Cardiovascular Sonography A.A.S.

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.

Coursework 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 find employment in hospitals, physician’s offices, mobile services, and educational institutions.

Specific Requirements

Specific Program Requirements:

General college admission requirements.
This program has a selective selection process. See Selective Allied Health Program Criteria on the Selective and Limited Programs page of the A-B Tech website. Selective and Limited Programs
Keyboarding skills are highly recommended.
Final admission to the Cardiovascular Sonography program shall be contingent upon documentation of physical and emotional health that would provide evidence indicative of the applicant’s ability to provide safe care to the public. Completed medical and immunization records must be submitted before classes begin.
Either the first dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine or the completion of the series.
Current American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification is a prerequisite to full admission and must be maintained throughout the program. This certification must include hands-on skills components, AED use, and other lifesaving skills. Course certifications from any other providers will not be accepted.
Satisfactory completion of required immunizations prior to admission to clinical sites. Affiliated clinical sites for Sonography will require an onboarding process, which will include a criminal background check and drug screen prior to the term in which the first clinical experience will occur. If any clinical facility refuses to allow the student to participate in clinical experiences, for any reason, the student will not be able to progress in the program.
Sonography students will be required to complete clinical rotations that may require them to travel as much as two hours from campus.
Prior to admission to the Cardiovascular Sonography program, students must have successfully completed BIO-163 (or advisor-approved substitution) COM-120, MAT-152, and PHY-125 with a "C" or better. Students applying to the Cardiovascular Sonography program are encouraged to have successfully completed: ENG-111, PHI-240, and PSY-150 prior to program admission due to the rigorous nature of the Medical Sonography curriculum

Courses requiring a grade of “C” or better: BIO, COM, ENG, MAT, PHY, and SON

Course Code	Course	Credit Hours	Link to course details
BIO-163		5
This course provides a basic study of the structure and function of the human body. Topics include a basic study of the body systems as well as an introduction to homeostasis, cells, tissues, nutrition, acid-base balance, and electrolytes. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate a basic understanding of the fundamental principles of anatomy and physiology and their interrelationships. This course has been approved for transfer under the CAA as a pre-major and/or elective course requirement. View course details for Basic Anatomy and Physiology ‌‌
COM-120		3
This course introduces the practices and principles of interpersonal communication in both dyadic and group settings. Emphasis is placed on the communication process, perception, listening, self-disclosure, speech apprehension, ethics, nonverbal communication, conflict, power, and dysfunctional communication relationships. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate interpersonal communication skills, apply basic principles of group discussion, and manage conflict in interpersonal communication situations. View course details for Intro Interpersonal Communication ‌‌
MAT-152		4
This course provides a project-based approach to introductory statistics with an emphasis on using real-world data and statistical literacy. Topics include descriptive statistics, correlation and regression, basic probability, discrete and continuous probability distributions, confidence intervals and hypothesis testing. Upon completion, students will be able to use appropriate technology to describe important characteristics of a data set, draw inferences about a population from sample data, and interpret and communicate results. View course details for Statistical Methods I ‌‌
PHY-125		4
This course introduces fundamental physical principles as they apply to health technologies. Topics include motion, force, work, power, simple machines, and other topics as required by the student’s area of study. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental principles covered as they relate to practical applications in the health sciences. View course details for Health Sciences Physics ‌‌

Course Code	Course	Credit Hours	Link to course details
CVS-160		5
This course provides active participation in clinical sonography. Emphasis is placed on imaging, processing, and technically evaluating sonographic examinations. Upon completion, students should be able to image, process, and evaluate sonographic examinations. View course details for CVS Clinical Ed I ‌‌
CVS-163		4
This course covers cardiac anatomy and introduces cardiac scanning techniques. Topics include normal cardiac anatomy, Doppler physics, and 2-D and M-mode imaging. Upon completion, students should be able to perform 2-D and M-mode studies. View course details for Echo I ‌‌
SON-111		4
This course introduces ultrasound physical principles, bioeffects, and sonographic instrumentation. Topics include sound wave mechanics, transducers, sonographic equipment, Doppler physics, bioeffects, and safety. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge of sound wave mechanics, transducers, sonography equipment, the Doppler effect, bioeffects, and safety. View course details for Sonographic Physics ‌‌

Course Code	Course	Credit Hours	Link to course details
ENG-111		3
This course is designed to develop the ability to produce clear writing in a variety of genres and formats using a recursive process. Emphasis includes inquiry, analysis, effective use of rhetorical strategies, thesis development, audience awareness, and revision. Upon completion, students should be able to produce unified, coherent, well-developed essays using standard written English. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies English Composition. View course details for Writing and Inquiry ‌‌
CVS-161		8
This course provides continued participation in clinical sonography. Emphasis is placed on imaging, processing, and technically evaluating sonographic examinations. Upon completion, students should be able to image, process, and evaluate sonographic examinations. View course details for CVS Clinical Ed II ‌‌
CVS-164		4
This course is a continuation of CVS 163 with continued study of 2-D and M-mode imaging. Emphasis is placed on continuous wave, pulsed wave, color, and power Doppler imaging of normal and abnormal cardiac conditions. Upon completion, students should be able to perform and recognize normal and abnormal cardiac studies. View course details for Echo II ‌‌

Course Code	Course	Credit Hours	Link to course details
cvs-162		5
This course provides continued participation in clinical sonography. Emphasis is placed on imaging, processing, and technically evaluating sonographic examinations. Upon completion, students should be able to image, process, and evaluate sonographic examinations. View course details for CVS Clinical Ed III ‌‌

Course Code	Course	Credit Hours	Link to course details
CVS-260		8
This course provides continued active participation in clinical sonography. Emphasis is placed on imaging, processing, and technically evaluating sonographic examinations. Upon completion, students should be able to image, process, and evaluate sonographic examinations. View course details for CVS Clinical Ed IV ‌‌
PSY-150		3
This course provides an overview of the scientific study of human behavior. Topics include history, methodology, biopsychology, sensation, perception, learning, motivation, cognition, abnormal behavior, personality theory, social psychology, and other relevant topics. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate a basic knowledge of the science of psychology. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Social/Behavioral Sciences. View course details for General Psychology ‌‌
SON-250		2
This course provides an in-depth study of the anatomy and pathology of the vascular system. Topics include peripheral arterial, peripheral venous, and cerebrovascular disease testing. Upon completion, students should be able to identify normal vascular anatomy and recognize the pathology of the vascular system. View course details for Vascular Sonography ‌‌

Course Code	Course	Credit Hours	Link to course details
CVS-261		8
This course provides continued active participation in clinical sonography. Emphasis is placed on imaging, processing, and technically evaluating sonographic examinations. Upon completion, students should be able to image, process, and evaluate sonographic examinations. View course details for CVS Clinical Ed V ‌‌
CVS-277		2
This course provides an overview of cardiovascular topics in preparation for certification examinations. Emphasis is placed on registry preparation. Upon completion, students should be able to sit for the registry examinations. View course details for Cardiovascular Topics ‌‌
PHI-240		3
This course introduces theories about the nature and foundations of moral judgments and applications to contemporary moral issues. Emphasis is placed on utilitarianism, rule-based ethics, existentialism, relativism versus objectivism, and egoism. Upon completion, students should be able to apply various ethical theories to individual moral issues such as euthanasia, abortion, crime and punishment, and justice. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies Humanities/Fine Arts. View course details for Introduction to Ethics ‌‌

Total Credit Hours Required:

Program total includes 16 credit hours of successful completion of BIO-163, COM-120, MAT-152, and PHY-125 with a grade of "C" or better prior to acceptance to the Cardiovascular Sonography program.

The curriculum is based on the 2023-24 catalog.

Why General Education?

You may be asking yourself, “Why do I have to take (course name) when it is not directly related to my major?”

General Education courses will help you develop skills necessary to be successful in your major and in life. General Education can teach you how to talk to your employer, write a paper in a major course, understand interest rates on your car, and much more. General Education can also give you the skills to be a better member of society and a more informed citizen. Critical thinking, global understanding, and appreciation for the human experience are hallmarks of a well-rounded education.

How many hours of General Education do I have to take?

If you are enrolled in an Associate of Applied Science Degree program, a minimum of 15 general education hours are required in the following categories:

Six hours from Communication
Three hours from Humanities & Fine Arts
Three hours from Social & Behavioral Science
Three hours from Natural Science & Mathematics

General Education courses have been pre-selected for you by your faculty from the following list:

Communication	Humanities & Fine Arts	Social & Behavioral Science	Natural Science & Mathematics
COM-110	ART-111	ECO-251	BIO-161
COM-120	ART-114	ECO-252	BIO-163
COM-231	ART-115	HIS-111	BIO-168
ENG-110	HUM-110	HIS-112	MAT-110
ENG-111	HUM-115	HIS-131	MAT-121
ENG-112	MUS-110	HIS-132	MAT-143
ENG-114	MUS-112	POL-120	MAT-152
	PHI-215	PSY-150	MAT-171
	PHI-240	SOC-210	PHY-110/110A
		SOC-225	PHY-121

Degrees designed to transfer to universities require more general education hours. If you are enrolled in the Associate in Arts or Associate in Science, you are required to take 45 hours of General Education from the following categories:

Six hours in English Composition
Six to nine hours in Communication / Humanities & Fine Arts
Six to nine hours in Social & Behavioral Sciences
Three to eight hours in Mathematics
Four to eight hours in Natural Sciences
11 to 14 additional General Education hours

If you are enrolled in the Associate in Engineering, you are required to take 42 general education hours from the following:

Six hours in English Composition
Six hours in Communication / Humanities & Fine Arts
Six work hours in Social & Behavioral Sciences
12 hours in Mathematics
12 hours in Natural Sciences

If you are enrolled in the Associate in Fine Arts in Visual Arts, you are required to take 25 general education hours from the following:

Six hours in English Composition
Six hours in Communication / Humanities & Fine Arts
Six hours in Social & Behavioral Sciences
Three to four hours in Mathematics
Four hours in Natural Sciences

Additional information about General Education for transfer degrees, including courses that satisfy each category, may be found in the current College Catalog.

What will I learn in General Education?

At A-B Tech, our faculty have designed a general education core so that A-B Tech graduates will
learn the following:

Students will critically evaluate information:

Students will demonstrate information literacy.
Students will critique works of human expression.
Students will analyze scientific literature.

Students will solve problems:

Students will identify processes.
Students will analyze problems.
Students will interpret the results.
Students will recommend appropriate strategies or solutions.

Students will effectively communicate.

Students will communicate appropriately about the subject.
Students will communicate appropriately with the audience.
Students will communicate appropriately for the medium.

Ever wonder how A-B Tech awards credit for a certain course?

A-B Tech complies with the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges Code, so your courses are assigned the course level and receive the same amount of credit as courses at all 58 North Carolina Community Colleges.

If you want to read more about this, see the A-B Tech Policy and Procedure for the Assignment of Course Level Credit.