Diagnostic Medical Sonography Diploma
Diploma
| Type | |
|---|---|
| Length |
Courses
Core Courses
SONO-100
Typical Offerings
| Timing | Fall Only, Every Year |
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| Locations | |
| Requisites |
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Description
This course introduces students to the sonographic principles of imaging in the normal abdomen and pelvis. The focus is on normal anatomical appearance, variants and common pathologies. Concepts include relational and cross-sectional anatomy and physiology. Students will apply theoretical concepts to scan structures of interest in the abdomen, male pelvis, and non-pregnant female pelvis..SONO-103
Typical Offerings
| Timing | Fall Only, Every Year |
|---|---|
| Locations | |
| Requisites |
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Description
This course will introduce students to cardiac anatomy, the cardiac cycle and principles of hemodynamics in cardiac imaging. The focus of this course is on assessment and interpretation of normal cardiac patterns and common arrhythmias. Concepts include the use of windows, modalities, and associated measurements. Students will apply theoretical concepts from this course to simulations in the lab.SONO-105
Typical Offerings
| Timing | Fall Only, Every Year |
|---|---|
| Locations | |
| Requisites |
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Description
This course introduces students to the sonographic principles of imaging in the normal abdomen and male pelvis. The focus is on normal anatomical appearance, variants and common pathologies. Concepts include relational and cross-sectional anatomy and physiology. Students will apply theoretical concepts from this course to simulations in the lab.SONO-107
Typical Offerings
| Timing | Fall Only, Every Year |
|---|---|
| Locations | |
| Requisites |
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Description
This course introduces students to patient care in sonography. The focus is on the provision of safe, professional care throughout all imaging processes. Concepts include body mechanics and patient transport, communication, care of patient equipment, workplace health and safety and cultural competence. Students will apply theoretical concepts from this course to simulations in the lab.SONO-109
Typical Offerings
| Timing | Fall Only, Every Year |
|---|---|
| Locations | |
| Requisites |
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Description
This course introduces students to human relationships relevant to sonography. The focus of this course is on professional communication and interactions with others in the health care setting. Concepts include types, components and intra-organization communication, introduction to neuroscience, memory and learning, and foundational concepts related to typical human behaviours. Theoretical concepts will be practiced in the classroom through role play.SONO-120
Typical Offerings
| Timing | Spring Only, Every Year |
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| Locations | |
| Requisites |
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Description
This course builds on SONO 100 with a focus on pathology and congenital abnormalities of the abdomen, pelvis and superficial structures. Concepts include relational and cross-sectional anatomy and physiology, as well as differentiation between normal and pathological presentation of structures of interest. Students will apply theoretical concepts from this course to simulations in the lab.SONO-123
Typical Offerings
| Timing | Spring Only, Every Year |
|---|---|
| Locations | |
| Requisites |
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Description
This course is a continuation of SONO 103. The focus is the hemodynamics and etiologies related to cardiac disease and corresponding clinical presentation. Emphasis is placed on interpretation and quantification of abnormalities in the adult echocardiogram. Students will apply theoretical concepts from this course to simulations in the lab.SONO-125
Typical Offerings
| Timing | Spring Only, Every Year |
|---|---|
| Locations | |
| Requisites |
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Description
This course is a continuation of SONO 105. The focus is on the normal presentation of the female pelvis during pregnancy and the scanning techniques used to thoroughly assess the fetus. Concepts include assessment of the obstetrical patient, the uterine and extra-uterine environments, normal fetal presentation throughout pregnancy, and common complications in the first trimester. Students will apply theoretical concepts to simulations in the lab.SONO-129
Typical Offerings
| Timing | Spring Only, Every Year |
|---|---|
| Locations | |
| Requisites |
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Description
This course is a continuation of SONO 109. The focus of this course is on advanced communication skills and atypical personality traits and psychological disorders. Concepts include common communication challenges in health care, conflict resolution, verbal and written presentations and documentation principles. Theoretical concepts will be practiced in the classroom setting through role play and presenting a group case study.SONO-131
Typical Offerings
| Timing | Spring Only, Every Year |
|---|---|
| Locations | |
| Requisites |
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Description
This theory course introduces imaging of the carotid arteries and veins of the lower extremities. The focus is on vessel assessment in order to correlate normal sonographic patterns, appearances and values. Concepts include normal anatomy, physiology and venous thrombosis of the lower leg veins. Students will apply theoretical concepts from this course to simulations in the lab.SONO-145
Typical Offerings
| Timing | Intersession Only, Every Year |
|---|---|
| Locations | |
| Requisites |
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Description
This course introduces the student to pathophysiology relevant to sonography. The focus of this course is on common pathologies of the abdomen. Concepts include disease terminology, mechanisms of disease, the inflammatory process and common clinical presentations of disease. Content is delivered online and applied in a clinical setting.BIO-170
Typical Offerings
| Timing | Fall Only, Every Year |
|---|---|
| Locations | |
| Requisites |
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Description
This course introduces the sonography student to the normal anatomy, physiology and imaging of the abdominal and pelvic cavities and superficial structures. Common pathologies or anatomic variants are introduced. Students will apply theoretical concepts from this course to simulations in the lab.PHYS-170
Typical Offerings
| Timing | Fall Only, Every Year |
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| Locations | |
| Requisites |
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Description
In this introductory course students will learn the principles of sound travel, interactions within the body, and application to a sonographic exam. Concepts include the properties, creation and detection of sound waves. Also covered are instrumentation, artifacts, digital imaging, and storage and safety considerations for both the operator and the patient. Students will apply theoretical concepts from this course to simulations in the lab.PHYS-173
Typical Offerings
| Timing | Spring Only, Every Year |
|---|---|
| Locations | |
| Requisites |
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Description
This lecture course builds on the concepts presented in PHYS 170. The focus of this course is on the principles and instrumentation of Doppler imaging. Concepts include continuous wave, pulsed wave, color, power and tissue Doppler. Students will also learn how to minimize the biological effects of ultrasound. Students will apply theoretical concepts from this course to simulations in the lab.PHYS-175
Typical Offerings
| Timing | Fall Only, Every Year |
|---|---|
| Locations | |
| Requisites |
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Description
This theory course is a continuation and integration of PHYS 170 and PHYS 173. The focus is on the relationship between the physical principles of fluid motion and Doppler imaging. Tissue harmonic imaging, contrast imaging, and elasticity imaging in sonography are also covered. Students will learn about the quality assurance and control responsibilities of the sonographer. Students will apply theoretical concepts from this course to simulations in the lab.SONO-230
Typical Offerings
| Timing | Fall Only, Every Year |
|---|---|
| Locations | |
| Requisites |
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Description
This course builds on SONO 120 with a focus on more complex pathological conditions of the adult and paediatric abdomen, pelvis, and superficial structures. Concepts include sonographic assessment of the abnormal abdominal wall, associated musculoskeletal and superficial structures, scrotum, thyroid and relevant abdominal Doppler studies. Students will also perform sonographic assessment of the carotids and peripheral vascular system.SONO-231
Typical Offerings
| Timing | Fall Only, Every Year |
|---|---|
| Locations | |
| Requisites |
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Description
This course builds on SONO 131. The focus of this course is on the abnormal sonographic findings in carotid arteries and the extremity veins. Concepts include clinical signs and symptoms of vascular disease, abnormal hemodynamics, peripheral arterial Doppler and vascular grafts. Students will apply theoretical concepts from this course to simulations in the lab.SONO-233
Typical Offerings
| Timing | Fall Only, Every Year |
|---|---|
| Locations | |
| Requisites |
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Description
This course is a continuation of SONO 123. The focus is on the pathophysiology of cardiac disease and the integration of hemodynamics and clinical findings with sonographic features. Concepts include heart failure, cardiomyopathy, pericardial and pleural disease, cardiac masses, disease of the cardiac vessels and congenital abnormalities and surgical corrections. Students will apply theoretical concepts from this course to simulation in the lab.SONO-236
Typical Offerings
| Timing | Spring Only, Every Year |
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| Locations | |
| Requisites |
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Description
This course is intended to prepare the sonography student for accreditation with Sonography Canada. Concepts covered include the Canadian Clinical Skills Assessments (CCSA), certification examination process, and how to develop a professional resume and cover letter. This course will be delivered online.SONO-237
Typical Offerings
| Timing | Fall Only, Every Year |
|---|---|
| Locations | |
| Requisites |
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Description
This theory course is a continuation of SONO 125. The focus is on complex pathology and pathophysiology of the female (pelvis and all stages of pregnancy) as relevant to sonographic assessment. The emphasis is on performing quality sonographic images, integrating relevant clinical findings and patient history to formulate and communicate a clinical impression. Students will apply theoretical concepts to simulations in the lab.Required Practicum
SONO-133
Typical Offerings
| Timing | Intersession Only, Every Year |
|---|---|
| Locations | |
| Requisites |
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Description
This course introduces the student to the clinical environment. The focus of this course is on preparing the student for the transition from theory and laboratory simulations to working in a demanding health care environment. Method of delivery may include lecture, tour of a health care facility, review of health authority general policies/procedures, and other related online activities.SONO-135
Typical Offerings
| Timing | Intersession Only, Every Year |
|---|---|
| Locations | |
| Requisites |
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Description
This first clinical experience provides students with the opportunity to integrate theory from term 1 and 2 courses into clinical practice. Students will work in a variety of clinical settings under direct supervision. Learning the role of the sonographer in the context of safe patient care, therapeutic communication, professionalism and collaboration will be emphasized. At the end of this course, students will be able to satisfactorily perform portions of normal and abnormal general and cardiac sonographic assessments with supervision and guidance.SONO-235
Typical Offerings
| Timing | Spring Only, Every Year |
|---|---|
| Locations | |
| Requisites |
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Description
This course is a continuation of SONO 135. Students will work in a variety of clinical settings under direct supervision. The focus of this course is on the integration of theoretical knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pathology into sonographic examinations. Students will continue to apply the concepts of safe patient care, therapeutic communication, professionalism and collaboration. At the end of this course, students will be able to satisfactorily perform portions of general and cardiac sonographic assessments on patients with common pathologies with supervision and guidance.SONO-245
Typical Offerings
| Timing | Intersession Only, Every Year |
|---|---|
| Locations | |
| Requisites |
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Description
This course is a continuation of SONO 135 and SONO 235. Students will gain further hands on experience on abdominal, pelvis, obstetrical, vascular, superficial and cardiac sonographic imaging in a variety of health care settings. At the end of this course, students will independently perform complete sonographic examinations on patients with common pathologies with minimal assistance. Effective written and verbal communication, creation of safe practice environments, safe patient care and professionalism are emphasized.SONO-250
Typical Offerings
| Timing | Intersession Only, Every Year |
|---|---|
| Locations | |
| Requisites |
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Description
This course is a continuation of SONO 245. The consolidation of theoretical knowledge of general and cardiac sonography, application to the clinical setting and competency in skill will be the focus of this course. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to independently perform complete patient examinations with consistency and accuracy in all patients. Demonstration of all competencies of entry level practice as described by Sonography Canada in the National Competency Profiles is required.Entry Requirements
While it wasn’t always easy combining classroom time and field trips on top of the hours for studying and homework, it’s been great to gain so much hands-on experience during the courses.
Michelle Lindemann
Civil Engineering Technology
I like the problem-solving nature of millwrighting. I love how diverse the trade is. There’s always something new and different to work on.
Dusty Cathcart 2026
Vanderhoof Industrial Mechanic
This program gives you the ability to have a lot of hands-on time in the clinic where you can practice the skills you are learning and get a bit of an idea of what it is like to be a dental assistant.
Jordyn Karl
Dental Assistant Certificate Student
Taking this program is one of the most exciting things I could've done. It helped me grow into a professional, while also growing personally. I have carried my knowledge forward and will always hold the program and faculty close to my heart.
Janessa Sigurdson 2025
Accounting and Finance
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