Academics

• Overview
• Accreditation & Registration
• Program Requirements
• Program Effectiveness
• Physical Demands
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Career Information
• Paying for College

Program Effectiveness

Program Mission

The Mission of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program at Miami Dade College is to provide a comprehensive, sequential curriculum in diagnostic medical sonography and echocardiography fields. The curriculum was built on the foundation of the general education already acquired, in order to develop a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer and Echocardiographer, that is competent in knowledge, skills, behaviors, and ethical awareness needed to contribute positively to patient care and the broader health care community.

Goals and Objectives of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program

The goals and objectives of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program are:

1. To provide high quality educational experience, encouragement, and counseling conducive to an excellent learning environment for a progressive education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

2. To prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains in the following concentrations:

   • Abdominal Sonography-extended
   • Adult Cardiac Sonography (Echocardiography)
   • Obstetrics and Gynecology Sonography

3. To prepare a graduate who will...

   1. Perform at a minimum entry-level diagnostic medical sonographer with skills according to:
      • The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography’s (SDMS) scope of practice for the diagnostic medical sonographer
      • The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography’s (ARDMS) content specifications for their various examinations
      • The minimum Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
      • The mandatory competencies outlined by the Joint Review Commission on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS)
   2. Demonstrate an understanding of the Diagnostic Medical Sonographer’s role in relation to the function and organization of other allied health professions.
   3. Utilize effective oral and written communication with patients and colleagues.
   4. Demonstrate knowledge of physiology, pathology, and pathophysiology.
   5. Understand the basic principles of Diagnostic Medical Sonography and its disciplines.
   6. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of acoustic physics, Doppler ultrasound principles, and ultrasound instrumentation.
   7. Recognize and identify the sonographic appearance of normal anatomic structures associated with each learning concentration.
   8. Recognize and identify the sonographic appearance of abnormal anatomic structures associated with each learning concentration.
   9. Analyze diagnostic data and other pertinent observations for presentations to interpreting physicians.
   10. Integrate pertinent patient history and supporting clinical data to facilitate optimum diagnostic results.
   11. Interact in a professional manner with other health care personnel involved in the care of the patient.
   12. Recognize the importance of the patient in the provision of health care and provide patient care and comfort.
   13. Recognize the need for continued learning in order to adapt to changes within the profession of Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
   14. Achieve a passing grade on the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographer’s examinations.

The goals and objectives of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program are based on the “Standards and Guidelines of an Accreditation Educational Programs in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.”