Each program with out-of-district clinical sites may admit a maximum of 20% of out-of-district applicants to the program, based on merit. The 20% maximum policy would only apply to out-of-district applicants who do not have access to a particular program in the community college district in which they reside. Students coming from districts with a particular program within their district would only be considered if there were open seats after all qualified candidates from in-district and out-of-district without programs were accepted.

If there are insufficient numbers of qualified in-district applicants, the maximum percentage of out-of-district students accepted can be exceeded until the program achieves full enrollment, with the approval of the Dean of Nursing & Health Sciences.

Priority for Admission

• a. In-District applicants
• b. Out-of-District who are part of the CAREER Consortium Agreement (meaning your residing community college does not offer the particular program in which you are applying)
• c. Out-of-District applicants working full-time in-district (proof of in-district employment will be required each semester)
• d. Out-of-District applicants (who are not part of the CAREER Consortium Agreement) including those students with a joint or chargeback agreement and International students

Please review the Sonography Admission Packet for more information.

Visit Transferology to determine which courses will transfer to COD. An additional option is to apply to COD, have your transcripts sent to the Records Department and then schedule an appointment with a Health Program Advisor so they can review the degree audit with you. 

Contact Counseling and Advising to schedule an appointment at (630) 942-2259 or email healthcareadvising@cod.edu.

High school graduates and students changing careers/returning students are a sonography degree applicants.

• Please see the Sonography Degree Admissions packet. 

Currently licensed healthcare providers (for example nurses or radiographers) with a completed two-year degree from an accredited program in the area of licensure would likely be a sonography advanced certificate applicant (depends on the area of licensure).

• Please see the Sonography Advanced Certificate Admissions packet.

Students that are already registered diagnostic medical sonographers that are credentialed in either abdomen/superficial structures, obstetrics/gynecology and/or echocardiography would likely be a vascular sonography certificate applicant.

• Please see the Vascular Sonography Certificate Admissions packet.

Advising session dates are held throughout the year. View the advising session to find a date that works for your schedule.

You can also view our Advising Session PowerPoint at anytime.

Diagnostic Medical Imaging Sonography or ultrasound, is a diagnostic procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce visual images of organs, tissues or blood flow inside the body.

Job responsibilities for someone in this field will include obtaining medical histories; performing diagnostic procedures and obtaining diagnostic images; analyzing technical information; providing summaries of findings to physicians for medical diagnosis; and collaborating with physicians and other members of a health care team to ensure the best possible patient care.

Being able to communicate with patients and demonstrate compassion for patients who are sick or in pain is very important. In addition, sonographers must be able to "think on their feet" to obtain the highest-quality exam due to variances in every patient's anatomy. Lastly, people interested in sonography should enjoy being challenged, be able to stand for 8-12 hours per day, and be willing to complete required continuing education classes during the course of their career.

Imaging procedures are generally performed in hospitals, outpatient clinics and in private doctor's offices. There are also opportunities for technologists to become commercial application specialists for medical equipment companies, educators and hospital administrators.

Please visit the following Program Admission Packet for details:

• Sonography (Ultrasound) (DMIS) Associate Degree Admissions Packet
• Sonography (Ultrasound) (DMIS) Advanced Certificate Admissions Packet

College of DuPage offers three sonography programs.

• Applicants interested in the two-year AAS Degree in Sonography must complete the necessary prerequisite and general degree courses prior to acceptance into the program. To be considered for Fall admission, completed applications must be received by the application deadline. All prerequisite coursework must be completed by the end of the Spring term preceding the start of the program in the Fall.
• Applicants interested in the 18 month DMIS Advanced Certificate in General Sonography program must already have completed a two-year Allied Health science program and hold a current license in a health-related field before being accepted into the DMIS program.
• Applicants interested in the six-month Vascular Sonography certificate must already have completed a General or Echocardiography Sonography program with ARDMS/CCI registry in one or more of the following specialties: Abdomen/Superficial Structures, Echocardiography, and Obstetrics/Gynecology.

College of DuPage DMIS students have obtained employment after graduation in many of the community hospitals and clinics within the Chicago area as well as other states. In addition, several students were able to obtain part-time employment in area sonography departments while completing degree/certificate requirements.

At COD, students specialize in abdomen/superficial structures, obstetrics and gynecology, and/or vascular imaging (depending on if they are degree or certificate students). College of DuPage also offers the didactic courses and/or hands-on scanning labs courses to sonographers or physicians trying to enhance their skills or prepare for certification boards.

This profession has advanced significantly over the past 20 years. With continued developments in technology and an increased use of diagnostic ultrasound procedures, growth is projected to be moderately high rate in this career field. The overall salary range for sonographers finishing either the DMIS Certificate or AAS Sonography Degree Program at College of DuPage ranges between $60,000 and $80,000, dependent on the location and type of facility the graduate works. Salary can also vary based on how many registries the graduate has passed.

Sonography Degree Program

It is a two-year degree program (not including prerequisites). The program is mostly full-time on campus and at hospitals.

• First Semester = (2) 12-hour days & evenings on campus 
• Second to Fifth Semesters = (2) 8-12-hour days & evenings on campus and (3) 8.5 hour shifts per week at a hospital/clinic*
• Sixth Semester = (3) 8.5 hour shifts a week at a hospital/clinic*

Advanced Sonography Certificate Program

It is an 18-month certificate program. The program is mostly full-time on campus and at hospitals (no online courses).

• First Semester = (2) 12-hour days & evenings on campus 
• Second to Fourth Semesters = (2) 8-12-hour days & evenings on campus and (3) 8.5 hour shifts per week at a hospital/clinic*

 *Clinical shifts will be days, nights and/or weekends, the hospital/clinic sets the schedule.

Diagnostic Medical Imaging Vascular Sonography is a medical imaging modality that specializes in the use of high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with disorders of the arteries and veins.

Being able to communicate with patients and demonstrate compassion for patients who are sick or in pain is very important. In addition, technologists must be able to "think on their feet" to obtain the highest-quality exam because of the variances in every patient's anatomy and disease presentation. Lastly, people interested in sonography should enjoy being challenged, be able to stand for 8-12 hours per day, and be willing to complete required continuing education classes during the course of their career.

Imaging procedures are generally done in hospitals, outpatient clinics, private doctors' offices and independent laboratories. There are also opportunities for sonographers to become commercial application specialists for medical equipment companies, educators and hospital administrators.

The Vascular certificate program is designed to further enhance the careers of current registered sonographers by adding the vascular specialty to their skill set. For more information, review the Vascular Sonography Admissions Packet.

The overall salary range for vascular sonographers finishing the programs at College of DuPage ranges between $60,000 and $75,000, dependent on the specialties the graduate completes and the specific registries from the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) that the graduate successfully passes.

Vascular Sonography Certificate Program

It is a six-month certificate program. The program is mostly full-time on campus and at hospitals.

• First Semester = (2) 8-12-hour days & evenings on campus AND (3) 8.5 hour shifts per week at a hospital/clinic*
• Second Semester = (3) 8.5 hour shifts a week at a hospital/clinic*

*Clinical shifts will be days, nights and/or weekends, the hospital/clinic sets the schedule.