Diagnostic Medical Sonography (Ultrasound)
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Hamad Ghazle, Program Director
www.rit.edu/cos/medical/diagnostic_medical.html
One of the fastest-growing areas in diagnostic medicine, diagnostic medical sonography is a noninvasive, nontoxic diagnostic medical imaging modality in which high-frequency sound waves are used to produce images of many different areas of the human body. Ultrasound is readily used to image the heart, blood flow, and abdominal organs as well as the developing fetus and male/female reproductive organs. The profession has grown rapidly in the last 20 years and is expected to continue to grow over the next several decades. Evaluation of the job market and a survey of employers indicate a strong demand for well-trained sonographers and echocardiographers.
RIT’s medical sonography program is one of only a few such degree programs in the nation. It offers both a bachelor of science degree in general ultrasound and two certificate options. The certificate options include a general track (abdomen/small parts and obstetrics and gynecology, with an introduction to vascular) and an echocardiography track. The program prepares students for application to schools of medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, podiatry, and chiropractic medicine. Students also can earn a certificate in health systems administration while completing their requirements. Additionally, graduates may choose to pursue a master’s or doctoral degree in a number of fields.
The intent of the program is to prepare students to be leaders in the field of ultrasound. Skills in administration and research are emphasized in addition to the development of scanning and diagnostic abilities. Students apply their theoretical knowledge and practice their skills in our dedicated ultrasound laboratory before their clinical internship. Upon successful completion of the program requirements, students are eligible to take a national certifying examination for abdominal, small parts, obstetrical, and gynecological ultrasound. Each candidate is also introduced to vascular ultrasound.
Graduates are prepared to pursue a variety of career options, nationally and internationally, in medical, industrial, and educational. Our graduates can be found in a wide range of positions, including supervisory and administrative, in hospitals, clinics, private physicians’ offices, teaching, research, sales, and industry. Graduates also can choose to work as freelance sonographers or for mobile services.
Requirements for the BS degree in general ultrasound
Students must meet the minimum requirements of the university as described in this bulletin and, in addition, must complete the curriculum requirements listed here or the equivalent, as determined and approved by the department of medical sciences. The BS degree is typically a four-year program, including clinical internship, unless the student has transfer credit from another institution. Associate degree holders may be able to complete a BS degree in two years; additional course work may be required. Contact the program director or the head of the department of medical sciences for further information on BS degree requirements.
Requirements for the certificate options
Each certificate option is a one-year course of study that includes lectures integrated with the clinical internship. Certain prerequisite courses must be completed before starting the clinical internship. Contact the program director for further information on prerequisite course work. The certificate options are available to all registered allied health practitioners as well as to those holding an associate or bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline.
Clinical internship
The clinical internship year (completed with a 20 percent tuition discount) provides hands-on experience at two or more medical facilities in upstate New York or at approved regional and national medical ultrasound facilities. All students begin the internship by attending an intensive five-week experience on campus. During this time, they learn how to perform complete sonographic and echocardiographic examinations and to recognize anatomy and disease states using equipment in the ultrasound laboratory. Students also learn about hospital departmental and administrative operations. After completing the requirements, candidates are assigned to a medical training site for clinical experience. At the medical facility, students work side by side with sonographers, echocardiographers, physicians, and other health care professionals to learn, develop, apply, and sharpen the necessary skills to perform general ultrasound and echocardiographic examinations. The students’ clinical progress and performance are monitored by the program’s clinical coordinator and program director who make periodic visits to the clinical internship sites. Additionally, students return to campus each month for three days of lectures, presentations, projects, and testing.
Accreditation
The program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
Diagnostic medical sonography (general ultrasound), BS degree, typical course sequence |
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| Qtr. Cr. Hrs. | ||
First Year |
General Biology 1001-201, 202, 203 | 9 |
| General Biology Lab 1001-205, 206, 207 | 3 | |
| General and Analytical Chemistry 1011-215, 216, 217 | 10 | |
| Chemistry I, II, III Labs 1011-205, 206, 207 | 3 | |
| Computers in Medicine 4006-230 | 4 | |
| Calculus for Management Science 1016-226 | 4 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 12 | |
| First-Year Enrichment 1105-051, 052 | 2 | |
| Wellness Education† | 0 | |
Second Year |
College Physics 1017-211, 212, 213 | 9 |
| College Physics Lab 1017-271, 272, 273 | 3 | |
| Introduction to Diagnostic Medical Imaging 1026-205 | 2 | |
| Medical Terminology 1026-301 | 3 | |
| Anatomy and Physiology 1026-350, 360 | 10 | |
| Data Analysis I 1016-319 | 4 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 12 | |
Third Year |
Cross-Sectional Anatomy 1030-412 | 4 |
| Ultrasound Instrumentation I, II 1030-409, 410 | 8 | |
| Pathophysiology 1026-415 | 4 | |
| Medical Genetics 1004-315 | 2 | |
| Patient Care 1026-333 | 2 | |
| Ultrasound Scanning 1030-559 | 4 | |
| University-wide Electives | 12 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 12 | |
Fourth Year (Internship) |
Introduction to Obstetrical Ultrasound 1030-552 | 3 |
| Gynecologic Ultrasound 1030-553 | 3 | |
| Abdominal Ultrasound I 1030-556 | 3 | |
| Clinical Ultrasound I 1030-570 | 7 | |
| Advanced Obstetrical Ultrasound 1030-554 | 4 | |
| Abdominal Ultrasound II 1030-557 | 3 | |
| Ultrasound Seminar 1030-560 | 2 | |
| Clinical Ultrasound II 1030-571 | 7 | |
| Small Parts Ultrasound 1030-558 | 3 | |
| General Vascular Evaluation 1030-414 | 4 | |
| Research Seminar 1030-561 | 2 | |
| Clinical Ultrasound III 1030-572 | 7 | |
| Total Quarter Credit Hours | 184 | |
* Please see Liberal Arts General Education Requirements for more information. † Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. |
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Diagnostic medical sonography (general track), certificate program, typical course sequence Must be completed before entering clinical internship* |
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| Qtr. Cr. Hrs. | ||
| Introduction to Diagnostic Medical Imaging 1026-205 | 2 | |
| Cross-Sectional Anatomy 1030-412 | 4 | |
| Ultrasound Instrumentation I, II 1030-409, 410 | 8 | |
| Pathophysiology 1026-415 | 4 | |
| Ultrasound Scanning 1030-559 | 4 | |
Internship |
Introduction to Obstetrical Ultrasound 1030-552 | 3 |
| Gynecologic Ultrasound 1030-553 | 3 | |
| Abdominal Ultrasound I 1030-556 | 3 | |
| Clinical Ultrasound I 1030-570 | 7 | |
| Advanced Obstetrical Ultrasound 1030-554 | 4 | |
| Abdominal Ultrasound II 1030-557 | 3 | |
| Ultrasound Seminar 1030-560 | 2 | |
| Clinical Ultrasound II 1030-571 | 7 | |
| Small Parts Ultrasound 1030-558 | 3 | |
| General Vascular Evaluation 1030-414 | 4 | |
| Research Seminar 1030-561 | 2 | |
| Clinical Ultrasound III 1030-572 | 7 | |
| Total Quarter Credit Hours | 70 | |
* Other prerequisites may apply. |
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Diagnostic medical sonography (echocardiography track), certificate program, typical course sequence Must be completed before entering clinical internship* |
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| Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology 1030-501 | 3 | |
| Echocardiography Scanning 1030-408 | 2 | |
| Electrophysiology and Cardiac Pharmacology 1030-420 | 3 | |
| Pathophysiology 1026-415 | 4 | |
| Ultrasound Instrumentation I 1030-409 | 4 | |
| Ultrasound Instrumentation II 1030-410 | 4 | |
Internship |
Echocardiography I 1030-501 | 3 |
| Ischemic Heart Disease: Stress Echo 1030-510 | 2 | |
| Cardiac M-Mode 1030-515 | 2 | |
| Clinical Echocardiography I 1030-520 | 7 | |
| Echocardiography II 1030-502 | 3 | |
| Congenital Heart Disease I 1030-530 | 2 | |
| Seminar in Echocardiography 1030-525 | 2 | |
| Clinical Echocardiography II 1030-521 | 7 | |
| Echocardiography III 1030-503 | 3 | |
| Congenital Heart Disease II 1030-565 | 2 | |
| Echocardiography Special Topics 1030-531 | 2 | |
| Clinical Echocardiography III 1030-522 | 7 | |
| Total Quarter Credit Hours | 62 | |
* Other prerequisites may apply. |
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