Archived News | Return to News Center

April 24, 2008

BOR approves letter of intent for proposed ULM degree, a first in Louisiana

ULM's letter of intent for a Bachelor of Science degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography was approved by the Louisiana Board of Regents April 23. The proposed degree is the first of its kind in Louisiana.

The University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors approved the letter of intent in March. ULM will continue to work with the Board of Regents and Board of Supervisors in developing the degree, which is slated to begin offering classes in the fall of 2009.

College of Health Sciences Dean Dr. Denny Ryman said, "ULM's College of Health Sciences is meeting the health care needs of our regional population with this degree. This program will give students increased educational opportunities and will provide local health care employers with a highly-skilled workforce."

The proposed four-year baccalaureate degree, which will incorporate internship opportunities for students, will prepare students for employment in hospitals, physician offices, medical and diagnostic laboratories, and mobile imaging services. Diagnostic medical sonographers may specialize in obstetric and gynecologic sonography, abdominal sonography, neurosonography, or breast sonography. In addition, sonographers may specialize in vascular sonography or cardiac sonography.

President James Cofer joined his colleagues in Baton Rouge last month, vowing to continue to address the state's critical shortage areas by 2012.

Citing the proposed degree in health sciences Cofer said, "ULM's focus on a learning-centered educational environment will directly affect graduation rates and ultimately benefit northeast Louisiana's workforce."

For more information about this program, call Ryman at (318) 342-1622 or e-mail him at ryman@ulm.edu.

PLEASE NOTE: Some links and e-mail addresses in these archived news stories may no longer work, and some content may include events which are no longer relevent, or reference individuals and/or organizations no longer associated with ULM.