63 Diagnostic Sonography Course Descriptions
Medical Sonography Track Curriculum
RADI-S 410 Sonography Orientation | 2CR | This course prepares the student to complete research projects within the program. Additionally, students will learn the Sonographer Scope of Practice, Code of Ethics, basic tenets of medical ethics, and be introduced to professional opportunities and resources within the sonography community.
RADI-S 420 Medical Sonography Procedures I | 4CR | The course content is designed to review basic anatomy, physiology, structure and function of structures identified in core medical sonography examinations. This is the first of two semesters where the student will learn the normal sonographic appearance, common variants, and how to identify anomalies or pathology for each given structure discussed. Students will also utilize their research skills to present a topic of interest. Lastly, students will learn comprehensive scanning protocols for standard and typical exams performed in a clinical setting.
RADI-S 421 Medical Sonography Procedures II | 4CR | This is the second of two semesters where the student will learn normal sonographic appearance, common variants, anomaly identification, and pathology in obstetrical, pediatric, and vascular examinations. Students will learn the scanning protocols for standard exams in these sonographic concentrations.
RADI-S 430 Medical Sonography Lab Fundamentals | 3CR | This course is an abbreviated, intense introduction to the basic principles and core examinations performed in the clinic setting. The course is designed to present material in a brief lecture format, followed by hands-on scanning in our personal lab, and demonstration of knowledge gained through quizzes.
RADI-S 431 Medical Sonography Lab I| 3CR | This lab course is designed to teach the student the basic functions and manipulations of the ultrasound equipment, locate and recognize normal anatomy on the ultrasound images, and understand and obtain exam image protocols. Students demonstrate their knowledge of proper posture and scanning ergonomics through a project assignment. Standard precautions, Personal Protective Equipment, obtaining patient vital signs, and proper sterile techniques for ultrasound guided procedures are reviewed. Students will role play these patient care skills for assessment.
RADI-S 432 Medical Sonography Lab II| 3CR | This lab course is designed to build upon foundational scanning skills and advance the student’s scanning and system optimization ability with more difficult scan techniques, pathologies and/or patient body types. Students will also practice advanced measurement techniques as well as use critical thinking in the identification of sonographic characteristics of common pathologies.
RADI-S 433 Medical Sonography Lab III | 3CR | Senior lab is designed to challenge the student with more advanced sonographic exams. Students will demonstrate their knowledge and technical skill of these advanced exams through lab practice and proficiency assessments. Students will practice equipment Quality Assurance protocols on laboratory ultrasound equipment. Throughout the semester, students are responsible for teaching medical students, residents, or radiography students basic ultrasound examination skills.
RADI-S 440 Sonography Physical Principles I | 3CR | This is the first of a two-semester course in Sonographic Physical Principles. The student will use reasoning skills to understand, explain, and apply the physical concepts of ultrasound production, ultrasound interaction with anatomic material, Doppler principles, and ultrasound equipment operation.
RADI-S 441 Sonographic Physical Principles II | 3CR | This is the second of a two-semester course in Ultrasound. It offers the student an opportunity to use reasoning skills to understand and explain the physical concepts of ultrasound production, ultrasound interaction with anatomic material, ultrasound equipment operation, and how these principles contribute to image quality.
RADI-S 450 Medical Sonography Clinical Practicum Introduction | 1CR | Students will visit multiple program clinical sites throughout the semester. This allows the student to observe the various environments, ultrasound exams, equipment and workflows of each clinical site. These observations may guide future clinical site rotations and/or future employment opportunities. Additionally, students will learn how to use our time management system eValue.
RADI-S 451 Medical Sonography Clinical Practicum I | 3CR | In this course, students begin their integration as a team member in the clinical setting. Students receive feedback of their beginning clinical skills through clinical rotation evaluations and clinical competency evaluations. During this course, students begin to practice image optimization techniques to further improve image quality, gain confidence in core ultrasound examinations, and learn clinical site protocols.
RADI-S 452 Medical Sonography Clinical Practicum II | 3CR | In this course, students continue their experiential learning of obstetrical, pediatric, general ultrasound, and vascular examinations. They also further integrate as a team member in the clinical setting. Students receive feedback of their clinical skills through clinical rotation evaluations and clinical competency evaluations. Students will expand their ability to use system controls to improve image quality, gain confidence in sonographic examinations, and learn clinical site protocols.
RADI-S 453 Medical Sonography Clinical Practicum III | 6 CR | In this course, students should find themselves more integrated as a team member in the clinical setting. This course provides the student feedback on their clinical competency level from both the clinical site as well as the Diagnostic Sonography Clinical Coordinator. During this semester, students should focus on honing image optimization to further improve image quality, gain confidence in more difficult examinations, and solidify their knowledge of clinical site protocols.
RADI-S 454 Medical Sonography Clinical Practicum IV | 4CR | In this course, students should find themselves more integrated as a team member in the clinical setting. Students should focus on honing image optimization to further improve image quality, gain confidence in more difficult examinations, and solidify their knowledge of clinical site protocols. Students receive feedback on their clinical competency level from both the clinical site as well as the Diagnostic Sonography Clinical Coordinator.
RADI-S 460 Medical Sonography Professional Life| 3CR | Students will learn to transition from student to a credentialed sonographer. They will improve their knowledge by taking mock board exams in preparation for their ARDMS board examination and will contemplate professional life through written personal ethic/professional reflections. Students will increase responsibility of exam findings by completing mock sonographer examination worksheets.
Adult Echocardiography Track Curriculum
RADI-S 410 Sonography Orientation | 2CR | This course prepares the student to complete research projects within the program. Additionally, students will learn the Sonographer Scope of Practice, Code of Ethics, basic tenets of medical ethics, and be introduced to professional opportunities and resources within the sonography community.
RADI-E 420 Echocardiography Procedures I | 4CR | This course is designed to give the beginning echocardiography student knowledge of the echocardiography procedure and scan techniques, commonly encountered cardiac pathology, basic review of EKG and other echocardiographic related examinations. The content reviews basic cardiac anatomy and physiology, sonographic appearance of cardiac anatomy and how to identify disease or pathology of the heart and related structures. Students will also utilize their research skills to present a topic of interest.
RADI-E 421 Echocardiography Procedures II | 4CR | TIn this course, students learn anatomy, pathology, and other procedures related to adult and pediatric echocardiography and vascular ultrasound examinations. The sonographic appearance and protocols for advanced cardiac pathology as seen on adult echocardiography exams is discussed in detail throughout the semester. The student will learn other imaging modalities and testing as it relates to adult echocardiography. Echocardiography interventional, intraoperative, and stress testing procedures will be reviewed.
RADI-E 430 Echocardiography Lab Fundamentals | 3CR | This course is an abbreviated, intense introduction to the basic principles of core cardiac and vascular examinations performed in the clinic setting. The course is designed to present material in a brief lecture format, followed by hands-on scanning in the school ultrasound lab, and demonstration of knowledge gained through quizzes.
RADI-E 431 Echocardiography Lab I| 2CR | This lab course is designed to teach the student the basic functions and manipulations of the ultrasound equipment, locate and recognize normal anatomy on the ultrasound images, and understand and obtain exam image protocols. Students demonstrate their knowledge of proper posture and scanning ergonomics through a project assignment. Standard precautions, Personal Protective Equipment, obtaining patient vital signs, and proper sterile techniques for ultrasound guided procedures are reviewed. Students will role play these patient care skills for assessment.
RADI-E 432 Echocardiography Lab II| 2CR | This lab course is designed to build upon foundational scanning skills and advance the student’s scanning and system optimization ability with more difficult scan techniques, pathologies and/or patient body types. Students will also practice advanced measurement techniques as well as use critical thinking in the identification of sonographic characteristics of common pathologies.
RADI-E 433 Echocardiography Lab III | 1CR | Senior lab is designed to challenge the student with more advanced sonographic exams. Students will demonstrate their knowledge and technical skill of these advanced exams through lab practice and proficiency assessments. Students will practice equipment Quality Assurance protocols on laboratory ultrasound equipment. Throughout the semester, students are responsible for teaching medical students, residents, or radiography students basic ultrasound examination skills.
RADI-S 440 Sonography Physical Principles I | 3CR | This is the first of a two-semester course in Sonographic Physical Principles. The student will use reasoning skills to understand, explain, and apply the physical concepts of ultrasound production, ultrasound interaction with anatomic material, Doppler principles, and ultrasound equipment operation.
RADI-S 441 Sonographic Physical Principles II | 3CR | This is the second of a two-semester course in Ultrasound. It offers the student an opportunity to use reasoning skills to understand and explain the physical concepts of ultrasound production, ultrasound interaction with anatomic material, ultrasound equipment operation, and how these principles contribute to image quality.
RADI-E 450 Echocardiography Clinical Practicum Introduction | 1CR | Students will visit multiple program clinical sites throughout the semester. This allows the student to observe the various environments, ultrasound exams, equipment and workflows of each clinical site. These observations may guide future clinical site rotations and/or future employment opportunities. Additionally, students will learn how to use our time management system eValue.
RADI-E 451 Echocardiography Clinical Practicum I | 4CR | In this course, students begin their integration as a team member in the clinical setting. Students receive feedback of their beginning clinical skills through clinical rotation evaluations and clinical competency evaluations. During this course, students begin to practice image optimization techniques to further improve image quality, gain confidence in echocardiography examinations, and learn clinical site protocols.
RADI-E 452 Echocardiography Clinical Practicum II | 4CR | In this course, students continue their experiential learning of echocardiography and vascular exams. They also further integrate as a team member in the clinical setting. Students receive feedback of their clinical skills through clinical rotation evaluations and clinical competency evaluations. Students will expand their ability to use system controls to improve image quality, gain confidence in echocardiography examinations, and learn clinical site protocols.
RADI-E 453 Echocardiography Clinical Practicum III | 6 CR | In this course, students should find themselves more integrated as a team member in the clinical setting. This course provides the student feedback on their clinical competency level from both the clinical site as well as the Echocardiography Clinical Coordinator and/or Program Director. During this semester, students should focus on honing image optimization to further improve image quality, gain confidence in more difficult examinations, and solidify their knowledge of clinical site protocols.
RADI-E 454 Echocardiography Clinical Practicum IV | 4CR | In this course, students should find themselves more integrated as a team member in the clinical setting. Students should focus on honing image optimization to further improve image quality, gain confidence in more difficult examinations, and solidify their knowledge of clinical site protocols. Students receive feedback on their clinical competency level from both the clinical site as well as the Echocardiography Clinical Coordinator and/or Program Director.
RADI-E 460 Echocardiography Professional Life| 3CR | Students will learn to transition from student to a credentialed sonographer. They will improve their knowledge by taking mock board exams in preparation for their ARDMS board examination and will contemplate professional life through written personal ethic/professional reflections. Students will increase responsibility of exam findings by completing mock sonographer examination worksheets.