Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Diagnostic Medical Sonography (AAS)

Sonography uses sound waves to create pictures of the inside of the body. Doctors use those pictures to find and diagnose disease. There is no radiation and no surgery involved.

As a sonographer, you run the ultrasound equipment, work directly with patients, and give the care team the images they need to make a diagnosis. It is hands-on, people-facing work in one of the fastest growing health careers in the country.

This planned four-semester sonography sequence would prepare you to provide safe, effective patient care. You would train across six areas: abdominal, cardiac, breast, musculoskeletal, obstetrics and gynecology, and vascular sonography.

What sonographers earn

The top 10 percent of sonographers earn more than $123,170 a year.¹ Cardiac and vascular specialties often pay above the median.  

What you would study

The planned program covers six areas of sonography. Each one looks at a different part of the body.

How to get ready before applications open

Sonography programs are competitive. Students who arrive with their science and math courses already finished are in a much stronger position. You have time to do that at Riverland before fall 2027.

Courses to take first

Three more general education courses are part of the degree and can also be taken early: PHIL 1140 Healthcare Medical Ethics, PSYC 1240 Developmental Psychology, and SPCH 1310 Communication in a Diverse World or SPCH 1200 Interpersonal Communication.

Course requirements may change as the program is finalized. Talk with an advisor before you register so you do not take anything you will not need.

Where this can take you

Most sonographers work in hospitals. Others work in clinics, imaging centers, and outpatient surgery centers. Southern Minnesota and the Rochester area have a strong concentration of health care employers.

After you graduate and earn your credentials, you can specialize. Cardiac sonographers, sometimes called echo techs, and vascular technologists often earn more than general sonographers. Experienced sonographers also move into lead tech roles, applications and equipment training, and teaching.

A day on the job

You greet your patient, explain what is about to happen, and help them get comfortable. Many people are nervous. A calm, clear explanation is part of the job.

You position the patient, apply gel, and move the transducer to capture the images the doctor ordered. You watch the screen closely and decide which images matter. You save them, write up what you saw, and pass everything to the radiologist or physician.

The work is physical. You are on your feet, you help move patients, and you hold your arm in position for long stretches. Good body mechanics matter for a long career.

What it would cost

Questions right now?

Because this program is still in development, the fastest way to get answers is the form on this page. Tell us what you want to know and someone will follow up with you directly, including help planning which courses to take now.

Accreditation and certification

Riverland intends to seek programmatic accreditation for Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Accreditation has not been granted at this time.

Accreditation status can affect your eligibility to sit for professional certification exams. We will post updates on this page as the process moves forward. If you have questions about what this means for you, ask us using the form on this page.

¹ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, wage data May 2024.

² U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment projections 2024 to 2034.

³ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, average annual openings projected 2024 to 2034.

Last Updated: August 12, 2026