be biology).
3. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or greater on a 4.0-point scale in secondary or post-secondary education (whichever is more recent). However, the GPA requirement can be different depending on specific program requirements. Please see our undergraduate requirements or reach out to the Office of Admission for additional information.
4. A high school transcript with an official school stamp or an official GED transcript is also required. High school transcripts must include courses completed through your junior year as well as courses in progress during your senior year. If you’ve attended any post-secondary institutions, official transcripts for those institutions are required as well.
Additional Admission Factors for Consideration*:
In addition to the required items above, the admission team will consider the following factors when making an admission decision:
- Class rank
- Academic performance in post-secondary science and math courses
- Community service
- Healthcare-related service
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To apply for the DMS associate program, complete an application online. SAT and/or ACT scores are optional but you can submit them if you think they’ll strengthen your application.
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First-Year Students
Applications for high school students are available beginning August 1 of your senior year. For a full timeline of deadlines and addition information, visit our admission page.Transfer Students
Applications to transfer to Saint Joseph’s are accepted on a rolling basis for fall and spring start terms. -
If you are not a United States citizen, you must show proof of permanent resident visa status. Students educated in another country may be admitted if they:
- Satisfy general admission requirements
- Earn a minimum of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based) or 79 (internet-based) on the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) administered by the Educational Testing Service of Princeton, New Jersey
Students from English-speaking countries may choose to take the SAT or ACT as an option to the TOEFL exam. An evaluation of foreign transcripts by the World Education Service or other approved agency is required.
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Transfer credit may be awarded for previous coursework. A course must meet the following requirements to be considered for transfer to Saint Joseph’s University’s Lancaster campus:
- Undergraduate courses with a grade of “C” or above
- Graduate courses with a grade of “B” or above (Pass/Fail grades are not eligible for transfer credit)
- Must be from a regionally or programmatically accredited institution
- The coursework must match the course offered at Saint Joseph’s University
- Some programs have a time limit for specific courses
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Saint Joseph’s is a military-friendly institution and offers assistance and services to veterans and their dependents who are utilizing educational benefits. Benefits include:
- Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill®
- Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation
- Chapter 33 Post 911 GI Bill®
- Chapter 35 Survivors and Dependents Assistance
- Chapter 1606 National Guard or Reserves
- Chapter 1607 National Guard or Reserves (REAP) (*if eligible, must be utilized by November 25, 2019)
- Pennsylvania National Guard Educational Assistance Program (EAP)
- Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA)
Explore Other Degree Programs
Saint Joseph’s University’s Associate Degree in Vascular Sonography is designed for students who do not currently hold a college degree. Upon completion of program requirements, you will be eligible to take the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) and the Vascular Technology Exam (RVT) board exams. You are also eligible to sit for the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI), Registered Vascular Specialist (RVS) exam. As a graduate of the associate program, you will receive the preparation necessary to become an entry level vascular sonographer or vascular ultrasound technologist in a hospital or outpatient center.
Saint Joseph’s University’s Associate Degree in Cardiac Sonography is designed for students who do not currently hold a college degree. Upon completion of program requirements, you will be eligible to take the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) and the ARDMS Cardiac Sonography (RDCS) board exams. You are also eligible to sit for the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI), Registered Adult Cardiac Sonography (RCS) exam. As a graduate of the associate program, you will receive the preparation necessary to become an entry level cardiac sonographer or echo technologist in a hospital or outpatient center.