Cardiac Sonography

Goal 1: To provide all students with didactic and clinical education, including hands-on, practical scanning experience. 

Goal 2: To prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for the Adult Cardiac Sonography concentration.

Goal 3: Obtain, review, and integrate pertinent patient history and supporting clinical information to facilitate optimum diagnostic results.

Goal 4: Function as an integral part of the diagnostic medical imaging team, providing patient services efficiently and in a professional, sensitive manner.

Goal 5: Incorporate concepts learned through classroom instruction and clinical practice, ensuring accurate, meaningful sonographic evaluations.

Goal 6: Demonstrate appropriate communication skills with patients and colleagues.

Goal 7: Provide patient education related to cardiac ultrasound and/or other diagnostic techniques.

A student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5. It is recommended that students get a C or better, according to the University grading scale, in all non-program specific courses.

A student must earn a C or better in any Mathematics or Natural Science courses that are required for the major.

A student must have a minimum earned cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher to enter into the program specific courses. Any student with an earned cumulative GPA lower than 2.5 will be provided with Academic Advising relative to other majors/options. 

To meet requirements for successful completion of the CAS program, students must complete all CAS prefix courses with a grade of C (74%) or higher.  Additionally, the following courses must be completed with a grade of C (74%) or higher:  CVT 203, DMS 111 and DMS 221.

If a student earns less than the required grade, they are dismissed from the program, regardless of GPA.  Students receive one attempt at a course.  An ‘attempt’ is defined as earning a grade in a course or late-dropping the course.

​Students who wish to return to the University after a leave of absence or re-enroll after withdrawing from the program or University will follow the re-enrollment policies of the University.  This process requires the student to reapply for program admission.  Acceptance will be based on factors such as clinical space available and the student’s statement relative to changes in their current situation that will support their success.  Prior to a student re-entering the program of study, faculty reserve the right to assign placement in the curriculum and to require remedial activities.

Applicants and students for the Sonography program are expected to possess the skills and abilities identified in the Technical Standards below in order to successfully complete the program. The Technical Standards include physical, mental, emotional, motor, and cognitive skills and abilities. These standards identify the requirements for admission, progression, and graduation. Students are expected to adhere to these standards throughout the program.

The Technical Standards apply to the University's classrooms and laboratories. The Sonography program has arrangements with independent third-party clinical sites. Students will be subject to the clinical sites’ policies, procedures and technical requirements while completing clinical experiential programs. 

Applicants or students with disabilities are strongly advised to contact the Office of Student Disability Services. It is the student's responsibility to follow the University's registration and accommodation request process. Please contact the Office of Student Disability Services (610)-660-1774 or sds@sju.edu. For clinical experiential programs, students with disabilities will be required to submit accommodation requests to the clinical site.

Observation

• Observe materials presented in the learning environment including audiovisual presentations, experiments, and written documents.
• Discriminate among black, gray, white, and various color combinations on display devices, film, and paper.
• Distinguish audible sounds and adequately view sonograms.
• Inspect and recognize minute details and small objects.
• Observe patients accurately and completely.

Communication

• Capacity to effectively converse and communicate with faculty members, fellow students, clinical staff, and patients in order to receive information, respond to nonverbal communication, and describe changes in mood, activity, and posture.
• Follow verbal or written instructions in order to correctly and independently perform procedures.
• Clearly instruct patients prior to and during procedures.
• Respond to emergency situations.

Motor Function

• Use gross and fine motor function, manual dexterity, and physical strength to:
  • Apply general care and emergency treatment to patients;
  • Help lift patients who may be unable to move themselves in wheelchairs or beds to the examination table and vice versa;
  • Lift and move objects (50 pounds or more routinely); and
  • Manipulate ultrasound equipment, computers, and peripherals.
• Capacity to perform diagnostic maneuvers as required to meet curricular goals.

Cognitive

• Apply knowledge and reasoning to solve problems as required by the curriculum.
• Comprehend multi-dimensional relationships and the spatial relationships of anatomic structures.
• Efficiently process verbal information, either in written or spoken form.
• Attend and process information simultaneously and categorize this information effectively for recall.
• Sustain concentration to a task over an extended period of time.

Behavioral and Social

• Possess the emotional health to apply intellectual skill, exercise good judgment, and to complete all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients.
• Develop a mature, sensitive, and effective relationship with patients and colleagues.
• Behave in an ethical manner consistent with professional values and standards.
• Exhibit sufficient interpersonal skills, knowledge, and attitude to interact positively and sensitively with others.

Physical Requirements

Sonography students are required to be able to perform the following standards of performance: Additional Core Performance Standards in Sonography:

1. Stand, sit, walk, push, pull, squat, bend and climb stairs. 
2. Lift and/or carry up to 50 pounds short distances.
3. Reach in forward, lateral, and overhead motions. 
4. Distinguish distance, colors, objects, persons. 
5. Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, using appropriate grammar, spelling, and vocabulary.
6. Process and communicate information on the patient’s status with accuracy in a timely manner
7. Think clearly and act calmly in stressful situations. 
8. Perform up to a 12-hour clinical experience in a single 24-hour period. 
9. Think critically, with sound judgment, emotional stability, maturity, empathy, and physical and mental stamina. 
10. Able to retain a long list of procedural steps, medication detail and medical information.

Cornerstone Core Curriculum Requirements

Consist of five core and one overlay requirements.  See below for additional detailed information for each of these requirements.

Major Requirements