Diagnostic Medical Sonography Technology

Print Application Requirements

BAS in Diagnostic Medical Sonography Technology Application Requirements

Application deadline: May 1

Admission to the college

Submit a free application for admission to COTC. 

Official transcripts

Submit official high school transcript with graduation date or official GED transcript. High school seniors must send a current transcript during their senior year and a final transcript after graduation.

If applicable, submit official transcripts from all career centers, colleges and universities attended past and current with GPA. All foreign transcripts (high school and colleges) must be evaluated by a NACES Member.

Sonography information meeting

You may either attend a sonography information meeting on campus or complete the online sonography information course (valid for 12 months).

Pre-requisite courses

Complete the following courses with a grade of C or higher:

• A full unit of high school biology or BIO-010 Intro to Biology or higher college equivalent
• High school chemistry to Intro to CHEM-020  Chemistry Principles or higher college equivalent
• OR approved transfer credit for BIO-130 Anatomy and Physiology

Complete (or be enrolled at time of application) the following COTC courses with a grade of C or higher:

• Math 140: College Algebra
• PHYS 105: Elementary Physics

If you have taken these classes at another college or university and received a grade of C or higher, you may receive transfer credit for the courses.

Health selection exam

The HESI exam assesses your preparedness for entering a healthcare program. Your score is a significant factor in the selection process.

HESI exam scores are good for 12 months. The HESI exam may be taken multiple times, but only the most recent score will be the one considered as part of your sonography application. There is a fee to take the HESI exam.

The HESI A2 exam can be taken at any COTC campus. The exam is only available in person.

Scores can be sent from any testing location* as long as they meet the following criteria:

1. It must be administered in-person. No remote exams will be accepted. HESI scores are valid for 12 months.
2. The test must have exactly the same subjects our HESI A2 covers — no more, no less. That is:

• Reading comprehension
• Vocabulary and general knowledge
• Basic math skills
• Biology
• Chemistry

3. The score transcript must be ordered from HESI and sent directly to cotcrecords@mail.cotc.edu to be verified.

*Additional fees will apply.

Sonography program application

Submit the sonography program application. Application is available one month prior to each deadline by request from your assigned advisor or email cotcadvising@mail.cotc.edu.

Background check/drug screening (do not complete prior to notification of acceptance)

FBI & BCI background checks and a drug screening are required prior admission into the program. More information will be provided after selection.

CPR certification

CPR certification from an American Heart Association-approved training center is required for clinical rotations.

Print plan of study

Bachelor of Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography Technology

Cardiovascular Major

Total hours required: 120

All courses require a “C” (2.00) grade or better to progress and graduate from this program.

*Course may have prerequisites. Please check the course description to view all prerequisites and requirements.

The college reserves the right to change curricula without notice.

Published: March 2024

Print plan of study

Bachelor of Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography Technology

General Major

Total hours required: 120

All courses require a “C” (2.00) grade or better to progress and graduate from this program.

*Course may have prerequisites. Please check the course description to view all prerequisites and requirements.

The college reserves the right to change curricula without notice.

Published: March 2024

• DMS-315 Vascular Techniques Scan Lab
• DMS-305 Survey of Vascular
• DMS-313 Abdominal Techniques Scan Lab
• DMS-303 Survey of Abdomen
• DMS-306 Fetal Echocardiography
• DMS-314 Echo Techniques Scan Lab
• DMS-304 Survey of Echo
• DMS-325 Vascular Techniques Scan Lab II
• DMS-307 Survey of Musculoskeletal
• DMS-316 GYN Techniques Scan Lab
• DMS-312 Abdominal Vascular Techniques Scan Lab
• DMS-335 Vascular Techniques Scan Lab III
• DMS-415 Breast Sonography
• DMS-317 Breast Techniques Scan Lab
• DMS-411 Pediatric Echocardiography
• DMS-410 Pediatric Echo Lab

Non-program students have the choice to either audit courses or receive credit for the course(s). Whether an audit or credit, enrollment is dependent on classroom space and priority is given to program students.

1. If you graduated from COTC more than one year ago, you need to complete a new COTC application.
2. After you complete the application, your COTC account will be activated and you will receive an email from COTC with your username and password. Your log-in information will give you access to the COTC student portal.
3. Follow the instructions provided by COTC to set up your COTC email account.
4. Once you have your COTC email account set up, send an email to the program director listing the specific course(s) you would like to be registered for, and she will send permission for you to register to your advisor.

Contact: Program Director Melinda Brillhart 

Your tuition must be received one week before your course(s) begin. Tuition reimbursement through your employer may be available.

1. Apply online to COTC.
   • For your education goal, please select “Take only a few classes to upgrade my skills.”
2. After you complete the application, you will receive an email from COTC with your username and password. Your log-in information will give you access to the COTC student portal.
3. If you have taken courses at an accredited college (other than COTC) please request to have your transcripts sent to COTC.
4. After you have been accepted, follow the instructions provided by COTC to set up your COTC email account.
5. Once you have your COTC email account set up, send an email to the program director listing the specific course(s) you would like to be registered for, and she will send permission for you to register to your advisor.

Contact: Program Director Melinda Brillhart

DMS courses are not available in the evening. Classes are during the day and the program is full time. Students are either in the classroom or in the clinical facilities five days per week.

General education courses are available in the evening, online and at all COTC campuses. Students typically finish these courses in the first year.

The bachelor’s degree was developed after thorough analysis of community and workforce demand. The feedback received from our clinical partners, advisory committee members, employers and graduates laid the foundation for the conversion.

Job Training

Employers indicated a critical need for general sonographers to be cross trained in vascular sonography. Many hospitals in Ohio and nationwide require their general sonographers to also perform vascular examinations.

Sonographers must also be prepared to thoroughly evaluate the fetal heart during OB examinations. In the bachelor’s degree program, all students will receive training in fetal echocardiography.

The sonography profession has expanded into other specialty areas including musculoskeletal and breast imaging. In the bachelor’s degree program, students will receive dedicated musculoskeletal and breast training.

There is a nationwide, critical demand for pediatric cardiac sonographers. COTC partnered with Nationwide Children’s Hospital to provide the cardiovascular-major student with hands-on training and dedicated pediatric echocardiography courses.

An associate degree cannot exceed 65 credit hours, so there was no room to add courses. By expanding to a bachelor’s degree, COTC is able to add courses, including hands-on lab experiences and clinical placements, in the modalities listed above. The advanced coursework of the bachelor’s degree ensures graduates are job-ready and employers receive quality sonographers.

Accreditation Standards

As an accredited program, the curriculum and competency requirements have continued to grow. The amount of knowledge, hands-on training, clinical hours and proficiencies exceeded the capacity of a five-semester associate degree program.

More Efficient Use of Students’ Time

On average, it took eight semesters to complete the associate degree in DMS because many students were enrolled part-time the first year. Now, students can enroll full time (including summers) and be able to complete the bachelor’s degree in the same amount of time, eight semesters.

A bachelor’s degree in sonography requires the completion of 120 credit hours. Data revealed that on average COTC’s DMS graduates had completed 90 credit hours upon completion (including COTC credits and transfer credits). The majority of DMS graduates have already completed 2/3 of credits needed to earn a bachelor’s degree. By adding higher-level general education courses and specialized sonography courses to the associate degree program and making use of transfer credits, students can now earn a bachelor’s degree.

Utilizing Students’ Credits

Many COTC students enroll with transfer credit from other colleges and universities. Now, many general education courses will be applied to the bachelor’s degree general education requirements, making use of previously earned credits.

With College Credit Plus, many incoming high school students have already completed and fulfilled the general education requirements needed for a bachelor’s degree prior to beginning the DMS program. A CCP student that takes full advantage of the program, could potentially complete the bachelor’s degree in DMS in two years.

COTC awards more than $1 million in scholarships to students each year.

Every student is encouraged to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for grants, scholarships and loans. Students who complete the FAFSA are automatically considered for some scholarships. Other scholarships require an application.

See Paying for College for more information, or connect with the Office of Student Financial Services at 740.366.9435 or email NWK-studentfinancialservices@mail.cotc.edu.