Curriculum and Rotation

Curriculum

The 18-month clinical-based internship curriculum provides students with a comprehensive body of knowledge and a clinical education that includes instruction and experience in a variety of abdominal, obstetrical, gynecological, superficial parts, and neurosonology exams and procedures.

Summer 1 and Orientation (July - August)

Fundamentals of Sonography

Fall 1 Semester (August - December)

Management and Methods of Patient Care
Sectional Anatomy for the Sonographer
Abdomen Sonography
OB/GYN Sonography
Pathophysiology (Fall/Spring course)
Clinical Education I

Spring 1 Semester (January - May)

Ultrasound Physics I
Abdomen Pathology
OB/GYN Pathology
Clinical Education II

Summer 2 Semester (May - July)

Ultrasound Physics II
Image Critique
Clinical Education III

Fall 2 Semester (July - December)

Introduction to Pediatric and Vascular Imaging
Specialty Sonography
Registry Review
Clinical Education IV

Note: Final course sequence is subject to change.

Clinical Rotation

Students rotate clinical assignments between ultrasound departments in Feinberg and Arkes Pavilions, Prentice Women's Hospital, NMPG 680 Lakeshore, and Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital (in northern Illinois). Specialty rotations include Lynn Sage Breast Center, Interventional Radiology, and Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from clinical assignments.

Please note that this program is for the education of sonographers and not for physician, physician background or residency training in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

Academic Standing

In order to be considered in good standing in the School of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, students must maintain a final course grade of "C" (75%) or better in didactic courses and a grade of "Pass" in clinical courses. Students will be dismissed from the DMS program for failure to maintain good academic standing.

Program Hours

The program is scheduled for eight hours a day, five days per week.

Students will be off during Northwestern Memorial Hospital recognized hospital holidays:

New Year's Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas

In addition, students are given a total of 120 hours of personal time off (PTO) that may be used during the 18 month program. Winter break runs from Chrismas Eve through New Year's Day.

The program begins annually in the middle of July and ends in December of the following year.