Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography

As you’re looking at schools for diagnostic medical sonography training, it’s imperative to ensure your education is holistically rooted. At Concordia, we’re passionate about preparing you to become more than just an ultrasound tech. By combining technical training with a liberal arts core and a Christian foundation, we'll prepare you to establish yourself as a key member of a healthcare team, committed to service and care for your patients, with a passion for lifelong learning. Take the next step in your career as a sonographer with one of our three DMS pathways:

• Our traditional bachelor's in DMS (for students seeking a degree)
• Certificate in diagnostic medical sonography (for those with a bachelor's degree who meet the prerequisites) 
• Online bachelor’s completion program (for those who've already completed an accredited DMS program)

Our traditional undergraduate degree in diagnostic medical sonography is designed to be completed in 4-years. During your freshman year, we'll work with you to ensure you meet the requirements to apply for our sonography program during your sophomore year. You’ll learn through hands-on clinical training at our on-campus ultrasound lab, and diverse clinical rotations to use high-tech instrumentation, including high-frequency sound waves, to create images of the human body to assist in medical diagnoses under the guidance of an interpreting physician.

Concordia’s DMS program ensures you'll be well-rounded with learning concentrations in the following subject areas: Abdomen Extended, OB/GYN, and Vascular Sonography. For those interested in Cardiac Sonography, you may apply for our partnership program with Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center School of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. By pairing on-campus classroom instruction, small class sizes, and hands-on clinical coursework conducted at our clinical affiliates, you can be confident Concordia is preparing you with a rich education filled with real-world opportunities for you to grow technically, professionally, and interpersonally.

Hear from our students

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the market (and salary) for sonographers is growing, and our goal is to help meet this need by preparing you to be competent in your skillset.

Students graduating with a bachelor's degree in diagnostic medical sonography have an opportunity to specialize in the following areas of sonography: obstetric and gynecologic, abdominal sonography, breast sonography, and vascular technology. Nearing successful completion of the sonography program, you'll be eligible to apply for credentialing examinations in the program concentrations through the following professional bodies: American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS), and American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).

We can proudly say 100% of graduates successfully obtain credentialing within one year of graduation with a 100% job placement rate within 6 months. Learn more about what to expect from Concordia’s DMS program on our DMS program outcomes tab.

Goals

• To prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for the following concentrations:
  • Abdominal Sonography - Extended
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology Sonography
  • Vascular Sonography
• To meet the need for entry-level sonographers.
• To further the mission of CUW by incorporation of our core values of Christ-Centered, Truth & Integrity, Excellence, and Service. This will be exhibited by our students being recognized for their superior knowledge, compassionate patient care, and clinical excellence.

Objectives

• To monitor the community needs for sonographers and respond to those needs.
• To monitor the practice of Sonography within our community and adjust our academic and clinical training to meet those needs.
• Facilitate, monitor, and support the implementation of best practices in sonography education.
• Develop an empathetic approach to the patient as a person, rather than a bearer of disease or injury.
• Acquaint the student with the emotional and technical aspects of being a member of a health care team.
• Incorporate meaningful relationships between didactic and clinical experiences.
• Provide a personalized curriculum within the guidelines of school policies and procedures.
• Foster an environment that enables students to master the skills necessary for functioning as a diagnostic medical sonographer.
• To have 80% of our graduates, as measured on a rolling 3 graduating class average, take and pass the ARDMS boards that the school is accredited for.
• To further the mission of our sponsoring institution, Concordia University of Wisconsin.

Learning outcomes

1. DMS students will apply Christian ethics to patient interactions.
2. DMS students will effectively provide patient care that recognizes and serves a diverse patient community.
3. DMS students will record, analyze, and process diagnostic data and other pertinent observations to provide high-quality information for interpreting physicians.
4. DMS students will demonstrate critical thinking and judgment in the performance of sonographic and/or related diagnostic services.
5. DMS students will demonstrate strong interpersonal skills with patients, supervising staff and team members, and interpreting physicians to improve patient outcomes and experience.
6. DMS students will integrate pertinent patient history and supporting clinical data to facilitate optimum diagnostic results to improve patient outcomes.