Overview of Master Degree Programs in Echocardiography
Majors Overview July 26, 2018This article talks about master’s degree programs in echocardiography and their education requirements, coursework, job and wage outlook, and continuing education and certification options.
Master’s Programs in Echocardiography
Echocardiography practitioners use ultrasound technology for making 2- or 3-dimensional representations of patients’ hearts for diagnostic uses. Few schools, if any, offer master’s degree programs in echocardiography; however, bachelor’s degree programs in the field are offered at many schools.
The technology and methodology employed in noninvasive medical diagnostics are in bachelor’s programs in sonography. Students learn about using echocardiography and ultrasound equipment for generating images of the insides of patients. They also learn ways of identifying a variety of ailments that can appear on sonography and echocardiography images. Enrollees in most programs gain the opportunity of using echocardiography technology firsthand. Graduates can also expect to receive training to pursue further credentials as well as certification in sonographic specialties.
Education Requirements
Admission criteria typically require incoming students to possess strong skills in mathematics and the physical sciences. Enrolling in high school classes in mechanics could assist students in learning how to work with machines similar to those employed in diagnostic sonography programs.
Coursework
Students learn ways of creating internal pictures of medical patients through the use of ultrasound and sonographic imaging equipment. They also learn about analyzing the images, searching for symptoms and signs of a variety of diseases. The emphasis of echocardiography courses are on imaging technology and methods used on patients’ cardiovascular systems. Core coursework may cover topic areas such as:
•Comparative imaging
•Echocardiography technology
•Vascular technology
•Sonography Physics
•Pelvic imaging
•High-resolution imaging
•Abdominal sonography
•Sonography ethics
Job and Wage Outlook
Cardiovascular technologists and technicians – including echocardiographers – are expected to see a 17% job growth, over the 2016-2026 decade. In 2016, cardiovascular technologists and technicians brought in an average annual wage of $65,620.
Continuing Education and Certification Options
Although certification is not mandatory, several diagnostic medical sonographers seek certification offered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) or the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS). Certified credentials offered by these organizations are obtainable through the holding of a graduate degree from an accredited school and passage of an exam. Certification is available for several sonographic specialties, including abdominal or cardiovascular imaging.
