It is possible to earn an associate degree or bachelor's degree in diagnostic medical sonography. Sonography certificates are also available at some colleges and can take as little as one year, according to the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Associate degree programs, which generally take two to three years to complete, are the most common level of education for individuals who want to enter this career. Bachelor's degree programs in sonography generally take about four years to complete. Although bachelor's degrees in diagnostic medical sonography can be beneficial for career advancement, they are not required for individuals to work in this field.
Admissions to sonography degree programs is selective. Although admissions requirements vary according to the type of degree and school, individuals are generally required to take prerequisite courses prior to applying. Courses in mathematics and science may be required, such as college algebra, biology, human anatomy, and physiology. Applicants also generally must earn a certain grade point average in their pre-anatomy coursework. Meeting admissions requirements does not always guarantee acceptance into a sonography degree program, as spots are usually limited.
Students who choose this major will take courses in various areas of sonography, including abdominal sonography, breast sonography, echocardiography sonography, neurosonology, obstetrics/gynecology sonography, and ophthalmology sonography. Diagnostic medical sonography graduates will be given the opportunity to specialize in one of these areas by working in the area. Students who know what area they want to specialize in should try to find related internship opportunities. Sonographers who specialize in more than one field tend to find a wider array of career opportunities available to them.
Diagnostic medical sonographers are generally taught through combined instructional methods. Students will usually be required to attend both lectures in the classroom and clinical labs, which allow them to receive supervised hands-on instruction in hospitals and other health-care facilities. While some colleges and universities offer sonography courses through distance learning, students who choose to complete their degrees on line will be required to complete their clinical lab hours at an approved health-care facility.