ECH (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY) Courses
ECH300 - Introduction to Echocardiography
This course provides the student with an overview to the field of echocardiography, medical terminology related to procedures and instrumentation, with indications for use. Areas covered will include the role of echocardiographer, legal/ethical issues, and universal precautions. An overview of the program will be given.
Credits: 1
ECH301 - Echocardiography I
This course includes a study of examinations, techniques, measurements, equipment and patient preparation for 2-D Imaging, M-Mode, Doppler and Color Doppler of the normal adult and pediatric hearts. Correlation with other cardiac evaluation methods will be presented such as: angiography and cardiac catheterization, electrocardiograph, electro-physiologic studies, Holter monitoring, stress testing, radionuclide studies, other topographic imaging procedures, phonocardiography, external pulse recordings, Thallium tests and Stress echocardiography.
Credits: 2
ECH302 - Echocardiography College Laboratory I
This course includes College laboratory experiences on basic scanning techniques as presented in lecture.
Credits: 1
ECH303 - Echocardiography Principles and Instrumentation
A study of the principles of Ultrasound instruments which includes: modes of operation, operator control options, frequency selection, scanning motions and planes in a cardiac examination, patient histories and physical signs, patient preparations and Doppler vs. Color Doppler protocols. Basic generalized pathology of the different organs will also be covered.
Credits: 3
ECH304 - Anatomy and Physiology of the Heart
This course provides the student with the normal anatomy of the pericardial and thoracic cavities, including the skeletal framework, the normal anatomy of the heart’s large vessels, embryology development, cardiac physiology, the function of circulation, coronary circulation, parameters of arterial pressure measurement and heart pressures. Students will study the normal sonographic appearances.
Credits: 3
ECH320 - Echocardiography Clinical Education I
This course concentrates on the development of initial practical skills in basic echocardiography procedures. Emphasis is on the role of the initial observer to assistant under the close supervision of faculty and sonography staff, and is provided at the on-campus ECHO lab and area echocardiography clinical sites.
Credits: 3
ECH401 - Echocardiography II
Prerequisite: DMS306, ECH300, ECH301, ECH302, ECH303, ECH304, ECH320 with a grade of “C” or better.
This course will focus on the recognition and identification of cardiac pathologies with their hemodynamics in different types of heart disease. Students will learn their echographic structures. Echocardiography diagnostic procedures will be discussed such as: stress, transesophageal and intraoperative echocardiography giving indications, limitations, technical procedures and clinical pharmacology. Fetal echocardiography will be introduced. Registry style examinations will be given.
Credits: 4
ECH402 - Echocardiography College Laboratory II
Prerequisite: DMS306, ECH300, ECH301, ECH302, ECH303, ECH304, ECH320 with a grade of “C” or better.
The student is provided with College laboratory experiences on basic scanning techniques related to College lecture material.
Credits: 1
ECH403 - Seminar/Research Course
Prerequisite: DMS306, ECH300, ECH301, ECH302, ECH303, ECH304, ECH320 with a grade of “C” or better.
This course is designed to help the student become familiar with describing sonographic images and correlating the descriptions with clinical histories. This is accomplished with case study presentations. Student case presentations and literature reviews will be required. The student will also develop research skills by writing a paper on an approved topic. A brief presentation of their topics will complete the course.
Credits: 2
ECH404 - Pathology of the Heart
Prerequisite: DMS306, ECH300, ECH301, ECH302, ECH303, ECH304, ECH320 with a grade of “C” or better.
This course will give the student an in-depth study of the cardiac pathologies, their physiological symptoms, outcomes, and sonographic appearances. Special attention will be given to the mitral and tricuspid valves, acquired aortic and pulmonic valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathies, coronary artery disease, pericardial disease, inflammatory, neoplastic and thrombotic disease. Other areas covered will include: cardiac trauma, prosthetic heart valves and pediatric congenital heart disease.
Credits: 4
ECH420 - Echocardiography Clinical Education II
Prerequisite: DMS306, ECH300, ECH301, ECH302, ECH303, ECH304, ECH320 with a grade of “C” or better.
This supervised experience continues to provide the students with development of skills in scanning procedures at the on-campus ECHO lab and area echocardiography clinical sites.
Credits: 3
ECH430 - Echocardiography Clinical Education III
Prerequisite: DMS406, ECH401, ECH402, ECH403, ECH404, ECH420 with a grade of “C” or better.
In this final and extended period of clinical study, the student progresses to full independence under the supervision of faculty and sonography staff. The student will be prepared to function as a beginning Echocardiographer and will be ready to sit for the RDCS examination given in October. This course is an extension of the learning that the student encountered during the first and second semesters.
Credits: 6