Echocardiography (Cardiac Ultrasound) Certificate

Develop an expertise in examining the heart using ultrasound technology as you gain the skills necessary to excel in this exciting health care field.

Overview for Echocardiography (Cardiac Ultrasound) Certificate

Echocardiography focuses on the evaluation of the heart, its valves and chambers, and associated vessels. The echocardiography certificate produces competent, compassionate, and responsible professionals and leaders who are skilled in ultrasound scanning techniques and the operation of ultrasound instrumentation.

The certificate in echocardiography is an 18-month program that includes a clinical internship. The program, which focuses on the evaluation of the heart, its valves and chambers, and associated vessels, has been designed to exceed the objectives of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. The program produces competent, compassionate, and responsible echocardiography professionals and leaders. This certificate is available to all registered allied health practitioners as well as those holding an associate or bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline. The certificate includes lectures and course work integrated with a clinical internship. Dependent on the previous degree, certain prerequisite courses may be required prior to enrollment. Required prerequisite courses include one year of anatomy and physiology with laboratories, one year of college or general physics with laboratories. A patient care course/experience may be required prior to or during enrollment. For more information on the prerequisite courses and completion time, please contact the program director. We will be glad to assist you and provide you with detailed information dependent on your situation.

Graduates earning the certificate will:

be prepared as competent entry-level adult cardiac sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.
gain a thorough working knowledge of ultrasound scanning techniques;
be skilled in the operation of ultrasound instrumentation and laboratory equipment;
acquire the proper manner in working with patients; and
under the guidance of faculty and professional staff, be capable of scheduling and performing the daily workload of ultrasound procedures, evaluating new procedures where necessary, and supervising other technical personnel.

Plan of Study

During the first academic year, students complete all the prerequisite courses required to enter the clinical internship phase of the program. Students also apply, polish, and test their clinical skills and techniques in the on-campus Ultrasound Scanning Suite, which is equipped with a variety of ultrasound equipment. Following a required two-week pre-clinical internship orientation session, students begin their training at the first of two assigned clinical training sites.

In addition to the echocardiography certificate, RIT also offers a bachelor of science degree and a certificate in diagnostic medical sonography. Both of these options are designed to meet the growing needs of the national and international medical communities.

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Careers and Clinical Internships

Clinical Internships

The one-year clinical internship provides hands-on experience at two or more approved medical facilities. After completing the pre-internship course work, all students begin the internship by attending an intensive two-week experience on campus. During this time they enhance and polish the skills they previously learned, prepare to perform complete sonographic examinations as performed in real clinical settings, and advance their knowledge in recognizing anatomy and disease states using a variety of equipment in the Ultrasound Scanning Suite. Students also learn about hospital, departmental, and administrative operations. After completing these requirements, candidates are assigned to a medical training site for their clinical experience. At these facilities, students work side-by-side with sonographers, physicians, and other health care professionals to learn, develop, apply, and sharpen the necessary skills to perform general ultrasound examinations. Students’ clinical progress and performance are closely monitored by the program’s clinical coordinator and program director, who have regular communication and make periodic visits to the clinical internship sites. Additionally, students return to campus each month for three days of lectures, presentations, projects, and testing. Students may complete their clinical internships at any approved regional or national medical ultrasound facility, with approval of the program director.

Curriculum for 2024-2025 for Echocardiography (Cardiac Ultrasound) Certificate

Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements

View Printable Curriculum

Echocardiography, certificate, typical course sequence

Course		Sem. Cr. Hrs.
First Year
ECHO-305	Cardiac Sectional Anatomy and Physiology This course is designed to provide students an opportunity to learn the basic anatomy, physiology, basic pathophysiology, and terminology of the heart. Standard views, image orientation, ultrasound appearance and measurements will be stressed. Students will be required to dissect and label all sections of the human heart. Students are guided in the learning process by lecture and self-paced laboratory experience. (Prerequisites: This course is restricted to students in ECHO-CT. Co-requisite: ECHO-307 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Fall).	3
ECHO-307	Echocardiographic Scanning Skills and Techniques I This course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to learn cardiac imaging procedures, sectional anatomy, and patient positions. Standard views, image orientation, ultrasound appearance and measurements will be stressed. (Prerequisites: This course is restricted to students in ECHO-CT who have completed (MEDS-250 and MEDS-251) or (1026-350 and 1026-360). Co-requisite: ECHO-305 or equivalent course.) Lab 1 (Fall).	1
ECHO-308	Echocardiographic Scanning Skills and Techniques II This course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to learn advanced cardiac imaging procedures, sectional anatomy, and patient positions. In-depth and advanced review of standard views, image orientation, ultrasound appearance and measurements will be stressed. (Prerequisites: This course is restricted to students in ECHO-CT who have completed ECHO-307 or equivalent course.) Lab 1 (Spring).	1
ECHO-320	Electrophysiology and Cardiac Pharmacology This course exposes the student to the role of the electrocardiogram in clinical medicine and its correlation with the echocardiographic examination. The student learns how to perform a 12 Lead electrocardiogram and interpret a normal EKG. Abnormal EKG morphology, conduction disturbances, and rhythms are taught. Implications of abnormalities are discussed. (Prerequisites: This course is restricted to students in ECHO-CT.) Lec/Lab 2 (Spring).	2
DCHP-415	Pathophysiology of Organ Systems I This course is designed to provide the students with the necessary foundation of the physiologic and pathologic processes that underlie the spectrum of human disease entities and is taught in the context of clinical scenarios that demonstrate the basic science principles in a real-world context of health care. Emphasis is placed on the fundamental principles of cell injury and repair, infection, neoplasia, and inflammation as well as hemodynamic disorders, thromboembolic disease and shock. Additional emphasis is placed on organ systems and their disorders such as the circulatory, liver, gallbladder and biliary systems. Material is presented in the context of case studies, utilizing clinical findings and addressing underlying basic physiologic, biochemical and immunologic processes as they relate to patient care and individual patient problem cases. (Prerequisites: Restricted to students in the College of Health Sciences and Technology with at least 3rd year standing who have completed MEDS-250 and MEDS-251 or equivalent courses.) Lecture 3 (Fall).	3
DMSO-309	Sonography Physics and Instrumentation I This course addresses how the principles of ultrasound physics are directly applied to the use of ultrasound instrumentation in medical imaging. Transducers, signal production, memory systems, data display, manipulation of controls, and artifacts, are discussed. Throughout the course, the student will integrate previous knowledge of anatomy with ultrasound physics and instrumentation. (Prerequisites: PHYS-112 or equivalent course and student standing in DMSO-CT, DMSO-BS or ECHO-CT.) Lec/Lab 6 (Fall).	3
DMSO-310	Sonography Physics and Instrumentation II This course is a continuation of Sonography Physics and Instrumentation I (DMSO-309). It provides a foundation of the basic physical principles of ultrasound and the fundamentals of fluid dynamics, Doppler physics including color, power, and spectral Doppler, quality control, Doppler artifacts, and biological effects. Students will learn to integrate previous knowledge of anatomy, ultrasound physics and instrumentation with Doppler skills and techniques. Development of scanning techniques, use of instrument controls, and production of high quality diagnostic images utilizing laboratory equipment are stressed. (Prerequisites: DMSO-309 or equivalent course.) Lec/Lab 6 (Spring).	3
Second Year
ECHO-401	Echocardiography I This course is designed to provide the echocardiography student with the necessary foundation of knowledge and understanding to deal with the patient in a clinical context. It also provides the student with the information necessary to perform basic and semi-advanced cardiac procedures utilizing 2-D imaging, M-mode, and spectral and color Doppler. High-quality image production, recognition of normal cardiac structures and pathologic states relating to various types of cardiomyopathy, murmurs and valvular heart disease and cardiac transplantation are stressed. Examination protocols for various procedures, review of anatomy, film reading and use of other scanning techniques and modalities are addressed. This is an internship course. (Prerequisites: This course is restricted to students in ECHO-CT.) Lecture 3 (Fall).	3
ECHO-402	Echocardiography II A continuation of ECHO-401. The course is designed to provide the echocardiography student with the necessary foundation of knowledge and understanding to deal with the patient in a clinical context. It also provides the student with the information necessary to perform advanced and sophisticated cardiac procedures utilizing 2-D imaging, M-mode, spectral and color Doppler. High-quality image production, recognition of normal cardiac structures and pathologic states relating to cardiac diseases secondary to systemic illness, infiltrative heart, neuromuscular, and connective tissue diseases, endocrine and nutritional diseases, hematological disorders, AIDS, and pericardial diseases, cardiac tumors and thrombi, and diseases of the great vessels are stressed. Examination protocols for various procedures, review of anatomy, film reading and use of other scanning techniques and modalities are addressed. This is an internship course. (Prerequisites: This course is restricted to students in ECHO-CT that have completed ECHO-401 or equivalent course.) Lecture 3 (Spring).	3
ECHO-410	Ischemic Heart Disease: Stress Echocardiography This course is an introduction to stress echocardiography. Emphasis is placed on the basic coronary artery anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, medical indications, fundamental principles, techniques and scan interpretation. Various methods of stress echocardiography such as digital, exercise, and pharmacological echocardiography are stressed. Students observe and perform these procedures during a clinical internship. This is an internship course. (Prerequisites: This course is restricted to students in ECHO-CT.) Lecture 2 (Fall).	2
ECHO-415	Cardiac M-Mode Classroom and laboratory experience will provide the candidate with basic knowledge necessary to perform M-mode scans. High-quality image production, measurements, recognition of normal structures and basic pathologic states will be stressed. Examination protocols, review of specific anatomy, film reading, and use of other scanning techniques will be addressed. This is an internship course. (Prerequisites: This course is restricted to students in ECHO-CT.) Lecture 2 (Fall).	2
ECHO-420	Clinical Echocardiography I This course prepares the student for application of classroom knowledge to the practice of echocardiography by means of a clinical internship. Performing basic, and some advanced echocardiography examinations in both the laboratory and clinical settings is stressed. Nursing procedures, ethical issues and medico-legal considerations are also discussed as they relate to the practice of echocardiography. The candidate is expected to perform basic and advanced examinations with little, if any, assistance by the end of this course. This is an internship course. (Prerequisites: This course is restricted to students in ECHO-CT.) Internship 4 (Fall).	4
ECHO-421	Clinical Echocardiography II This course provides the final development of echocardiography examination skills by means of clinical internship. The candidate is expected to perform general, advanced and sophisticated echocardiography examinations with no assistance by the end of this course. This is an internship course. (Prerequisites: This course is restricted to students in ECHO-CT that have completed ECHO-420 or equivalent course.) Internship 4 (Spring).	4
ECHO-425	Seminar in Echocardiography This course is designed to introduce the student to the role of the echocardiographer, ethical issues and career opportunities in the medical field as well as provide an overview of the fiscal and daily operations of an echocardiography department. Speaking, writing, and researching skills are explored. This course also presents methods for researching a selected topic, developing paper-writing strategies, and making oral presentations. Students will research a topic and prepare a written document following common publishing guidelines in addition to making oral presentations. This is an internship course. (Prerequisites: This course is restricted to students in ECHO-CT.) Lecture 2 (Spring).	2
ECHO-430	Congenital Heart Disease I This course is designed to provide the echocardiography student with the necessary foundation of knowledge and understanding of congenital heart disease with an emphasis on the ultrasound approach. Two-dimensional real-time imaging and Doppler techniques are presented. Performance on laboratory equipment is stressed. This is an internship course. (Prerequisites: This course is restricted to students in ECHO-CT.) Internship 2 (Fall).	2
ECHO-431	Congenital Heart Disease II A continuation of ECHO-430. This course is designed to provide the echocardiography student with the necessary foundation of knowledge and understanding of advanced congenital heart disease with an emphasis on the ultrasound approach. Two-dimensional, real-time imaging and Doppler techniques are presented. Performance on laboratory equipment is stressed. This is an internship course. (Prerequisites: This course is restricted to students in ECHO-CT that have completed ECHO-430 or equivalent course.) Internship 2 (Spring).	2
ECHO-465	Echocardiography Special Procedures This course introduces the echocardiography student to the various techniques, procedures, and skills necessary to evaluate the heart. Topics include transesophageal and contrast echocardiography, and pericardiocentesis. The role of echocardiography in emergency medicine, operating rooms, and intensive care units is stressed. This is an internship course. (Prerequisites: This course is restricted to students in ECHO-CT.) Internship 2 (Spring).	2
Total Semester Credit Hours		42

Admissions and Financial Aid

Transfer Admission

Only transfer students are eligible to apply for this certificate program.

Appropriate associate degree programs for transfer
AS degree in liberal arts with science option; allied health; radiologic technology

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Financial Aid and Scholarships

100% of all incoming transfer students receive aid.

RIT’s personalized and comprehensive financial aid program includes scholarships, grants, loans, and campus employment programs. When all these are put to work, your actual cost may be much lower than the published estimated cost of attendance.
Learn more about financial aid and scholarships

Accreditation

The Abdomen-Extended, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Adult Cardiac DMS Program at Rochester Institute of Technology is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Joint Review on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS).

CAAHEP
9355 - 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
727-210-2350
www.caahep.org

JRC-DMS
6021 University Blvd., Suite 500
Ellicott City, MD 21043
443-973-3251
www.jrcdms.org

It is noteworthy to mention that the diagnostic medical sonography degree is institutionally accredited and programmatically accredited. This type of dual accreditation meets both professional and employer requirements and also allows our graduates to immediately sit for the national board examinations administered by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS).

Facilities

Echocardiography Lab

Arranged as a central classroom with mock imaging stations around the perimeter, the Echocardiography Lab provides opportunities for both lecture and skill training for students to learn how to image the heart.
Ultrasound Scanning Suite

To remain a leader in educating technically sound sonographers, the diagnostic medical sonography program emphasizes not only on the didactic aspect of learning, but also the practical, hands-on, clinical aspect.

May 10, 2021

RIT graduates prepare for careers in healthcare amidst pandemic

Nearly 60 students will graduate this May from the College of Health Sciences and Technology’s clinical programs—physician assistant BS/MS, diagnostic medical sonography BS, and the echocardiography (cardiac ultrasound) certificate program. These students spend the final year of their programs immersed in practical work experience at clinics and hospitals in the region.
February 14, 2020

Carestream Health donates $1.2 million in ultrasound equipment to RIT

Carestream Health Inc. continues to support the education of sonographers at RIT through a new donation of ultrasound equipment valued at more than $1.2 million. This is the second donation Carestream has made during this academic year to RIT’s diagnostic medical sonography program, with a combined total exceeding $1.4 million.
February 14, 2020

Student Spotlight: On Valentine’s Day, student sees the heart as an everyday calling

Some may see the heart as a symbol of love on Valentine’s Day. Shelby Gilbert, a second-year echocardiography student, sees it as a profession.