• MSJC
• Nursing and Allied Health
• Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Diagnostic Medical Sonography

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) program at Mt. San Jacinto College is a competitive, non-transfer Associate of Science degree designed to prepare students for a rewarding career in healthcare. Spanning four semesters plus one summer term, the program includes a 12-month clinical internship where students gain hands-on experience under licensed sonographers. In state-of-the-art campus labs and affiliated medical centers, students master ultrasound techniques and develop critical skills in anatomy, pathology, patient care, and communication. Graduates are equipped to perform various ultrasound exams, including abdominal, obstetric, gynecological, and vascular studies, and are prepared to sit for national ARDMS exams such as Sonography Physics and Instrumentation (SPI), Abdominal (ABD), and Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB-GYN).

Click here to see the degree overview and requirements

Table of Contents

• Application Information
• DMS Workshops
• Accreditation Agency Information
• Program Description
• Mission Statement
• Program Goals
• Careers & Salaries

Application Information

Closed - Application will be available here March 1-15, 2026.

Application Checklist

Click here for the DMS Program Application Checklist

FOR APPLICANTS: March 1 to March 15, 2025  (11:59pm deadline): INCLUDE ALL PROGRAM NOTES FROM COUNSELOR- This also has your GPA listed. Applications will not be complete without this document! Early applications WILL NOT be accepted.

The 2 points per application year are ONLY awarded for complete applications.

Immunizations - EFFECTIVE SPRING 2025

Upon acceptance - not application - DMS students are required to have proof of completed immunizations:

• MMR, TDAP, Varicella, HEP B, or + titers
• COVID-19 vaccine series
  • One (1) Johnson & Johnson / One (1) Novavax OR
  • 2 series Pfizer/Moderna
• TB blood screening = Quantiferon-Gold.

These are requirements to enter clinical facilities while attending DMS clinical training. Future covid booster requirements could be implemented according to each facility's requirements.  Flu vaccine may be a requirement or, if opting out of flu vaccine, wearing a mask during flu season - depending on each facility's requirements. 

How to Submit Application and Documents

Applications may be submitted through either of these methods:

• Scanned and emailed to the nursingandah@msjc.edu email address.
  • Please Note: Documents MUST be in PDF or JPEG format
  • MUST include subject line: FA2025 DMS Application

OR

• Downloaded, printed and delivered to the Nursing and Allied Health Department during regular business hours.
  • Hours: Mondays - Thursdays 8:00AM – 5:00PM
    
    

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact 951-639-5577 or email nursingandah@msjc.edu.

DMS Workshops

Questions about the DMS Program?  Come to an Information Workshop!

These workshops are designed for all students interested in the Mt. San Jacinto College Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program.  All general information relative to the MSJC DMS Program will be discussed. At the end of the workshop, the presenter will be able to answer any questions that you may have.

No appointment is necessary to attend the workshop! Please log on 5-10 minutes prior to the scheduled workshop!

Open to the public: You do not have to be currently enrolled at MSJC to attend this workshop.
All information relative to the application process for entry into the MSJC Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program will be discussed.

Certificate of Workshop Attendance

Please complete the Certificate of Attendance form to certify that you have attended the DMS workshop and/or reviewed the DMSProgram Powerpoint Presentation. You will need this form included in your application!

Accreditation Agency Information

The Mt San Jacinto College Diagnostic Medical Sonography 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). This achievement places MSJC's DMS program among the top programs in the United States.

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
9355-113th St. N., #7709, Seminole, FL.  33775
Email: mail@caahep.org
Phone: 727-210-2350
Fax: 727-210-2354
Website: caahep.org

Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
6021 University Boulevard, Suite 500, Ellicott City, MD 21043
Email: mail@jrcdms.org
Phone: 443-973-3251
Fax: 866-738-3444
Website: jrcdms.org

Program Description

The objective of the program is to graduate students who are competent and confident in providing excellent patient care in the field of sonography.  The goal of our DMS program is to prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains. Students will demonstrate a high competency in anatomy and pathology, as seen on the ultrasound exam and the skills necessary to perform the ultrasound exam. Students will be evaluated on didactic learning in ultrasound physics and instrumentation, hands on scanning skills, communication skills, patient care and critical thinking ability.

Students will practice ultrasound scanning skills with ultrasound equipment in the campus lab. Those skills will be carried out and enhanced in an affiliated medical center internship by training on the job with a licensed sonographer. The didactic education will prepare the student for taking the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography Physics and Instrumentation examination, Abdominal examination and the Obstetric/Gynecology examination.

CAAHEP accreditation increases opportunities for student clinical training, strengthens the student learning process, and opens doors to student employment.  Students enrolled in an accredited DMS programs are eligible to take the national American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) board exams up to 60 days prior to graduation. This eligibility contributes to greater employment rates of graduates at the time of graduation.

In addition, upon completion of Associate in Science required course work, the student will receive an Associate in Science degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. The MSJC Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is a nontransferable program.

Student Information Workshops are offered once per semester with an online link to workshop information if unable to attend in person. A summary of the information on this site can also be found in this DMS brochure and on the Graduation Requirements page.

Program Mission Statement

DMS Policy

Click here to review the updated DMS policy

Program Goals

Students who complete the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program on the Menifee Valley Campus of Mt. San Jacinto College are able to do the following:

1. Complete the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation exam,  abdomen and small parts, and the obstetrics/gynecology specialty examinations.
   
   
2. Demonstrate proper use of ultrasound equipment and image improvement. Document proper imaging of the abdomen, small parts, obstetrics and gynecology ultrasound exams, include differential diagnosis of pathologies seen.
   
   
3. Utilize therapeutic verbal and nonverbal communication with patients, families, staff and physicians.  Demonstrate professional behavior as outlined by the AIUM guidelines, honoring all HIPPA laws.
   

Careers & Salaries

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in California earn an average of $40 per hour, with salaries ranging from $33 to $42 per hour for most professionals. Top-paying cities such as Berkeley, San Bruno, and Mountain View offer hourly rates up to $49, reflecting opportunities for geographic-based salary growth. The field offers potential for advancement depending on experience, skill, and location, with related roles like Ultrasound Nurse earning significantly higher salaries. Graduates of Mt. San Jacinto College's DMS program are well-positioned to enter this in-demand career field and pursue competitive salaries (Source: ZipRecruiter).

Top 10 Highest-Paying Cities for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers in California

Top 5 Related Careers in Ultrasound and Allied Fields

Questions? Contact 951-639-5577 by phone or email nursingandah@msjc.edu if you have any questions.