Sonography is a diagnostic medical procedure that uses sound waves sent through the body to visualize internal organs and structures. It is part of a sonographers’ job to be able to use a sonogram machine and interpret the images created. To become a sonographer in the United States, getting an educational degree in ultrasonography from accredited ultrasound schools is the first step, followed by certification by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS).
Sonography education
A student can earn three kinds of degrees in ultrasound technology: certificate, associate, and baccalaureate. Certificate degrees are completed in 12 months time. A student enrolling in a certificate program is required to have previous experience with sonography, usually graduates of similar health care related courses.
Associate degrees are completed in two-years, requiring the student to have completed all general education subjects in the university or college before enrolment. This program is usually taken by shiftees or students who shift from one course to another in the same college. Baccalaureate programs are regular college degrees that are completed in four years. This includes lectures and hands-on training in the clinical set up.
There are approximately 200 schools accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) that offers any or all of these programs online and offline. Listed below are five schools that offer baccalaureate programs in the United States (a complete list here).
1. University of Missouri
The University of Missouri – nicknamed Mizzou – was founded in 1839 in Columbia, Missouri. It was the first public university west of the Mississippi and the first state university in the area. It is also the largest public research university in the state. Mizzou offers a baccalaureate Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound (DMU program), completed in four years.
2. Bryan College of Health Sciences
Bryan College of Health Sciences offers purely health care related degrees, including a degree diagnostic medical sonography. They offer regular courses in the college as well as distance education through on-line programs and classes. They offer a Diagnostic Medical Sonography baccalaureate program, as well as a specialization program for Cardiac and Vascular Sonography.
3. Nova Southeastern
Nova Southeasters was established in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in around 1964. It was classified as a research university with high research activity with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and is one of only 37 universities awarded Carnegie’s Community Engagement Classification. NSU offers Diagnostic Medical Sonography programs with four areas of specialization: general (RDMS), cardiac (RDCS), vascular (RVT), and musculoskeletal (MSK).
4. University of Arkansas – Fort Smith
Home to over 7,100 students, the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith is dedicated to equipping graduates with necessary training for social, educational, and professional accomplishment and success. The College of Health Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science in Imaging Sciences – Diagnostic Medical Sonography program with 41 credit hours and 9 credit hours for general education.
5. Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University is located in Jonesboro, Arkansas, founded in 1909. It is a public university with over 14,000 students each year and 1,500 faculty and staff. The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at ASU is part of the Department of Health Professions in the College of Nursing and Health Professions. A specialization in Abdominal and Obstetrics-Gynecology is also available.
The list on the website shows all the accredited ultrasound schools in the United States by 2013 and 2014. With all these universities (and much more) offering varying degrees in ultrasound education, find a quality program is not difficult at all.
Associate degrees are completed in two-years, requiring the student to have completed all general education subjects in the university or college before enrolment. This program is usually taken by shiftees or students who shift from one course to another in the same college. Baccalaureate programs are regular college degrees that are completed in four years. This includes lectures and hands-on training in the clinical set up.
There are approximately 200 schools accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) that offers any or all of these programs online and offline. Listed below are five schools that offer baccalaureate programs in the United States (a complete list here).
1. University of Missouri
The University of Missouri – nicknamed Mizzou – was founded in 1839 in Columbia, Missouri. It was the first public university west of the Mississippi and the first state university in the area. It is also the largest public research university in the state. Mizzou offers a baccalaureate Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound (DMU program), completed in four years.
2. Bryan College of Health Sciences
Bryan College of Health Sciences offers purely health care related degrees, including a degree diagnostic medical sonography. They offer regular courses in the college as well as distance education through on-line programs and classes. They offer a Diagnostic Medical Sonography baccalaureate program, as well as a specialization program for Cardiac and Vascular Sonography.
3. Nova Southeastern
Nova Southeasters was established in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in around 1964. It was classified as a research university with high research activity with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and is one of only 37 universities awarded Carnegie’s Community Engagement Classification. NSU offers Diagnostic Medical Sonography programs with four areas of specialization: general (RDMS), cardiac (RDCS), vascular (RVT), and musculoskeletal (MSK).
4. University of Arkansas – Fort Smith
Home to over 7,100 students, the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith is dedicated to equipping graduates with necessary training for social, educational, and professional accomplishment and success. The College of Health Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science in Imaging Sciences – Diagnostic Medical Sonography program with 41 credit hours and 9 credit hours for general education.
5. Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University is located in Jonesboro, Arkansas, founded in 1909. It is a public university with over 14,000 students each year and 1,500 faculty and staff. The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at ASU is part of the Department of Health Professions in the College of Nursing and Health Professions. A specialization in Abdominal and Obstetrics-Gynecology is also available.
The list on the website shows all the accredited ultrasound schools in the United States by 2013 and 2014. With all these universities (and much more) offering varying degrees in ultrasound education, find a quality program is not difficult at all.