Nov 21, 2024  
2024-2025 NOVA Catalog 
    
2024-2025 NOVA Catalog

Diagnostic Medical Sonography: Echocardiography Specialization, A.A.S.

Location(s): MEC


CIP Code: 51.0910

NOVA Code: 1091

Purpose: To prepare competent entry-level adult cardiac sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains. The curriculum prepares students to produce diagnostic images of the heart structures and motion to diagnose cardiovascular changes. The echocardiographer uses special equipment to direct high frequency sound waves into areas of the patient’s body. The echocardiographer is a central member of the health care team and assists the radiologist in body image interpretation. Upon successful completion of degree requirements, the student will be eligible to apply to take the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography examinations leading to credentials as a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS®).

Admission Requirements: Students must:

Completion Requirements: All DMS program courses must be completed with a grade of “79.5%” or better before taking the next semester course sequence and to satisfy graduation requirements.  A program placed student not achieving a “79.5%” or higher will be automatically academically dismissed from the DMS program.  Prerequisite courses BIO 141, BIO 142, PHY 101, and MTH 161 require a B or higher.  General Education courses require a C or higher grade and may be completed prior to admission to the DMS program.

Total 20 credits


Two Years


Total credits for the Echocardiography Specialization: 68 credits (includes 20 prerequisite credits)


BIO 141 and BIO 142 and PHY 100 must be completed within 5 years at time of admission

1 See humanities/fine arts courses listed under General Education Electives .