General Information
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program prepares the student to function as a medical sonographer. The diagnostic medical sonographer performs sonographic examinations using high-frequency sound waves to visualize soft tissue structures, including the gall bladder, kidneys, pregnant uterus, and other organs as requested by the physician. For the vast majority of diagnostic procedures, the sonographer has total responsibility for the care and well-being of the patient and must be prepared to produce quality images with care and empathy.
As the first accredited Diagnostic Medical Sonography program in the state of Texas, the El Centro College Diagnostic Medical Sonography program has maintained a highly respected reputation for excellence since its inception. The program at El Centro has drawn international attention, attracting students from various parts of the world.
Mission Statement
The El Centro College Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is committed to quality didactic and clinical education in general sonography. Our goal is to prepare students to live, work and be of service in a diverse, global society.
Program Goals
Our goal is to educate entry level sonographers in the specialties of Accoustical Physics, Abdomen, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Vascular Sonography. The program prepares the graduate to successfully complete the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography National Certification Examination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the deadline date for application to the program?
December 31 of each year. The classes begin in June.
Q: Is El Centro College an accredited institution?
Q: Is the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program accredited?
Q: How is the quality of the program maintained?
The Advisory Board of El Centro, which meets twice each year to review the program and curriculum, is composed of area sonographers, equipment salespersons, hospital administrators, and current and past students. The Advisory Board also has two area radiologists as co-medical directors.
Q: What are some of the accomplishments of past graduates?
Some past El Centro Diagnostic Medical Sonography graduates' accomplishments include:
- Serving as North Texas Ultrasound Society president and officers.
- Becoming independent company owners.
- Serving as clinical instructors for El Centro.
- Completing additional Registries taken in vascular, neonatal heads, and cardiac.
- Serving as El Centro Continuing Education instructors in vascular and Registry review classes.
- Serving as Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers committee volunteers.
- Earning additional college credit hours and bachelor's and doctorate degrees.
- Becoming ultrasound department directors.
- Completing Medical School.
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is a full-time day program comprised of lecture, skills lab, and clinical experience in anatomy and physiology, patient care procedures, ultrasound physics, principles of imaging, medical terminology, positioning of patients, medical ethics, and pathology.
These sonography courses are conducted during the day time hours only, 5 days per week. The program is rigorous, and students who plan to work or who have significant family responsibilities are encouraged to plan their schedules to accommodate the time commitment that this program demands.
The demands of the sonography courses suggest that most students will not be able to work full time while enrolled in these courses. Students who plan to work or who have significant family responsibilities are encouraged to plan their schedules to accommodate the time commitment that this program demands.
The curriculum patterns of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program may be viewed online by visiting the Certificate and Associates Degree links on the left.
Q: Where may I take the Specialized Imaging Core Curriculum (prerequisite) support courses besides El Centro College?
Many of the Imaging Core courses may be completed at DCCCD campuses and other colleges and universities. Courses completed outside the DCCCD must be approved for transfer credit prior to application to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program. HPRS courses are offered only at El Centro and Northlake campuses of the DCCCD.
Q: May I transfer credit from a college or university outside the United States?
Consideration of courses for transfer credit from colleges and universities outside the United States will be limited to science and math coursework completed less than five years prior to program admission only. Science coursework must have been completed less than five years prior to program admission.
Before foreign credentials will be considered for transfer credit, the student must arrange the evaluation of transcripts and related documentation by a professional evaluation agency. After the professional evaluation is complete, the student must then submit the original documentation and a certified English translation to the Health Occupations Admissions Office with course descriptions or syllabi of each course to be considered. The student is responsible for all costs of the evaluation and translation of foreign credentials.
Evaluations of foreign credentials completed by individuals or professional evaluation agencies are subject to review and approval by the Director of Admissions and Registrar.
Q: Do I have to have all of the Imaging Core Curriculum (prerequisite courses) done prior to application to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program?
YES, you must have completed the entire 34-credit hour Imaging Core Curriculum before you may submit application materials to the program.
Q: Is there a time limit on Science and Math coursework?
All science courses submitted for program credit must be completed no more than five years prior to program admission to the program. In certain circumstances a waiver of the time limit may be considered. See the program information packet for details.
Q: Is there any provision for credit by examination or other alternatives to repeating a course?
CLEP, DANTES, and Credit by Examination may also be completed in lieu of repeating a course. CLEP, DANTES, and Credit by Examination are available to a student enrolled at a DCCCD campus, but may not be requested for courses in which the student is currently enrolled.
Credit for a CLEP, DANTES, or Credit by Examination will be considered only if a documented letter grade or numerical score is presented for evaluation. For more information regarding the acceptance of CLEP, DANTES, and Credit by Examination, please contact the Health Occupations Admissions Office.
The CLEP exam for English 1301 is not accepted by the Dallas County Community College District, however, credit for previous work may be considered. For more information concerning English 1301 credit, contact the Communications/Math/ Developmental Studies Division at El Centro College.
Q: What if I plan to transfer to a four-year institution?
Q: How do I get to the clinical sites?
Students are responsible for providing their own transportation. It is necessary to consider transportation costs to the college, as well as hospitals throughout the city. Students are responsible for any parking fees.
El Centro students enrolled in at least 6 credit hours during the Fall and Spring semesters and at least 4 credit hours during Summer semesters are eligible for a free DART bus and light rail pass during those semesters.
Q: When do the students begin clinical rotations?
Although sonography students begin the program in June, they begin their hospital rotations the first week of class in the following fall semester. Students rotate through metroplex hospitals, using a wide variety of ultrasound equipment. After completing the required clinical rotations, they may choose specialty areas such as a vascular rotation.
Each student's clinical rotation include a 300+ bed hospital, a 100-200 bed hospital, a children's hospital rotation, and a specific obstetric rotation. In order to achieve a 1:1 student /teacher ratio, one student is assigned to each clinical site.
Students also have open access to the college ultrasound scanning labs for additional scanning time. Students take oral, practical, and written exams over each organ.
Q: Does El Centro College have on-campus housing?
No, El Centro College is located in the heart of downtown Dallas. Students are responsible for providing their own housing.
Q: What if I become ill during the program?
Students who must be absent from clinical experience due to a physical or mental illness, surgery, or pregnancy will be required to obtain a written physician release before returning to the clinical setting. Students anticipating surgery or delivery of a baby, who will require a longer recuperation period before a physician release can be obtained, are urged to wait to enroll in the program.
Q: Do I need a physical examination prior to entering the program?
Yes. The pre-entrance physical examination and immunization record form is submitted with all application materials by the December 31st deadline.
Q: Do I need to be CPR certified?
All students must be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the "Healthcare Provider" level. A copy of the current CPR card must be submitted with program application materials by the December 31st deadline. CPR classes are available through the El Centro College Continuing Education Division, the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, various hospitals, etc.
Q: Do I need liability insurance?
All Health Occupations students pay liability insurance fees.
The student blanket professional liability policy covers students while they are participating in clinical activities that are a part of, and a requirement of, the student's curriculum. The student professional liability insurance does not cover students when employed in the hospital. The student liability insurance policy expires upon date of graduation. Students are not allowed in the clinical setting if their tuition and fees have not been paid.
Q: What are the physical demands of the profession?
Essential requirements, as distinguished from academic standards, refer to those cognitive, physical, and behavioral abilities that are necessary for satisfactory completion of all aspects of the curriculum.
- Essential abilities in information acquisition - the ability to master information presented in the course work in the form of lectures, written material, and projected images.
- Cognitive abilities necessary to master relevant content in basic science and clinical courses at a level deemed appropriate by the faculty.
Because medical sonographers deal with the public, a neat, well-groomed appearance and a courteous, pleasant demeanor are needed. They must be good at putting patients at ease, listening to patients, and explaining instructions. Conscientiousness and respect for the confidential nature of medical information are required.
Students in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program will be required to lift patients while in the hospital setting. The student be able to stand on his/her feet for two to three hour periods of time and be able to reach across patients while scanning. Students are required to view a CRT screen and interpret results from the recorded image. This includes color monitoring, and listening to a doppler signal.
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography student must be able to safely and accurately perform all aspects of the procedures:
- Sufficient upper and lower body coordination to safely handle equipment, as well as assist in transferring and transporting patients and performing CPR.
- Able and willing to work with blood and body fluids, and with organisms that may be infectious.
- Emotional stability required for full utilization of his/her intellectual abilities.
- Able to work accurately and safely under stress, e.g., work under time constraints; read and record numbers accurately; perform repetitive tasks; concentrate in distracting situations; and make subjective evaluations and decisions where mistake may have a high impact on patient care.
- Able to adapt to changing environments and be able to prioritize tasks.
- Able to communicate effectively in written and spoken English in order to transmit information to members of the health care team.
- Ability to make a correct judgment in seeking supervisory help and consultation in a timely manner.
- Possess attributes that include integrity, responsibility, and tolerance.
- Show respect for self and others.
- Work independently as well as with others.
- Project an image of professionalism.
- The student will be required to lift and move patients, as well as push, pull and lift heavy equipment.
- Be able to stoop, bend and stand for long periods of time.
- In emergency situations, be able to move very quickly.
- Be able to perform multiple psychomotor skills.
- Develop and use multiple interpersonal relationship skills and be able to function in highly stressful situations.
Latex Advisory: Latex products are used in health care professions. They occur with universal precautions and in environments such as, but not limited to, Health Occupations classrooms and labs, hospitals, nursing care facilities, laboratories, clinical areas, and medical/dental offices. Individuals with latex allergies should seek expert advice from their health care provider to receive information necessary for an informed decision regarding their exposure to latex in the health care professions.
All clinical facilities require all students attending their facility have a current Drug and Background Screen. The prescreening requirements are the same as those required of employees. All screens must be conducted after admission to the clinical program, but within 30 days prior to the start of the agency rotation. Verification of the satisfactory results must be received by the participating hospital prior to the student's rotation start date, and will be honored by all hospitals for the duration of the student's enrollment in the clinical program if the participating student has not had a break in the enrollment at the college.
The student is solely responsible for payment of all fees at the time of the screens (approximately $84). All reports and findings from the Background and Drugs screens will be reported directly to El Centro College Health Occupations Administration. The results of the screening can prevent clinical placement.
The rationale for the screening is that of due diligence and competency assessment of all individuals whose assignments bring them in contact with patients or employees. Competency extends beyond technical skills to an individual's criminal and substance abuse history. This approach ensures uniform compliance with Joint Commission standards pertaining to human resource management.
Note: Should a student accepted to a health occupations program be prohibited from attending a clinical rotation experience due to findings of a criminal background check and/or drug screening, the student may be dismissed form the health occupations program.
For more information regarding the criminal background check and drug testing requirements, please contact Ms. LaCheeta McPherson, Associate Dean of Allied Health by phone at 972.860.5097 or e-mail (lmcpherson@dcccd.edu).
Q: How large is the class size?
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program accepts ten (10) students each June. These ten students are selected from a pooled applicant group of certificate applicants and those students pursuing the Associate Degree through the Specialized Imaging Core Curriculum. The ten top ranking applicants from the pooled applicant group are selected as the Diagnostic Medical Sonography class. Selection is based on Imaging Core Curriculum GPA, HESI scores, and a personal interview. Students will be assigned clinical experience at various hospitals in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Q: Are there any Board examinations?
Immediately upon successful completion of the Associate degree or certificate option program, students are eligible to take the abdomen, ob/gyn, and physics American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers national examinations. No additional clinical hours are required after graduation.
No states require licensing at this time, but employers may require the sonographer to be registered (successful completion of the ARDMS examination).
Q: Are there any courses I should take in high school to help me prepare?
Some courses that you will find helpful are:
- English
- Psychology
- Speech
- Math (algebra)
- Spanish
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Physics
- Health
- Typing/keyboarding
- Business machines
- Basic computer skills
- First aid and CPR
If you would like to visit a Diagnostic Medical Sonography scanning lab or visit a Diagnostic Medical Sonography class, please call Jan Blend at 972.860.5053, or email Jan Blend at jblend@dcccd.edu. Jan's office number is P317. Pam Crawford is the Sonography Clinical Coordinator and can be reached at: at 972.860.5055 or email pcrawford@dcccd.edu. Her office number is P320.
Q: Whom do I contact for more information?
We have a list of contacts available. On our Contact Us page.
You may also download an information packet. The file is in PDF format and requires Adobe Reader software, downloadable free from Adobe.
NOTE: The El Centro College Health/Legal and Continuing/Workforce Education Division reserves the right to make changes in program enrollment capacity. Program guidelines are subject to change. Students are advised to obtain the latest program information from the Health Occupations Admissions Office, located at The Center for Allied Health and Nursing, 301 North Market Street, Dallas, Texas 75202, Room P-101.
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