Diagnostic Medical Sonography — B.S.
The Bachelor of Science degree in diagnostic medical sonography is a twenty-seven-month curriculum (9 academic quarters) leading to eligibility to take the RVT (registered vascular technology) and RDMS (registered diagnostic medical sonography) national board examinations. General sonographers perform examinations evaluating organs such as the liver, kidneys, spleen, gallbladder, and thyroid; as well as obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, and breast. The vascular sonographer performs a variety of noninvasive examinations to evaluate the arteries and veins, assess blood flow and valve competency, and detect the presence of clots.
In addition to Loma Linda University and School of Allied Health Professions admissions requirements, the applicant must have the following requirements:
- An associate degree (science area preferred)), or a minimum of 105 degree transferable units
- Minimum G.P.A. of 2.5 (a higher G.P.A. is more competitive)
- Current Basic Life Support certification with American Heart Association, adult and child
- 8 hours of observation in medical sonography (preferably at LLUMC) is required prior to the inter
- Attend an information session at Open House or otherwise scheduled. Application fee is waived for all who attend the Open House. (if the timing of the application period is after the Open House.)
- Interview
Prerequisites
All the following courses must be completed prior to the start of the program. All prerequisites, including general education courses, must be completed at an accredited college or university.
Domain 1: Religion and Humanities (20 quarter or 14 semester units)
Humanities (12-20 quarter or 8-14 semester units)
Selected from at least three of the following content areas: civilization/history, fine arts, performing/visual arts (not to exceed 4 quarter credits), literature, modern language, philosophy, general humanities elective.
Religion (0-8 quarter or 0-6 semester units)
An applicant who has attended a Seventh-day Adventist college or university is required to have taken 4 quarter units of religion from an Adventist institution for each full year equivalent (48 quarter units/32 semester units) of attendance at an Adventist college or university. If the applicant has not attended an Adventist institution, no religion units are required. In either case, however, the applicant must have completed 20 quarter or 14 semester units in Domain 1: Religion and Humanities.
Domain 2: Scientific inquiry and analysis (24-32 quarter or 16-22 semester units)
Natural Sciences (minimum of 12 quarter or 8 semester units)
Human anatomy and physiology with laboratory, complete sequence*
College algebra or higher, one semester/quarter*
Introduction to physics (general physics also accepted), one semester/quarter*
* Must be completed within the past five years.
Social sciences (minimum of 12 quarter or 8 semester units)
Units must be selected from two of the following content areas: anthropology, economics, geography, political sciences, psychology, and sociology.
Domain 3: Communication (9-13 quarter or 6-9 semester units)
English composition (complete sequence)
Remaining courses may be selected from the following content areas: computer information systems, critical thinking, and public speaking.
Domain 4: Health and Wellness (2-6 quarter or 1.5-4 semester units)
Personal health or nutrition (one course)
Physical education (two separate physical activity courses)
Additional course requirement
Medical terminology (must be completed within the past five years)
Domain 5: Electives
To meet the minimum requirement of 105 units quarter units required for matriculation, electives may be selected from the previous four domains. For more information regarding GE requirements for graduation, see LLU general education requirements.
| Junior Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summer Quarter 1 | Units | |
| AHCJ 318 | Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Skills for Health-Care Professionals | 3 |
| AHCJ 326 | Fundamentals of Health Care | 2 |
| AHCJ 493 | Senior Portfolio I | 3 |
| RELE 457 | Christian Ethics and Health Care | 2 |
| RTCH 385 | Radiologic Trends in Health Care | 2 |
| RTCH 387 | Writing for Health-Care Professionals | 3 |
| Autumn Quarter | ||
| RTMS 344 | Introduction to Medical Sonography | 5 |
| RTMS 3711 | Medical Sonography Clinical Affiliation | 12 |
| Winter Quarter | ||
| RTMS 348 | Abdomen/Neurosonography | 5 |
| RTMS 3721 | Medical Sonography Clinical Affiliation | 12 |
| Spring Quarter | ||
| REL_ Religion elective | 2 | |
| RTMS 345 | Ob-Gyn Sonography | 5 |
| RTMS 3731 | Medical Sonography Clinical Affiliation | 12 |
| Senior Year | ||
| Summer Quarter 1 | ||
| RELT 423, 406, 436, or 437 | Loma Linda Perspectives | 2 |
| RTCH 489 | Effective Communication for Supervisors | 3 |
| RTMS 346 | Vascular Technology/Doppler/Scan Techniques | 5 |
| RTMS 4711 | Medical Sonography Clinical Affiliation | 11 |
| Autumn Quarter | ||
| RTMS 379 | Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation I | 2 |
| RTMS 421 | Board Review OB-GYN Sonography | 1 |
| RTMS 4721 | Medical Sonography Clinical Affiliation | 11 |
| Winter Quarter | ||
| REL_ Religion elective | 2 | |
| RTMS 387 | Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation II | 2 |
| RTMS 422 | Board Review Abdomen | 1 |
| RTMS 4731 | Medical Sonography Clinical Affiliation | 11 |
| Spring Quarter | ||
| RTCH 464 | Moral Leadership | 4 |
| RTMS 423 | Board Review Vascular | 1 |
| RTMS 4741 | Medical Sonography Clinical Affiliation | 11 |
| Summer Quarter | ||
| AHCJ 494 | Senior Portfolio II | 3 |
| RTCH 467 | Management of a Radiologic Service | 3 |
| RTMS 424 | Professionalism in Medical Sonography | 1 |
| RTMS 4751 | Medical Sonography Clinical Affiliation | 11 |
| Total Units: | 153 | |
| 1 | 27 units of affiliation count toward the 192 units required for the degree. The remaining affiliation units are required for licensure and must be completed prior to the awarding of the B.S. degree. |
Normal time to complete the program
4 years (2 years prior to LLU plus 2 years [27 months] at LLU) — full-time only
Courses
RTMS 339. Echocardiography I. 4 Units.
Focuses on normal anatomy, scan techniques, cardiac measurement, and new dynamics. Case study presentations.
RTMS 344. Introduction to Medical Sonography. 5 Units.
Introduction to sonography—including ob-gyn, abdomen, vascular, neurosonography, cardiac, and pediatric. Covers terminology and scan techniques for all areas.
RTMS 345. Ob-Gyn Sonography. 5 Units.
Ob-Gyn scan techniques, fetal anatomy and pathologies, gynecological anatomy and pathologies. Student case presentations and case studies.
RTMS 346. Vascular Technology/Doppler/Scan Techniques. 5 Units.
Covers vascular technology, Doppler, abdomen, and small parts. Continues case studies and case presentations.
RTMS 347. Echocardiography II. 4 Units.
Echocardiography, adult and pediatric. Further focuses on anatomy, pathology, hemodynamics, and Doppler. Includes case studies and presentations.
RTMS 348. Abdomen/Neurosonography. 5 Units.
Sonography of the abdomen and neonatal neurosonography specialties and scan techniques. Visualizes sonography of the abdomen, cross-section scan techniques, and pathologies on ultrasound. Includes neonatal neurosonography; anatomy and pathologies also included.
RTMS 371. Medical Sonography Clinical Affiliation. 12 Units.
Clinical experience in medical sonography (416 clock hours) covering a wide variety of technical procedures.
RTMS 372. Medical Sonography Clinical Affiliation. 12 Units.
Clinical experience in medical sonography (416 clock hours) covering a wide variety of technical procedures.
RTMS 373. Medical Sonography Clinical Affiliation. 12 Units.
Clinical experience in medical sonography (416 clock hours) covering a wide variety of technical procedures.
RTMS 379. Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation I. 2 Units.
Studies the basic physical principles and instrumentation of ultrasound production and imaging. Selected case study presentations, as assigned.
RTMS 381. Topics in Medical Sonography I. 1 Unit.
Surveys selected topics in medical sonography. Procedure summaries, projects, literature reviews.
RTMS 382. Topics in Medical Sonography II. 1 Unit.
Surveys selected topics in medical sonography. Procedure summaries, projects, literature reviews.
RTMS 383. Topics in Medical Sonography III. 1 Unit.
Surveys selected topics in medical sonography. Procedure summaries, projects, literature reviews.
RTMS 384. Topics in Medical Sonography IV. 1 Unit.
Includes board-review sessions; mock boards; and additional lectures in writing a CV, interviewing for a new position, and completing all paperwork associated with taking the national boards.
RTMS 385. Board Review Echocardiography. 2 Units.
Case presentations by faculty and students reviewing vast variety of pathologies, as well as normal anatomy.
Prerequisite: RTMS 339, RTMS 347.
RTMS 387. Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation II. 2 Units.
Study and review of the basic physical principles and instrumentation of ultrasound, with additional emphasis on Doppler and artifacts.
Prerequisite: RTMS 379.
RTMS 421. Board Review OB-GYN Sonography. 1 Unit.
Board review presented in case study format; normal and pathologies involved in ultrasound evaluation of the OB-GYN specialty.
Prerequisite: Completion of the first year of the medical sonography program.
RTMS 422. Board Review Abdomen. 1 Unit.
Board review presented in case study format; normal and pathologies involved in a wide variety of abdominal and small part ultrasound examinations.
Prerequisite: RTMS 421.
RTMS 423. Board Review Vascular. 1 Unit.
Board review presented in case study format; normal and pathologies involved in a wide range of vascular ultrasound examinations.
Prerequisite: RTMS 422.
RTMS 424. Professionalism in Medical Sonography. 1 Unit.
Presents a variety of topics to develop professionalism and prepare graduates for the work force. Topics include writing a resume/CV, interviewing, and communication.
Prerequisite: RTMS 421, 422, 423.
RTMS 471. Medical Sonography Clinical Affiliation. 11 Units.
Clinical experience in medical sonography (352 clock hours) covering a wide variety of technical procedures.
Prerequisite: RTMS 373.
RTMS 472. Medical Sonography Clinical Affiliation. 11 Units.
Clinical experience in medical sonography (352 clock hours) covering a wide variety of technical procedures.
Prerequisite: RTMS 471.
RTMS 473. Medical Sonography Clinical Affiliation. 11 Units.
Clinical experience in medical sonography (352 clock hours) covering a wide variety of clinical technical experiences.
RTMS 474. Medical Sonography Clinical Affiliation. 11 Units.
Clinical experience in medical sonography (352 clock hours) covering a wide variety of clinical technical experiences.
RTMS 475. Medical Sonography Clinical Affiliation. 11 Units.
Clinical experience in medical sonography (352 clock hours) covering a wide variety of technical procedures.
Prerequisite: RTMS 474.
RTMS 965. Cardiac Ultrasound Clinical Affiliation. 12 Units.
Clinical experience in cardiac ultrasound (384 clock hours per quarter) covering a wide variety of technical procedures.
RTMS 966. Cardiac Ultrasound Clinical Affiliation. 11 Units.
Clinical experience in cardiac ultrasound (352 clock hours per quarter) covering a wide variety of technical procedures.
RTMS 967. Cardiac Ultrasound Clinical Affiliation. 11 Units.
Clinical experience in cardiac ultrasound (352 clock hours per quarter) covering a wide variety of technical procedures.
RTMS 968. Cardiac Ultrasound Clinical Affiliation. 12 Units.
Clinical experience in cardiac ultrasound (440 clock hours per quarter) covering a wide variety of technical procedures.
RTMS 971. Medical Sonography Clinical Affiliation. 11 Units.
A twelve-week, 384-hour clinical experience in medical sonography, consisting of four days/week rotations covering a wide variety of technical procedures.
RTMS 972. Medical Sonography Clinical Affiliation. 11 Units.
Clinical experience in medical sonography (384 clock hours) covering a wide variety of technical procedures.
Prerequisite: RTMS 971.
RTMS 973. Medical Sonography Clinical Affiliation. 11 Units.
Clinical experience in medical sonography (352 clock hours) covering a wide variety of technical procedures.
Prerequisite: RTMS 972.
RTMS 974. Medical Sonography Clinical Affiliation. 11 Units.
Clinical experience in medical sonography (352 clock hours) covering a wide variety of technical procedures.
Prerequisite: RTMS 973.
RTMS 975. Medical Sonography Clinical Affiliation. 12 Units.
Clinical experience in medical sonography (384 clock hours) covering a wide variety of technical procedures.
Prerequisite: RTMS 974.
RTMS 976. Medical Sonography Clinical Affiliation. 11 Units.
Clinical experience in medical sonography (352 clock hours) covering a wide variety of technical procedures.
Prerequisite: RTMS 975.
RTMS 977. Medical Sonography Clinical Affiliation. 11 Units.
Clinical experience in medical sonography (352 clock hours) covering a wide variety of technical procedures.
Prerequisite: RTMS 976.
RTMS 978. Medical Sonography Clinical Affiliation. 11 Units.
Clinical experience in medical sonography (352 clock hours) covering a wide variety of technical procedures.
Prerequisite: RTMS 977.
