Before you begin, you’ll need to meet key health and safety requirements set by our clinical partners. See what’s required and take your next step.
Diagnostic Medical Sonography
To begin, connect with an advisor who can guide you through program options and next steps, including the application process.
The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) program is designed for students who wish to explore the field of sonography, as well as those who have made a career decision to seek certification from the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS). Diagnostic medical sonographers are highly specialized members of the health care team who provide patient services using ultrasound under the direction of a physician. Sonographers provide care essential to diagnostic ultrasound imaging by operating equipment and performing examinations for medical diagnosis. Sonographers have an in-depth knowledge of physics, disease processes, physiology, cross-sectional anatomy, positioning and sonographic techniques necessary to create ultrasound images. Knowledge of darkroom techniques, equipment maintenance, record keeping, and film processing are also part of the job.
Careers in the field of diagnostic sonography can be found in hospitals, clinics, doctors' offices, and mobile imaging centers. Research, applications, teaching, and marketing may be available to sonographers who wish to explore careers in business or industry.
Educational information: Clinical affiliations include a cooperative effort with a number of area hospitals, clinics, and doctors' offices. Clinical training is required by the ARDMS prior to sitting for the registry examination. This program will prepare students for the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographer examinations in abdomen, obstetrics, and vascular technology.
Details
Field of Interest
Health Sciences
Degree Type
Certificate of Completion (CCL)
Academic Plan
Diagnostic Medical Sonography (CER)
Academic Plan Code
5656
Total credits required
78.5-89
Catalog Year
2026-2027
Effective Term
Fall 2026
Admission criteria
1. Formal application and admission to the program.
2. Background check requirements: Admission to an Allied Health program requires that students be in compliance with the Maricopa County Community College District Background Check Standards. Upon conditional program enrollment, the student must comply with all requirements of the MCCCD Background Check Policy and drug testing protocols.
3. Clinical health and safety requirements must be met. Upon conditional program enrollment, the student must comply with all requirements of the MCCCD Clinical Health and Safety Policy.
4. Inability to comply with background check requirements and/or clinical health and safety requirements at the start of classes may result in cancellation of enrollment.
5. There are limited spaces available in the DMS program. Only students who have completed all the general education and introductory courses noted above may have their name added to the queue of those waiting for an available space in a cohort.
Notes
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
Students must complete the following general education and introductory courses with a 3.0 GPA to be added to the queue of those waiting for an available cohort space to begin the core curriculum. BIO160 or (BIO201 and BIO202); ENG101 or ENG107, MAT150 or MAT151 or MAT152 or MAT155 or MAT156; and (PHY101 or PHY111).
Due to the requirements of the program accrediting body, this course of study requires many hours of classroom and clinical time. Full-time day students must submit application materials and be accepted prior to registering for the courses in the core curriculum. The full-time program is 22 months in length.
What You'll Learn
- Collect and interpret diagnostic information from the ultrasound exam.
- Obtain, review, and record pertinent patient history and supporting clinical data to facilitate optimal diagnostic results.
- Communicate effectively in a culturally responsive manner with patients and the healthcare team.
- Exercise professional and ethical behavior in a medical setting.
- Develop lifelong learning practices in sonography and healthcare.
Career Statistics
Successful completion of this certificate may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based wages* for this certificate. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
$58,140
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
$86,310
* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources
Course Sequence by Term
The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:
- Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
- The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
- Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
- Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
Full-time Sequence
Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO160 or BIO201 |
Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology or Human Anatomy and Physiology I | Students are required to take BIO160 or the sequence of BIO156 or BIO181, BIO201, & BIO202. One year of high school biology with a C or better is equivalent to BIO156 or BIO181. | NSI, SQ or NSI, SG | 4 | |
| ENG101 or ENG107 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC, WCM or FYC, WCM | 3 | ||
| MAT150 or MAT151 or MAT152 or MAT155 or MAT156 |
College Algebra/Functions or College Algebra/Functions or College Algebra/Functions or College Algebra/Functions with Review or College Algebra/Functions with Review | Or any approved general education course from the Mathematics area for which MAT15+ is a prerequisite. The following courses do not meet this requirement: MAT206, MAT256, MAT257. |
MA, QNR or MA, QNR or MA or MA, QNR or MA, QNR | 3–6 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO202 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | BIO202 should only be taken for students that completed BIO201.
Students are required to take BIO160 or the sequence of BIO156 or BIO181, BIO201, & BIO202. One year of high school biology with a C or better is equivalent to BIO156 or BIO181. |
SG | 0–4 | |
| DMS110 | Introduction to Diagnostic Sonography | Critical course | 3 | ||
| DMS120 | Ultrasound Imaging: Abdominal Procedures I | Critical course Gateway course | 3 | ||
| DMS120LL | Ultrasound Imaging: Abdominal Procedures I Laboratory | Critical course Gateway course | 1 | ||
| PHY101 or PHY111 |
Introduction to Physics or General Physics I | NSI, SQ or NSI, SQ | 4 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMS/ICE220 | Sectional Anatomy | 3 | |||
| DMS121 | Ultrasound Imaging: Abdominal Procedures II | 3 | |||
| DMS130 | Ultrasound Imaging: OB/GYN Procedures | Critical course Gateway course | 3 | ||
| DMS130LL | Ultrasound Imaging: OB/GYN Procedures Laboratory | Critical course Gateway course | 1 | ||
| DMS150 | Sonographic Principles and Instrumentation I | Critical course Gateway course | 3 | ||
| DMS150LL | Sonographic Principles and Instrumentation Laboratory | Critical course Gateway course | 1 | ||
| DMS155 | Introduction to Clinical Care for Sonography | 1 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMS140 | Ultrasound Case Studies: Part I | 2 | |||
| DMS161 | Introduction to Clinical Care for Sonography II | 1 | |||
| DMS162 | Clinical Preceptorship II-AB | 2 | |||
| DMS171 | Clinical Preceptorship III-AA | 2 | |||
| DMS172 | Clinical Preceptorship III-AB | 2 | |||
| DMS210 | Concepts of Vascular Imaging | Critical course Gateway course | 3 | ||
| DMS210LL | Concepts of Vascular Imaging Laboratory | Critical course Gateway course | 1 | ||
| DMS261 | Clinical Preceptorship IV-AA | 2 | |||
| HCC218 or RAD206 |
Venous Access for Diagnostic Agents and Pharmaceuticals or Pharmacology and Venipuncture | 0.5–1 |
Term 5
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMS225 | High Risk Obstetric/Gynecology Sonography | 2 | |||
| DMS235 | Ultrasound Breast Imaging | Optional: for students seeking a specialty area in sonography | 0–1 | ||
| DMS240 | Ultrasound Case Studies: Part II | 2 | |||
| DMS250 | Musculoskeletal Sonography and Small Parts | Optional: for students seeking a specialty area in sonography | 0–2 | ||
| DMS262 | Clinical Preceptorship IV-AB | 2 | |||
| DMS281 | Ultrasound Registry Preparation Seminar: Physics and Instrumentation | 1 | |||
| DMS286 | Advanced Vascular Technology | 3 |
Term 6
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMS241 | Ultrasound Case Studies: Part III | 2 | |||
| DMS263 | Vascular Clinical Preceptorship | 2 | |||
| DMS270 | Clinical Preceptorship V-AA | 2 | |||
| DMS271 | Clinical Preceptorship V-AB | 2 | |||
| DMS272 | Clinical Preceptorship V-AC | 2 | |||
| DMS282 | Ultrasound Registry Preparation Seminar: Abdominal and Small Parts Imaging | 1 | |||
| DMS283 | Ultrasound Registry Preparation Seminar: Obstetrics and Gynecology | 1 | |||
| DMS284 | Ultrasound Registry Preparation: Vascular Imaging | 1 |
Term 7
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMS255 | Abdominal Extended Sonography | 3 | |||
| DMS286LL | Advanced Vascular Technology Laboratory | 1 |
Course Area Key
Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.
Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.
- FYC = First-Year Composition
- MA = Mathematics
- NSI = Natural Sciences
- QNR = Quantitative Reasoning
- SG = Natural Sciences General
- SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
- WCM = Written Communication
Disclaimer
Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.
Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.
View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award at https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm11?id=16458891.
At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.
Previous Catalog Years
The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.
Previous catalog years for Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
While you’re on the waitlist, take time to explore courses, short-term programs, and scholarships that can help you reach your goals and keep you moving forward.
Explore your future in healthcare with resources that help you understand career paths, program requirements, and next steps so you can start preparing with confidence.