Preapplication Preparation

It is recommended to meet with a CCSF counselor if you are interested in pursuing a DCS Degree. The counselor can assist in selecting courses that meet the application requirements and will prepare you for the program.

Application Process

1. Complete prerequisite courses listed under Prerequisites & Recommended Preparation
2. Become an official student at CCSF Steps to Apply to CCSF
3. Gather official transcripts and supporting documents
4. Complete the online application (The online application is only available every two years in even-numbered years.)

Application Instructions

• How to complete the online application
  • You may begin the online application when it opens
  • You may save the online application and then return to it at a later time
  • You must submit the online application between Jan 2028-Feb 2028
• Applications must be submitted online; no paper applications will be accepted
• Applicants who have submitted an application in previous years and wish to re-apply must submit a new application with all supporting documentation included

Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography (DCS) Program AS degree and Certificate

To be considered for enrollment, students must satisfy the following academic prerequisite requirements:

• English, one course from below:
  • ENGL C1000 or ENGL 1A or equivalent
  • or CCN: ENGL C1000
  • or C-ID: ENGL 100   
  • AP: min. 3 score in English Language & Comp. or Literature & Language Comp.
• Communication, one course from below:
  • COMM C1000 or CMST 1A (C-ID COMM 110)
  • COMM C12 or CMST 12 (no C-ID available)
  • COMM C20 or CMST 20 (C-ID COMM 130)
  • or equivalent
• Mathematics, one course from below:
  • ECON 5; ET 50; LALS 5; MATH 60, 70, 75, 90, 98, 100A, 100B, 101, 108, 110A, 110B, 110C, 115, 120, 125, 130; PHIL 12A; PSYC 5; STAT C1000
  • AP min. 3 score in Math: Precalculus, Calculus AB, Calculus BC and Statistics
  • or equivalent
• Human Anatomy & Physiology
  • BIO 106 Anatomy and Physiology combination (no C-ID available) or equivalent
  • or both BIO 108 Anatomy and BIO 112 Human Physiology
    • BIO 108 Anatomy (C-ID BIOL 110B)
    • BIO 112 Physiology (C-ID BIOL 110B). Note: BIO 112 has a CHEM 32 or 101A prerequisite
    • or equivalent
• Physics, one course from below:
  • Physics 10 & 10L (no C-ID available)
  • PHYC 2A & 2AL (C-ID PHYS 105)
  • PHYC 4A & 4AL (C-ID PHYS 205)
  • AP min. 3 score in any of the Physics subjects
  • or equivalent
• ECGT 101 (or equivalent course; within last two years or currently working as EKG or Monitor Tech)
• EMT 14 First Aid/BLS (or an equivalent course that covers both first aid principles and basic life support; BLS-only courses do not meet this requirement).

Due to the rigors of the DCS Program, all of the above courses must be successfully completed with grade “C” or higher.

Note: All prerequisites must be completed by the application due date.

• No “In Progress Courses” are considered for meeting course prerequisites upon DCS program application. Do not ask or complete an DCS Program application until above prerequisites are successfully completed.
• Must have an overall GPA of 2.5
• Anatomy, physiology, must have been completed within the last seven (7) years at the time of enrollment to the DCS program.

Please meet with a counselor to personalize the plan to you and your Academic goals.

• Volunteer experience or employment in a medical facility
• Medical Terminology (HIT 50A) Any college-level medical terminology will meet this requirement
• Completion of college general education requirements, so the DCS can be completed with an AS degree

Please meet with a counselor to personalize the plan to you and your Academic goals

Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography Program Informational Session by Jennifer Garcia

The Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography Program has an admission process in addition to the CCSF admission procedure. Please review all admission carefully prior to applying.

The DCS program follows a cohort model, meaning all courses must be taken in sequence and cannot be repeated. If a student fails a course, they will not be able to continue in the program and may be ineligible for future cohorts. The Fall 2026 DCS application cycle is now closed. The next application period for a Fall 2028 start will be open from January through February 2028.

Follow the link below for more information on the application process and how to submit your application.

DCS ADMISSIONS - APPLY HERE

View Course Catalog

Requirements

The DCS Program requires an application separate from the CCSF admissions process. You must be accepted into the DCS Program before you can enroll in DCS courses

The DCS program follows a cohort model, meaning all courses must be taken in sequence and cannot be repeated. If a student fails a course, they will not be able to continue in the program and may be ineligible for future cohorts.

Program Schedule

Fall Semester

Total Units: 18 

Spring Semester

Total Units: 16 

Summer Session

Total Units: 2

Fall Semester

Total Units: 12

Spring Semester

Total Units: 15.5

Summer Session

Total Units: 6.5

Overall Total Units: 68

The application process is held once every 2 years, Approximately 20 students will be admitted into the DCS program

Applicants will be evaluated by current admission requirements and selected using a multi-criteria and lottery system. Final admission will be determined by additional factors: Criminal background screening, Drug/Alcohol screening, health exam, and academic remediation.

• The department will review the enrollment application, transcripts, supporting documents  to ensure we select only qualified applicants to fill our available slots
• Qualified applicants will be sent a notification by email approximately 10-12 weeks after the submission deadline of Conditional Enrollment selection and must notify us within the specified time stated of acceptance or refusal. If there is no response within the stated time, the application will be disqualified and another person will be selected in their place with the same stipulations
• Disqualified applicants will not be notified by email
• Many of our hospitals with which we affiliate require that all students undergo Criminal Background Check and urine screening for drugs and alcohol. These services are provided by a third party affiliate, and the cost for these services must be paid for by the students. We will provide the written instructions for your online registration and payment. A breakdown of the costs will be provided during orientation. If hospitals do not accept the findings from either screening your clinical education may be delayed or you may not be able to attend the DCS program at City College of San Francisco due to your inability to attend the hospitals for the clinical component of each core sonography course.

The Multi-Criteria Worksheet - Review and provide all mandatory supporting documents to upload to the CCSF DCS Program Online Application during open enrollment.

Complete the Verification of Foreign Language Proficiency Form, if applicable

The student sonographer must be capable of meeting all the following demands of the job, which are included in the job descriptions of all employers:

Motor Function

• Stand unassisted for long periods of time
• Lift patients on and off the sonography table independently 80% of the time as well as in and out of hospital beds, stretchers, and wheelchairs
• Lift and handle ultrasound accessories and equipment of at least 30 lbs. above head
• Manipulate stationary and mobile ultrasound equipment
• Assist personnel and patients in emergency situations

Visual Observation

• Observe and evaluate reasonably, patient's condition using signs and symptoms
• Interpret instrument control panels, technique charts, and other materials for appropriate operation of equipment and patient care
• View and critique cardiac sonograms, interpret quality factors, identify anatomy and list technical and procedural components

Hearing Ability

• Normal hearing or have hearing corrected to within normal range when facing patients or with back turned toward patient
• Hear in situations when not able to see lips (i.e., when masks are worn)
• Hear auditory alarms (i.e. monitors, fire alarms)

Tactile

• Feel vibrations (e.g., palpate pulses)
• Detect temperature (e.g., skin and/or solutions, etc.)
• Feel differences in surface characteristics (e.g., skin, rashes)

Communication Skills

• The student must be able to transfer information by verbal and non-verbal means to personnel and patients
• The student must be able to receive and interpret communication from personnel and patients and adhere to appropriate Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) confidentiality laws
• The student must be computer literate and able to operate a variety of computer programs, instructions, and compile data on a routine basis

Behavioral and Social Skills

• The student's behavioral and social skills must be acceptable within the college and clinical locations

If accepted into the DCS program, the following requirements must be met:

• Physical examination by a physician to determine whether a student meets the physical, mental, and emotional aptitude requirements for a cardiac sonographer
• Vaccination proof of COVID-19 (and booster), Tdap, seasonal influenza (flu), and Tuberculin test
• Immunization proof (titer) of Rubeola, Rubella, Mumps, Varicella, and Hepatitis B
• Negative background check
• Negative drug screen

Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography Program Outcomes 2024