Programs

Overview

Designed specifically for students with a bachelor's degree in another field, the 24-month bachelor of science degree program provides a fast-track option for students ready to transition to a career in diagnostic medical sonography (DMS). Students can follow a general track, an echocardiography track, or a vascular track.

Program Highlights

• Full-time 24-month accelerated program
• For students with an earned baccalaureate degree who have satisfactorily completed prerequisite courses
• Fall semester start
• Clinical opportunities in prestigious medical facilities 
• Graduating students eligible to apply for certification through examination by the American Regis­try of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).

Program Details

DMS uses sound waves (ultrasound) to produce both two-dimensional and three-dimensional dynamic images of tissue, organs, abdominal and pelvic structures and blood flow inside the human body for the diagnosis of various medical conditions.

The sonographer, a highly skilled advanced imaging specialist, uses sophisticated equipment in order to master the art of scanning. Sonographers work closely with physicians to provide accurate detection of disease and the highest-quality patient care.

The MCPHS DMS Program
MCPHS is the only college in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to offer both the bachelor and postbaccalaureate degrees with multiple diagnostic medical specializations in a single program.

General Track
The comprehensive General Track curriculum includes:

• Abdominal
• Ob/gyn
• Fetal echocardiog­raphy
• Breast
• Neurosonology
• Vascular

The MCPHS graduate is well-suited to work in several DMS specialities and, with the BS degree, has the comprehensive education required to become a leader in the profession.

Professional Registration
The educational standards of this program are based on the DMS National Educational Curriculum. Graduates will be eligible for the national registry examination offered by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) under category 3.

Curriculum

General Track for Postbaccalaureate BS Degree

Year I-Fall

Year I-Spring

Year I-Summer

Year II-Fall

Year II-Spring

Year II-Summer

Total credits to complete degree requirements: 76 s.h.

Clinical Rotations

A number of clinical rotations in the required curriculum may be scheduled at some distance from the campus. This is necessary to provide a range of diverse learning experiences and ensure availability and quality of clinical rotation sites. The College makes every effort to accommodate requests regarding assignments to experiential education sites, but students generally can expect to be assigned to clinical sites at some distance from the campus for at least a portion of their required clinical rotations. In such instances, students are responsible for transportation and other related travel expenses.

NOTICE ON CLINICAL ROTATIONS AND BACKGROUND SCREENINGS
For some of MCPHS's programs placements in clinical rotations at health care providers are a required part of the MCPHS curriculum. Some of those health care providers require background screenings and a conviction for a criminal offense might present an issue. It is possible that certain types of criminal convictions, whether prior to being a student at MCPHS or while attending MCPHS, could preclude a student from being able to complete a required clinical rotation. If you have any questions, please contact the MCPHS Chief Compliance Officer.

Facilities

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) provides facilities that contribute to the overall learning experience, including state-of-the-art laboratories specially designed for skill-building and patient assessment in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Sciences.

The sonography lab has been designed with bays surrounding a central teaching/demonstration area, multiple workstations, PACS system and 17 pieces of sonography equipment, including 5 cardiovascular units, 5 general sonography units, 7 portable emergency sonography units. All of the major units are state-of-the-art and loaded with 3D/4D technology.

Mission and Goals

The mission of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) program at MCPHS is to prepare graduates to perform duties of entry-level sonographers in delivering high quality healthcare, preserving the dignity of every patient by providing compassion and care of the highest standard. DMS graduates will possess the knowledge, skills, abilities and values of their profession and the capacity to collaborate in a teamwork environment.

Goals

• Provide a new degree program for students who are interested in diagnostic imaging as an alternative to the radiologic sciences.
• Provide a comprehensive sonography education in three accelerated programs: general sonography, echocardiography, and vascular.
• Provide a comprehensive bachelor degree experience to encourage graduates to be future leaders in the sonography profession.
• Provide postbaccalaureate programs in general, cardiovascular, and vascular DMS.
• Provide a BS in DMS pathway for graduates considering the advanced sonography curriculum of the Clinical Sonography Specialist (CSS) - similar to the Radiologist Assistant program at MCPHS. 

Accreditation

Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) is chartered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is authorized to grant undergraduate and graduate degrees in the health sciences and related fields. MCPHS is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Inc. through its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. 

Admission Requirements

Many of our programs have different admission requirements and deadlines. To see the specific admission requirements for this program, please click on the link below.