Jennifer Updyke, Program Director
Email address: updykejs@alfredstate.edu
Diagnostic medical sonography is a two-year AAS degree program preparing qualified students to become health care professionals who use high-frequency sound waves to produce anatomical images for diagnostic purposes. The program coordinates on-campus didactic and laboratory classes and clinical experiences at area hospitals, to which students are responsible for their own transportation.
Students must be able to demonstrate technical standards and pass clinical competencies as described by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS), and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), recognized by the United States Department of Education as the national accreditation agency of programs for sonography. Upon graduation, students are prepared to take the ARDMS SPI and Content Specialty Exams.
Clinical education is assigned to provide experiences consistent with the student's level of achievement in different hospital and outpatient environments. Through clinical assignments, students have opportunities to work with the most modern and specialized equipment available and knowledgeable staff with a wealth of experience in imaging. These assignments include a 10-week (40 hours per week) summer session that is required and provides valuable experience in developing clinical competency skills. In addition, 15 weeks of full-time clinical will be assigned in both fall and spring semesters of the second year of the program. Students will require housing close enough to their clinical placements to travel there on a daily basis.
The program currently admits 20 students each year, with a fall semester start date only. One student placement is reserved for an on-campus curriculum change, with the remaining 19 placements being filled by admissions.
Employment and continuing education rate of 100 percent – 100 percent are employed; 0 percent have continued their education.
Applicants for the diagnostic medical sonography program must possess a recognized high school diploma or its equivalent. A standardized test (SAT or ACT) is not required but recommended. Specific high school course requirements and recommendations are:
Required: Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2, Biology, Physics, Interview with the academic department.
Recommended: Chemistry
Applicants with previous college experience must submit an official college transcript and their success at the college level will be an admissions consideration. Due to the technical and science rigor, entrance requirements are higher than those of the institution.
To participate in the program, the applicant must possess specific non-academic skills. The technical standards described below are consistent with the duties of an entry-level radiographer in a professional position and are required in order to provide adequate patient care and produce a diagnostic image.
The applicant should have the:
The program allows graduates to transfer to a four-year program in imaging science or healthcare management.
Graduates may enter directly into either the healthcare management BTech, the interdisciplinary studies BTech, or technology management BBA degree program.
Grade of “C+” or better required for all SONO, BIOL and RADT prefix courses.
A tier 1 laptop computer is required for students entering this degree program. Laptop specifications are available at www.alfredstate.edu/required-laptops.
Students who believe they need a reasonable accommodation to properly participate in this program may contact Melanie Ryan in the Office of Accessibility Services. This office may be contacted by email at oas@alfredstate.edu or by phone at 607-587-4506. Please keep in mind that some accommodations may take time to implement, so students seeking accommodations are encouraged to contact OAS as early as possible.
TYPICAL FOUR-SEMESTER PROGRAM
First
| SONO | 1003 | Fundamentals Sonogrphy/Pt Care | 3 |
| RADT | 1003 | Radiation Physics | 3 |
| COMP | 1503 | Writing Studies | 3 |
| MATH | XXX3 | College Algebra or higher | 3 |
| BIOL | 1404 | Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 |
| 15 |
Second
| SONO | 2003 | Sectional Anatomy | 3 |
| SONO | 2013 | US Physics and Instrument I | 3 |
| SONO | 2021 | Sonographic Procedures I Lab | 1 |
| BIOL | 2504 | Anatomy & Physiology II | 4 |
| SONO | 2023 | Sonographic Procedures I | 3 |
| 15 |
Summer
| SONO | 3023 | Sonography Clinical I | 3 |
| 3 |
Third
| SONO | 3013 | US Physics & Instrument II | 3 |
| SONO | 3024 | Sonography Clinical II | 4 |
| SONO | 3033 | Sonographic Procedures II | 3 |
| BIOL | 4403 | Pathophysiology | 3 |
| SONO | 3031 | Sonographic Procedures II Lab | 1 |
| GLST | 2113 | Global & Diverse Perspectives | 3 |
| 17 |
Fourth
| SONO | 4024 | Sonography Clinical III | 4 |
| SONO | 4031 | Sonographic Procedures III Lab | 1 |
| SONO | 4043 | Sonographic Procedures III | 3 |
| SPCH | 1083 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| SONO | 4013 | Advanced Physics and Prob Solv | 3 |
| 14 |
Be advised that a prior felony conviction may impede a student’s ability to participate in a required clinical experience.
The AAS degree in diagnostic medical sonography has finely prescribed courses reflective of accreditation standards for students to be prepared for admission to the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) Certification Examination. Specific graduation requirements are:
