Requirements for Graduation
This program prepares the student for a career in cardiovascular sonography with specialization in both adult cardiac sonography and vascular sonography. The graduate will be prepared to perform echocardiograms on adults. Echocardiograms are noninvasive exams that create an image of the heart. These images aid physicians in detecting certain heart conditions. The graduate will also be prepared to perform cerebral and peripheral vascular diagnostic evaluation of the arteries and veins which create images to aid the physician in the diagnosis of a wide variety of disorders affecting the peripheral vascular system, including stroke, peripheral vascular disease and venous abnormalities.
There is a strong emphasis on cardiovascular anatomy and physiology, cardiovascular hemodynamics and sound physics. Clinical experience is a major component of the program. Graduates of the program meet published requirements by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) to apply for the registry examination in Adult Echocardiography and Vascular Technology.
Students are divided into two cohort groups—Vascular and Adult Cardiac. This will determine which specialty they take first in their curriculum plan. The purpose of dividing into cohort groups is to maximize the use of available clinical sites. Students will take Skills Enhancement I and II while they are taking core courses in the second specialty to maintain skills they learned in the first specialty. This program is designed to be completed in eight semesters and three summers.
Program Goals
To prepare cardiovascular technologists or diagnostic medical sonographers who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession of adult cardiac sonography.
To prepare cardiovascular technologists or diagnostic medical sonographers who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession of noninvasive vascular sonography.
Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the dual major the student will be able to:
- Competently perform as an entry level sonographer in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for adult cardiac sonography and vascular sonography.
- Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior through sonographic practice congruent with standards of practice.
- Meet the eligibility requirements to apply for the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) exams.
- Interact effectively with individuals in a manner that reflects caring and acknowledges the holistic nature of individuals.
- Promote growth of the health professional and awareness of health professions through education of individual groups and communities of interest.
- Correlate current research to ensure best-practice delivery of specialty specific, quality patient care and services.
Program Requirements
Each student must complete a minimum of 44 credit hours in general education and 81 credit hours in the major. Official transcript(s) must be on file for all transfer credits.
General Education Courses
Students who have transferred in 36 or more credit hours will take GSTU101X.
Natural Sciences
Must complete all course listed.
Communications
Must complete 3 cr hrs from COMM courses.
Business/Management
Must complete 3 cr hrs from ECON or MGMT courses.
Mathematics
Must complete all course listed.
Humanities
Must complete 3 cr hrs from elective pool (ENGL, HIST, HUMS, INTL, PHIL, RELI, SIGN, SPAN). The Humanities elective should have a Cultural Studies designation if the Cultural Studies requirement has not been met by a Social Sciences elective.
Social Sciences
Must complete 6 cr hrs from electives (GERO, INTL, PBHL, PSYC, SOCI). One Social Sciences elective should have a Cultural Studies designation if the Cultural Studies requirement has not been met by a Humanities elective.
Cultural Studies
Students will work with their advisor to select the appropriate Cultural Studies course that fulfills the credit requirement for both cultural studies and either social sciences (9 required credit hours) or humanities (3 credits English Composition I, 3 credits Ethics in Healthcare, and 3 credits of humanities elective), if needed. Cultural Studies courses include: GERO303, INTL202-3, INTL205-3, MGMT215, PBHL305, RELI215, RELI316, SIGN111, SOCI222, SOCI320, SOCI324, SPAN101H.
Major-Cardiovascular Sonography
Sample Curriculum Plan
Sample curriculum plan for traditional first year student with no transfer credit.
Year 1
If a Cultural Studies course is still needed, the Social Sciences elective can be selected to meet this requirement.
CVTD230 = *Courses in the Major
AHAL 223, CVTD 226 = *Courses in the Major
Year 2
Years 2 and 3 of the CARD and VASC courses can be interchangeable based on faculty discretion.
CARD 312, CARD 340 = *Courses in the Major
CARD 314, CARD 345, CARD 347 = *Courses in the Major
If a Cultural Studies course is still needed, the Humanities elective can be selected to meet this requirement.
CVTD 341 = *Courses in the Major
Year 3
Years 2 and 3 of the CARD and VASC courses can be interchangeable based on faculty discretion.
AHAL 313, CVTD 303, VASC 315, VASC 341 = *Courses in the Major
If a Cultural Studies course is still needed, the Social Sciences elective can be selected to meet this requirement.
AHAL 314, CVTD 302, VASC 316, VASC 343, VASC 347 = *Courses in the Major
Cultural Studies elective needs to be in social sciences if the requirement is not met.
CVTD 350 = *Courses in the Major
Year 4
CARD 430, CVTD 416, CVTD 430, VASC 430 = *Courses in the Major
CVTD 425, CVTD435 = *Courses in the Major