Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography (DCVS) - A.A.S. Degree/Certificate
Improve Patient Care by Becoming a Sonographer
Sonography is the use of high-frequency sound waves, also known as ultrasound, to observe the internal world of the human body. Sonographers are on the front line of early detection and evaluation of cancer, women’s health issues, heart defects, arterial blockages, and more.
If you are compassionate, flexible, detail-oriented, and like working in a fast-paced and caring environment, you might be a good fit as a Sonographer.
ACC offers two options to help you get started on your Sonography career. The two-year Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) program prepares you for a health career in either Adult Echocardiography or Vascular Sonography which are branches of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Upon graduation, you will possess the skills necessary to perform ultrasound and related diagnostic exams of the heart or blood vessels. The Advanced Technical Certificate program is a condensed version of the A.A.S. option available to students who have an Associate degree or higher in sonography from an accredited institution and hold a current registry with ARDMS or CCI.
Information Session
Attend an information session to learn more about the Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography program and meet our staff. Sessions held on campus will be in room S105.
Please check back in Fall 2022 for upcoming Information Sessions.
Click here to join virtual meetings.
Career Opportunities
Sonographers typically work in hospitals, but they may also work in physician offices, diagnostic centers, ultrasound equipment vendors as sales or application specialists, mobile services, and contract agencies.
Career opportunities remain strong nationally and within the region. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that sonography is a rapidly growing field expected to grow by 14% between 2020-2030. Its data also indicates that the Houston Metro region employs over 1300 sonographers with an annual wage mean of $60,960. Starting salary for a new graduate is generally around $50,000. Recruiters contact ACC regularly about qualified graduates to fill job openings.
For more information on career opportunities in Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography, please visit Career Coach where you can explore the local job market, take a career assessment, and build a resumé.
JRC-DMS Compliance
| Year 2020 | Retention Rate | Credential Success Rate | Job Placement Rate |
| Adult Echo | 100% | 91% | 100% |
| Vascular | 100% | 100% | 92% |
What Will I Study?
The DCVS program curriculum is composed of didactic instruction, hands-on laboratory, practice, individual outside scanning practice, and supervised external clinical experience. You will learn electrical diagnostics of the heart such as EKG (electrocardiogram), Holter Monitoring, and Stress Testing. During the freshmen year, you will be eligible to take the CCT (Certified Cardiographic Technician) and/or CRAT (Certified Rhythm Analysis Technician) exam available from CCI (Cardiovascular Credentialing International) enabling you to have a first credential. This will allow you to work your way through the remainder of the program in the healthcare setting as an EKG, Monitor/Telemetry, or Stress Testing technician. This early credential can alleviate some expenses and also help you gain valuable experience in a hospital setting making it easier to find employment since you will already have your foot in the door.
Curriculum Effective Fall 2021
|
DIAGNOSTIC CARDIOVASCULAR SONOGRAPHY (DCVS) 62 credit hours |
|
|
PREREQUISITES |
CREDITS |
|
P+BIOL 2401 - Anatomy & Physiology I |
4 |
|
P+BIOL 2402 - Anatomy & Physiology II |
4 |
| P+MATH 1314 - College Algebra or P+MATH 1332 - Quantitative Reasoning |
3 |
|
P+PHYS 1410 - Elementary Physics |
4 |
| FIRST YEAR - FIRST SEMESTER (FALL) | |
|
DMSO 1210 - Introduction to Sonography |
2 |
|
DSAE 2303 - Cardiovascular Concepts |
3 |
|
HPRS 1304 - Basic Health Profession Skills |
3 |
|
*DSAE 1303 - Introduction to Echocardiography Techniques |
3 |
| CVTT 1161 - Clinical-Cardiovascular Technology | 1 |
| SECOND SEMESTER (SPRING) | |
|
DMSO 1342 - Intermediate Ultrasound Physics |
3 |
|
*DSAE 2304 - Echocardiography Evaluation of Pathology I |
3 |
|
DSAE 1360 - Clinical-DMST Intro to Echo |
3 |
|
**+ENGL 1301 - Composition I |
3 |
| THIRD SEMESTER (SUMMER 11 WEEK) | |
|
*DSAE 2337 - Echocardiography Evaluation of Pathology I |
3 |
|
DSAE 2461 - Clinical-DMST Echo II |
4 |
|
**+Select from Social & Behavioral Sciences Core Curriculum |
3 |
| SECOND YEAR - FIRST SEMESTER (FALL) | |
|
*DSAE 2335 - Advanced Echocardiography |
3 |
|
DSAE 2462 - Clinical-DMST Echo III |
4 |
|
DSVT 1300 - Principles of Vascular Technology |
3 |
|
**+Select from Language, Philosophy & Culture Core Curriculum or |
3 |
| DCVS – ADULT ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY (A.A.S.) DEGREE – CREDIT HOURS |
62 |
+Denotes core requirement. Speak with Department Chair or Academic Advisor for proper
course selection.
PPrerequisite courses must be completed or in progress by the application deadline.
**Courses may be taken prior to acceptance.
*Capstone Course
|
DIAGNOSTIC CARDIOVASCULAR SONOGRAPHY (DCVS) 29 credit hours |
|
|
FIRST SEMESTER (FALL) |
CREDITS |
|
*DMSO 1303 - Introduction to Echocardiography Techniques |
3 |
|
DSAE 2303 - Cardiovascular Concepts |
3 |
| SECOND SEMESTER (SPRING) | |
|
*DSAE 2304 - Echocardiography Evaluation of Pathology I |
3 |
|
DMSO 1342 - Intermediate Ultrasound Physics |
3 |
|
DSAE 1360 - Clinical-DMST Intro to Echo |
3 |
| THIRD SEMESTER (SUMMER 11 WEEK) | |
|
*DSAE 2337 - Echocardiography Evaluation of Pathology II |
3 |
|
DSAE 2461 - Clinical - DMST Echo II |
4 |
| FOURTH SEMESTER (FALL) | |
|
*DSAE 2335 - Advanced Echocardiography |
3 |
|
*DSAE 2462 - Clinical - DMST Echo III |
4 |
| DCVS – ADULT ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY ADVANCED TECHNICAL CERTIFICATE – CREDIT HOURS |
29 |
DOWNLOAD A PRINTABLE CURRICULUM GUIDE
|
DIAGNOSTIC CARDIOVASCULAR SONOGRAPHY (DCVS) 62 credit hours |
|
|
PREREQUISITES |
CREDITS |
|
P+BIOL 2401 - Anatomy & Physiology I |
4 |
|
P+BIOL 2402 - Anatomy & Physiology II |
4 |
| P+MATH 1314 - College Algebra or P+MATH 1332 - Quantitative Reasoning |
3 |
|
P+PHYS 1410 - Elementary Physics |
4 |
| FIRST YEAR - FIRST SEMESTER (FALL) | |
|
DMSO 1210 - Introduction to Sonography |
2 |
|
DSAE 2303 - Cardiovascular Concepts |
3 |
|
HPRS 1304 - Basic Health Profession Skills |
3 |
|
*DSVT 1300 - Principles of Vascular Technology |
3 |
| CVTT 1161 - Clinical-Cardiovascular Technology | 1 |
| SECOND SEMESTER (SPRING) | |
|
DMSO 1342 - Intermediate Ultrasound Physics |
3 |
|
*DSVT 2318 - Peripheral Vascular Evaluation |
3 |
| DSVT 1360 - Clinical-DMST Intro to Vascular | 3 |
|
**+ENGL 1301 - Composition I |
3 |
| THIRD SEMESTER (SUMMER 11 WEEK) | |
|
*DSVT 2330 - Cerebral Vascular Evaluation |
3 |
|
DSVT 2461 - Clinical-DMST Vascular II |
4 |
|
**+Select from Social & Behavioral Sciences Core Curriculum |
3 |
| SECOND YEAR - FIRST SEMESTER (FALL) | |
|
*DSVT 2335 - Advanced Vascular Technology |
3 |
|
DSVT 2462 - Clinical-DMST Vascular III |
4 |
|
DSAE 1303 - Intro to Echocardiography Techniques |
3 |
|
**+Select from Language, Philosophy & Culture Core Curriculum or |
3 |
| DCVS – VASCULAR SONOGRAPHY (A.A.S.) DEGREE – CREDIT HOURS |
62 |
+Denotes core requirement. Speak with Department Chair or Academic Advisor for proper
course selection.
PPrerequisite courses must be completed or in progress by the application deadline.
**Courses may be taken prior to acceptance.
*Capstone Course
|
DIAGNOSTIC CARDIOVASCULAR SONOGRAPHY (DCVS) 29 credit hours |
|
|
FIRST SEMESTER (FALL) |
CREDITS |
|
*DSVT 1300 - Principles of Vascular Technology |
3 |
|
DSAE 2303 - Cardiovascular Concepts |
3 |
| SECOND SEMESTER (SPRING) | |
|
DMSO 1342 - Intermediate Ultrasound Physics |
3 |
|
*DSVT 2318 - Peripheral Vascular Evaluation |
3 |
|
DSVT 1360 - Clinical-DMST Intro to Vascular I |
3 |
| THIRD SEMESTER (SUMMER 11 WEEK) | |
|
*DSVT 2330 - Cerebral Vascular Evaluation |
3 |
|
DSVT 2461 - Clinical-DMST Vascular II |
4 |
| FOURTH SEMESTER (FALL) | |
|
*DSVT 2335 - Advanced Vascular Technology |
3 |
|
DSVT 2462 - Clinical-DMST Vascular III |
4 |
| DCVS – VASCULAR SONOGRAPHY ADVANCED TECHNICAL CERTIFICATE – CREDIT HOURS |
29 |
*Capstone Course
Approximate yearly costs for the Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography degree program are $4,479 for in-district students and $7,404 for those out-of-district. This includes tuition and fees for DCVS courses. Additional fees for textbooks, supplies, uniforms, testing, vaccinations, insurance, and graduation are approximately $4,379.
Yearly costs for the Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography certificate program are approximately $2,552 for in-district students and $4,217 for those out-of-district. This includes tuition and fees for DCVS courses. Additional fees for textbooks, supplies, uniforms, testing, vaccinations, insurance, and graduation are approximately $4,379.
For more information on education costs, payment options, payment plans, deadlines and more, visit our Tuition and Fees section.
Financial assistance is available for those who qualify. For more information, visit our Financial Aid section.
*Alvin Community College may change tuition rates and other fees without notice or when so directed by the Board of Regents.
COLLEGE & CAREER PATHWAYS
Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography is part of our Health Career Pathway. Click the box below to see other Health programs that may interest you.