Sometimes called diagnostic medical sonographers, ultrasound technicians are medical professionals who administer medical tests that use sound waves to produce images of the internal structures within a patient's body. A number of colleges in the United States offer programs in sonography, a field the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts will grow by 18 percent from 2008 through 2018. Carrying the approval of the Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, these schools prepare graduates for the exams necessary for voluntary certification in the field.
St. Catharine College
The Dominican Order of the Roman Catholic Church founded St. Catharine College in 1931 in St. Catharine, Kentucky. The private college is home to approximately 700 students and grants an Associate of Science degree in Diagnostic Sonography. The program allows students to specialize in general ultrasound (imaging of the abdomen and female reproductive organs), cardiac ultrasound (imaging of the heart) or vascular ultrasound (imaging of the blood vessels). Students spend 21 months in the program and must complete classes in composition, algebra, psychology and physics. Beginning in the third semester of the program, students spend 32 hours per week in clinical settings working directly with patients. Eligible students at the college can take advantage of federal and state financial aid to offset the cost of tuition.
St. Catharine College
2735 Bardstown Road
St. Catharine, KY 40061
859-336-5082
http://sccky.edu/
Tyler Junior College
Established in 1926, Tyler Junior College is a public college in Tyler, Texas. Approximately 14,000 for-credit students take classes at the college each year, but the college still manages to provide an average class size of only 21 students. The college's diagnostic medical sonography program takes two years to complete and culminates in an Associate of Applied Science degree. Four clinical rotations are included in the curriculum, which focuses on general sonography. The college also offers a one-year certificate program for certified general ultrasound technicians who wish to learn vascular sonography techniques. Financial aid opportunities at the college include federal and state loans and grants, veterans benefits, work-study placements and institutional scholarships. Job placement assistance is available through the college's Career Services department.
Tyler Junior College
Tyler, TX 75701
903-510-2200
http://www.tjc.edu/
Bellevue College
Located in Bellevue, Washington, Bellevue College is a public, two-year institution with approximately 5,700 students. To enroll in the college's Associate of Applied Science program, students must first complete prerequisite classes in English, mathematics, physics, bioethics, sociology, anatomy and physiology and medical terminology. The program covers general and cardiac ultrasound and requires two years to complete. Students participate in four clinical rotations throughout the course of their studies at the college. In addition to federal and state loan and grant programs, students can take advantage of veterans benefits, worker retraining and work-study opportunities through the college. A daycare center is located on-site and provides low-cost child care for the children of students and staff. The Career Connections Office at the college offers career advising and workshops on topics like resume-writing and interview skills.
Bellevue College
3000 Landerholm Circle Southeast
Bellevue, WA 98007
425-564-1000
http://bellevuecollege.edu/
Tags: Bellevue College, Catharine College, federal state, Junior College, Tyler Junior