Diagnostic Medical Sonography (Professional Certificate)
Award: Professional Certificate
Program of Study: Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Program Code: 1610
This program has been approved by CMU and has been submitted to the accreditor. This program is pending HLC review and approval.
The Professional Certificate in Diagnostic Medical Sonography is designed to prepare certified healthcare professionals for an advanced diagnostic imaging specialization.
All CMU certificate graduates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in specialized knowledge/applied learning, critical thinking, and personal and social responsibility. In addition to these campus‐wide student learning outcomes, graduates of this major will be able to:
- Combine academic theory with professional experience and technical skills in diagnostic medical sonography. (Specialized Knowledge/Applied Learning)
- Develop critical thinking skills to analyze clinical scenarios and make informed decisions for optimal outcomes. (Critical Thinking)
- Apply ethical principles to address real-world challenges in professional practice. (Personal and Social Responsibility)
The following institutional requirements apply to all CMU Professional Certificates. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.
- Consists of 5-59 semester hours.
- Primarily 300-400 level courses.
- At least fifty percent of the credit hours must be taken at CMU.
- 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU coursework.
- A grade lower than “C” in the program of study will not be counted toward meeting the certificate’s requirements.
- A course may only be used to fulfill one requirement for each degree/certificate.
- Pre-collegiate courses (usually numbered below 100) cannot be used for graduation.
- Capstone exit assessment/projects (e.g., Major Field Achievement Test) requirements are identified under Program-Specific Certificate Requirements.
- The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and certificate requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate. Visit with your advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements you should follow.
- See “Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates” in the catalog for a complete list of graduation requirements.
Institutional Certificate Requirements
The following institutional requirements apply to all CMU Professional Certificates. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.
- Consists of 5-59 semester hours.
- Primarily 300-400 level courses.
- At least fifty percent of the credit hours must be taken at CMU.
- 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU coursework.
- A grade lower than “C” in the program of study will not be counted toward meeting the certificate’s requirements.
- A course may only be used to fulfill one requirement for each degree/certificate.
- Pre-collegiate courses (usually numbered below 100) cannot be used for graduation.
- Capstone exit assessment/projects (e.g., Major Field Achievement Test) requirements are identified under Program-Specific Certificate Requirements.
- The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and certificate requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate. Visit with your advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements you should follow.
- See “Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates” in the catalog for a complete list of graduation requirements.
Program Specific Certificate Requirements
45 semester hours. A grade of "C" or higher is required in each course.
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DMSO 400L | Introduction to Cardiac Sonography Laboratory | 1 |
| DMSO 409 | Sonography Clinical Experience I | 11 |
| DMSO 410 | Sonography Principles and Instrumentation I | 2 |
| DMSO 411 | Cardiac Sonography Procedures I | 2 |
| DMSO 419 | Sonography Clinical Experience II | 2 |
| DMSO 420 | Sonography Principles and Instrumentation II | 1 |
| DMSO 421 | Cardiac Sonography Procedures II | 3 |
| DMSO 429 | Sonography Clinical Experience III | 12 |
| DMSO 430 | Sonography Registry Review | 2 |
| DMSO 439 | Sonography Clinical Experience IV | 9 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 45 | |
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summer Semester | Semester Credit Hours | |
| DMSO 400L | Introduction to Cardiac Sonography Laboratory | 1 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 1 | |
| Fall Semester | ||
| DMSO 409 | Sonography Clinical Experience I | 11 |
| DMSO 410 | Sonography Principles and Instrumentation I | 2 |
| DMSO 411 | Cardiac Sonography Procedures I | 2 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester J-Term | ||
| DMSO 419 | Sonography Clinical Experience II | 2 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 2 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| DMSO 420 | Sonography Principles and Instrumentation II | 1 |
| DMSO 421 | Cardiac Sonography Procedures II | 3 |
| DMSO 429 | Sonography Clinical Experience III | 12 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Summer Semester | ||
| DMSO 430 | Sonography Registry Review | 2 |
| DMSO 439 | Sonography Clinical Experience IV | 9 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 11 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 45 | |
Advising Process and DegreeWorks
Documentation on the pages related to this program is intended for informational purposes to help determine what courses and associated requirements are needed to earn a certificate. Some courses are critical to complete in specific semesters while others may be moved around. Meeting with an academic advisor is essential in planning courses and discussing the suggested course sequencing. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and fulfill the requirements for their intended certificate.
DegreeWorks is an online degree audit tool available in MAVzone. It is the official record used by the Registrar’s Office to evaluate progress towards a certificate and determine eligibility for graduation. Students are responsible for reviewing their DegreeWorks audit on a regular basis and should discuss questions or concerns with their advisor or academic department head. Discrepancies in requirements should be reported to the Registrar’s Office.
Graduation Process
Students must complete the following in the first two months of the semester prior to completing their certificate requirements (for one-semester certificates, complete in the first week of class):
- Review their DegreeWorks audit and create a plan that outlines how unmet requirements will be met in the final semester.
- Meet with their advisor and modify their plan as needed. The advisor must approve the final plan.
- Submit the “Intent to Graduate” form to the Registrar’s Office to officially declare the intended graduation date and commencement ceremony plans.
- Register for all needed courses and complete all requirements for each degree sought.
Submission deadlines and commencement details can be found on the Graduation web page.
If a student's petition for graduation is denied, it will be their responsibility to apply for graduation in a subsequent semester. A student's “Intent to Graduate” does not automatically move to a later graduation date.