Educating health professionals for the 21st century.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Diagnostic Medical Sonography?
- Sonography, also called ultrasound, is the science of using
sound waves to create a diagnostic image to investigate an illness,
injury, or possible treatment of a disease. It is a multifaceted
profession consisting of many specialty areas. These areas include:
abdominal, obstetrics and gynecology, vascular and cardiac sonography.
The sonography program at USI prepares individuals to function
effectively as entry-level sonographers.
- What is a sonographer?
- A sonographer is a technologist who works under the direction
of a physician, to perform ultrasound exams of many parts of
the human body.
- How long is the sonography program?
- The sonography program at USI provides a curriculum which
includes didactic courses in conjunction with laboratory and
clinical experience. The curriculum consists of 1 1/2 years
of pre-requisite general education courses and 2 1/2 years of
professional education work once the student is accepted into
the program.
- What kind a degree will I receive when I am done with the curriculum
for USI's sonography Program?
- After completion of the 4 years of required curriculum, students
will receive a BS degree in Radiologic and Imaging Sciences.
The student will be eligible to sit for the national registry
examination administered by the American Registry for Diagnostic
Medical Sonography (ARDMS).
- Is USI's sonography program accredited?
- USI is currently seeking accreditation for the Diagnostic
Medical Sonography program by the Joint Review Committee on
Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
- How many students are accepted into the program each year?
- The sonography program is limited in the number of students
that may be accepted each year. USI, in collaboration with the
clinical affiliates, reserves the right to determine the number
of students enrolled in each beginning class. Currently, the
program is accepting 10 students for each beginning class.
- How many students apply to the program each year?
- Admission to the sonography program is very competitive. There
is an average of 200 students that have selected radiologic
and imaging sciences as a major. This means over 200 students
are in the process of completing prerequisite courses to become
eligible to apply to the program. Approximately 30 students
apply and are interviewed each year for positions in the program.
- What is the employment outlook in this field?
- Reply comes from US Department of Labor Bureau
of Labor Statistics
- Employment of diagnostic medical sonographers is expected
to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through
2014 as the population grows and ages, increasing the demand
for diagnostic imaging and therapeutic technology. In addition
to job openings from growth, some job openings will arise from
the need to replace sonographers who leave the occupation permanently.
- Opportunities should be favorable because sonography is becoming
an increasingly attractive alternative to radiologic procedures,
as patients seek safer treatment methods. Unlike most diagnostic
imaging methods, sonography does not involve radiation, so harmful
side effects and complications from repeated use are rarer for
both the patient and the sonographer. Sonographic technology
is expected to evolve rapidly and to spawn many new sonography
procedures, such as 3D- and 4D-sonography for use in obstetric
and ophthalmologic diagnosis. However, high costs may limit
the rate at which some promising new technologies are adopted.
- Hospitals will remain the principal employer of diagnostic
medical sonographers. However, employment is expected to grow
more rapidly in offices of physicians and in medical and diagnostic
laboratories, including diagnostic imaging centers. Healthcare
facilities such as these are expected to grow very rapidly through
2014 because of the strong shift toward outpatient care, encouraged
by third-party payers and made possible by technological advances
that permit more procedures to be performed outside the hospital.
- What are the potential earnings for this field?
- Reply comes from US Department of Labor Bureau
of Labor Statistics
- Median annual earnings of diagnostic medical sonographers
were $52,490 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between
$44,720 and $61,360 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less
than $37,800, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $72,230.
Median annual earnings of diagnostic medical sonographers in
May 2004 were $53,790 in offices of physicians and $51,860 in
general medical and surgical hospitals.
- Where can I receive more information?
- More information can be received by calling (812)465-1181 or by writing to Claudine Fairchild, MS, RT(R) (M), RDMS, Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program Director, University of Southern Indiana, College of Nursing and Health Professions, 8600 University Blvd., Evansville, IN 47712.