Saint Joseph’s University’s Cardiac Sonography Certificate offers the opportunity to expand your knowledge in the fast-growing field of cardiovascular sonography. Designed for students who hold a college degree, this program also prepares you to sit for exams required to become a registered cardiac sonographer.
Associate Degree in Cardiac Sonography
Saint Joseph’s University’s Associate Degree in Cardiac Sonography offers the opportunity to expand your knowledge in the fast-growing field of cardiac sonography. As a graduate of this associate program, you will receive the preparation necessary to become a cardiac sonographer or echo technologist in a hospital or outpatient center.
Offered in person and online, this 66-credit associate program can be completed in less than two years. The cardiac sonography associate degree is one of three ultrasound associate programs we offer, along with the Associate Degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography and Associate Degree in Vascular Sonography.
If you already have an associate degree or higher or have completed a two-year, post-secondary allied health program, we invite you to explore our Cardiac Sonography Certificate.
What is Cardiac Sonography?
Cardiac sonography is an in-demand diagnostic imaging specialty. Using ultrasound equipment, cardiac sonographers conduct echocardiograms to obtain images of the heart’s structure and function. While many echocardiograms are performed on adult patients at rest or after exercise, cardiac sonographers also conduct cardiac sonograms on pediatric patients.
What Sets Our Cardiac Sonography Program Apart
Preparation to Sit for the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) or Cardiovascular Credentialing Institute (CCI) Sonographer Exams
After completing the associate program and one year of cardiac sonography employment, you will be eligible to sit for the ARDMS Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) and Cardiac Sonographer exams. Upon passing both exams, you will earn the Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) certification. After completing the associate program and 800 clinical hours, you are also eligible to sit for the CCI certification examination for cardiac sonography and earn a Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS) certification.
Cardiac Sonography Associate Degree Offered Both In Person and Online
While the associate degree program is primarily offered in person to provide hands-on learning, some courses are also offered online. The online courses are designed to meet the knowledge base in the career of sonography. Learn more about online learning at Saint Joseph's.
Opportunity to Practice Your Scanning Skills in Our Ultrasound Suite
You will feel like you’re on the job from day one at our Center for Excellence in Practice, Lancaster’s newest and most advanced clinical simulation lab. You'll have the opportunity to work with advanced ultrasound equipment and specialized manikins to simulate a variety of cardiac sonography exams.
The first and only learning space of its kind in the Lancaster area, the Center for Excellence in Practice is a 20,000-square-foot simulation space that allows students from other programs to work in realistic simulations that mirror real-life healthcare settings.
Guaranteed Clinical Placements
You are guaranteed clinical placements at locations in Pennsylvania. You will have the opportunity to experience working in clinical settings with expert faculty, helping transfer knowledge and skills from the classroom to in-person patient experiences. You will learn critical thinking, collaboration and problem-solving by engaging in realistic scenarios staged in real-world medical environments.
Taught by Experienced Cardiac Sonography Faculty
You will learn from and work alongside faculty who have a breadth of experience working in cardiac sonography. Many faculty members are current cardiac sonographers or hold former positions in the field.
Why Study Cardiac Sonography in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania is home to top-tier hospitals, clinics and diagnostic imaging centers in search of cardiac sonographers, including:
- Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital
- Lehigh Valley Hospital
- Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania – Penn Medicine
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)
Program Details
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The Joint Review Commission on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAHHEP) do not grant accreditation at the onset of a program. The program will be applying for accreditation through the JRC-DMS and the CAHHEP sometime within its first two years. After completing the program, graduates are eligible to take the national registry through the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS).
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Saint Joseph's University – Lancaster’s tuition structure includes both per-credit tuition and program-specific fees.
PER-CREDIT TUITION:
The cost of the Cardiac Sonography Associate Degree is $670 per credit for the 2023-2024 academic year.
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC FEES:
In addition to the per credit rate, there are also program-specific fees for the two following courses:
- When a student enrolls in CAS 224, they will be responsible for paying a fee totaling $5,575
- When a student enrolls in CAS 228, they will be responsible for paying a fee totaling $5,575
For a detailed breakdown and additional information, visit our Tuition & Fees page.
Curriculum
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Fall
Course Credits BIO 175 - Human Anatomy & Physiology I 4 ENG 100 - English Composition 3 MAT 160 - College Algebra 3 PSY 100 - General Psychology 3 CSS 101 - College Seminar 3 Total Credits 16 Spring
Course Credits BIO 176 - Human Anatomy & Physiology II 4 PHY 150 - Physics 3 SOC 100 or 200 - Intro to Soc or Cultural Diversity 3 HSC 101 - Methods of Patient Care 1 HSC 100 - Medical Terminology 1 Total Credits 12 Summer
Course Credits DMS 111 - Intro to Sonography 1 HSC 160 - Rhythm and 12 Lead ECG Analysis 3 CAS 113 - Echo Lab I 1 Total Credits 5 Total Year One Credits: 33
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Fall
Course Credits DMS 221 - Ultrasound Physics 3 CAS 206 - Ultrasound Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology 3 CAS 222 - Echo Hemodynamics 1 CAS 220 - Cardiac Pathophysiology I 3 CAS 225 - Echo Lab II 1 CAS 224 - Echo Clinical I 4 Total Credits 15 Spring
Course Credits PHI 210 - Ethical and Legal Dimensions in the Health Sciences 1 CAS 223 - Cardiac Pathophysiology II 3 CAS 229 - Echo Lab III 1 CAS 228 - Echo Clinical II 6 CAS 227 - Intro to Pediatric Echo 2 CAS 226 - Advanced Echo and Therapeutic Techniques 1 Total Credits 14 Summer
Course Credits CAS 232 - Echo Clinical III 4 Total Credits 4 Total Year Two Credits: 33
Total Program Credits: 66
On Average, How Much Do Cardiac Sonographers Make?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary of a cardiac sonographer in 2022 is $78,210.
Admission Information
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1. To be considered for admission, you must have graduated from an approved secondary school (or be on track to graduate), received a diploma from an accredited home school association or earned a GED.
2. High school or post-secondary college-level courses must include the following:
- At least four units of English
- At least three units of Social Sciences
- At least three units of Mathematics (Two (2) of which are at least the level of Algebra)
- Two (2) units of Science with a related laboratory or an equivalent (One (1) of which must be biology).
3. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or greater on a 4.0-point scale in secondary or post-secondary education (whichever is more recent). However, the GPA requirement can be different depending on specific program requirements. Please see our undergraduate requirements or reach out to the Office of Admission for additional information.
4. A high school transcript with an official school stamp or an official GED transcript is also required. High school transcripts must include courses completed through your junior year as well as courses in progress during your senior year. If you’ve attended any post-secondary institutions, official transcripts for those institutions are required as well.
Additional Admission Factors for Consideration*:
In addition to the requirements above, the admission team will consider the following factors when making an admission decision:
- Class rank
- Academic performance in post-secondary science and math courses
- Community service
- Healthcare-related service
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To apply for this associate program, complete an application online. SAT and/or ACT scores are optional but you can submit them if you think they’ll strengthen your application.
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There is no application deadline for this program. Here are recommended application submission dates:
February 1 – recommended application submission for Fall semester
August 1 – recommended application submission for Spring semester
Saint Joseph’s accepts students on a year-round basis, so any applications received after these dates will be considered for the next applicable semester. Contact the Office of Admission for information regarding space availability at LancasterAdmit@sju.edu or 800-622-5443.
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If you are not a United States citizen, you must show proof of permanent resident visa status. Students educated in another country may be admitted if they:
- Satisfy general admission requirements
- Earn a minimum of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based) or 79 (internet-based) on the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) administered by the Educational Testing Service of Princeton, New Jersey
Students from English-speaking countries may choose to take the SAT or ACT as an option to the TOEFL exam. An evaluation of foreign transcripts by the World Education Service or other approved agency is required.
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Transfer credit may be awarded for previous coursework. A course must meet the following requirements to be considered for transfer to Saint Joseph’s University’s Lancaster campus:
- Undergraduate courses with a grade of “C” or above
- Graduate courses with a grade of “B” or above (Pass/Fail grades are not eligible for transfer credit)
- Must be from a regionally or programmatically accredited institution
- The coursework must match the course offered at Saint Joseph’s University
- Some programs have a time limit for specific courses
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Saint Joseph’s is a military-friendly institution and offers assistance and services to veterans and their dependents who are utilizing educational benefits. Benefits include:
- Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill®
- Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation
- Chapter 33 Post 911 GI Bill®
- Chapter 35 Survivors and Dependents Assistance
- Chapter 1606 National Guard or Reserves
- Chapter 1607 National Guard or Reserves (REAP) (*if eligible, must be utilized by November 25, 2019)
- Pennsylvania National Guard Educational Assistance Program (EAP)
- Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA)
Explore Other Degree Programs
Saint Joseph’s University’s Associate Degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography is designed for students who do not currently hold a college degree. Upon completion of program requirements, you will be eligible to take the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) examinations in physics, abdomen and obstetrics/gynecology.
Saint Joseph University’s Associate Degree in Vascular Sonography provides the preparation necessary to become an entry-level vascular sonographer. You will learn how to perform vascular exams on the veins and arteries throughout the body. Upon completion of program requirements, you will be eligible to take the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) and the ARDMS Vascular Technology Exam (RVT) board exams. You are also eligible to sit for the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI), Registered Vascular Specialist (RVS) exam.