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Cardiovascular sonography students perform hands-on ultrasound scans during clinical training in a simulated healthcare lab.

About the Cardiovascular Sonography Program

The Cardiovascular Sonography Associate of Applied Science degree program of study is a 65-credit hour program, which includes classroom and laboratory instruction on campus as well as supervised clinical experience at affiliated health agencies.

Benefits of an OSU-OKC Cardiovascular Sonography Degree:

  • Nationally accredited (CAAHEP) Adult Echocardiography program ensures standardized instructional techniques and methodology. Graduates are eligible for national board exams by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) and Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI).
  • A degree program is preferred by many of the employers across the state.
  • Extensive “hands-on” instruction in a university laboratory setting. A faculty member will spend time with each student perfecting their technique.
  • Numerous, state of the art Sonography machines, and equipment is available for student practice/training in the department’s Sonography laboratory.
  • Training in stress cardiovascular sonography and transesophageal echocardiography.
  • Specialized training: All required student clinical rotations specialize in cardiovascular sonography. The entirety of student education is spent in the cardiovascular sonography specialty, therefore providing the student with specialized didactic and sonography scanning abilities.

Admission to the Cardiovascular Sonography program is based on a points system. One class is admitted to the program every academic year. Up to 22 students are admitted each year with the applicant pool varying from 80 to 150 applications. The actual accepted number is commensurate with the number of clinical rotation sites available to offer the students.

The following factors are considered as part of the final selection into the program:

  • Background Check: Must be completed through the designated vendor only. Admission may be denied to applicants with a criminal history or to those who submit false information.
  • GPA Requirement: A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 from all previous college-level coursework is required.
  • TEAS-ATI Test: A current Pre-Admission TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) score is required.
  • Prerequisite Coursework: Completion of all required prerequisite or equivalent courses with a grade of C or higher.
  • Recommendation and Personal Achievement letters
  • Vaccination/Immunization Records: Proof of pre-clinical immunizations as outlined in the Student Handbook.
  • Drug Screening: A negative 10-panel urine drug screen conducted through the designated vendor only.
  • Technical Standards: Applicants must meet the program’s established technical standards.
  • Additional Pre-Clinical Documentation required:
    • Campus-Wide Student ID (CWID)
    • American Heart Association BLS CPR certification
    • Valid driver’s license and REAL ID
    • Social Security card
    • Current USCIS or U.S. Department of State documentation (if applicable)
    • Health insurance card
    • Vehicle information (make, model, and license plate number)
    • Completed orientation and handbook acknowledgment forms
    • Completed Human Resources forms
    • Any additional onboarding documentation required by clinical sites

JOB FACT FILE

Certified Diagnostic Medical Sonographers with an associate degree earn an average of $71,810 annually with 110 new positions each year, according to the Oklahoma Long-Term Occupational Outlook, 2020-2030 ok-occupational-employment-projections-2020-2030.pdf (oklahoma.gov). According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, overall employment of diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians is projected to grow 10 percent from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations. About 10,100 openings for diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/diagnostic-medical-sonographers.htm.

Academic Advantage

The department's sonography laboratory includes numerous, state of the art sonography machines with equipment available for student practice. The program is designed to take five (5) semesters to complete starting from the time you are actually admitted into the program and take your first sonography course. You cannot double up on the sonography courses because each course builds upon the previous course. Even if you have all of your support and related courses completed or have a degree in another field, it will still take 5 semesters to complete the sonography program.

  • Application Procedures and Information

    Applicants must:

    1. Apply to attend Oklahoma State University – OKC, be accepted, and declare the program as their major. (NOTE: declaring the program as a major is not an indicator that the student is ready to apply or submit a background check to the actual program).https://apply.osuokc.edu/apply/
    2. Students should submit Official sealed and/or unopened electronic College/University Transcripts from previous institutions to the admissions office when applying to attend Oklahoma State University – OKC (Note: student copies are not considered official) – This process should be completed a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks prior to applying to the program.
    3. Meet with an OSU-OKC academic advisor and obtain an advisement form. This can be an in-person, online, or phone meeting. This step is vital to ensure that you have completed all prerequisites and support courses. Once you have completed all prerequisites and support coursework, submit an application packet to the specific program.
    4. Application packet contents should include:
      • Submission of application to “Investigative Concepts” for a National - 7 Year background check to include Sex Offender Registry and Violent Offender Registry - through the OSU-OKC Clinical Hub link on the Cardiovascular Sonography webpage (The department will download the results)
      • TEAS ATI Examination Score Result Sheet (offered in the OSU-OKC Testing Center) A new TEAS ATI test is required for each year an applicant applies to the program. The TEAS ATI test must be taken with in the same year the student is applying to the program. An Applicant is allowed two attempts at the TEAS in a rolling 12-month period, but no less than 90 days after the first attempt. TEAS testing must be done in-person only. Online and/or remote testing results will not be accepted. All results must be emailed from the testing center or ATI TEAS directly to OSU-OKC at the following email address: okc.healthsciences@okstate.edu. Scores submitted by students will not be accepted.
      • Submitted copies of your transcripts with your application to the Diagnostic Medical Imaging Department
      • Submitted your personal achievements letter and letters of recommendation (for tiebreaker purposes) with your application.
      • Academic advisement form verifying that you have met with an OSU-OKC academic advisor

    TO MAKE APPLICATION, COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

    1. Be admitted to OSU-OKC. Your application will not be considered until you are admitted.
    2. Complete application form for the Cardiovascular Sonography Program.
    3. Email copies of official transcripts of all college courses to the Cardiovascular Sonography Department along with your application packet. Note: A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 (C) on academic work completed is necessary to be considered for the cardiovascular program. Applications will be accepted March 1 – May 31 annually
    4. TEAS ATI exams require a testing fee. Students must pay the fee in the Business office. The student must then bring the receipt to the Assessment Center and schedule an appointment. After the appointment has been made, if the student will not be able to make the appointment, the student must call the Assessment Center and reschedule the exam (405-945-8648). An exam may be rescheduled only once. Student must call before the scheduled test time to cancel to receive a refund. A new TEAS ATI test is required for each year an applicant applies to the program. The TEAS ATI test must be taken with in the same year the student is applying to the program. An Applicant is allowed two attempts in a rolling 12-month period, but no less than 90 days after the first attempt. There is no cut-score for the TEAS ATI exam. However, a TEAS ATI Score of 70 or above is strongly recommended to earn a competitive number of points. NOTE: TEAS testing must be done in-person only. Online and/or remote testing results will not be accepted. All results must be emailed from the testing center or ATI TEAS directly to OSU-OKC at the following email address: okc.healthsciences@okstate.edu . Scores submitted by students will not be accepted.
    5. Submit a current (< 3 months) National Background check (click on “Background Check” link) https://theclinicalhub.quickapp.pro/apply/applicant/new/2473?_ref=qap_session_283d74c764fbec7990f4a2df80f9920215fb484a844fa82e9d517fb1e63885b8
    6. The final step in the program admission process will be a 30-minute panel interview of the top scoring applicants. The panel will consist of various representatives of the organization who will evaluate the candidate using an evaluation rubric. Each panel interviewer will fill out an evaluation sheet and rate the candidate on key requirements for the program. After all interviews are conducted, panelists rank the candidates, and once a consensus is reached, the final applicants are chosen. The remaining applicants will be considered alternates.
    7. Completed applications MUST be emailed to:
      okc.healthsciences@okstate.edu
      NOTE: All application packet contents must be submitted at ONE time. Incomplete packets will not be processed.

    NOTE: The following factors are considered as part of the final selection into the program:

    • Background Check: Must be completed through the designated vendor only. Admission may be denied to applicants with a criminal history or to those who submit false information.
    • GPA Requirement: A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 from all previous college-level coursework is required.
    • TEAS-ATI Test: A current Pre-Admission TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) score is required.
    • Prerequisite Coursework: Completion of all required prerequisite or equivalent courses with a grade of C or higher.
    • Recommendation and Personal Achievement letters
    • Vaccination/Immunization Records: Proof of pre-clinical immunizations as outlined in the Student Handbook.
    • Drug Screening: A negative 10-panel urine drug screen conducted through the designated vendor only.
    • Technical Standards: Applicants must meet the program’s established technical standards.
    • Additional Pre-Clinical Documentation required:
      • Campus-Wide Student ID (CWID)
      • American Heart Association BLS CPR certification
      • Valid driver’s license and REAL ID
      • Social Security card
      • Current USCIS or U.S. Department of State documentation (if applicable)
      • Health insurance card
      • Vehicle information (make, model, and license plate number)
      • Completed orientation and handbook acknowledgment forms
      • Completed Human Resources forms
      • Any additional onboarding documentation required by clinical sites

    Due to the high volume of applications, it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all university admission materials, including transfer transcripts, renewed IDs or other documentation, etc., are submitted to and received by the University Admissions Office, and that all program-specific application materials are submitted to and received by the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Office by the May 31st deadline. Incomplete applications, late submissions, or missing documentation will not be considered after the application deadline.

Accreditation

The OSU-OKC Diagnostic Medical Sonography–Adult Echocardiography program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS).

Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS)

6021 University Blvd, Suite 500
Ellicott City. MD 21043
Phone: 443-973-3251
Fax: 800-581-7889

CAAHEP: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program

9355 -113th St. N, #7709,
Seminole, FL 33775
Phone: 727.210.2350

For more information, contact:

440 N. Portland Ave., Room 1203
Oklahoma City, OK 73107
(405) 945-8698
okc.healthsciences@okstate.edu