Bachelor of Science in Comprehensive Medical Imaging with Emphasis in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Program Overview
The B.S. in Diagnostic Medical Sonography program meets the needs of students from multiple backgrounds and disciplines. Whether a student is completing the B.S. in CMI with Emphasis in DMS as their first degree, seeking a career change or expanding their opportunities by adding to a current allied health degree, this program will ensure students are prepared to become an integral part of the healthcare team.
Upon completion of this program, students will be qualified to apply for licensure examination through the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) under prerequisite 2. Sonographers are considered licensed when they have successfully completed the ARDMS examinations in Physics (SPI) and at least one additional specialty (Abdomen, OB/GYN, Breast, etc.)
Program Mission
The mission of Great Basin College's Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program is to provide quality education that prepares the diagnostic medical sonography student for practice in a variety of health care settings, improving health care in the community in which they practice.
Learning Outcomes
The program preparescompetent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for the abdominal-extended and obstetrics and gynecology sonography concentrations.
To accomplish this goal, our program provides students with extensive didactic and clinical training in the areas of ultrasound physics and instrumentation, abdominal, small part, gynecologic, obstetric, and basic vascular sonographic imaging. The coursework includes thorough evaluation of human anatomy, physiology, pathology, and sonographic findings. Focus is placed on educating students in standards-based practices of sonographic examinations.
Students develop professionalism, communication skills, and leadership qualities through realistic laboratory simulations, project-based research projects, presentations, and in over 1600 hours of clinical experience in the real-world imaging environment.
These opportunities develop the student’s ability to:
- Provide basic patient care and comfort to all patients.
- Employ professional judgement and communication.
- Demonstrate competence in the use of acoustic physics principles, Doppler ultrasound principles, and ultrasound instrumentation through proper equipment operation and transducer selection.
- Evaluate the interaction between ultrasound and tissue and the probability of biological effects in clinical examinations.
- Produce and assess ultrasonographic images of normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology.
- Identify, document and develop differential diagnosis of abnormal sonographic and Doppler patterns.
Admissions & Requirements
Students must complete the application form for the BA in English to be formally admitted to the program. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; applications received prior to February 15 will be assigned the current catalog year, while applications received after February 15 will be assigned to the following catalog year.
The form is available online on the GBC website and in hard copy
in the arts and letters department on the Elko campus.
Clinical Track Options
General GBC Track - Students accepted into the general GBC track will attend didactic courses on the Elko campus or via Zoom. They will attend lab weekly the first semester and every one to three weeks the second semester. Lab will be held on the GBC Elko and Pahrump campuses. Students will receive clinical placement at a minimum of 2 different GBC clinical affiliates. A minimum of one of these may be at an out of town location.
Renown Satellite Site Option - Students desiring consideration for placement in the Renown Satellite site will have the option to request that site on their application. Students selected for the Renown site will attend didactic courses via Zoom. They will attend weekly lab the first and second semesters at the Renown Reno campus. All clinical placement will be completed at a minimum of two Renown sites in Reno, NV.
If a student is not selected as a Renown site student, they may be accepted into the General GBC track if positions are available.
Program Effectiveness & Student Outcomes
Elko Cohort
| Outcome |
Passing / Attempting |
Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Retention | 3 / 4 | 75% |
| Employment | 3 / 3 | 100% |
| ARDMS Abdomen | 1 / 1 | 100% |
| ARDMS OB/GYN | 2 / 2 | 100% |
Renown Satellite Cohort
| Outcome |
Passing / Attempting |
Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Retention | 1 / 2 | 50% |
| Employment | 1 / 1 | 100% |
| ARDMS Abdomen | 0 / 0 | N/A |
| ARDMS OB/GYN | 1 / 1 | 100% |
Expenses (Estimated)
All expenses are estimated.
- Tuition (In-State): $13,000 (excluding prerequisites)
- Textbooks: $1,200
- Uniforms & Shoes: $300
- Background Check, Drug Screen, Immunization Tracking: $100–150
- Differential Fee (CMI courses): $120 per credit
- ARDMS Exams: $200–250 per exam
- Physical Exam, Immunizations, Insurance, Travel & Living Expenses: Individual cost
Certified Nursing Assistant Program
Important Documents
Curriculum
| Course | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 101 | Composition I | 3 |
| ENG 102 | Composition II | 3 |
| COM 113 | Oral Communication | 3 |
| MATH 126 | Pre-calculus I or | 3 |
| STAT 152 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| BIOL190 | Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 223 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BIOL 224 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| PHYS 100 | Introductory Physics | 3 |
| PSC 101 | Introduction to American Politics | 3 |
| HUMANITIES | 3 | |
| FINE ARTS | 3 | |
| TECHNOLOGY | 3 | |
| NURS 130 | Nursing Assistant Class or | 6 |
| EMS 118 | Advanced Emergency Medical Technician | 8 |
| NURS 140 | Medical Terminology or | 2 or 3 |
| RAD 112 | Patient Care and Medical Terminology | 2 or 3 |
| ELECTIVES | 11 | |
| TOTAL | 58 or 61 |
| Course | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CMI 350 | Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation | 4 |
| CMI 351 | Abdominal Ultrasound | 3 |
| CMI 353 | Gynecologic Ultrasound | 3 |
| CMI 376 | Sectional Anatomy in Medical Imaging | 3 |
| HMS 200 | Ethics in Human Services | 3 |
| NURS 337 | Pathophysiology | 3 |
| Total | 19 |
| Course | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CMI 400 | Introduction to Clinical Imaging Experience | 2 |
| Total | 2 |
| Course | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CMI 352 | Obstetric Ultrasound | 3 |
| CMI 366 | Abdominal Ultrasound | 2 |
| CMI 378 | Small Parts Ultrasound | 1 |
| CMI 486 | Diagnostic Medical Imaging Clinical Experience I | 9 |
| NA | Mastery Level Course (See an advisor or the catalog for details) | 3 |
| Total | 18 |
| Course | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CMI 487 | Diagnostic Medical Imaging Clinical Experience II | 7 |
| Total | 7 |
| Course | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CMI 488 | Diagnostic Medical Imaging Clinical Experience III | 10 |
| CMI 491 | Sonography Review Topics | 1 |
| CMI 492 | Comprehensive Medical Imaging Capstone | 3 |
| Total | 14 | |
| Total Program Credits | 118 - 121 |
Apply now for this program
