Carroll University offers an opportunity  to major in Health Sciences with an Emphasis in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) through Aurora Health Care or Columbia St. Mary’s. The partnership  allows students the benefits of close, personal attention  during the first two years at Carroll followed by two years at Aurora's School of Diagnostic Medical Sonography and its associated clinical sites or Columbia St. Mary’s School of Diagnostic Medical Sonography and its associated clinical sites. The student  will be placed with a small class of other students  pursuing  diagnostic medical sonography.

Diagnostic medical sonographers most often are employed in hospitals, but can also find employment with physicians, medical and diagnostic laboratories, diagnostic imaging centers and outpatient care centers.  Some diagnostic  medical sonographers find employment with manufacturers of equipment used in the field. Long-term employment prospects in this area are forecast to be excellent.
There are two tracks within the emphasis that are available:
(1) General and Vascular or
(2) Cardiac and Vascular (Aurora only).

Entry into the Aurora Health Care or Colulmbia St. Mary’s professional phase of the program is highly competitive and dependent upon completion of Carroll University general education  and  Health  Science  requirements, a  minimum cumulative  and required science course GPA of 3.0, a grade of 'C' or better in all science courses, CNA training (at the student's own expense), and the accumulation  of at least 100 hours of direct patient care prior to application.  Although  Columbia  St. Mary’s  only requires CNA training,  but no set hours, it is important to note that there are points  given toward an interview based on patient care experience. It would be to the student’s advantage to have at least 100 hours of actual CNA work in order to be a competitive applicant for either school. The acceptance of students into the professional phase of the curriculum  lies with the Aurora Health Care or Columbia St. Mary’s School of Diagnostic Medical Sonography Admissions Committee. Two options are possible for those students seeking placement in DMS: A general and vascular sonography track or a cardiac and vascular sonography track (Aurora only). Columbia St. Mary’s also has a requirement  that the student obtain CPR certification from the American Heart Association, prior to enrollment. This program requires year round classes. See Admissions section of the catalog for details on applying.