Curriculum and Rotation
Curriculum Overview
The 16-month program (68 weeks) provides students with a comprehensive body of knowledge and a clinical education that includes didactic instruction, laboratory applications, and clinical experience in a variety of abdominal, obstetrical, gynecological, breast, pediatric, and vascular exams and procedures.
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Academic Calander 2024-2025
Fall I (Aug 18, 2025 - Dec 5, 2025) DMS 300 - Introduction to Sonography & Patient Care DMS 310 - Sonography Principles & Instrumentation I DMS 320 - Abdominal Sonography I DMS 321 - Abdominal Sonography I Lab DMS 330 - Obstetrics & Gynecology Sonography I DMS 331 - Obstetrics & Gynecology Sonography I Lab DMS 390 - Clinical Education I Spring (Jan 5, 2026 - April 24, 2026) DMS 311 - Sonography Principles & Instrumentation II DMS 322 - Abdominal Sonography II DMS 323 - Abdominal Sonography II Lab DMS 332 - Obstetrics & Gynecology Sonography II DMS 333 - Obstetrics & Gynecology Sonography II Lab DMS 360 - Pediatric & Breast Sonography DMS 391 - Clinical Education II Summer (May 11, 2026 - July 31, 2026) DMS 312 - Sonography Principles & Instrumentation III DMS 350 - Vascular Sonography I DMS 351 - Vascular Sonography I Lab DMS 392 - Clinical Education III Fall II (Aug 17, 2026 - Dec 4, 2026) DMS 352 - Vascular Sonography II DMS 353 - Vascular Sonography II Lab DMS 380 - Sonography Seminar DMS 382 - Professional Research DMS 393 - Clinical Education IV Note: Final course sequence is subject to change. Clinical Rotations While enrolled in the DMS program, students complete several clinical education courses where they learn directly from sonographers scanning live patients 3-4 days/week in clinical rotations. These clinical rotations are assigned in 5-6 week durations at some of the locations listed below.
Please note, clinical assignments can be located more than 50 miles from the downtown campus of Northwestern Memorial Hospital and students are responsible for their own transportation to and from all assigned clinical locations. |
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
A student maintains SAP if their cumulative (overall) and current (most recent term) grade point averages are 2.0 or better. All students must maintain a minimum average score of 79.5% in all clinical, laboratory, and didactic courses. Students must also maintain satisfactory performance pace (completion of all attempted courses). Student performance against SAP standards will be monitored in an ongoing matter with evaluation at the end of each program term. Students unable to maintain SAP standards will be provided guidance, tutoring, and corrective action plans to facilitate improvement. Grades for each course will be issued at the end of the term. Program Delivery The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program utilizes a traditional, residential format. Program Hours The program begins annually in the Fall (August) and concludes at the end of the following Fall semester (December). This is a full-time, 40 hour/week program with on-site attendance required for all courses. The DMS program is 4 semesters in length with a 2-week break in between semesters. Additionally, the program observes the following hospital recognized breaks:
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