Cardiovascular Sonography (A45160)
Associate Degree Program
Career Information
The Cardiovascular Sonography curriculum provides the individual with the knowledge and skills necessary to acquire, process, and evaluate the human heart and vascular structures. A cardiovascular sonographer uses high frequency sound waves to produce images of the heart and vascular structures. Course work includes effective communication and patient care skills combined with a knowledge of physics, human anatomy, physiology, and pathology, all of which are essential to obtaining high quality sonographic images. Graduates may be eligible to apply to the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers for examinations in physics, cardiovascular physics, vascular physics, and adult echocardiography. Graduates may find employment in hospitals, physicians’ offices, mobile services, and educational institutions.
The Medical Sonography and Cardiovascular Sonography programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (www.jrcdms.org).
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) at 25400 US Hwy 19 N., Suite 158, Clearwater, FL 33763, 727-210-2350, www.caahep.org
Special Admission Requirements
- Application
- High school transcript/Adult high school diploma/high school equivalency
- College transcripts
- Gateway English and math readiness
- View information session online
- Hospital visit arranged by admissions counselor (degree program)
- Interview with program director (degree program)
- MAR (Minimum Admission Requirements) Review
- Health form after acceptance (degree program)
- Current Certification in CPR after acceptance (degree program)
- Criminal background checks/drug screening after acceptance
The following courses are prerequisite courses and must be taken with a minimum grade of “C” prior to admission to the Cardiovascular Sonography Program:
| ACA 115 | Success & Study Skills | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| | or | | | |
| ACA 122 | College Transfer Success | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| BIO 163 | Basic Anatomy & Physiology | 4 | 2 | 5 |
| ENG 111 | Writing and Inquiry | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| MAT 121 | Algebra/Trigonometry I | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| PHY 110 | Conceptual Physics | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| PHY 110A | Conceptual Physics Lab | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Semester Total: | 12 | 8 | 16 |
Fall Semester I
| COM 120 | Intro to Interpersonal Communication | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| CVS 160 | Cardiovascular Sonography Clinical Education I | 0 | 13 | 5 |
| CVS 163 | Echo I | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| Semester Total: | 6 | 15 | 12 |
Spring Semester I
| CVS 161 | CVS Clinical Education II | 0 | 24 | 8 |
| CVS 164 | Echo II | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| SON 111 | Sonographic Physics | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Semester Total: | 6 | 29 | 16 |
Summer Semester I
| CVS 162 | CVS Clinical Education III | 0 | 15 | 5 |
| Semester Total: | 0 | 15 | 5 |
Fall Semester II
| CVS 260 | CVS Clinical Education IV | 0 | 24 | 8 |
| SON 250 | Vascular Sonography | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| | Humanities/Fine Arts Elective (3 ,0, 3) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Semester Total: | 4 | 27 | 13 |
Spring Semester II
| CVS 261 | CVS Clinical Education V | 0 | 24 | 8 |
| CVS 277 | Cardiovascular Topics | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| PSY 150 | General Psychology | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Semester Total: | 5 | 24 | 13 |