Sonography Program

Become a diagnostic medical sonographer and ultrasound technician in just 22 months.

Our program in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) is a lock-step, full-time, two-year program (five semesters) that will prepare you to secure your American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) credentials. The Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) program qualifies you for employment as an entry-level sonographer in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and medical offices. In this program, you’ll learn the academic and technical skills needed to perform abdominal, obstetrical and gynecological imaging techniques.

The DMS program is 22 months of full-time study. You’ll have the opportunity to apply your knowledge during clinical rotations at affiliates throughout New York City. After completing the program, you will be eligible to apply to take the national registry examination from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) and/or the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS).

During the program, you will learn a range of essential healthcare knowledge including:

  • Anatomy
  • Ultrasound Physics
  • Ultrasound Image Optimization
  • Pathology
  • Patient Care

Sonography Program Curriculum

The curriculum consists of both diagnostic sonography class work and clinical experience. Under the supervision of professional sonographers, you will perform various sonographic examinations and procedures. By the end of the program, you will be well-versed in applying sonographic techniques in healthcare settings.

During your first semester, you will take introductory courses and labs on topics like physics, anatomy and physiology. Once you have that foundation you will dive into learning about sonography and the basics of relevant imaging technologies like ultrasound. As early as your second semester, you will have your first clinical rotation, where you will gain real lab experience and apply techniques you learned in class.

The last three semesters will explore focused sonographic imaging techniques and topics in both a classroom and lab setting. Through the course of the program, you will have experience applying what you've learned in four clinical rotations. Your final two semesters explore specialized sonography topics like obstetrics, gynecology, and abdominal & superficial structures. By the end of the program, you will understand how advanced sonographic imaging and analysis works and will be ready for certification. After a total of 50 ultrasound procedures during the course of study, you'll be a confident and knowledgeable medical professional.

The 83-credit Associate’s program includes 30 courses. A few of the classes you will take during your course of study include:

  • Vascular Imaging & Doppler
  • Sonography Physics & Instrumentation
  • Sonographic Image Analysis & Pathology

Visit our curriculum page to learn more about each course and see the full schedule.

Program Specializations

Combined with your didactic coursework, your clinical practice experiences will give you the opportunity to put into action what you learn in the classroom. You will master the necessary technical skills during hands-on training sessions at various hospitals and medical centers throughout the city. Our program gives you the foundation in:

  • General Sonography
  • Abdominal Sonography
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology (OB/GYN)

With further training you can specialize in:

  • Vascular Sonography
  • Cardiac Sonography

What Do Sonographers Do?

A Medical Sonographer is a highly skilled medical professional who uses specialized ultrasound equipment to record visual images of internal structure. Sonography utilizes high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to produce a dynamic visual image of internal organs, tissues, or blood flow inside the body.

While most of the demand for sonographers is concentrated in hospitals, you might also work in a variety of outpatient settings, including clinics, labs, research universities, private medical offices, mobile companies, educational facilities and more. As technology and new clinical indications are identified, new opportunities for sonographers emerge. Within this field, there is also a need for researchers, administrators, educators, and business experts.

How to Become an Ultrasound Technician

The NYSCAS Sonography program prepares you to become an ultrasound technician. Although not required in New York state to be a practicing ultrasound technician, American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) certification is required by many hospitals and doctors’ offices.

Working as an ultrasound technician is an especially fulfilling position in the healthcare industry. You will be working alongside other healthcare professionals and play an important role in investigating and diagnosing illness, as well as monitoring recovery.

Sonographer Career Outlook

If you are considering pursuing a career in sonography, the following statistics show some positive trends:

  • The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projected employment of diagnostic medical sonographers to grow 12 percent through 2026.
  • Diagnostic Medical Sonographer was ranked #4 on Money Magazine / U.S. News and World Report’s 2019 list of Best Jobs in Healthcare Support.
  • In 2021, the mean annual medical sonographer salary is an impressive $73,860 ($81,000 in New York), and the top 10% earned over $100K per year, as reported by the BLS.

The job market here in New York is also very promising:

  • New York State has the 3rd-highest employment level of sonographers in the country, as of May 2020 (BLS.org)
  • The tri-state area is the #1 employer of sonographers of all metropolitan areas in the nation, providing more than double the number of jobs compared to the second-highest region.

An Associate’s Degree is All You Need

  • Diagnostic Medical Sonographer was ranked #2 on a list recently released by Monster.com titled “The 10 Best Jobs with an Associate Degree.”
  • ASRT surveys consistently show that around 70% of sonographers hold an associate degree, and the average yearly income for those holding a bachelor’s or master’s is only 2%-3% higher.

Program Details

Degree Credits Schedule
Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) 83 The A.A.S. in Diagnostic Medical Sonography is a 2-year, 5-semester, full-time program

Applying to the Sonography Program

Tuition

The program is $8,400 for each semester (5 semesters). Aside from application and graduation fees, there are no additional charges or fees.

Tuition is subject to change. For withdrawal schedule and bursar information visit the NYSCAS tuition page.

What you need to apply

As part of the admission requirements, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years old prior to orientation
  • Hold a High School diploma or High School Equivalency or GED
  • Take the ATI TEAS test
  • Pass a background check and urine drug test

For all requirements and a step-by-step guide to our application, visit the admissions page.

Location

230 West 125th Street
New York, NY 10027

Contact

Stephanie Evans
230 West 125th Street
New York, NY 10027
Phone: (212) 939-3477
Fax: (212) 939-3479
medical.imaging@touro.edu