GE 002—Principles of Physics—45 Clock Hours/4.5 Quarter Credit Hours/3 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisites: None
This is a conceptual physics course for non-science majors. This course aims to facilitate understanding of the rules of nature by learning the foundations. This course covers forces and motion, conservation laws, heat, fluids, vibrations and waves, electricity and magnetism, and sound and light. Students will study the concepts of physics with minimal application of mathematics. This is a General Education Course
GE 021A—Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology I—40 Clock Hours/4 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: None
This is the first of two consecutive courses where the essential basics of structures and functions of the human body systems will be discussed. Topics on all major organ systems will be examined while considering them in the state of health versus the state of disease, focusing mainly on structures. Various clinical implications and possible deviations from the norm of each organ system will be brought up throughout the course. This is a General Education Course.
GE 021B—Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology II—26 Clock Hours/2.5 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: None
This is the second in the series of two consecutive courses, where the essential basics of structures and functions of the human body systems will be discussed. Topics on all major organ systems will be examined while considering them in the state of health versus the state of disease, focusing mainly on structures.
Various clinical implications and possible deviations from the norm of each organ system will be brought up throughout the course. This is a General Education Course.
GE 110—Critical Thinking—45 Clock Hours/4.5 Quarter Credit Hours/3 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisites: None
This course teaches students the skills they need to think for themselves—skills they will call upon in this course, other college courses, and the world that awaits. This course covers the core concepts with real-world examples and practice exercises. This is a General Education Course.
GE 112—Algebra I—45 Clock Hours/4.5 Quarter Credit Hours/3 Semester Credit Hours
Prerequisites: None
This course gives students the math skills that provide a foundation for more advanced courses. Students will explore writing and solving linear and nonlinear equations, powers and exponents, quadratic equations, polynomials and factoring, graphing, and linear inequalities and functions. This is a General Education Course.
GE 230—Written and Oral Communication—45 Clock Hours/4.5 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: None
This course will explore the fundamental analog and digital oral and written communication skills to help create professional written and verbal communication within their careers. This introduces various communication methods and produces language that articulates information to connect a speaker to an audience. This is an online General Education Course.
UT 200—Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation—62 Clock Hours/6 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: Completion of GE 112.
This course teaches the fundamentals of ultrasound physics and instrumentation. The material is
presented to heighten the educational experience of the future sonographer and prepare the student for the SPI exam with the ARDMS and the ARRT.
UT 201—Sectional Anatomy—48 Clock Hours/4.5 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: Completion of GE 021.
This course introduces cross-sectional human anatomy, which can be seen in sonograms and other imaging modalities. Cross-sectional anatomy emphasizes the physical relationship of structures, which is the basis of understanding sonographic images.
Cross-sectional anatomy is the first building block to understanding what is required when performing ultrasound images. Students will learn to recognize different organs, muscles, vessels, and other body parts in their relationship. An interactive computer program will be used as a teaching tool.
UT 301—Patient Care for Ultrasound Professional—12 Clock Hours/1 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: Completion of courses in preceding modules with a “C” or better.
The course gives the sonography student an overview of the profession and basic patient care. This course teaches the essential role sonography and the sonographer play in medicine. The ARDMS “Sonography Principles and Instrumentation” exam consists of 10% patient care, which this course will thoroughly prepare the student to pass.
UT 620A—Master Scanning Lab Extracranial Vascular Duplex Exam—8 Clock Hours/0.5 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: Completion of courses in preceding modules with a “C” or better.
Master Scanning Labs (MSL) are advanced vascular classes taught by experts in vascular sonography. Students have learned basic vascular skills during Vascular Sonography courses 1-4 and Vascular Sonography Lab courses 1-4. MSL classes will build and enrich knowledge and skills that will provide the student with success in vascular sonography. Master Scan Lab courses are offered once a month for seven consecutive months. Please check with instructors for dates.
This course provides the learner with an overview of duplex imaging of the extracranial cerebrovascular system, including Vertebral and Subclavian arteries, to evaluate Cerebrovascular Disease. Course study includes normal and abnormal cross-section anatomy, hemodynamics, spectral analysis, clinical signs and symptoms, indications for exams, definitions of terms, scanning protocol, instrumentation, sonographic techniques (grayscale conventional, color Doppler, color with spectral Doppler, and power Doppler) and examples of common carotid, vertebral and Subclavian artery pathology.
Clinical hands-on training integrated with didactic instruction is the primary focus of this program. Rubrics evaluation demonstrating diagnostic competency is required.
UT 720C—Master Scanning Lab Lower Extremity Arterial Exam—8 Clock Hours/0.5 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: Completion of courses in preceding modules with a “C” or better.
Master Scanning Labs (MSL) are advanced vascular classes taught by experts in vascular sonography. Students have learned basic vascular skills during Vascular Sonography courses 1-4 and Vascular Sonography Lab courses 1-4. MSL classes will build and enrich knowledge and skills that will provide the student with success in vascular sonography. Master Scan Lab courses are offered monthly for seven (7) consecutive months. Please check with instructors for dates.
This course provides the learner with an overview of duplex imaging of the venous system in the lower extremity, including all the deep veins in the calf, for evaluating Deep and Superficial Venous Thrombosis (DVT). Areas covered include normal and abnormal cross-section anatomy, etiology of (venous thrombosis), risk factors, classification of venous thrombosis, clinical signs and symptoms, indications, limitations, pitfalls, the definition of terms, scanning protocol, instrumentation, and sonographic technique (grayscale conventional, color Doppler, color with spectral Doppler, and power Doppler).
Clinical hands-on training integrated with didactic instruction is the primary focus of this program. Rubrics evaluation demonstrating diagnostic competency is required.
UT 720C—Master Scanning Lab Lower Extremity Arterial Exam—8 Clock Hours/0.5 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: Completion of courses in preceding modules with a “C” or better.
Master Scanning Labs (MSL) are advanced vascular classes taught by experts in vascular sonography. Students have learned basic vascular skills during Vascular Sonography courses 1-4 and Vascular Sonography Lab courses 1-4. MSL classes will build and enrich knowledge and skills that will provide the student with success in vascular sonography. Master Scan Lab courses are offered once a month for seven consecutive months. Please check with instructors for dates.
This course gives the learner an overview of duplex imaging of the lower extremity arterial system (native and graft) for evaluating peripheral vascular disease (PAD). Areas covered include an overview of (PAD), risk factors, acute and chronic obstruction, normal and abnormal cross-section anatomy, hemodynamics, spectral analysis, clinical signs and symptoms, indications, the definition of terms, scanning protocol, instrumentation, and sonographic technique (grayscale conventional, color Doppler, color with Spectral Doppler, and power Doppler).
Normal and abnormal criteria will be reviewed to classify the severity of the peripheral arterial disease. Types of bypass grafts and evaluation protocols will be discussed and reviewed. Examples of common lower extremity arterial disease will be shown to familiarize the learner with common pathologies seen when performing duplex mapping of lower extremity arteries. Ancillary findings such as Pseudoaneurysm, AV-Fistula, and Aortic Aneurysms will be reviewed. ABI and TBI evaluation criteria will be reviewed.
Clinical hands-on training integrated with didactic instruction is the primary focus of this program. Rubrics evaluation demonstrating diagnostic competency is required.
UT 720D—Master Scanning Lab Upper Extremity Venous Exam—8 Clock Hours/ 0.5 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: Completion of courses in preceding modules with a “C” or better.
Master Scanning Labs (MSL) are advanced vascular classes taught by experts in vascular sonography. Students have learned basic vascular skills during Vascular Sonography courses 1-4 and Vascular Sonography Lab courses 1-4. MSL classes will build and enrich knowledge and skills that will provide the student with success in vascular sonography. Master Scan Lab courses are offered monthly for seven (7) consecutive months. Please check with instructors for dates.
This course provides the learner with an overview of duplex imaging of the venous system in the upper extremity to evaluate Deep and Superficial Venous Thrombosis (DVT). Areas covered include normal and abnormal cross-section anatomy, etiology of (venous thrombosis), risk factors, classification of venous thrombosis, hemodynamics, spectral analysis, clinical signs and symptoms, indications, predisposing factors, PICC lines, pacemaker leads, stents, ancillary findings, pitfalls, limitations, scanning protocol, patient position, instrumentation, and sonographic technique (grayscale conventional, color Doppler, color with spectral Doppler, and power Doppler). Clinical hands-on training integrated with didactic instruction is the primary focus of this program. Rubrics evaluation demonstrating diagnostic competency is required.
UT 820E—Master Scanning Lab Duplex Evaluation of the Portal Venous System for Portal Hypertension—8 Clock Hours/0.5 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: Completion of courses in preceding modules with a “C” or better.
This course provides the learner with an overview of duplex imaging of the portal, splenic, hepatic, and mesenteric vessels in the abdomen to evaluate Portal Hypertension, Portal Vein Thrombosis, Budd Chiari Syndrome, and Transjugular Portosystemic Shunt malfunction. Areas covered include normal and abnormal sonographic anatomy of the hepatoportal system, causes and levels of obstruction relating to hepatoportal obstruction, hemodynamics, spectral analysis, clinical signs and symptoms, indications, definition of terms, scanning protocol, instrumentation, and sonographic technique (grayscale conventional, color Doppler, color with spectral Doppler, and power Doppler). Clinical hands-on training integrated with didactic instruction is the primary focus of this program.
UT 820F—Master Scanning Lab Lower Extremity Venous Valve Insufficiency Duplex Exam—8 Clock Hours/0.5 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: Completion of courses in preceding modules with a “C” or better.
Master Scanning Labs (MSL) are advanced vascular classes taught by experts in vascular sonography. Students have learned basic vascular skills during Vascular Sonography courses 1-4 and Vascular Sonography Lab courses 1-4. MSL classes will build and enrich knowledge and skills that will provide the student with success in vascular sonography. Master Scan Lab courses are offered monthly for seven (7) consecutive months. Please check with instructors for dates.
The one-day basic ultrasound course provides the student with an overview of anatomy, pathology, and duplex imaging of the venous system of the lower extremity for the evaluation of deep, superficial, and perforator incompetency in patients with Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI). Areas covered include normal and abnormal cross-section anatomy, hemodynamics, spectral analysis, clinical signs and symptoms, indication, the definition of terms, scanning protocol, instrumentation, and sonographic technique (black and white conventional and color Doppler). Clinical hands-on training integrated with didactic instruction is the primary focus of this program.
UT 820G—Master Scanning Lab Upper Extremity Mapping for Dialysis Access—8 Clock Hours/0.5 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: Completion of courses in preceding modules with a “C” or better.
This course teaches the fundamentals of upper extremity mapping for dialysis access. The material is presented to heighten the future sonographer’s educational experience and prepare the student for the dialysis patient.
VU 300—Cerebrovascular Sonography—60 Clock Hours/6 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: Completing Module I and II courses with a “C” or better and concurrent enrollment with all Module III VU courses.
This course covers extracranial and intracranial sonography. The anatomy of the extracranial and intracranial systems and normal and abnormal findings will be covered. Protocols and scanning techniques required for diagnostic exams will be taught.
VU 300L—Cerebrovascular Sonography Lab—60 Clock Hours/3 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: Completing Module I and II courses with a “C” or better and concurrent enrollment with all Module III VU courses.
Extracranial and intracranial Doppler will focus on this course, primarily carotid artery ultrasound and TCD exams. Students will learn to use Doppler velocities and create ratios that determine normal vs. abnormal flow. Students will learn carotid and TCD protocols and hands-on scanning techniques to perform the exam in 45 minutes.
VU 301—Abdominal Vascular Sonography—84 Clock Hours/8 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: Completing Module I and II courses with a “C” or better and concurrent enrollment with all Module III VU courses.
Abdominal Vascular Sonography teaches abdominal vascular vessels and basic protocols that pertain to ultrasound examinations of the abdominal vascular system. This course establishes foundations for scanning techniques, protocols, and patient body habitus variations. Students will gain an understanding of the role a sonographer plays in the diagnosis of diseases of the abdominal vascular system by understanding what the criteria for “normal is.” Students will also understand how to identify pathology in the abdominal vascular system. They will recognize spectral Doppler and color on normal and diseased waveforms of the abdominal vascular system.
VU 301L—Abdominal Vascular Sonography Lab—84 Clock Hours/4 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: Completing Module I and II courses with a “C” or better and concurrent enrollment with all Module III VU courses.
The abdominal Vascular Sonography Lab, VU 301L, is concurrent with Abdominal Vascular Sonography, VU 301. Students will practice the protocols and scanning techniques of the abdominal vascular system within the lab.
VU 400—Lower Extremity Venous System—36 Clock Hours/3.5 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: Completing Module I, II, and III courses with a “C” or better and concurrent enrollment with all Module IV VU courses.
Students will learn vascular terminology and advanced vascular physical principles. Anatomy and hemodynamic characteristics of veins of the lower extremities will be the main focus of this course. Scanning techniques and protocols will be taught along with challenges in the clinical setting.
VU 400L—Lower Extremity Venous System Lab—36 Clock Hours/1.5 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: Completing Module I, II, and III courses with a “C” or better and concurrent enrollment with all Module IV VU courses.
This course will review Doppler sonography within the lab setting. Students will learn techniques and skills for optimizing the lower extremity venous examination. The focus of this course is the lower extremity venous system protocol. Superficial venous vein mapping will also be included in this course. This will introduce and prepare students for studies for deep vein thrombosis, venous disease, and superficial venous disease.
VU 401—Lower Extremity Arterial System—36 Clock Hours/3.5 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: Completing Module I, II, and III courses with a “C” or better and concurrent enrollment with all Module IV VU courses.
Students will learn vascular terminology and advanced vascular physical principles. Anatomy and hemodynamic characteristics of the lower extremity arterial system will be the main focus of this course. Scanning techniques and protocols will be taught along with challenges in the clinical setting.
VU 401L—Lower Extremity Arterial System Lab—36 Clock Hours/1.5 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: Completing Module I, II, and III courses with a “C” or better and concurrent enrollment with all Module IV VU courses.
This course will review Doppler sonography within the lab setting. Students will learn techniques and skills for the optimization of the vascular examination. The focus is on the lower extremity arterial system protocol. The lab’s ABI machine will also introduce and teach indirect assessment of the arteries. This will present and prepare students for studies on peripheral vascular disease.
VU 402—Upper Extremity Venous System—36 Clock Hours/3.5 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: Completing Module I, II, and III courses with a “C” or better and concurrent enrollment with all Module IV VU courses.
Upper extremity venous vascular protocols are the main focus of this course. Vascular hemodynamics and physical principles are reviewed and practiced. Scanning skills and techniques are taught to recognize the upper extremity’s normal and abnormal anatomy and disease (and disease processes).
VU 402L—Upper Extremity Venous System Lab—36 Clock Hours/1.5 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: Completing Module I, II, and III courses with a “C” or better. Concurrent enrollment is required with all Module IV VU courses.
Upper extremity venous protocols will be demonstrated, practiced, and evaluated. Students will learn scanning techniques of required anatomy and what is needed to prove normal vs. abnormal.
VU 403—Upper Extremity Arterial System—28 Clock Hours/2.5 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: Completing Module I, II, and III courses with C or better is required. Concurrent enrollment is required with all Module IV VU courses.
Upper extremity arterial vascular protocols are the main focus of this course. Vascular hemodynamics and physical principles are reviewed and practiced. Scanning skills and Techniques are taught to recognize normal and abnormal anatomy and disease (and disease processes) of the upper extremity.
VU 403L—Upper Extremity Arterial System Lab—28 Clock Hours/1 Quarter Credit Hour
Prerequisites: Completing Module I, II, and III courses with a “C” or better. Concurrent enrollment is required with all Module IV VU courses.
This course will review Doppler sonography within the lab setting. Students will learn techniques and skills for optimizing the upper arterial vascular examination. Students will be taught upper arterial extremity protocols. Indirect assessment of the arteries will also be introduced and acquainted with the lab’s ABI machine. This will present and prepare students for peripheral vascular disease.
VU X01—Clinical 1—400 Clock Hours/13 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: Completion of courses in preceding modules with a “C” or better.
VU X01 is twelve weeks of Level 1 externship, integrated within VU Module courses. Externship expectations will vary as to the clinical site assignment for each student. This allows the student to relate theory to practice in a supervised situation. The student’s ability to perform correct protocols and acquire effective patient diagnostic information is evidenced by meeting specific objectives and competencies in each clinical specialty area. Level 1 competency evaluation will be signed off by clinical instructors on Trajecsys and reviewed by the clinical coordinator.
A Clinical Instructor (CI) Preceptor Handbook is provided for each site supervisor. The handbook guides the CI and department staff regarding the expectations of the ultrasound extern. VU X01 also consists of assignments on Moodle for ARDMS preparation. The emphasis will be on the SPI preparation to encourage students in VU X01 to take the ARDMS SPI exam before graduation. There are virtual labs on Moodle that can be used in case clinical site assignments are unavailable for reasons determined by the clinical site and the school. The clinical coordinator may give virtual lab assignments for extra learning opportunities or make-up assignments.
VU X02—Clinical 2—400 Clock Hours/13 Quarter Credit Hours
Prerequisites: Completion of courses in preceding modules with a “C” or better.
VU X02 is twelve weeks of Level 2 externship, integrated within VU Module courses. Externship expectations will vary as to the clinical site assignment for each student. This allows the student to relate theory to practice in a supervised situation. The student’s ability to perform correct protocols and acquire effective patient diagnostic information is evidenced by meeting specific objectives and competencies in each clinical specialty area. Level 2 competency evaluation will be signed off by clinical instructors on Trajecsys and reviewed by the clinical coordinator.
A Clinical Instructor (CI) Preceptor Handbook is provided for each site supervisor. The handbook guides the CI and department staff regarding the expectations of the ultrasound extern. VU X02 also consists of assignments on Moodle for ARDMS preparation. The emphasis will be on the SPI preparation to encourage students in VU X02 to take the ARDMS SPI exam before graduation. There are virtual labs on Moodle that can be used in case clinical site assignments are unavailable for reasons determined by the clinical site and the school. The clinical coordinator may give virtual lab assignments for extra learning opportunities or make-up assignments.
