2024-2025 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Bachelor of Science in Cardiovascular Sonography
Requirements for a Major in Cardiovascular Sonography
Prerequisite Courses (35 credits)
Note: A grade C (2.0) or higher is required for each prerequisite course.
- AHS 100 - Medical Terminology (3 credits)
- BIO 120 - General Biology I (4 credits)
- BMS 250 - Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits) prerequisite BIO 120*
- BMS 251 - Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credits)
- MTH 122 - College Algebra (3 credits) prerequisite MTH 110
- PHY 220 - General Physics I (5 credits) prerequisite MTH 123
- PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology (3 credits)*
- SOC 105 - Social Problems (3 credits)*
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits)*
AND one of the following:
- AHS 301 - Introduction to Health Care Research (3 credits)
- PSY 300 - Research Methods in Psychology (3 credits)
- BMS 301 - Introduction to Research in the Biomedical Sciences (3 credits)
*Also fulfills general education requirements
General Education Requirements: Foundations and Cultures (12 credits + 6 Issues credits)
Remaining general education courses not covered in the major coursework or major prerequisites:
- General education Arts (3 credits)
- General education Philosophy and Literature (3 credits)
- General education Historical Analysis (3 credits)
- General education Global Perspectives (3 credits)
- Issues (Two courses that can be taken when student has 55+ credits.) (6 credits)
- AHS 340 is a required program and Issues course
- WRT 150 - Strategies in Writing (4 credits) OR BOTH WRT 120 - Strategies in Writing - Stretch I (3 credits) AND WRT 130 - Strategies in Writing - Stretch II (3 credits)
Students are strongly encouraged to meet periodically with their academic advisor to determine their progress toward and eligibility for admission into the cardiovascular program: gvsu.edu/chpss. Students are assigned to a College of Health Professions Student Services academic advisor prior to program admission. Upon admission into the program students are assigned to a CVS faculty advisor.
B.S. Program Requirements (10 credits)
- BMS 250 - Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits)
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits)
AND one of the following:
- AHS 301 - Introduction to Health Care Research (3 credits)
- BMS 301 - Introduction to Research in the Biomedical Sciences (3 credits)
- PSY 300 - Research Methods in Psychology (3 credits)
Note: STA 215 is a prerequisite for the three previously listed research courses.
Cardiovascular Sonography Courses (68 credits includes Issues course)
The cardiovascular sonography major prepares students for clinical practice in adult echocardiography, pediatric echocardiography, and vascular sonography. Cardiovascular sonographers work collaboratively with cardiologist, radiologists, vascular surgeons, or other specialized physicians to diagnose a diverse range of conditions involving invasive and noninvasive procedures using complex computerized high-frequency sound wave and Doppler signal equipment. The sonographer must acquire excellent knowledge of sectional anatomy, clinical medicine, pathology, and the use of sonographic instrumentation.
Major Coursework
- AHS 340 - Health Care Management (3 credits) Required Issues course.
- RIE 330 - Echocardiography I (4 credits)
- RIE 331 - Echocardiography I Laboratory (2 credits)
- RIE 332 - Echocardiography II (3 credits)
- RIE 333 - Echocardiography II Laboratory (1 credit)
- RIE 340 - Cardiac and Vascular Hemodynamics (2 credits)
- RIE 341 - ECG in Radiologic and Imaging Sciences (2 credits)
- RIE 361 - Echocardiography Clinical Education I (2 credits)
- RIE 362 - Echocardiography Clinical Education II (3 credits)
- RIE 363 - Pediatric Echo Clinical Education I (2 credits) OR RIE 366 - Vascular Sonography Clinical Education I (2 credits)
- RIE 432 - Vascular Sonography I (2 credits)
- RIE 433 - Vascular Sonography I Laboratory (1 credit)
- RIE 434 - Pediatric Echocardiography I (3 credits)
- RIE 435 - Pediatric Echocardiography I Laboratory (1 credit)
- RIE 436 - Vascular Sonography II (2 credits)
- RIE 437 - Vascular Sonography II Laboratory (2 credits)
- RIE 438 - Pediatric Echocardiography II (3 credits)
- RIE 439 - Vascular Sonography III (2 credits)
- RIE 440 - Vascular Sonography III Laboratory (1 credit)
- RIE 457 - Cardiovascular Image Evaluation (2 credits)
- RIE 463 - Pediatric Echocardiography Clinical Education II (3 credits) OR RIE 466 - Vascular Sonography Clinical Education II (3 credits)
- RIE 464 - Pediatric Echocardiography Clinical Education III (3 credits) OR RIE 467 - Vascular Sonography Clinical Education III (3 credits)
- RIE 495 - Advanced Clinical Problems in Echocardiography and Vascular Sonography (3 credits)
- RIT 441 - Gross Human Sectional Anatomy (4 credits)
- RIU 320 - Applied Ultrasound Physics Instruction I (2 credits)
- RIU 321 - Applied Ultrasound Physics Instruction I Lab (1 credit)
- RIU 324 - Applied Doppler Ultrasound Physics (2 credits)
- RIU 360 - Introduction to Clinical Ultrasound (2 credits)
- RIU 420 - Applied Ultrasound Physics Instruction II (2 credits)
Suggested Order of Coursework
Year One
Fall Semester (15 credits):
- BIO 120 - General Biology I (4 credits)
- MTH 110 - Algebra (4 credits) OR Math Placement Test
- WRT 150 - Strategies in Writing (4 credits) OR WRT 120 - Strategies in Writing - Stretch I (3 credits)
- General education Arts (3 credits)
Winter Semester (16 credits):
- AHS 100 - Medical Terminology (3 credits)
- BMS 250 - Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits)
- MTH 122 - College Algebra (3 credits)
- PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology (3 credits)
- SOC 105 - Social Problems (3 credits)
Year Two
Fall Semester (14-15 credits):
- BMS 251 - Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credits)
- MTH 123 - Trigonometry (3 credits) Prerequisite for PHY 220 OR Math Placement Test
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits)
- General education Philosophy and Literature (3 credits)
- Electives (1-2 credits)
Winter Semester (15 credits):
Students apply to CVS by deadline.
- PHY 220 - General Physics I (5 credits)
- PSY 300 - Research Methods in Psychology (3 credits)
- General education Historical Analysis (3 credits)
- General education Global Perspectives (3 credits)
- Elective (1 credit)
Year Three
Fall Semester (15 credits):
Students admitted to CVS.
- RIU 320 - Applied Ultrasound Physics Instruction I (2 credits)
- RIU 321 - Applied Ultrasound Physics Instruction I Lab (1 credit)
- RIE 330 - Echocardiography I (4 credits)
- RIE 331 - Echocardiography I Laboratory (2 credits)
- RIE 340 - Cardiac and Vascular Hemodynamics (2 credits)
- RIE 341 - ECG in Radiologic and Imaging Sciences (2 credits)
- RIU 360 - Introduction to Clinical Ultrasound (2 credits)
Winter Semester (15 credits):
- RIU 324 - Applied Doppler Ultrasound Physics (2 credits)
- RIE 332 - Echocardiography II (3 credits)
- RIE 333 - Echocardiography II Laboratory (1 credit)
- RIE 361 - Echocardiography Clinical Education I (2 credits)
- RIE 432 - Vascular Sonography I (2 credits)
- RIE 433 - Vascular Sonography I Laboratory (1 credit)
- RIT 441 - Gross Human Sectional Anatomy (4 credits)
Spring/Summer Semester (5 credits):
- RIE 362 - Echocardiography Clinical Education II (3 credits)
- RIE 363 - Pediatric Echo Clinical Education I (2 credits) OR RIE 366 - Vascular Sonography Clinical Education I (2 credits)
Year Four
Fall Semester (16 credits):
- RIU 420 - Applied Ultrasound Physics Instruction II (2 credits)
- RIE 434 - Pediatric Echocardiography I (3 credits)
- RIE 435 - Pediatric Echocardiography I Laboratory (1 credit)
- RIE 436 - Vascular Sonography II (2 credits)
- RIE 437 - Vascular Sonography II Laboratory (2 credits)
- RIE 463 - Pediatric Echocardiography Clinical Education II (3 credits) OR RIE 466 - Vascular Sonography Clinical Education II (3 credits)
- Issues course (3 credits)
Winter Semester (17 credits):
- AHS 340 - Health Care Management (3 credits)
- RIE 438 - Pediatric Echocardiography II (3 credits)
- RIE 439 - Vascular Sonography III (2 credits)
- RIE 440 - Vascular Sonography III Laboratory (1 credit)
- RIE 457 - Cardiovascular Image Evaluation (2 credits)
- RIE 464 - Pediatric Echocardiography Clinical Education III (3 credits) OR RIE 466 - Vascular Sonography Clinical Education II (3 credits)
- RIE 495 - Advanced Clinical Problems in Echocardiography and Vascular Sonography (3 credits)