Bachelor's Degree

Diagnostic Medical Sonography (BS)

Start your career in the growing allied health specialized field of diagnostic medical sonography. You will be trained for the national certification in ARDMS for ultrasound.

Program Overview

The goal of the diagnostic medical sonography program is to prepare competent, entry-level, abdominal-extended, and obstetrics and gynecology sonographers. 

The partnership between Widener and Crozer-Keystone Health System allows students to receive Widener University credit for all courses and clinicals, which must be taken and completed in consecutive semesters at Crozer and its affiliates. Students can either complete the general education requirements at Widener prior to entering the program or transfer up to 60 credits toward the bachelor of science in allied health.

The Widener-Crozer Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

Program Information

General Education Courses

The general education courses can be transferred from other accredited institutions or completed part-time at Widener in an online format. Minimum grades are required for each prerequisite course

Program Core Courses and Clinicals

Once you have satisfied the general education requirements, you'll begin your program core courses and clinical instruction, which runs full-time, year-round for 20 consecutive months generally on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with exceptions pertaining to evening clinical rotations towards the end of the program and occasional morning exams. These off-hour scheduling components are always arranged by the student and never directly assigned. The clinical cohorts begin every September and January.

A grade of 3.0 must be maintained for each course during the 20-month DMS portion of the program. 

See more about the Loading... for the diagnostic medical sonography program.

A maximum of eight students will be accepted into the program every September and January.

Widener has developed partnerships with area institutions that allow their students to complete the clinical portion of their bachelor's degree at the Chester-Crozer medical center. Students from the institutions below should inquire with their academic advisor about the diagnostic sonography curriculum. 

Partners include:

  • Bloomsburg University
  • Immaculata University
  • Gwynedd Mercy University

Find a summary of annual clinical skills, board pass rate, employment after one year of graduation, and program retention rates. 

Clinical skills
Boards pass rates
employment 2022
retnetion 2022

Download student outcomes as an xlsx file

Admissions Requirements

Completion of all general education requirements (60 credits), including:

  • Math - Must earn a C or better on your first attempt of this course
  • English - Must earn a C or better on your first attempt of this course
  • Anatomy and Physiology I - Must earn a B on your first attempt of this course
  • Anatomy and Physiology II - Must earn a B on your first attempt of this course
  • College Physics - Must earn a B or better with one retake allowed
  • Health Care and Law (Medical Ethics) - Must earn a B or better on your first attempt of this course
  • Medical Terminology - Must earn a B or better on your first attempt of this course
  • Completion of patient care course (CNA, Widener physical therapy care course, or equivalent)

Program Highlights

The DMS program offers the benefits of a Widener education and clinical expertise from Crozer-Keystone Health System's School of Diagnostic Ultrasound. You'll prepare to become a competent, entry-level abdominal-extended, and obstetrics and gynecology sonographer in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

Taught by experienced professionals with exposure to a variety of settings, including out-patient facilities, operating room, and other high risk medical areas. Cases from Crozer clinical sites can be accessed in the classroom.

Clinical Education

You'll log more than 1,600 clinical hours during your time in the DMS program as you gain hands-on experience from the start with clinical rotations. You will rotate through CKHS clinical sites and their affiliates for training.

Exceptional Educational Resources

Access clinical evaluations, competencies, tests, and other documentation through an online system called Trajecsys. Trajecsys reports can be given to potential employers to demonstrate procedures and specific exams performed.

Your Inside Track to Success

Your Inside Track to Success

You'll go further than you ever imagined with a degree in diagnostic medical sonography.

Outlook & Outcomes

Industry Growth

Employment of diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians is projected to increase by 10 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Student Stories

Danielle Laskowski works at a sonography computer screen with a patient in the bed next to her

"This program gave me the protocol to follow and has taught me how to be a great ultrasound technician. This is the stepping stone to get me there."

Danielle Laskowski

Class of 2022

Take the Next Steps

Apply

Applying online is easy—and it's free! Have questions about your individual requirements? Request an in-person or virtual meeting with an admissions advisor for guidance prior to submitting your application.

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