Cardiovascular Sonography, B.A.

The Cardiovascular Sonography (B.S. or B.A. degree) will prepare students for a career as a Cardiovascular Sonographer. Cardiovascular Sonographers use high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to produce visual images of organs, tissues, and blood flow inside the body. This program will prepare graduates to enter the echocardiography and vascular ultrasound professions with national credentials in Adult Echocardiography and Vascular Technology.

In this 3 + 1.5 program, students complete three years at North Central College where they will complete their general education curriculum along with pre-requisite math, health science and science courses. The preferred method for obtaining these requirements is to complete the B.A. or B.S. in Health Science program in the 3-year accelerated pathway plan. This will be followed by an 16-month, 44-credit hour program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for didactic instruction with clinical instruction completed at partnered Bluhm Heart Hospital in Chicago. Upon successful completion, the student will earn a certificate of completion in Cardiovascular Sonography from Northwestern Memorial Hospital and will be eligible to be certified through examination in Adult Echocardiography and Vascular Technology.

Also, after successful completion, the student will transfer the 44-credit hour coursework back to North Central College which will fulfill the major coursework requirements for the student to graduate with a degree in Cardiovascular Sonography. If they previously had successfully completed the preferred pathway with the health science program coursework, they would graduate with a double major in health science and cardiovascular sonography.

Admission to the final 16-months of the program is based upon successful application to the program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in the fall of their junior year. Student applicants are considered and evaluated solely by faculty/staff at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Student admission to the program at Northwestern is not guaranteed. Another option for students to complete a four-year BA or BS degree of choice at North Central College that also includes taking all pre-requisite coursework and then apply for admission to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for an 16-month certificate program in Cardiovascular Sonography.

Degrees offered: B.A. and B.S.

For additional programs and courses in this department, see Health Sciences.

Major Requirements

Requirements for the Health Sciences Major

One of the following:

Note:

Another option for students is to complete a four-year BA or BS degree of choice at North Central College that also includes taking all pre-requisite coursework and then apply for admission to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for an 16-month certificate program in Cardiovascular Sonography.

Advanced Courses at Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Upper-level coursework is taken during an 16-month program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital including 44 credit hours of the following:

Additional Requirements for the B.A. Degree

Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language. For more information, see the B.A. Degree Requirements within the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.