Train industry experts to provide important patient care as a Sonographer in Ultrasound Technology in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.
Diagnostic Medical Sonography involves using ultrasound equipment to use high-frequency sound waves to capture images of body organs, masses and fetuses at various stages of pregnancy. Sonographers are important members of a patient care team, assessing patients and ensuring accurate information is provided to the physician to confirm a diagnosis. Graduates will find themselves working in a hospital or private clinic setting.
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at MCG Career College is a full-time condensed, 80-week program, combining face-to-face instruction, with structured online learning components. This program has extensive on-campus clinical training where students will learn everything from important anatomy and patient care to proper equipment use, quality imaging and proper procedures for scanning in a laboratory environment. Students will benefit from small class sizes and 34 weeks of hospital and clinic-based practicum placements with our selected clinical partners throughout Canada. This focused learning environment will help students to hone their skills and succeed in the profession.
Upon successful completion of all requirements, students will be awarded a Diploma in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. MCG Career College is accredited by Accreditation Canada to offer the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program. This Health Education Accreditation process ensures that health education programs maintain high standards and that graduates are prepared to provide quality care at entry-level practice. Additionally, graduates will be eligible to sit for the national examinations administered by Sonography Canada, which will enable them to practice across Canada. Canadian credentials are generally accepted worldwide, but graduates may also choose to sit for their American exams through the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. For detailed information about these examinations and associated costs, please refer to the Sonography Canada and ARDMS websites. Please note that exam costs are the sole responsibility of the student.
Figures represent the 2022/2023 period and are sourced from the 2021 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey.
Ultrasound Physics 1 - (60 hours)
Ultrasound Physics 1 is an introduction to fundamental physical principle in diagnostic sonography.The course focuses on the physical properties of ultrasound waves, the mechanisms of sound wavesinteracting with human tissue, pulse echo instrumentation and fundamentals of optimizing asonographic image. The theory will be reinforced in the Scanning Fundamentals course.
Patient Care in Sonography - (45 hours)
Patient Care in Sonography is an introduction to developing skills in communication, professionalism and patient care relative to sonography. The theory will be reinforced in theScanning Fundamentals course.
Abdominal Sonography 1 - (60 hours)
Abdominal Sonography 1 covers the sonographic assessment of structures in the normalabdominopelvic cavity. The topics discussed include normal anatomy and relational anatomy,physiology, and sonographic appearance. The theory will be reinforced in the ScanningFundamentals course.
Scanning Fundamental - (60 hours)
Scanning Fundamentals is an introduction to the sonographic assessment technique. The focus is on the practical application of sonographic scanning and professionalism skills. Students will gain experience in sonographic assessment and documentation of abdominal and female pelvic structures. The theory taught in Ultrasound Physics 1, Abdominal Sonography 1, Anatomy Fundamentals for the Sonographer, Sonography of the Female Pelvis and Patient Care will be reinforced in this lab setting.
Anatomy Fundamentals - (30 hours)
Anatomy Fundamentals for the Sonographer introduces students to fundamental concepts ofscanning the human body relevant to the generalist sonographer. The focus of this course isrelational and cross-sectional anatomy and sonographic terminology. The theory will bereinforced in the Scanning Fundamentals course.
Sonography of the Female Pelvis - (45 hours)
This course covers the sonographic assessment of the female pelvis and first trimester pregnancy. Topicsdiscussed will include normal female pelvic anatomy and pathology, normal and abnormal first trimesterpregnancy, embryology, physiology, sonographic appearances and scanning techniques. The theory willbe reinforced in the Scanning Fundamentals course.
Abdominal Sonography 2 - (60 hours , Pre-Requisites)
Abdominal Sonography 2 is a continuation of Abdominal Sonography 1, focusing on the sonographic assessment of common pathologies affecting structures in the abdominopelvic cavity. The topics covered include pathophysiology, common sonographic appearances, correlation of clinical data with sonographic findings and surgical/therapeutic treatments.
Generalist Scanning Lab - (60 hours, Pre-Requisites)
Generalist Scanning Lab builds on the skills acquired in Scanning Fundamentals. The focus is on the practical application of sonographic scanning and professionalism skills. Students will gain experience in sonographic assessment and documentation of abdominal and female pelvic structures. The theory taught in Ultrasound Physics 1 and 2, Patient Care, Professional Interactions 1, Abdominal Sonography 1 and Sonography of the female Pelvis will be reinforced in this lab setting.
Obstetrical Sonography 1 - (80 hours, Pre-Requisites)
Obstetrical Sonography covers the sonographic assessment of second and third trimester pregnancy. Topics discussed include normal fetal anatomy, fetal environment, common pathologies, sonographic appearances and scanning techniques.
Professional Interactions 1 - (40 hours, Pre-Requisites)
Professional Interactions 1 focuses on the skills required in communication, professionalism, interprofessional collaboration and patient care relevant to sonography.
Ultrasound Physics 2 - (60 hours, Pre-Requisites)
Ultrasound Physics 2 builds on the concepts discussed in Physics 1. The course topics include transducer construction and characteristics, image storage and display, Doppler imaging physics and instrumentation, image artifacts. Digital imaging and storage will be discussed along with Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS).
Vascular Scanning Lab 1 - (40 hours, Pre-Requisites)
Vascular Scanning Lab 1 focuses on the practical application of sonographic scanning and professionalism skills. Students will gain experience in sonographic assessment and documentation of lower extremity veins and carotid arteries. Theory from Ultrasound Physics 1 and 2 and Vascular Sonography 1 will be reinforced in this lab setting.
Vascular Sonography 1 - (60 hours, Pre-Requisites)
Vascular Sonography 1 covers the sonographic assessment of the venous, hepatoportal and arterial circulatory system, specific to generalist sonography. The topics discussed include normal anatomy and relational anatomy, physiology, and sonographic appearance. Sonographic assessment of the lower extremity deep veins and carotid arteries will be practiced in the Vascular Scanning Lab 1.
Obstetrical Sonography 2 - (40 hours, Pre-Requisites)
Obstetrical Sonography 2 is a continuation of Obstetrical Sonography 1. The topics covered include sonographic assessment of fetal and maternal abnormalities in the second and third trimester of pregnancy as well as postpartum complications.
Professional Interactions 2 - (20 hours, Pre-Requisites)
Professional Interactions 2 expands on concepts covered in Professional Interactions 1, as well as prepares the student for clinical practicum. Students will use case scenarios to apply critical thinking, communication, conflict management and professionalism skills.
Sonography of Superficial Structures - (24 hours, Pre-Requisites)
Sonography of Superficial Structures explores the sonographic assessment of neck structures, scrotum, breast, and superficial tissue. Topics include normal anatomy and relational anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and common sonographic appearances. Sonographic assessment of the thyroid will be practiced in a lab setting.
Ultrasound Physics 3 - (24 hours, Pre-Requisites)
Ultrasound Physics 3 is a continuation of Ultrasound Physics 2. The topics covered include bioeffects, quality assurance and new technologies in sonography.
Vascular Sonography 2 - (32 hours, Pre-Requisites)
Vascular sonography 2 is a continuation of Vascular sonography 1, focusing on the sonographic assessment of common pathologies found in the venous, hepatoportal and arterial circulatory system. The topics covered include pathophysiology, common sonographic appearances, correlation of clinical data with sonographic findings and surgical/therapeutic treatments.
Clinical Sonography 1 - (300 hours, Pre-Requisites)
Clinical Sonography 1 is the first of three practicum semesters. The focus of this hands-on clinical rotation is to integrate students into the generalist clinical environment building on scanning and professionalism skills. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to perform portions of normal, abnormal, and technically difficult generalist studies with direct supervision and mentoring.
Clinical Sonography 2 - (450 hours, Pre-Requisites)
Clinical Sonography 2 is a continuation of Clinical Sonography 1. During this clinical semester, students are building on integrating theoretical and clinical skills by performing generalist ultrasound exams in more challenging patient scenarios. Upon successful completion of this semester, students will be able to complete non challenging generalist exams and portions of abnormal and challenging generalist ultrasound exams, with indirect supervision and mentoring.
Clinical Sonography 3 - (625 hours, Pre-Requisites)
Clinical Sonography 3 is the third and final practicum semester. During this clinical semester, students are integrating theoretical knowledge and clinical skills while performing generalist sonographic exams in a variety of patient scenarios, with minimal supervision. Upon successful completion of this semester, students will complete specific clinical objectives to attain competencies to an entry level proficiency, as specified by Sonography Canada’s current National Competency Profile (NCP).
Domestic Tuition Costs:
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[For international students and domestic students there is a non-refundable application fee of $500.00]
International Tuition Costs:
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[For international students and domestic students there is a non-refundable application fee of $500.00]
Interested applicants must meet the baseline requirements to start the application process, and will apply under one of two categories:
Standard Admission Requirements:
Applicants must meet the following two criteria before applying:
Alternate Pathway or Mature Student (>24 months since high school graduation)
Applicants must meet the following three criteria prior to applying:
All applicants:
Practicum Placement
To complete the program, components of the practicum will be required to be completed outside of Calgary and potentially outside of Alberta. Any costs associated with this, including but not limited to, transportation, housing, meals, etc., will be the sole responsibility of the student.
80-weeks. The first 46 weeks of the program is didactic and the last 34 weeks is practicum.
MCG College Diploma. Successful graduates will be eligible to write the Sonography Canada generalist examinations and American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) examinations.
No. This is a blended full-time program.
No, practicums may be anywhere in Canada. You must also be prepared to move around as not all practicums will be at one location.
March 2025
To grant you an exemption from taking the mandatory prerequisite, we need to be able to review a detailed curriculum from the course you took to determine if there is enough of a match to grant an exemption. There is a cost for this review.
This is a competitive entry program and there are more applicants than seats available. Seat offers are made based a combination of academics and interview results.
We offer a maximum of 8-10 seats per intake.
Yes, you can apply for the next intake as soon as applications open. You do not have to take the mandatory prerequisite again.
To register, send an email with your contact information to: info@mcgcollege.com. We will phone you to complete the registration process for this course.
