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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 24 students are admitted each year with the applicant pool varying from 60 to 100 applications. The accepted number is commensurate to the number of clinical rotations that we have available to offer the students. The following factors are considered in selecting these students:

 

  • Grades from required prerequisite coursework
  • 2.5 Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of all previous collegiate academic work
  • Pre-Admission TEAS test score
  • Required prerequisite courses completed 
  • Pre-clinical vaccination/shot records (Due upon admission to the program)

 

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://osuokc.edu/apply/forms 
       
    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 a National Group One - 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.
      • 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.
       
    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: Admission to the Cardiovascular Sonography program may be denied to any student with a positive criminal history.

     

    Due to high volume of requests for applications received, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all transcripts, and other required application materials have been sent to and received by the Diagnostic Medical Sonography office prior to the deadline date.

  • Cost of Attendance

    Tuition for Cardiovascular Sonography students is the same as for all other OSU-Oklahoma City students with the addition of the below items:

     

    • Student uniforms, patches, cardiovascular graduate pin

    • Possible application fee for registry examination upon graduation

    • Rubella, Rubeola and Varicella Immunity, Tuberculosis Test, Hepatitis B Immunity or Waiver and Healthcare Provider CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) certification

    • Books and online programs fees

    • Background checks

    • Drug Screens

    • Organizational dues

    • Vehicular Maintenance to insure reliable transportation to/from clinical affiliates

    • Lab Fees

    For assistance in applying for grants, loans, tuition waivers and scholarships, please contact a financial aid officer at (405) 945-8646.

     

    More information on full costs of attendance

  • Board Certification
    Graduates are eligible for national board exams by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) and Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI). To become a registered sonographer, graduates must pass 2 national board exams: one for the modality in question, (e.g. Adult Echocardiography), and one for the Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) Physics examination. Details can be obtained from the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography® (ARDMS®) and Cardiovascular Credentialing International.
  • ADA Accommodations

    OSU-Oklahoma City is committed to providing educational opportunities and reasonable accommodations to otherwise qualified students with disabilities based upon the documentation of a disability covered under Section 504 the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008.

     

    Students with disabilities needing reasonable accommodations in their courses must register with and provide disability documentation to the Advisor to Students with Disabilities who has the authority to review, coordinate, and facilitate student accommodation needs. It is important to note that, in order to progress successfully through the cardiovascular sonography curriculum and function as a sonographer upon graduation, an individual must be able to perform certain physical and intellectual, and sensory abilities that include critical thinking, vocal, visual, auditory, dexterity and computer competency requirements. Academic requirements that are upheld and regarded as being essential to the program or course of instruction being pursued by a student with a disability or to any directly related licensing requirement are not regarded as discriminatory.

  • Technical Standards

    In order to be considered for admission or to be retained in the program after admission, all applicants must possess:

    • Sufficient visual acuity, such as is needed in the accurate preparation for the observation necessary for client assessment and sonography care.

    • Sufficient auditory perception to receive verbal communication from clients and members of the health team and to assess health needs of people through the use of monitoring devices such as stethoscopes, IV infusion pumps, cardiac monitors, fire alarms, etc.

    • Sufficient gross and fine motor coordination to respond promptly and to implement the skills required in meeting client and emerging clinical health care needs safely. These include but are not limited to transportation and manipulation of heavy equipment and performance of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

    • Sufficient communication and language skills (speech, comprehension, reading and writing) to interact with clients and the health care team and to communicate effectively, as may be necessary in client’s interest and safety.

    • Sufficient intellectual functions and emotional stability to plan/implement proper patient care.

  • Computer Literacy Standards

    Students enrolled in the program will be expected to use the computer for generating reports, testing, computer-assisted instruction and electronic searches. The cardiovascular technology curriculum at OSU-Oklahoma City is computer intensive. Graduation from the program allows the student to meet the computer literacy requirement. An introductory computer course is recommended for students lacking computer experience and/or skills.

  • Program Policies

    In addition to the policies and procedures of OSU-Oklahoma City the following policies will apply to candidates entering the Cardiovascular Sonography program.

     

    Grades

    A programmatic grade point average of 2.0 (C) is required for graduation from the Cardiovascular Sonography program. Grades of “C” or better are required for all courses necessary for the Associate in Applied Science in Cardiovascular Sonography.

     

    Cardiovascular Sonography Student Handbook

 

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

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