The information and policies contained herein may be changed without notice. No part of this website should be construed
as a contract or an offer to contract.
This is intended only as an informational guide to the UC San Diego Health Sonography
Program.
The UC San Diego Health Sonography Program does not discriminate on the basis
of race, religion, ethnicity, color, sex, national origin, disability, or status as
a special disabled or Vietnam
era veteran. Any applicant that meets the physical
requirements of the program shall have an equal opportunity to apply for the program.
200 W. Arbor Drive
The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS).
UCSD's Sonography Program will provide the
students with an exceptional education to include:
The
school will accept applicants who exhibit by past education experience and personal interview a high potential for success in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. The grade point average must meet a minimum, cumulative GPA, of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in previous academic work. The mandatory prerequisite courses listed must be completed within 5 years of submitting the application. All
prerequisite courses must also be completed prior to submitting the application. The Program Director, Faculty Instructor
and a Clinical Instructor will serve on the admissions
committee.
To qualify for the
program, applicants must meet ONE of the two
prerequisites described below.
PREREQUISITE #1
Candidates must be a graduate of a 2 year Radiologic Technology Program and passed the registry exam. Completion of all of the following courses at the post-secondary level with a minimum grade
of "C" or higher.
•
Algebra or higher level math
•
Speech/Oral Communication
The following prerequisite courses must have been taken within 5 years of the application date:
•
General Physics
•
Human Anatomy and Physiology
•
General Pathophysiology
•
Patient Care
•
Medical Terminology
•
Medical Ethics and Law
PREREQUISITE #2
Candidates must have a Bachelor's Degree in any area. Completion of all of the following courses at the post-secondary level with a minimum grade of "C" or higher.
•
Algebra or higher level math
•
Speech/Oral Communication
The following prerequisite courses must have been taken within 5 years of the application date:
•
General Physics
•
Human Anatomy and Physiology
•
General Pathophysiology
•
Patient Care
•
Medical Terminology
•
Medical Ethics and Law
Additional Requirements
•
In addition to the Patient Care Course requirement, applicants must also provide documentation of 40 hours of direct patient contact in a hospital or medical clinic. Volunteering at a hospital is acceptable and requires appropriate documentation.
•
Students are required to complete CPR offered by the American Heart Association (AHA) prior to starting the program and must maintain certification for the length of the program.
Applicants with International Academic Credentials: Application Requirements
Applicants must meet one of the two program prerequisites and have completed all of the prerequisite courses listed. Courses listed under the time requirement must be completed within of 5 years the application date. The Medical Ethics and Law prerequisite course must be completed within a US academic institution. All applicants who have academic credentials from foreign institutions must submit those credentials to either the World Education Services (WES) or the Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc (ECE) for a course-by-course evaluation. The evaluation will take approximately four weeks to complete and its cost is the responsibility of the applicant.
Applicants whose first language is not English must meet specific English proficiency requirements. To demonstrate English language proficiency, candidates must submit the results of either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with the Test of Written English (TWE) and the Test of Spoken English (TSE), test results from the Duolingo English Test (DET) or have completed a Speech/Oral Communications course within a US academic institution and received a letter grade of "B" or higher. You may obtain information for the TOEFL tests from the Educational Testing Services website located at https://www.ets.org/toefl.html and information for the Duolingo English Test at https://englishtest.duolingo.com/applicants. Test results must be less than two years old and must meet the minimum scores below for each test.
TOFFL minimum scores
- Internet-based: 83
- Paper-based: 550
Duolingo English Test (DET) minimum scores
The annual tuition for the program is $15,000.00. Textbooks cost approximately $1000.00. In addition, you will be required to purchase a professional medical liability
insurance policy at a cost of $27.00. Upon acceptance
into the program you will be required to have a background check and a drug screen at a cost of approximately $100.00. The results of the background check
and the drug screen will be kept
in the students file and the student can review
them at any time. A positive result
for either will result in withdrawal of the students' acceptance into the program.
Students are responsible for the ARDMS certification examination fees,
all living expenses, and parking fees. No financial aid is
available through the University or the Program.
All funding
must be obtained through other sources.
Admission to the program is conditional upon passing a physical examination. A form will be mailed upon your acceptance into the program. All immunizations must be completed along with supporting documentation and updated as required by the program. Students must have all immunizations up to date including TB, Tdap, Flu and COVID-19 vaccination and booster.
Students are responsible for their own health insurance and must provide a copy of their card or a copy of the policy at orientation for proof of insurance. This coverage must be maintained throughout
the program.
•
Ability to bend, kneel and squat
•
Full
use of both arms, hands, fingers
•
Ability to push and
pull a 800 pound ultrasound
machine
•
Ability to
hear Doppler used in pulse wave Doppler
•
Ability to
distinguish variations in colors used in color Doppler
•
Ability to
work standing greater than 75% of the time
•
Assist
patients by lifting and helping on and off tables
•
Effectively
communicate with patients and relatives
•
Effectively communicate with sonographers and radiologists
• You are expected to arrive on time and attend all scheduled
classes
and clinical rotations unless you have an approved absence.
• You must conduct yourself in a professional manner at all
times.
• You must adhere to all policies regarding the program and
all policies
required by each hospital clinical affiliate.
• You must maintain a "C" average at all times throughout the
program.
Students who complete the Diagnostic
Medical Sonography Program receive a certificate from UC San Diego Health. Upon completion of the program, you will
be qualified to take the abdomen, obstetrics & gynecology
and physics examinations given by the American Registry of
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS).
Each student will be assigned to an
affiliate hospital for their clinical training.
The curriculum is designed so that the
didactic courses will be given in a specified sequence.
You will then utilize this information in the clinical
rotation as you learn each area. You will add to your
expertise throughout the program.
Didactic Courses
Abdominal Sonography
Anatomy and Physiology
Pathology
Vascular
Case Review
Ergonomics
Introduction to Ultrasound
Physics
Ultrasound Equipment
Advanced Physics
Color and Pulsed Doppler Physics
Pelvic Sonography
Anatomy
and Physiology
Pathology
Case Review
Small Parts
Sonography (breast, thyroid, scrotum, prostate)
Anatomy
and Physiology
Pathology
Case Review
Obstetrical Sonography
Normal
Anatomy
Fetal
Anomalies
Other
abnormalities associated with
pregnancy
Case Review
Neonatal Head Sonography
Anatomy
and Physiology
Pathology
Case Review
Vascular Sonography
Venous
- upper and lower extremity
Anatomy and Physiology
Pathology
Doppler
Case Review
Carotid
Anatomy and Physiology
Pathology
Doppler
Case
Review
Clinical - 32 hours a week.
Didactic - approximately 8 hours a week.
The goal of the program is "To prepare competent entry-level general sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for the Abdominal Sonography-Extended and Obstetrics and Gynecology Sonography concentrations."
The following objectives shall be met
upon graduation:
1.
Demonstrate knowledge of
human anatomy, physiology,
pathology, and
Pathophysiology.
2.
Demonstrate knowledge and
understanding of related imaging,
laboratory
and testing procedures as they contribute to the
clinical evaluation of
disease and pathology.
3.
Identify sonographic
representation of normal and abnormal anatomy.
4.
Apply optimal
scanning techniques and imaging for specific areas of
interest.
5.
Demonstrate knowledge of
permanent image record processing
methods, image processing and storage, billing, and hospital
computer.
6.
Complete all clinical exam
and equipment competencies.
7.
Anticipate and provide basic patient care.
8.
Maintain patient privacy according to the HIPPA and affiliate guidelines.
9.
Knowledge of hospital codes, emergency numbers, fire safety and be
prepared for any hospital or natural disaster.
10.
Integrate patient history and physical
findings to determine
appropriate area(s) of interest for obtaining
diagnostic
examinations and demonstrate proficiency in clinical
scanning
in all areas.
11.
Demonstrate knowledge of ultrasound
instrumentation
12.
Demonstrate
understanding of acoustical physics, Doppler principles and medical
ultrasound principles and
instrumentation.
13.
Demonstrate
knowledge and understanding of the interactions
between ultrasound and tissue.
14.
Demonstrate
knowledge related to biological effects.
15.
Exercise professional judgment and discretion in obtaining
diagnostic information and correlating findings
with
supervising physicians.
16.
Exercise professional judgment and discretion in
communication with patients, co-workers and the
public
concerning Sonography.
17.
Demonstrate
knowledge, which contributes to the
development of diagnostic medical Sonography.
18.
Knowledge of professional organizations, continuing medical education credits, and proper ergonomics.
Click here to Download the Application !!!
The UC San Diego Health Sonography Program accepts up to six students, on a competitive basis, each year. The program does not have a waiting list. Classes begin in January. The deadline for submitting applications is June 30th, each year. The following materials must be received by the
June 30th deadline:
•
A completed UC San Diego Health Sonography
Program application form which can be obtained through the link on this website.
•
Official transcripts from high school
and all college education.
•
3
recommendation letters completed by fellow
employees, employers or instructors.
•
Letter of intent or personal
statement describing why you are interested in the ultrasound program and future goals.
Applications will be reviewed by the Program Director and qualified applicants will be invited for an interview with a committee consisting of the Program Director, Physics instructor and a Clinical instructor from one of the clinical affiliates.
Qualified applicants are those that have
achieved a grade point average of 3.0 or
greater "C" grade or better in all prerequisite courses and a "good" rating
from the three references.
The
interviews will be located at the University of California San Diego Medical
Center at
200 West Arbor
Drive. Interviews will take
approximately one and a half hours in length. The
interview will include
a detailed description of the training program.
Following the interviews,
the committee will select up to six students and three
alternates. All applicants will be notified in writing regarding their acceptance for the program in
November.
A reply is expected within two weeks of acceptance.
Any student wishing to withdraw from the program after this time should notify
the school immediately so an alternate can be given the opportunity to attend.
All students must meet the physical requirements listed on the website and successfully
complete a general physical examination before the start of the program.
A
physical examination form will be mailed to you with your
letter of
appointment.
All students will be required to have a background check and drug screen.
Failure of one or both of these will result in termination of your acceptance
into the program.
Students
selected for the program will receive additional
information
detailing their orientation, clinical rotations and
academic calendar for
the upcoming 14 months on the first day of class.
Classes will begin on the first day after the New Year
