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Diagnostic Sonography Curriculum

The Diagnostic Sonography program offers students an opportunity to become experts in the field. By fusing educational courses with hands-on learning and clinical experience, students will gain the knowledge they need to not only become a registered sonographer, but a vital resource to patient care.

Application

Students interested in the Diagnostic Sonography program are encouraged to apply by November 15.

Apply

closeup of ultrasound procedure at Methodist Hospital

 

Pre-requisite Education Areas

  • Core Communication, two content areas (2 courses, 6 credit hrs)
    • Reading, Writing, & Inquiry I
    • Fundamentals of Speech Communication
  • Cultural Understanding (1 course, 3 credit hrs)
    • Elective from Cultural Understanding List
  • Arts/Humanities and Social Sciences, two content areas (3 courses, 9 credit hrs)
    • Introduction to Psychology
    • One elective from Approved Arts/Humanities List
    • One elective from Approved Arts/Humanities OR Social Sciences List
  • Analytical Reasoning, 1 content area (2 courses, 6 credit hrs)
    • Algebra and Trigonometry I
    • Algebra and Trigonometry II

    OR

    • Choice of 6 credit hours if physics requirement is satisfied
    • Finite Mathematics, Brief Survey of Calculus 1, Precalculus
  • Life and Physical Sciences, 1 content area (2 courses, 6 credit hrs min)
    • Human Anatomy
    • Human Physiology
  • General Physics, 1 content area (1 course, 4 credit hrs)
    • General Physics or Radiography Principles*
    *For Radiography graduates only
  • Medical Terminology, 1 content area (1 course, 1 credit hr min)
    • Medical Terminology (RADI-R 108)
    • Medical Terms from Greek and Latin
    • Medical Terminology (HIM-M 330)
  • Medical Profession Coursework (1 course, 3 credit hrs)
    • Introduction and History of Medical Imaging Sciences

    *Medical Imaging, Nuclear Medicine Technology and Radiation Therapy credentials exempt

Program Graduation Requirements

Students of the Diagnostic Sonography program will be required to complete the following in order to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Diagnostic Sonography.
  1. Successful completion of all General Education Core Curriculum and pre-requisite course work. 
  2. Successful completion of all professional didactic, laboratory and clinical course work with a grade of “C” or better.
  3. Demonstrate competency in a full range of sonographic exams pertaining to the learning concentration. 
  4. Act in a professional and ethical manner and in compliance with the professional scope of practice 

Graduates receive a Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Sonography degree and are eligible to take the Sonography Principles and Instrumentation, Abdomen/Small Parts, or Adult Echocardiography exams offered by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).

Clinical Rotations

  • Overview
    The diagnostic sonography clinical faculty is responsible for determining appropriate clinical experience assignments for each student. Students are responsible for transportation to and from clinical rotations each semester. Students will rotate to numerous sites of varying type and size throughout the two-year program. Students will be assigned to visit and observe numerous clinical sites during their first summer semester. After the first summer semester, students will rank the clinical sites they visited. The Program Director and Clinical Coordinator will do their best to place students at their top selected clinical sites for the remainder of the program.
  • Clinical Hours
    Clinical course hours for weekday assignments are 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. but can vary upon clinical site request. Students are allowed ½ hour lunch per 8-hour shift. There will be no lunch break for a half clinical day. Clinical days will vary depending on each semester’s schedule.
  • Observed Holidays

    Students are not required to report to their clinical site during Program observed holidays and breaks. Generally, students are given time off for the following days:

    • Semester Break between Summer and Fall semesters
    • Labor Day
    • Fall Break (as designated by the Program Director)
    • Thanksgiving Break
    • Semester Break between Fall and Spring semesters
    • MLK Day
    • Spring Break
    • Summer Break between Spring and Summer semesters (Summer start as designated by Program Director)
    • Memorial Day
    • Juneteenth Day
    • Fourth of July
  • Prerequisite Immunizations and Health Insurance

    Students entering the Diagnostic Sonography Program are required to document proof of health insurance and compliance in a physical health screening, background check, drug screen, TB test, fit testing, flu shot, and numerous other immunizations (Hepatitis B, Meningitis, MMR, Tdap, Td, Varicella) annually. Due to the length of the immunization process for Hepatitis B, a student may attend fall semester clinic (if at least 1 dose out of 3 has been given) but must show proof of completion of the Hepatitis B series by the beginning of the spring semester. The Health Professions Program (HPP), in conjunction with the Student Campus Health office, documents student compliance with all these policies.

    The HPP office can address any questions about paperwork or compliance with this policy. The HPP office is located on the IU Indianapolis campus in the Van-Nuys Medical Science Building at 635 Barnhill Drive, Room 203, Indianapolis, IN 46202. Contact them at (317) 278-4752. At the end of the spring semester of the first year, students will be required to meet the same compliance issues for the second year of the program.

Professional Courses for the Medical Sonography Track

Junior Summer II

Description

Course

Credits

Sonography Orientation

RADI-S 410

2.0

Medical Sonography Lab Fundamentals

RADI-S 430

3.0

Medical Sonography Clinical Practicum Introduction

RADI-S 450

1.0

Total Credits

 

6.0

Junior Fall

Medical Sonography Procedures I

RADI-S 420

4.0

Medical Sonography Lab I

RADI-S 431

3.0

Sonographic Physical Principles I

RADI-S 440

3.0

Medical Sonography Clinical Practicum I

RADI-S 451

3.0

Total Credits

 

13.0

Junior Spring

Medical Sonography Procedures II

RADI-S 421

4.0

Medical Sonography Lab II

RADI-S 432

3.0

Sonographic Physical Principles II

RADI-S 441

3.0

Medical Sonography Clinical Practicum II

RADI-S 452

3.0

Total Credits

 

13.0

Senior Summer

Medical Sonography Clinical Practicum III

RADI-S 453

6.0

Total Credits

 

6.0

Senior Fall

Medical Sonography Lab III

RADI-S 433

1.0

Medical Sonography Professional Life

RADI-S 460

3.0

Medical Sonography Clinical Practicum IV

RADI-S 454

4.0

Total Credits

 

8.0


Professional Courses for the Echocardiography Track

Junior Summer II

Description

Course

Credits

Sonography Orientation

RADI-S 410

2.0

Echocardiography Lab Fundamentals

RADI-E 430

3.0

Echocardiography Clinical Practicum Introduction

RADI-E 450

1.0

Total Credits

 

6.0

Junior Fall

Echocardiography Procedures I

RADI-E 420

4.0

Echocardiography Lab I

RADI-E 431

3.0

Sonographic Physical Principles I

RADI-S 440

3.0

Echocardiography Clinical Practicum I

RADI-E 451

3.0

Total Credits

 

13.0

Junior Spring

Echocardiography Procedures II

RADI-E 421

4.0

Echocardiography Lab II

RADI-E 432

3.0

Sonographic Physical Principles II

RADI-S 441

3.0

Echocardiography Clinical Practicum II

RADI-E 452

3.0

Total Credits

 

13.0

Senior Summer

Echocardiography Clinical Practicum III

RADI-E 453

6.0

Total Credits

 

6.0

Senior Fall

Echocardiography Lab III

RADI-E 433

1.0

Echocardiography Professional Life

RADI-E 460

3.0

Echocardiography Clinical Practicum IV

RADI-E 454

4.0

Total Credits

 

8.0


Upon graduation, students will have demonstrated and completed all clinical and academic competencies required for eligibility to take the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) certification exam in the concentration of study.