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Merced College
Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program
INFORMATION FOR DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY
PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS
Visit How to Apply on the DMS Program homepage for more information, including deadlines.
Thank you for your interest in Merced College’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program.
PROGRAM MISSION
To prepare competent entry-level general sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and
affective (behavior) learning domains for both the Abdominal Sonography-Extended concentration, and the
Obstetrical-Gynecology Sonography concentration of the ARDMS boards exams.
PROGRAM GOALS
• Develop writing skills to prepare medical manuscripts and present clinical case study presentations.
• Develop an understanding of medical ethical standards and cultural diversity.
• Analyze the theory of ultrasound physics, anatomy, pathophysiology to differentiate normal sonographic
appearances.
• Analyze the theory of ultrasound physics, anatomy, pathophysiology in sonographic disease differential
diagnoses.
• Develop scanning competencies in the various modalities of sonography.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENT
Bachelor’s Degree in any subject (or higher education completed)
OR
Associate of Science Professional degree in either Radiologic Technology or Registered Nursing or Nuclear
Medicine or Respiratory Therapy or Paramedic. Only these programs are acceptable. You must be licensed at the
time of application.
PROGRAM PREREQUISITES
Please read the following information carefully:
Before applying, complete the entrance requirement & program’s prerequisites.
“In progress” prerequisites will NOT be accepted. All prerequisites must be completed with a “C” or higher and
grades demonstrated on transcripts prior to applying. Combined GPA on prerequisites must be a 2.35 or higher.
• ALLH-67 Medical Terminology
• BIOL-16 General Human Anatomy
• BIOL-18 Principles of Physiology
• ENGL-1A College Composition & Reading or COMM-01 Fundamentals of Speech
• MATH-26 or MATH-25 or MATH-15 or MATH-10 or equivalent (or higher level Math course)
• PHYS-10 Concepts in Physics or *RADT-13 Radiologic Sciences I (will be accepted for Registered Radiographers)
COURSE EQUIVALENCY
You are encouraged to view the Grid of Comparable Prerequisites Courses
online for program prerequisite
information. Please refer to this chart if you plan to take, or have taken, prerequisite courses outside of Merced
College. This grid is to be used as a reference only. IF your course is NOT listed on the Grid of Comparable
Prerequisite Courses, you must make an appointment with an ALLIED HEALTH Counselor (call 209-381-6478 or
email ecounse[email protected] ) to verify equivalency.
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Students are responsible for ensuring their course work is equivalent to Merced College requirements. If you
need your course(s) verified for equivalency, fill out the Equivalency Verification Form.
COUNSELING AND TRANSFERABILITY
It is recommended that prospective applicants meet with an academic counselor to review their college transcripts
only if prerequisite courses are not listed on the Grid of Comparable Prerequisites Courses
. Any courses needing to
be petitioned for equivalency need to be done at that time. Petitions must be completed prior to the application
deadline.
TRANSCRIPTS
All applicants are required to upload transcript(s) with their application. Transcripts must include all work shown
as completed on the application. An application that is not filled out and/or does not have all transcripts
submitted by the application deadline will be considered incomplete.
You can login to your MC Self-Service account to view and print a PDF of your unofficial transcript.
You will need to request two copies of your official transcript(s) from all institutions other than Merced College:
1
st
Copy Required: Official transcript(s) from other colleges/universities must be sent directly to the Merced College
Admissions & Records office by the transcript submission deadline.
2
nd
Copy Required: You also need to request an official transcript(s) sent directly from your institution(s) to
you. Plan to submit a copy (PDF) of your official transcript(s) with your application. We understand
that once you open the copy, it becomes unofficial. This will be accepted for this application.
If necessary, make an appointment to see an Allied Health Counselor at 209‐381‐6478, and bring with
you the following if applicable:
1. All forms related to the DMS Application
2. Transcripts(s)
3. Other college catalogs, course descriptions, transcripts (credits for program)
4. Foreign transcripts - Formal Evaluation
5. Military Credits
* To ensure that courses are equivalent to those offered by Merced College, a counselor must complete Equivalency
Verification Form.
INTERNATIONAL TRANSCRIPTS
Any students who have completed coursework at another university or college from a foreign country must provide
transcripts.
Applicants with college transcripts outside the U.S. will need to have them evaluated for U.S. equivalency.
International transcripts without official translation will not be accepted for credit.
International transcripts must be officially evaluated by the following agency:
Educational Records Evaluation Service
, Inc.
2480 Hilborn Rd., Ste. # 106
Fairfield, CA 94534
(P) 707-759-2866 Email [email protected]m
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SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION
To apply to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program at Merced College, a Merced College student ID is required.
If you do not have a student ID, you must apply
for one.
Admission requirements and procedures are subject to change at any time.
ADMISSION POLICY
Admission into the DMS Program is based on criteria approved by Merced College and consistent with State and
Federal law, regulations and program accreditation guidelines. Primary admission criteria include completion of the
entrance requirement and completion of the prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or better and combined GPA
on prerequisites must be 2.35 or higher.
SELECTION PROCEDURE
Application: New applications are accepted online during the application window upon completion of entrance
requirement and all prerequisites. Admission requirements and procedures are subject to change at any time.
Length of Program: Four 18 week semesters and one 8 week summer session.
Selection: Enrollment will be based on a first-come, first serve basis with the FIRST eight (8) qualifying applicants
accepted for the class beginning in fall.
Upon selection into the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program students must confirm acceptance to participate in
the program and must attend a mandatory program orientation. Information about the orientation will be provided
at the time of selection. Failure to attend will result in forfeiture of program placement.
Upon admission to the program, all immunizations, health exams, CPR requirements, etc. must be met prior to
beginning the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program. More information provided at time of admission to the
program.
A new class begins once every 2 years.
August 2024 (Fall semester)
August 2026 (Fall semester)
August 2028 (Fall semester)
etc....
ABOUT THE DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY PROGRAM
The major goal of the Merced College Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is to provide education that prepares
the student to sit for the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography’s (ARDMS) Sonographic Principles
and Instrumentation (SPI) board examination during the 4
th
semester, and the Abdomen-Extended and OB-GYN
exams prior to graduation while completing the final semester. The graduate is prepared to use technical
sonographic skills while utilizing knowledge of basic health principles to provide care and comfort to generate
diagnostic sonographic examinations for physician interpretation.
The Allied Health Center houses a complete Sonographic Scanning Skills Lab, large computer lab. Conference rooms,
study rooms and multiple large and small classrooms. The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program has state-of-the
technology equipment, software, and scanning phantoms that assist students with learning current scanning
examinations.
Additional goals are developed according to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to prepare the graduate to set priorities,
plan and organize to facilitate safe sonographic patient care and scanning techniques to meet patients’ basic human
needs in acute hospitals, health maintenance organizations, and physicians’ offices. The entry level graduate
sonographer is encouraged to complete the aforementioned ARDMS board exams and to function as a Registered
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer under the direction of a Board Certified Radiologist, Sonologist, or other Medical
Physician.
The student will recognize areas of responsibility on the health team and work with other members to facilitate
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patient care.
The student will, by word and manner, instill confidence relative to stakeholders of the health team. The student
will also display a sense of appropriate conduct in relationships with the college, faculty, patients and facility staff.
The integrity of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography student will be absolute in matters concerning the patient, the
patient’s family and members of the health team.
We believe that the graduate of this program will be competent in utilizing the technical skills of this program and
prepared for the ARDMS examinations.
PROGRAM ENROLLMENT AND CURRICULUM
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is a full-time program to which students are admitted every 24 months.
The program is sequentially composed of 4 semesters and 1 summer term.
Information on the program courses and schedule
is available in the Merced College Catalog, the searchable
class schedule, or the program pathways mapper.
INSTRUCTION
The first semester consists of both theoretical and laboratory components. The student is expected to attend all
scheduled classes and labs which are held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The remaining semesters and summer
term the students complete theoretical and laboratory courses on Wednesdays on the Merced College campus and
32 clinical hours weekly at an assigned clinical affiliate. The students are also expected to spend appropriate time
outside of class time studying, preparing for written and practical exams, practicing skills, and writing papers or
projects.
CERTIFICATE
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography curriculum comprised of four semesters and one summer term of combined
theoretical, laboratory, and clinical experience on campus and at affiliated health care facilities. Upon satisfactory
completion of the prerequisites and the sonography courses, a Certificate of Achievement is awarded.
Merced College offers the following certificate in Diagnostic Medical Sonography: Diagnostic Medical Sonography
(12800.CT)
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
While in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program, you will require significant financial support.
Diagnostic Medical Sonography students are routinely assigned clinical activities at hospitals and clinics away from
campus and/or outside of their hometown. You will need to provide transportation for such assignments. The
number of hours you will spend in classes and clinical experience make it difficult for a student to work while
enrolled in the program. In addition, working while enrolled in the program is going to put a strain on your ability to
study for your course work. We strongly recommend you plan ahead financially for the next 22 months of the
program.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
An estimate of the cost of the program is provided. Tuition fees are subject to change. Non-residents of California pay
tuition by the College.
Financial Aid Assistance
and services are available to prospective students at Merced College.
The first semester is the costliest semester for textbooks. Most of the textbooks purchased in the first semester will
be utilized throughout the duration of the program.
Legal residents of California are required to pay nominal fees. In addition, students may expect to incur other
unforeseen expenses throughout the duration of the program.
Students must adhere to clearance requirements in order to be accepted into, and continue enrollment in, Allied
Health Programs' clinical courses. Requirements include background checks, drug screenings, CPR certification,
vaccinations and boosters (for example, COVID-19). Merced College Allied Health Programs do not accept religious
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nor medical exemptions.
Positive results on background checks and drug testing or failure to comply with clinical requirements could impact a
student’s ability to attend clinic, complete program requirements, or gain a license to practice upon graduation. The
student will pay for the costs related to required physical examinations, immunizations, background screenings and
drug testing. Students are required to have health insurance while in the program.
ESTIMATED COSTS OF PROGRAM
Legal residents of the State of California are required to pay nominal fees. In addition, students may expect other
miscellaneous fees and expenses during the length of the program.
A. Fees ‐ (estimates only)
Enrollment Fee (entire program $46/unit x 55.5 units) Contact Admissions and Records for
details. Fees subject to change as per the State Legislature
2,553.00
Transportation Fee ($9.95 per semester if enrolled in 12 units or more; $6.95 if enrolled in less
than 12 units)
43.75
Student Body Fee (Fall/Spring semesters $10 x 4)
40.00
Health Fee (Fall/Spring semester $21 x 4; summer $18 x 1)
102.00
Parking (Fall/Spring $30 x 4; summer $15 x 1)
135.00
B. Additional Expenses – (estimates only)
Lab Supplies
Books (entire program) - may include enrollment in the Follet Program
CPR Certification - BLS (American Heart Association)
Physical & Immunizations
Uniforms (entire program)
Background Clearance (criminal/financial/social security trace), Drug
Screening & Immunization Tracker
Online Record Keeping (Trajecsys)
C. Licensing – (estimates only)
ARDMS (SPI)
ARDMS (Obstetrics/Gynecology)
ARDMS (Abdomen)
Grand Total
Fees are subject to change. Non-resident students are required by state law to pay non-resident tuition. Consult
the Merced College catalog for current fees or Merced College Admissions and Records.
RECORD OF CONVICTION
Eligibility for the ARDMS examination requires the candidate to be of good moral character. If a prospective student
has a prior conviction this will be identified in the DOJ background check Conviction of a misdemeanor or felony may
indicate a lack of good moral character for eligibility purposes and will require a thorough review. Prospective
students should aim to expunge any potential problematic records. If the conviction is serious enough a clinical
facility may deny entry of the student to their facility. If the student is denied entry to multiple facilities, they will not
be able to complete the objectives of the DMS program.
Review the Compliance Policies and Review
Process from the ARDMS website.
Please check out the DMS program’s website
for all the latest information, including deadlines.
For more information or additional questions that are not addressed in this document, please contact Merced College’s
Counseling & Guidance Department
or visit the DMS program’s website.