Home > Diagnostic Medical Sonography – Echo Concentration
This program is designed to prepare students to become board-certified Cardiac Sonographers, trained in echocardiography with a comprehensive knowledge of how the heart works in relation to the rest of the body and the patient’s overall health. Cardiac sonographers perform a test called an echocardiogram which encompasses 2D and 3D imaging as well as different Doppler tools to assess blood flow through the heart. Cardiac sonographers work closely with cardiologists to create a report on overall heart chamber size, function, relaxation, valve anatomy, and various disease processes.
CSP is proud to partner with Allina Health to offer an echocardiography degree built on relevant curriculum and clinical experience.
As a skilled cardiac sonographer, you are trained in echocardiography to understand the in-depth nature of the heart and how it translates to overall health. Day to day work includes preparing patients for their echocardiogram exams, understanding the reason for the exam and the patient’s presenting symptoms/history, performing complete echocardiograms (including regular transthoracic exams and stress echocardiograms), assisting cardiologist with transesophageal echocardiograms and other invasive cardiac exams. Using specific imaging tools such as 2D and 3D images of the heart and Doppler blood flow imaging to assess the heart’s function. Cardiac sonographers will be competent in starting IV’s for contrast use during an exam. Cardiac sonographers will also be competent in putting together the exam’s measurements/findings and creating a preliminary report for the cardiologist. All of these skills are a crucial part in helping the care team make an accurate diagnosis for the patient.
2020 Median Salary
Cardiac sonographers are health care professionals trained to use imaging technology to help physicians diagnose heart problems in patients.. Read more here.
CSP has collaborated with Allina, one of the largest healthcare systems in the Midwest, to offer the Echocardiography Program. This 20-month program is designed to immerse students in patient care clinical training starting at the onset of the program. This setup allows students to apply their coursework directly to hands-on clinical experiences. Students learn alongside Allina’s cardiac sonographers, cardiologists, cardiac nurses, and other health care experts via current technologies, equipment, and procedures. Upon completion of the Echo concentration, students will have completed close to 1,800 clinical hours, completed rotations through all cardiac specialty areas, and will be prepared to take their echo board exam.
From day one, students are exposed to clinical time with registered cardiac sonographers and cardiologists. Being able to learn a new skill on actual patients allows us to see different pathologies and gain confidence in patient interactions. Applying the concepts learned in the classroom in a clinical setting has been beneficial in expanding my understanding and recognizing the relevance of that topic. It’s extremely rewarding to be able to work alongside the mentors who help ensure we’re prepared for a career in Echocardiography.
Concordia’s Cardiac (echo) Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is not currently accredited due to its recent start at the University. Echo students can sit for their CCI boards upon completing 800 Clinical hours. Students will do this during their 5th semester and will be able to graduate as registered cardiac sonographer (RCS) and begin work in the field.
Please click here to go to the University’s Accreditation and Licensing website, scroll to Licensing & Certifications, and review Diagnostic Medical Sonography details.
To prepare competent entry-level sonographers in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains for the Adult Cardiac Sonography concentration.
Graduates from our program learn to:
This information in this section is reported annually and numbers are based on the previous year. 2021 numbers will be updated in December 2022.
Our world-class faculty use their decades of experience to nurture your success from the first day of class all the way to graduation— and beyond.
CSP was ranked in the Top 10 “Career Ready” Institutions & Top 10 “Career Ready” Feedback for First-Generation College Students in the 2021 SkillSurvey Career Readiness.
Click below to explore the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program