The Cardiac Sonography degree program is designed to prepare students for an entry-level position as a Cardiac Sonographer in a hospital setting, doctor's office or a diagnostic imaging facility. Through their course of study, students will become competent in cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior) learning domains along with being able to apply their critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills in the work environment.
Program is designed to be completed in two years, including summer semesters. Instructions include on-campus and online lectures, on-campus laboratory practicum and a two-semester clinical externship. Students are required to complete 896 hours of externship in an assigned clinical facility.
Clinical externship is offered in a variety of health care settings in the community. Students must provide their own transportation between the college campus and the clinical agencies.
The curriculum meets the requirements of the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI).
Upon successful completion of the Cardiac Sonography program, students will be eligible to take the Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS), section RCS5, registry board examination under Cardiovascular Credentialing International.
All Cardiac Sonography (CDS) courses must be completed at Oakton. Cardiac Sonography coursework from other institutions is not accepted. Students must receive a minimum grade of C in all CDS courses.
This is a limited enrollment curriculum. For more information, contact the Division of Health Careers at 847.635.1684 or healthcareers@oakton.edu.
Admission Requirements:
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High school graduation or High School Equivalency Certificate 1.
Foreign high school graduates or students with foreign college credits need to send English translated copies of their transcripts to Educational Perspectives, www.edperspective.org/oakton. Students with foreign college credit should request a catalog match. - High school GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- EGL 101 placement based on Oakton’s Writing Skills Assessment Test (WSAT), or completion of EGL 101.
- One year of high school biology or one semester of college biology or equivalent with a minimum grade of C within the past five years.
- Completion of the following courses with minimum grades of C:
• MAT 140 College Algebra
• PHY 101 Applied Physics - Satisfactory interview with the chair of Cardiac Sonography program director.
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As of January 1, 2023, the High School Equivalency Certificate became the State of Illinois High School Diploma. High School Equivalency credentials received prior to that date remain valid.
Health Career curricula are governed by specific objectives, rules and regulations formulated by the College, accrediting bodies and participating clinical facilities. Students should familiarize themselves with these standards. Students should also be aware that failure to maintain satisfactory progress in technical courses may significantly delay completion of the curriculum or may result in the student being dropped from the curriculum. Each student’s right to participation in the clinical portion of the curriculum is also contingent upon compliance with the rules of the clinical facility. The clinical facility has sole discretion to determine when its rules have been violated.
Clinical placements require a health assessment, certain immunizations, yearly vaccines, substance abuse testing, criminal background check, specific skill certification (i.e., CPR/BLS) and health insurance. The requirements represent an additional cost to the student.
All Oakton College Health Career students in a program with a clinical component must have “clear” criminal background checks and drug screens in order to participate in any and all clinical components of any health career program courses.
To comply with state statutes and clinical affiliation agreements, and to provide a safe environment for students, employees, and patients cared for by students, those accepted into Oakton’s health career programs will be required to complete a criminal background check and drug screening through a company contracted by the College. Health Career students will be charged a fee for this service.
Timelines for completing criminal background checks and drug screens may vary among the various programs. Deadline dates for each program will be provided by the individual department chairs at the time of a student’s acceptance into a health career program.
Students without a clear criminal background check and/or clear drug screen will not be allowed to enroll in clinical practicum courses or attend clinical programs. This would further necessitate that the student withdraws from the health career program at that time.
Students who refuse a criminal background check and/or drug screen will not be considered “clear” and will not be authorized to participate in the clinical component of the health career program, necessitating withdrawal from the program at that time. Individual results of student background checks and drug screens are considered confidential.
Determination of whether or not a student can participate in the clinical component of a particular health career program will be communicated to the respective department chairs by the Background Check/Drug Screen vendor. Students may view their personal results on the vendor’s website.
Cardiac Sonography A.A.S.
72 Semester Credit Hours; Curriculum: 0332
Note: Refer to IAI General Education Courses page for guidelines on General Education course selection.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Area A — Communications | ||
| EGL 101 | Composition I | 3 |
| Area B — Mathematics | ||
| MAT 140 | College Algebra | 4 |
| Area C — Science | ||
| BIO 114 | Basic Human Anatomy and Physiology | 3 |
| PHY 101 | Applied Physics | 4 |
| Area D — Social and Behavioral Sciences | ||
| SOC 103 | Social Problems | 3 |
| Area E - Humanities/Fine Arts | ||
| No course needed | ||
| Area F — Global Studies | ||
| Satisfied by SOC 103 | 0-3 | |
| Area G — U.S. Diversity Studies | ||
| Satisfied by SOC 103 | 0-3 | |
| Total Hours | 17 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | ||
| CDS 100 | Medical Terminology for the Cardiac Sonographer | 1 |
| CDS 101 | Introduction to Sonography and Patient Care | 2 |
| CDS 102 | Basic EKG for the Cardiac Sonographer | 1 |
| CDS 103 | Anatomy and Physiology for the Cardiac Sonographer | 3 |
| CDS 104 | Doppler Physics and Hemodynamics for the Cardiac Sonographer | 3 |
| CDS 105 | Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation I | 3 |
| CDS 106 | Cardiac Sonography I | 3 |
| CDS 107 | Cardiac Sonography Lab Practicum I | 3 |
| CDS 108 | Cardiac Sonography Lab Practicum II | 6 |
| CDS 201 | Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation II | 3 |
| CDS 202 | Cardiac Sonography Lab Practicum III | 3 |
| CDS 204 | Cardiac Sonography II | 3 |
| CDS 205 | Registry Review and Advancing Trends in Cardiac Sonography | 3 |
| CDS 206 | Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation Review | 3 |
| CDS 207 | Pharmacology for the Cardiac Sonographer | 1 |
| CDS 208 | Cardiac Sonography Clinical Externship I | 6 |
| CDS 209 | Cardiac Sonography Clinical Externship II | 8 |
| Total Hours | 55 | |
Cardiac Sonography Pathway
The following Pathway is recommended for students pursuing an Associate in Applied Science degree in Cardiac Sonography.
For more information on recommended courses or program specific advising, contact the Health Career Specialist at 847.635.1844, or the Division of Health Careers at 847.635.1684. General Education courses should be selected from the list of IAI General Education Courses.
See Cardiac Sonography Program Overview for Admission Requirements.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Program Prerequisites | ||
| MAT 140 | College Algebra | 4 |
| PHY 101 | Applied Physics | 4 |
| Total Hours | 8 | |
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester One (Summer) | Hours | |
| BIO 114 | Basic Human Anatomy and Physiology | 3 |
| CDS 100 | Medical Terminology for the Cardiac Sonographer | 1 |
| Hours | 4 | |
| Semester Two (Fall) | ||
| CDS 101 | Introduction to Sonography and Patient Care | 2 |
| CDS 102 | Basic EKG for the Cardiac Sonographer | 1 |
| CDS 103 | Anatomy and Physiology for the Cardiac Sonographer | 3 |
| CDS 104 | Doppler Physics and Hemodynamics for the Cardiac Sonographer | 3 |
| CDS 107 | Cardiac Sonography Lab Practicum I | 3 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Semester Three (Spring) | ||
| EGL 101 | Composition I | 3 |
| CDS 105 | Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation I | 3 |
| CDS 106 | Cardiac Sonography I | 3 |
| CDS 108 | Cardiac Sonography Lab Practicum II | 6 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Semester One (Summer) | ||
| CDS 201 | Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation II | 3 |
| SOC 103 | Social Problems 1 | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Semester Two (Fall) | ||
| CDS 202 | Cardiac Sonography Lab Practicum III | 3 |
| CDS 204 | Cardiac Sonography II | 3 |
| CDS 206 | Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation Review | 3 |
| CDS 208 | Cardiac Sonography Clinical Externship I | 6 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester Three (Spring) | ||
| CDS 205 | Registry Review and Advancing Trends in Cardiac Sonography | 3 |
| CDS 207 | Pharmacology for the Cardiac Sonographer | 1 |
| CDS 209 | Cardiac Sonography Clinical Externship II | 8 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 64 | |
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Course fulfills the Global Studies and U.S. Diversity Studies requirements. At least one Global Studies and one U.S. Diversity Studies course are required for degree completion.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the Cardiac Sonography A.A.S., students will be able to:
- Identify and measure anatomical cardiac structures within the heart by using imaging modalities obtained from the parasternal, apical, subcostal and suprasternal views.
- Identify and explain cardiac anomalies located within the heart structures versus normal anatomical cardiac structures.
- Discuss concepts of cardiac knobology as it applies to ultrasound equipment, transducers and peripherals.
- Utilize critical thinking and problem-solving skills to demonstrate proficiency in performing the following protocols:
- Transthoracic echocardiogram
- Transesophageal echocardiogram
- Pharmacological stress echocardiogram
- Exercise stress echocardiogram
- Contrast echocardiogram
- Summarize and document cardiac diagnostic procedural results including, but not limited to, patient history, supporting clinical data along with any other pertinent information on the imaging facility’s archival system for the interpreting cardiologist.
- Show respect and maintain patient privacy when performing any cardiac diagnostic procedures.
- Use professional job-related communication with patients, physicians, and medical staff.
- Explain cardiac ultrasound diagnostic procedure to patients or patient representative/advocate.
- Demonstrate ergonomically correct scanning techniques/posture throughout all cardiac procedures to avoid work-related injuries.
- Become eligible to sit for the cardiac sonography registry board examination under Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI).
Cardiac Sonography Courses
Course provides the student with a thorough understanding of basic terms that relate to the medical profession along with cardiac sonography. Students will learn the prefixes, the root words, the suffixes, how to spell; they will build a medical vocabulary and learn the meaning of medical terms in order to adequately communicate with medical professionals.
Course provides the student with a thorough understanding of the history of sonography, sonography registry boards and organizations, patient care as it relates to the patient and the sonographer, how best to deal with patient communication issues, how poor ergonomics and body mechanics are the foundation for work-related issues, sonographer qualities, vital signs, legal issues and sonography careers.
Course provides information about the electrical activity of the heart with a focus on cardiac sonography. Content includes the recognition of arrhythmias that may or may not need urgent attention and the ability to correlate the timing of blood flow in the heart with the electrical activity of the heart simultaneously.
Course focuses on the cardiac cross-sectional anatomy and physiology as well as the vascular segments associated with cardiac imaging of the human heart, the different body systems, cardiac conduction, myocardial performance, circulation throughout the body, pulmonary and systemic circulation and transducer imaging scan planes.
Course focuses on factors that will impact blood flow throughout the cardiovascular system and how the spectral Doppler signal, color flow Doppler and aliasing are displayed on the monitor by the use of Doppler Physics. Hemodynamic formulas for valve stenosis, heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, cardiac index, ejection fraction, oxygenation saturation levels, cath lab pressures, along with provocative maneuvers that will alter cardiac physiology.
Course focuses on the principles and types of sound waves in soft tissue, pulse-wave, continuous-wave, acoustic variables, acoustic parameters, pulse repetition period, pulse repetition frequency, decibels, attenuation, intensity of the sound beam, the different types as well as specific features of the transducers used in ultrasound imaging and an understanding of the knobology of the ultrasound machine relating to ultrasound physics.
Course covers the adult echocardiography exam, which focuses on embryology, cardiac views, cardiac measurements, wall segments abnormalities, heart valve disease and anomalies, ischemic heart disease and indications for performing a complete echocardiogram.
This hands-on laboratory practicum course introduces students to the ultrasound equipment and cardiac scanning and prepares them to enter the clinical setting. Students will perform these tasks in the scanning lab on campus.
This hands-on laboratory practicum course provides students with a thorough knowledge of the ultrasound equipment, the protocol for performing an echocardiogram and prepares them to enter the clinical setting. Students will perform these tasks in the scanning lab on campus.
Course focuses on understanding the knobology of the ultrasound machine, imaging artifacts and hemodynamics, and the characteristics of blood flow for the purpose of optimizing and acquiring a diagnostic quality image, harmonics and contrast agents, quality assurance, and bioeffects. Emphasis is placed on the significance of medical ethics and the interaction between cardiac sonographer, the patient, and the medical staff.
This hands-on laboratory practicum course prepares students for completing an echocardiogram according to a protocol in a clinical setting. Students will gain a thorough knowledge of the ultrasound equipment and the protocol for performing an echocardiogram. Students will perform these tasks in the scanning lab on campus.
Course focuses on diseases of the aorta, congenital heart defects, cardiac anomalies, cardiomyopathies, thrombus, masses, cath lab pressures, along with other ultrasound modalities such as Transesophageal echocardiography, Stress echocardiography, the use of contrast agents, Dyssynchrony, Tissue Doppler, Myocardial strain and Strain Rate, Intravascular ultrasound, Cardiac transplant and 3D echo.
Course reviews material covered in CDS 106 and CDS 204, as well as adult pathological and congenital anomalies associated with diseases of the heart with an emphasis on preparing students to pass the Registry Board Examination.
Course focuses on preparation for successful completion of the ultrasound physics portion of the Registry Board Examination. Content includes reviewing the fundamental concepts of sound, sound waves, depth, frequency, attenuation, Doppler, blood flow, knobology, transducers, quality assurance, clinical safety, interactions between sonographers, patients and medical staff, and medical ethics.
Course focuses on the different pharmacological types of drugs, side effects, contraindications and methods of administration that are used in heart disease and when performing an echocardiogram.
Course provides clinical training in a hospital or imaging facility that performs echocardiograms. Students will perform hands-on diagnostic quality echocardiograms and assist with various patient care responsibilities under the direct supervision of a mentor who is a registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer (RDCS), registered cardiac sonographer (RCS) or medical doctor (MD) in the echocardiology department.
This is a second course of a two-course sequence that provides clinical training in a hospital or imaging facility that performs echocardiograms. Students will perform hands-on diagnostic quality echocardiograms and assist with various patient care responsibilities under the direct supervision of a mentor who is a registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer (RDCS), registered cardiac sonographer (RCS) or medical doctor (MD) in the echocardiology department.