Health Sciences (Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound) (BHSc)
Visualize health with cutting-edge ultrasound technology.
Why choose this program?
A Health Sciences degree specializing in Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound will lead to a career as a sonographer. Sonographers are highly skilled health care professionals who use ultrasound to look inside a patient's body, evaluate the condition of various organs and record digital pictures.
Sonographers evaluate organs and structures such as the liver, kidneys, heart, thyroid, blood vessels, muscles, ovaries and developing babies. Sonographers provide a summary of what they've discovered and discuss their findings with specialized doctors, who use this information to make a diagnosis.
Our program is , making students and graduates eligible for membership with . We also offer a 2-year post-diploma option designed to meet the needs of practicing sonographers that want to enhance their knowledge and expand career opportunities.
Admission requirements
Minimum admission requirements
To be considered for admission to this program, you must meet minimum academic criteria:
- Completion of secondary school (Grade 12)
- Achievement of the minimum average for your program of choice.
- Completion of Grade 12 English (or equivalent course).
Admission to many AV¾ãÀÖ²¿ programs is competitive. This means that meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
Program-specific admission requirements
Minimum overall average: 75%
Academic English 12: Minimum 70%
Academic Math 12: Minimum 70%
Academic Physics 12: Minimum 70%
Academic Biology 12:ÌýMinimum 70%
One additional academic subject
This program may employ a competitive average for admission purposes; meeting minimum posted requirements does not guarantee admission.Ìý
Ìý
Priority consideration for admission to the BHSc program in the School of Health Sciences will be given to permanent residents of the Maritime provinces. Due to residency restrictions and limited capacity, international students are not eligible for admission to this program.
Supplemental information
In addition to completing the AV¾ãÀÖ²¿ application process, you will need to submit the following supplementary documents to be considered for admission to this program. Assessment of your non-academic performance will account for 20% of your overall total application score.
All supplementary information should be attached to theÌý.
Your letter must address each of the following questions:
- Why did you choose this professional discipline as your area of study?
- What qualities, skills, and assets make you a good candidate for this profession?
- What is your understanding of the duties and responsibilities of a person working in this profession?
- How did you research this field before making your choice?
Please use the following instructions when drafting your letter:
- Answer questions in paragraph form.
- Organize your letter clearly and concisely, and demonstrate proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
- Limit your answers to 250 words per question.
Applicants will be assessed on the following non-academic criteria:
- Demonstrated knowledge of the selected health profession
- Leadership
- Community involvement
- Teamwork
If you're applying to more than one professional discipline within the Bachelor of Health Science program, please write a separate letter for each discipline.
Submit a copy of your resume outlining your education, work, and volunteer experiences. Please include the names, addresses, and phone numbers of two references.
Before applying to this program, it’s important to understand the intellectual, physical and mental demands of a career in diagnostic medical ultrasound. These include:
- Ability to lift and manipulate heavy equipment through a wide range of movements (~ 20-30 kg).Ìý
- Ability to lift and position patients of various abilities and sizes.Ìý
- Wearing heavy radiation protective apparel, occasionally for extended periods (~ 2.5-8.5 kg).Ìý
- Fine motor skills to adjust dials/knobs on imaging/medical equipment.
- Visual acuity to view information displayed on film and computer monitors and distinguish fine differences of contrast/brightness and resolution on images.Ìý
- Ability to assess image nuances on colour monitors.
- Manual dexterity and visual acuity to produce, dispense and inject radiopharmaceuticals.
- Sitting for significant amounts of time during the day to analyze data on a computer monitor.
- Standing for long periods of time while imaging patients.
- Ability to hear and respond to low voices as well as alarms and buzzers in an equipment noise environment.Ìý
- Stamina to remain physically active and mentally alert for extended periods of time.Ìý
- Encountering sensitive and hazardous materials in working environment including latex gloves, cleaning solutions, and biological/chemically hazardous materials.
- Capacity to work in high pressure and emergency situations.
For more information please visit our Health Sciences non-academic requirements page.
If you have any questions or concerns about these requirements, please contact the School of Health Sciences at health.sciences@dal.ca.
Financial information
A university education is a significant financial investment. Every student is unique, and so are their financial circumstances. We offer competitive tuition, a robust scholarship and bursary program, and resources and support to help you explore financial options and develop a plan that works for you.Ìý
Program options
As a Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound student, you will have many opportunities to engage in hands-on clinical work, putting the knowledge learned in the classroom to real-life use in a healthcare setting.Ìý In years 1, 2, and 3, every student spends 6-8 weeks during the summer term completing a clinical practicum in a healthcare setting. In addition, third year students complete multiple clinical education courses directly in the clinical environment to help prepare them for entry to practice.
Most students complete ther practicums across Atlantic Canada, while others may travel to locations across the country. Placement opportunities are based on clinical site availability and are subject to change from year to year. As Health Sciences students, you are provided with more information about availability and options before each clinical experience.
In your 4th year, you have the option to earn a certificate in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to customize your degree and enhance your future career options.
What you will learn
As a Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound student, you will take core professional development courses with a concentration on ultrasound specific knowledge and skills.  The program curriculum will prepare you to write the professional examinations.
At AV¾ãÀÖ²¿, interprofessional collaboration starts in the classroom. Throughout your degree, you will work with students in other health programs to learn from each other, enable effective collaboration and improve patient outcomes.
Sample courses may include:
Fundamentals of Sonography
Principles and Instrumentation of Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
Cross Sectional Anatomy for Multimodality ImagingÌý
Sonography of the Abdomen/Superficial Structures
Sonography in Obstetrics I
Sonography of the Reproductive System
Pathophysiology for Health SciencesÌý
Abdominal Imaging
Gynecological Imaging
Application of Ultrasound Instrumentation
Vascular UltrasoundÌý
Foundations in Clinical & Professional Education
Critical Research Appraisal and PracticesÌý
Health Law for Non-Lawyers
Interprofessional EducationÌý
Careers
Sonographers usually work in hospitals or clinics; however, some sonographers work in related careers including managers, educators, or medical information technology (IT) specialists. You can also choose to focus your career on a specialized area such as cardiac or vascular sonography.
Future studies could include specialization in another area of sonography or programs at the graduate level in science or health.
