How to Get Started

To get started in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program, complete the admissions process at El Centro College. When you meet with an academic advisor, mention your interest in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program. He or she can help you determine which courses you should take.
 
Before you apply to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program, you must complete the entire 36-credit-hour Health Occupations Core Curriculum. That core curriculum includes selected general education support courses and six health care-related courses that provide students with an introductory knowledge of the theory and application of health care concepts.

Tuition

Dallas County residents pay $123 per three-hour class — that’s $41 per credit hour, or less than $500 for a full semester load of 12 credit hours. Compare that to what you’d pay elsewhere! See DCCCD tuition rates for tuition according to your place of residency.

Special Requirements

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program accepts 10 students every summer semester. These 10 students are selected from certificate applicants and those students pursuing an associate degree through the Health Occupations Core Curriculum.

The 10 top-ranking applicants from the pooled applicant group are selected as the Diagnostic Medical Sonography class. Selection is based on GPA, letters of recommendation and a personal interview. You must apply to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program by Dec. 31 of each year for classes that begin the following June.

If you hold a minimum of an associate or bachelor’s degree in a health-related field (such as radiography, nursing, respiratory care, or an M.D.), you may qualify to apply to the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program as a certificate applicant.

Someone who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in a science discipline (such as biology or physics) may also potentially qualify as a certificate applicant, but will be evaluated on an individual basis in order to determine patient care experience and knowledge of pharmacology, anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology. 

Potential certificate applicants should contact the El Centro Health Occupations Admissions Office (214-860-2029 or 214-860-2242) for specific application requirements. 

Courses Offered (Curriculum)

Our catalog provides detailed information about the courses we offer, including prerequisites, links to course descriptions and more.

Learn more about Diagnostic Medical Sonography courses and degree/certificate requirements.

Learning in the Classroom, Online and Through Clinical Experience

Students attend classroom sessions and get hands-on experience in the ultrasound scanning lab, also taking field trips for clinical experience and autopsies. El Centro students begin their clinical rotations the first week of class. (Clinical rotations are work-based learning experiences, where you are able to practice what you've learned in a real-life setting, under the supervision of a professional.)

Students rotate through metroplex hospitals, using a wide variety of ultrasound equipment. Each student’s clinical rotation includes a 300-plus-bed hospital, a 100-to-200-bed hospital, a children’s hospital and a specific obstetric rotation. Students also have open access to the college’s ultrasound scanning labs for additional scanning time. Students take oral, practical and written exams over each organ.

The Acoustical Physics and Ultrasound Advanced Topics courses are offered online.

Related Programs at DCCCD

Interested in the health care field? You might want to check out other health care-related programs at DCCCD such as Radiologic Sciences, Nursing or Surgical Technology.

Faculty Profiles

Our two faculty members at El Centro College have a wide range of professional ultrasound experience and have been actively involved in the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS). See profiles of our faculty.

Transferring From DCCCD

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Associate in Applied Sciences degree and Advanced Technical Certificate are designed for direct entry into the workforce.

However, if you are interested in earning a degree at a four-year institution, please visit the Transfer Services Web site for guidance on the transfer process.

Contact Us

If the information on our Web site doesn't answer all of your questions about the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program, please feel free to contact us.