Echocardiology - BA, BS
A degree from St. Kate's will give students the best possible professional preparation for a satisfying, rewarding and successful career in sonography. St. Kate's specializes in educating healthcare professionals - we've been leading the way since 1905. St. Kate's has an outstanding reputation in the healthcare community as the metro area's leading healthcare educator - and an extensive clinical network where students will gain training in real-world conditions.
Sonographers have extensive, direct patient contact that may include performing some invasive procedures. They must be able to interact compassionately and effectively with people who range from healthy to critically ill.
Cardiac sonographers, also known as echocardiographers, use ultrasound to examine the heart's chambers, walls, valves, and vessels. The sonographer uses sophisticated diagnostic ultrasound imaging machines and transducers which use high-frequency sound waves to produce dynamic visual images to complete detailed images and aid in the diagnosis of the patient.
A typical day includes reviewing the patient's history, performing the echo examination along with blood pressures, and presenting the echo findings to the physician and other allied health staff. Sonographers in this field work directly with healthy and critically ill inpatients and outpatients of all ages in predominantly noninvasive procedures.
An echocardiographer must be organized and able to function independently. They must possess strong human relation and communication skills, able to cope with high stress situations, and have the ability to accurately document patient information.
The program is four years in length. Students following this track take two years of liberal arts and sciences courses prior to starting the major courses. St. Catherine University offers a rigorous and comprehensive academic program that can give you credentials and knowledge you can use to work towards becoming a leader in your field.
Clinical experience is a vital part of the program. We offer clinicals in the Twin Cities and out-state locations. These experiences allow students to work alongside experts in the field and practice cardiac sonography in a wide range of medical situations.
Upon completion of the program, graduates are awarded a Bachelor of Science in Echocardiology and are eligible to take the national registry exams in sonography principles and instrumentation (SPI) and Adult Echocardiography.
St Catherine University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS).
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
25400 US Hwy. 19 North, Suite 158
Clearwater, FL 33763
727-210-2350
www.caahep.org
Acceptance to Major
Admission to the echocardiology major is expected to be competitive. Students will be considered for admission in two groups:
1. Students may apply for the Guaranteed Admission Program (GAP) during their senior year of high school. Students who apply to St. Catherine on or before February 15 of their senior year will be given priority consideration for early admission. Students who apply on or after February 16 will be considered on a space-available basis.
2. Students who meet the minimum criteria below will be considered. First-year, transfer and second major students will be considered in one pool, and admission is contingent upon the number of positions available.
- Successful completion of prerequisite courses (C or above)1
- Prerequisite GPA of 3.25 or above
- Overall cumulative GPA of 3.25 or above
- If a prerequisite course grade is C- or lower, this course (or an alternative course approved by the program coordinator) must be repeated no more than once. Students may have only one withdrawal (W) in a prerequisite course.
- Meet physical requirements
- Current certification as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) in the State of Minnesota
1Students are strongly advised to complete college algebra, BIOL 2610 Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab and BIOL 2620 Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab no more than five years prior to entering St. Kate's. Prospective students are advised to contact their admissions counselor for more information. Enrolled students are advised to contact the sonography department program director for more information
This major is offered in the College for Women only.
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses 1 | ||
| SON 1620 | Embryology of the Heart | 4 |
| SON 1630 | Cardiovascular Principles | 4 |
| SON 1635 | Cardiovascular Principles Lab | 1 |
| SON 2015 | Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation | 4 |
| SON 2XXX | Adult Echo | 4 |
| SON 2XXX | Adult Echo Lab | 1 |
| SON 2XXX | Topics | 4 |
| SON 2XXX | Fetal-Pediatric Echo | 4 |
| SON 2XXX | Stress Echo | 4 |
| SON 3XXX | Comp Review Lab | 2 |
| SON 3XXX | Clinical Practicum 1 | 6 |
| SON 3XXX | Seminar in Advanced Echo Imaging | 2 |
| SON 3XXX | Clinical Practicum 2 | 1 |
| SON 3XXX | Clinical Practicum 3 | 9 |
| Total Credits | 50 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite courses 1 | ||
| BIOL 2610 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab 2 | 4 |
| BIOL 2620 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab 2 | 4 |
| IPE 1030 | Healthcare Teams Foundations and Medical Terminology | 2 |
| IPE 1040 | Healthcare Teams and Quality Outcomes | 2 |
| PHYS 1050 | Conceptual Physics (OR PHYS 1080 and PHYS 1090, OR PHYS 1110 and PHYS 1120) | 4 |
| SON 1500 | Communication for the Sonography Professional | 2 |
| College level algebra/statistics or higher 2 | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 22 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required supporting courses 1 | ||
| COMM 1030 | Speaking to Lead and Influence | 4 |
| IPE 4200W | Healthcare Teams - Evidence-Based Practice | 4 |
| MGMT 3460 | Managing a Diverse Workforce | 4 |
| PHIL 3400 | Biomedical Ethics | 4 |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
| 1 | Minimum grade of C required |
| 2 | Students are strongly advised to complete college algebra, BIOL 2610 and BIOL 2620 no more than five years prior to entering St. Kate's. |
Echocardiology majors satisfy the Writing Requirement for Majors by completing IPE 4200W Research Methods. They complete the Liberal Arts and Sciences Core Writing Requirement with three other writing-intensive courses (CORE 1000W The Reflective Woman or CORE 2000W The Reflective Woman, CORE 3990W Global Search for Justice, and another writing-intensive course in another department).