MCC student performing liver scan during ultrasound lab.
Enrollment Update: At this time, enrollment for Diagnostic Medical Sonography is closed. Enrollment for the Naperville Spring 2025 cohort will open January 2025. Enrollment for the LaSalle Fall 2025 cohort will open May 2025. Please reach out to an Admissions Counselor to discuss other program options.
Looking to start classes sooner? Here are alternative program suggestions that students like you have expressed interest in:
Midwestern Career College’s Associate of Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is designed to prepare students with the general education, applied knowledge, technical skills, and work habits required for entry-level positions in the diagnostic medical sonography field.
Diagnostic medical sonography utilizes high-frequency sound waves that produce images of organs, tissues and blood flow inside the body that help doctors diagnose patient illness. Sonographers typically work closely with patients and radiologists in health-care settings, including hospitals, diagnostic medical centers, mobile ultrasound companies, medical clinics, and physician’s offices.
The diagnostic medical sonographer utilizes medical ultrasound techniques to gather sonographic data used to diagnose a variety of conditions and diseases. Typical tasks include registering patients, setting up appointments, operating the systems and performing ultrasound procedures.
Coursework includes routine clinical procedures, patient care, equipment handling and operation, as well as a clinical externship needed to train students for entry-level sonographer positions.
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| Campus: | Study format: | Start date: |
|---|---|---|
| Naperville, IL | Hybrid | Spring 2025 |
| Chicago, IL Main Campus | Hybrid | Fall 2025 |
Diagnostic medical sonographers typically do the following:
What else does a diagnostic medical sonographer do? Find out more about this career in the video below.
https://www.careeronestop.org/Videos/careeronestop-videos.aspx?videocode=29203200
The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) recognizes Midwestern Career College’s Associate of Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography program as an approved educational program for ARRT’s sonography certification and registration. Graduates of our Associate of Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography are eligible to sit for ARRT’s sonography exam after demonstration of the required competencies. You can find MCC’s listing on the ARRT website here.
ARRT certification is also a recognized prerequisite for ARDMS examination (see prerequisite 5 on page two of this application guide).
Graduates of Associate of Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program may qualify to sit for the Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) certification through the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) if prior to admission into this program, he or she has graduated from:
Per ARDMS General Prerequisites guide, “prerequisite requirements are subject to change at any time and from time to time. Applicants must meet current prerequisite requirements at the time of application.” For detailed prerequisite information students should refer to ARDMS.org.
380 hours of externship are required for program completion.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment growth of 10% is projected from 2022–2032. The BLS also publishes data on career outlook and salary expectations. Check out job listings in the Chicagoland area for diagnostic medical sonographers on Indeed, Career Builder, Monster.com and Ziprecruiter.com
The Associate of Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography follows the recommendations of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) Cardiac-Interventional and Vascular-Interventional Curriculum Guide and the joint committee of the Association of Educators in Imaging and Radiological Sciences (AEIRS).
The curriculum addresses topics listed in the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) outline for the Sonography Principles and Instrumentation examination and follows the rules and regulations of the American College of Radiology (ACR).
Coursework includes classes such as:
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