Structure of the Professional Program
Classes are held during the day. Clinical experience is scheduled in cooperation with the clinical site during normal daytime hours.
Design of the Professional Curriculum
Lectures, lab, and clinical experiences are integrated throughout the program.
Opportunity for Students to Work
Students may find full-time employment during the professional year difficult.
Description of Facilities
The classroom and offices of the radiologic sciences—DMS program are located in the Dunes Medical/ Professional Building at IU Northwest. Clinical experience is provided at local hospitals.
Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program
Description of the Profession
Within the radiologic sciences profession, there is a need for qualified diagnostic medical sonographers. These professionals require unique skills specific to the field of medical sonography. Under the direction of a radiologist, the diagnostic medical sonographer is concerned with the proper operation of the ultrasound equipment and preparation of patients for various types of diagnostic procedures.
Upon request of a physician, the diagnostic medical sonographer examines various parts of the body by using sound waves. This imaging technique may reveal evidence of disease, injury, or other significant medical information.
PROGRAM MISSION, GOALS, AND STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
The B.S. degree in radiologic sciences - DMS Concentration offered by Indiana University Northwest is designed to prepare students for an entry-level position in diagnostic medical sonography. To graduate, students must satisfactorily complete 120 credit hours, to include 66 credit hours of prerequisite and general education courses and 54 credit hours of professional courses. Assessment procedures include written and oral exams and assignments, performance evaluations, and a competency-based clinical education system utilizing a checklist format for evaluating psychomotor skills and a rating scale for professional skills.
The diagnostic medical sonography program has set forth the following goals and student learning outcomes:
Goal 1: Students will demonstrate clinical competence.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Students will demonstrate proper procedural skills.
- Students will select appropriate instrumentation controls.
Goal 2: Students will demonstrate effective communication skills.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Students will demonstrate written communication skills.
- Students will demonstrate oral communication skills.
Goal 3: Students will demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Students will detail procedural and technical adaptations for a difficult patient.
- Students will evaluate images for quality of sonographic images.
Goal 4: Students will demonstrate professional values.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Students will demonstrate appropriate professional values in the clinical setting.
- Students will detail the ethical obligations describe in the ARDMS Code of Ethics.
Goal 5: Students will be involved in professional continuing education activities to instill a desire for lifelong learning.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Students will participate in professional continuing education.
- Students will become members of professional societies.
Goal 6: To prepare entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for the following concentrations:
- Abdomen-Extended
- Obstetrics & Genecology
Assessment data described in Goal #6 are available for review: Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program Effective Measures.
The General DMS Program sponsored by Indiana University Northwest is 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 (CAAHEP)
9355-113th St. N, # 7709
Seminole, FL 33775
727-210-2350
www.caahep.org
Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS)
6021 University Blvd #500
Ellicott City, MD 21043
443-973-3251
www.jrcdms.org
Important Information about This Program
Please note that this is a hybrid program. Students enrolled in a hybrid program are expected to complete more than 20% of their coursework face-to-face over the course of the degree. Not fulfulling this requirement may result in the loss of coursework that will apply to the degree.
Graduates of the Program
Graduates receive a Bachelor of Science degree and are eligible to take the Sonography Principles and Instrumentation, Abdomen /Small Parts, and OB/Gyn exams offered by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).
Length of the Program
A new cohort begins the professional course work in summer session II. The professional curriculum for this program will be completed at the end of 5 consecutive semesters.
