Certificate in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Highly Skilled Sonography Graduates Help Patients
Our Diagnostic Medical Sonography Certificate (DMS), or general sonography program, encompasses clinical and didactic instruction in abdominal, obstetrical, gynecological, neonatal, neurosonography, and other related ultrasound specialties. As highly skilled professionals working under the supervision of a licensed physician, our sonography graduates are valued members of the health care team whose diagnostic skills help guide patients to the proper path of treatment.
The full-time, 15-month sonography certificate course of study includes Applied Anatomy and Physiology, Pathophysiology, Ultrasound Physics, Instrumentation and Applied Sonography. Clinical education is provided in active Radiology and Perinatal Testing departments equipped with the most advanced ultrasound equipment.
There are five degree and certificate options:
- B.S. in Medical Imaging with partner institutions
- Second B.S. option for those who hold a B.A. or B.S. degree
- Certificate in Diagnostic Medical Imagining
- Post-certificate B.S. completion program.
- Solo B.S. in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
- New Jersey’s only CAAHEP-accredited bachelor’s degree program
- Most graduates gain certification in Abdominal and Ob/Gyn ultrasound
- Ranked one of the best DMS programs nationally
- Consistently exceeds all benchmarks established by accrediting agency
- Faculty hold specialized certifications in the areas they teach
- Our affiliation with a diverse population of health care facilities provides students with a comprehensive experience in the practical application of current and emerging technologies.
The Rutgers School of Health Professions is fully accredited by the Commission of Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Our Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is also accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
9355 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
727-210-2350
The Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS)
6021 University Boulevard Suite 500
Ellicott City,MD 21043
443-973-3251
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is accredited for the learning concentrations of Abdomen-Extended and Obstetrics and Gynecology Sonography by JRC-DMS. The program also teaches some vascular sonography; many students can learn vascular examinations during clinical rotations.
However, this program is not accredited for the learning concentration of Vascular Sonography.
National Board Certification
Graduates of the program meet the educational requirements outlined under Prerequisite 2 of the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers ARMDS (www.ardms.org). The ARDMS conducts a “pre-application review,” for individuals who wish to determine the impact of a previous criminal matter on their eligibility to apply for ARDMS certification. This review process is recommended for individuals who have not yet applied or are contemplating enrollment in a sonography program that might have a previous criminal matter.
Applicants who anticipate the need for testing accommodations should contact the appropriate board certification organization to find out the documents required to request such an accommodation. All students in the program are required to sit for the national board certification examinations. The program is accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP.org). This accreditation allows students to sit for national registry examinations up to two months prior to graduation. Obtaining national registry credentials are essential to employment.
According to the US Department of Labor, employment of diagnostic medical sonographers is expected to increase by about 10% through 2032, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. The aging population will result in an increasing demand for diagnostic imaging. Healthcare providers are increasingly using ultrasound imaging as a safer and more cost-effective alternative to radiological procedures. Ultrasound imaging is a rapidly evolving field, resulting in many new sonographic procedures enabling sonographers to scan and image areas of the body where ultrasound has not been used traditionally. The median annual wage of diagnostic medical sonographers was $81,350 in May 2022.
http://www.bls.gov (search Diagnostic Medical Sonography)
Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program Goals
To prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for the abdomen-extended and obstetrics and gynecology sonography concentration, who are able to meet entry-level occupational demands.
Upon completion of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program, graduates will be able to:
- Obtain, review, and integrate pertinent patient history and supporting clinical data to facilitate optimum diagnostic results
- Perform appropriate procedures and record anatomic, pathologic, and/or physiologic data for interpretation by a physician
- Record, analyze, and process diagnostic data and other pertinent observations made during the procedure for presentation to the interpreting physician
- Exercise discretion and judgment in the performance of sonographic and/or other noninvasive diagnostic services
- Demonstrate appropriate communication skills with patients and colleagues
- Act in a professional and ethical manner
- Provide patient education related to medical ultrasound and/or other diagnostic vascular techniques, and promote principles of good health
- Develop and cultivate the confidence and responsibility needed to perform as a competent sonographer
- Understand and recognize the importance of adaptability
- Implement and perform diagnostic procedures adhering to acceptable departmental, institutional, governmental and professional standards
- Encompass strategies that assure professional development at a level of clinical practice consistent with acceptable standards
- Establish values and attitudes congruent with professional standards and ethics
- Demonstrate awareness of and operate within the Diagnostic Medical Sonographer’s scope of practice.
Application deadline is Jan. 15 for a Fall start.
The Department of Medical Imaging Sciences – Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program offers a joint Bachelor of Science Degree in Medical Imaging Sciences in collaboration with the following institutions:
- Bloomfield College
- Fairleigh Dickinson University
- Felician College
- Georgian Court College
- New Jersey City University
- Ramapo College of New Jersey
- Rutgers University – Newark
- College of Saint Elizabeth
The degree offers a unique combination of a liberal arts education and entry into the postgraduate health career of Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
- The first six semesters of liberal study are taken at the partner institution (approximately 90 semester hours). General education courses lead toward a concentration in biology with requirements in math, physics, chemistry and biology. The clinical track is selected in the late sophomore or early junior year through an application to Rutgers-SHP.
- Applicants must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.85 and have met or be scheduled to complete all prerequisite requirements prior to the planned date for enrolling in the fourth-year specialization coursework. A minimum grade of B- is required for Anatomy and Physiology I and II and Physics or the equivalent courses.
- Students admitted to the 4th year professional phase are selected by an Admissions Committee from among those applicants meeting these minimum standards.
- Medical Terminology is an essential foundation for the courses in the program. It is suggested that students accepted into the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program take a college level course or online certificate course prior to the start of the program in September.
TRANSPORTATION
Clinical affiliations are located throughout New Jersey. Students rotate to various clinical facilities. Although a student’s home address is considered, placement at clinical facilities is based on a number of factors. Students should be prepared to travel.
Selection of applicants for admission to the DMS program is a competitive process that is the responsibility of the program faculty/admissions committee. The Admissions Committee carefully reviews each application and only the most competitive applicants are invited for an interview.
Application deadline is March 1 – application and all required supportive documents.
Prospective students must have a baccalaureate degree (BS or BA) from an accredited United States University or College. Foreign graduates must also meet additional requirements.
Prerequisite Requirements
- Human Anatomy & Physiology* I (3-4 credits, no lab required)
- Human Anatomy & Physiology* II (3-4 credits, no lab required)
- Medical Terminology * (does not have to have college credits)
- College level Algebra or Statistics (3 credits)
- DXMS4160 – **Physics Concepts for Diagnostic Imaging Professional (SHP online certificate course) or any college level Physics course (2-4 credits)
- English (6 credits)
- A minimum grade of B- is required for Anatomy and Physiology I and II or the equivalent courses
- All students with a GPA of 2.85 and above are encouraged to apply. However, final consideration of GPA scores will depend on the pool of applicants.
- Suggested coursework: Introduction to Computers, knowledge of PowerPoint.
**Please click here for more information on this course or call 908-889-2521. To access the online registration form, click here
*It is recommended that these courses be completed within 5 years of application to program.
Foreign Educated Applicants
If you were educated outside of the United States, you must provide the following additional documents:
- Official transcripts mailed directly from the foreign school. The school will also accept an official transcript if sent by the applicant in a sealed school envelope.
- Official evaluation of your foreign transcript (grade by grade). You may obtain an evaluation by contacting World Education Services, Inc. at www.wes.org or by e-mail at info@wes.org.
- Official results of test scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam. Applicants must have a minimum TOEFL score of 90 on the Internet-based exam with minimum individual element scores of: reading 20, listening 20, speaking 26, and writing 24. the computer-based exam minimum score is 233 (equivalents of internet-based scores).
Selection of applicants for admission to the DMS program is a competitive process that is the responsibility of the program faculty/admissions committee. The Admissions Committee carefully reviews each application and only the most competitive applicants are invited for an interview.
Application deadline is March 1 – application and all required supportive documents.
This option is designed for applicants with a minimum of 60 college credits, or a graduate of an accredited 2-year allied health program. Applicants for this option must have completed either prerequisite 1 or 2 and the specific courses listed below.
Prerequisite requirements:
*Human Anatomy & Physiology II (3-4 credits, no lab required)
*Medical Terminology (does not have to have college credits)
Algebra or Statistics (3 credits)
**DXMS4160 – Physics Concepts for Diagnostic Imaging Professional (SHP online certificate course) or Any college level Physics course
(2-4 credits)
English (6 credits)
*It is recommended that these courses be completed within 5 years of application to program.
A minimum grade of B- is required for Anatomy and Physiology I and II or the equivalent courses.
All students with a GPA of 2.85 and above are encouraged to apply. However, final consideration of GPA scores will depend on the pool of applicants.
Foreign Educated Applicants:
If you were educated outside of the United States, you must provide the following additional documents:
Official transcripts mailed directly from the foreign school. The school will also accept an official transcript if it is sent by the applicant but is in a sealed school envelope.
Official evaluation of your foreign transcript (grade by grade). You may obtain an evaluation by contacting World Education Services, Inc., at www.wes.org or by e-mail at info@wes.org.
Official results of test scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam. Applicants must have a minimum TOEFL score of 90 on the Internet-based exam with minimum individual element scores as follows: Reading 20, Listening 20, Speaking 26, and Writing 24. The Computer-Based exam minimum score is 233 (equivalents of Internet-Based Scores).
TRANSPORTATION
Students must have the ability to travel to and from clinical sites and the Scotch Plains Campus within a limited time frame.
Students must also meet the General Standards for Allied Health Education of Rutgers-SHP. These standards concern observational abilities, communication, intellectual/conceptual abilities, motor coordination, and behavioral and social skills.
Students accepted into the program must complete a CPR course for Allied Health Professionals prior to entering the program.
Diagnostic Medical Sonography – Professional Curriculum
Clinical Affiliations
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program provides clinical experiences with varied populations in a wide variety of health care settings by utilizing a large number of health care facilities throughout NJ and NY. Students complete clinical rotations in a variety of facilities. These facilities include:
Atlantic Maternal Fetal Medicine, Overlook, NJ
Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel, NJ
Centra State Health Care System – Freehold, NJ
Doctor’s Office Center – Newark, NJ
Hackensack University Medical Center – Hackensack, NJ
Holy Name Hospital – Teaneck, NJ
Jersey City Medical Center, Jersey City, NJ
Jersey Shore University Medical Center – Neptune, NJ
Medical Center at Princeton – Princeton, NJ
Morristown Memorial Hospital – Morristown, NJ
Mountainside Hospital – Montclair / Glen Ridge, NJ
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center – Newark, NJ
Ocean Medical Center – Brick, NJ
Overlook Hospital – Summit, NJ
Robert Wood Johnson UH – New Brunswick, NJ
Saint Barnabas Ambulatory Care Center – Livingston, NJ
Saint Barnabas Medical Center – Livingston, NJ
Saint Clare’s Hospital – Denville, NJ
Saint Clare’s Hospital – Dover, NJ
Saint Peter’s University Hospital – New Brunswick, NJ
Somerset Medical Center – Somerville, NJ
University Hospital – Newark, NJ
Please note: the above list is subject to change.
TRANSPORTATION
Clinical affiliations are located throughout New Jersey. Students rotate to various clinical facilities. Although a student’s home address is considered, placement at clinical facilities is based on a number of factors. Students should be prepared to travel.
Please refer to program-specific admissions criteria for specific required prerequisite courses.
For more information, call 908-889-2521 or email SHP-DMS-info@shp.rutgers.edu.
State Authorization and Professional Licensure Disclosure:
- The Rutgers School of Health Professions Certificate and BS in Diagnostic Medical Sonography meets the professional licensing requirements of the following states: ND, NH, NM, OR
- All states not listed above, to the best of our knowledge, do not require professional licensure to practice within our profession.
Updated: June 30, 2020
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