Diagnostic Medical Sonography — B.S.

The Bachelor of Science degree in diagnostic medical sonography has two concentrations. A general and vascular 27-month curriculum (nine academic quarters) leads to eligibility to take the registered vascular technology (RVT) and registered diagnostic medical sonography (RDMS) national ARDMS board examinations. A second concentration in cardiac sonography is offered as a 24-month curriculum (eight academic quarters), also leading to eligibility to take the registered cardiac national boards RDCS. Last, a one-year certificate in cardiac sonography is offered, leading to the same eligibility with ARDMS.

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 to detect the presence of clots. The cardiac sonographer performs echocardiograms evaluating the heart function, valves, and all cardiac vessels for pathology.

Program learning outcomes 

By the end of this program, the graduate should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate effective interaction in health care.
  2. Demonstrate basic didactic knowledge essential to the practice of medical sonography.
  3. Develop and demonstrate professional behaviors and attitudes of an entry-level sonogorapher.
  4. Utilize oral and written communication in various sonography settings.
  5. Demonstrate critical thinking, professional judgement, and discretion within the profession.

In addition to Loma Linda University and School of Allied Health Professions admissions requirements, the applicant must meet the following requirements:

  • A minimum of 102 degree-transferable units for the general/vascular concentration or 96 degree transferable units for the cardiac concentration
  • Minimum G.P.A. of 2.5 (3.0 preferred)
  • Attend an ultrasound information session prior to observation 
  • Eight hours of observation in medical sonography (preferably at LLUMC) is required prior to the interview. Observations are scheduled after October and after application to program has been submitted.  
  • 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 (8 quarter units)

(completed during enrollment at LLU)

Domain 2: Arts and humanities (minimum 16 quarter units/ 11 semester units)

Units must be selected from at least three of the following content areas: civilization/history, art, literature, language, philosophy, religion, or general humanities electives. A minimum of 3 quarter units in an area is required to meet a "content area."

Domain 3: Scientific inquiry and quantitative reasoning (minimum 12 quarter units/8 semester units)

These JRCDMS required courses must be completed within the past five years.

  • Anatomy & physiology with laboratory, complete sequence
  • College algebra
  • General/introductory physics (one quarter/semester, no lab required)

Domain 4: Social sciences (minimum 12 quarter units/8 semester units)

  • Select from two of the following content areas: psychology/lifespan development, sociology, anthropology, economics, and geography. 
  • The human diversity requirement is fulfilled in the portfolio core courses: RTCH 491 Portfolio I and RTCH 492 Portfolio II (approved by the University GE Committee).

Domain 5: Written and oral communication (minimum 9 quarter units/6 semester units)

  • English composition, complete sequence that meets the baccalaureate degree requirements of a four-year college or university.
  • Additional courses may include information systems, critical thinking, and public speaking

Domain 6: Health and wellness (minimum 2 quarter units/1.5 semester units)

  • A didactic course in health or nutrition (e.g., personal health, personal nutrition, population health, global health, and community nutrition) minimum of 2 units
  • Physical education. Must include at least two separate physical activity courses totaling a minimum of one quarter units.

Other

  • Medical terminology, must be completed within the past five years.

Electives

To meet minimum total of 102 quarter/68 semester units for General Vascular emphasis or 96 quarter/64 semester units for cardiac emphasis prior to matriculation, electives may be selected from the previous domains. For more information regarding GE requirements for graduation, see LLU general education requirements. 

*Please note: "C minus " grades are not transferable for credit 

General and vascular concentration

Junior Year
Summer QuarterUnits
AHCJ 318Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Skills for Health-Care Professionals3
AHCJ 326Fundamentals of Health Care2
RTCH 387Writing for Health-Care Professionals3
RTCH 491Portfolio I3
RELT 406Adventist Beliefs and Life3
Autumn Quarter
RTMS 344Introduction to Medical Sonography5
RTMS 3711General Vascular Clinical Affiliation8
Winter Quarter
RTMS 348Abdomen/Neurosonography5
RTMS 3721General Vascular Clinical Affiliation8
Spring Quarter
RTMS 345Ob-Gyn Sonography5
RTMS 3731General Vascular Clinical Affiliation8
RTCH 385Radiologic Trends in Health Care2
Senior Year
Summer Quarter
RTCH 489Effective Communication for Supervisors3
RTMS 346Vascular Technology/Doppler/Scan Techniques5
RTMS 4711General Vascular Clinical Affiliation8
Autumn Quarter
RELE 456Personal and Professional Ethics3
RTMS 379Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation I2
RTMS 421Board Review OB-GYN Sonography1
RTMS 4721General Vascular Clinical Affiliation8
Winter Quarter
RELR 409Christian Perspectives on Death and Dying3
RTMS 387Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation II2
RTMS 422Board Review Abdomen2
RTMS 4731General Vascular Clinical Affiliation8
Spring Quarter
RTCH 464Moral Leadership3
RTMS 423Board Review Vascular1
RTMS 4741General Vascular Clinical Affiliation8
Summer Quarter 2
RTCH 4922Portfolio II3
RTCH 467Management of a Radiologic Service3
RTMS 424Professionalism in Medical Sonography1
RTMS 4751General Vascular Clinical Affiliation8
 Total Units: 127
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.

2

Fulfills service learning requirement

Cardiac concentration

Junior Year
Autumn QuarterUnits
AHCJ 326Fundamentals of Health Care2
CEPT 245Cardiovascular Anatomy and Physiology3
CEPT 248Cardiovascular Patient Assessment2
CEPT 251Cardiac Electrophysiology and Rhythm Recognition I2
RTCH 491Portfolio I3
Winter Quarter
CEPT 252Cardiac Electrophysiology and Rhythm Recognition II2
CEPT 271Cardiology Diseases and Therapeutics I2
RTCH 387Writing for Health-Care Professionals3
RTCH 467Management of a Radiologic Service3
RTED 475Curriculum Development for the Radiation Sciences3
Spring Quarter
AHCJ 305Infectious Disease and the Health-Care Provider1
CEPT 272Cardiology Diseases and Therapeutics II2
CEPT 285Cardiology3
REL_ Religion elective3
RTCH 464Moral Leadership3
Summer Quarter
AHCJ 318Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Skills for Health-Care Professionals3
RELE 456Personal and Professional Ethics3
RELT 406Adventist Beliefs and Life3
RTCH 489Effective Communication for Supervisors3
Senior Year
Autumn Quarter
RTMS 339Echocardiography I4
RTMS 379Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation I2
RTMS 371General Vascular Clinical Affiliation8
Winter Quarter
RTMS 347Echocardiography II4
RTMS 387Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation II2
RTMS 372General Vascular Clinical Affiliation8
Spring Quarter
RTMS 373General Vascular Clinical Affiliation8
RTMS 385Board Review Echocardiography2
RTMS 386Echocardiographic Case Studies Adult and Pediatrics2
Summer Quarter
RTCH 492Portfolio II3
RTMS 424Professionalism in Medical Sonography1
RTMS 471General Vascular Clinical Affiliation8
 Total Units: 101
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.

2

Fulfills service learning requirement

Normal time to complete the program

Four (4) years — (two [2] years prior to LLU plus two [2] years [24 months for cardiac and 27 months for general and vascular] at LLU) — full-time only

*As a program requirement, all students must pass the ARDMS Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) exam while enrolled as a student in either concentration. 

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 361. Cardiac Sonography Clinical Affiliation. 8 Units.

Cardiac clinical affiliate includes 320 clock hours of observation and hands-on experience, and a variety of cardiac echocardiograms. Includes adult, pediatric and fetal cardiac exams.

RTMS 362. Cardiac Sonography Clinical Affiliation. 8 Units.

Cardiac clinical affiliate includes 320 clock hours of observation and hands-on experience, and a variety of cardiac echocardiograms. Includes adult, pediatric and fetal cardiac exams.
Prerequisite: RTMS 361.

RTMS 363. Cardiac Sonography Clinical Affiliation. 8 Units.

Cardiac clinical affiliate includes 320 clock hours of observation and hands-on experience, and a variety of cardiac echocardiograms. Includes adult, pediatric and fetal cardiac exams.
Prerequisite: RTMS 362.

RTMS 364. Cardiac Sonography Clinical Affiliation. 8 Units.

Cardiac clinical affiliate includes 320 clock hours of observation and hands-on experience, and a variety of cardiac echocardiograms. Includes adult, pediatric and fetal cardiac exams.
Prerequisite: RTMS 363.

RTMS 371. General Vascular Clinical Affiliation. 8 Units.

General vascular affiliate includes 320 clock hours of observation and hands-on experience, and a variety of patient exams including general abdomen, ob-gyn and vascular. Includes identification of a variety of normal and pathological cases throughout the training experience.

RTMS 372. General Vascular Clinical Affiliation. 8 Units.

General vascular affiliate includes 320 clock hours of observation and hands-on experience, and a variety of patient exams including general abdomen, ob-gyn and vascular. Includes identification of a variety of normal and pathological cases throughout the training experience.
Prerequisite: RTMS 371.

RTMS 373. General Vascular Clinical Affiliation. 8 Units.

General vascular affiliate includes 320 clock hours of observation and hands-on experience, and a variety of patient exams including general abdomen, ob-gyn and vascular. Includes identification of a variety of normal and pathological cases throughout the training experience.
Prerequisite: RTMS 372.

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 384. Topics in Medical Sonography. 1 Unit.

Surveys selected topics in medical sonography. Procedure summaries, projects, literature reviews.

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 386. Echocardiographic Case Studies Adult and Pediatrics. 2 Units.

Case presentations by faculty and students reviewing normal anatomy and variety of pathologies in adult and pediatric cases.
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. 2 Units.

Board review presented in case study format. Normal scans 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. General Vascular Clinical Affiliation. 8 Units.

General vascular affiliate includes 320 clock hours of observation and hands-on experience, and a variety of patient exams including general abdomen, ob-gyn and vascular. Includes identification of a variety of normal and pathological cases throughout the training experience.
Prerequisite: RTMS 373.

RTMS 472. General Vascular Clinical Affiliation. 8 Units.

General vascular affiliate includes 320 clock hours of observation and hands-on experience, and a variety of patient exams including general abdomen, ob-gyn and vascular. Includes identification of a variety of normal and pathological cases throughout the training experience.
Prerequisite: RTMS 471.

RTMS 473. General Vascular Clinical Affiliation. 8 Units.

General vascular affiliate includes 320 clock hours of observation and hands-on experience, and a variety of patient exams including general abdomen, ob-gyn and vascular. Includes identification of a variety of normal and pathological cases throughout the training experience.
Prerequisite: RTMS 472.

RTMS 474. General Vascular Clinical Affiliation. 8 Units.

General vascular affiliate includes 320 clock hours of observation and hands-on experience, and a variety of patient exams including general abdomen, ob-gyn and vascular. Includes identification of a variety of normal and pathological cases throughout the training experience.
Prerequisite: RTMS 473.

RTMS 475. General Vascular Clinical Affiliation. 8 Units.

General vascular affiliate includes 320 clock hours of observation and hands-on experience, and a variety of patient exams including general abdomen, ob-gyn and vascular. Includes identification of a variety of normal and pathological cases throughout the training experience.
Prerequisite: RTMS 474.

RTMS 965. Cardiac Ultrasound Clinical Affiliation. 8 Units.

Cardiac clinical affiliate includes 364 clock hours of observation and hands-on experience, and a variety of cardiac echocardiograms. Includes adult, pediatric and fetal cardiac exams.

RTMS 966. Cardiac Ultrasound Clinical Affiliation. 8 Units.

Cardiac clinical affiliate includes 363 clock hours of observation and hands-on experience, and a variety of cardiac echocardiograms. Includes adult, pediatric and fetal cardiac exams.

RTMS 967. Cardiac Ultrasound Clinical Affiliation. 10 Units.

Cardiac clinical affiliate includes 420 clock hours of observation and hands-on experience, and a variety of cardiac echocardiograms. Includes adult, pediatric and fetal cardiac exams.

RTMS 968. Cardiac Ultrasound Clinical Affiliation. 10 Units.

Cardiac clinical affiliate includes 418 clock hours of observation and hands-on experience, and a variety of cardiac echocardiograms. Includes adult, pediatric and fetal cardiac exams.