Online Cardiac Sonography Schools and Colleges: How to Choose

Many institutions offer certificate programs in cardiac sonography, although they are not online. Prospective cardiac sonographers can also choose to complete a distance learning program in diagnostic medical sonography if they are interested in completing their training online, as these programs are more readily available.

Selecting an Online Sonography Program

Award Level

While cardiac sonography programs are found at the certificate level, programs in diagnostic medical sonography are commonly found at the certificate and bachelor's degree levels. When choosing a program, students should consider their desired education level and career goals. While a certificate in cardiac or diagnostic medical sonography can qualify graduates for entry-level positions in clinics and hospitals, a bachelor's degree might afford individuals opportunities for salary increases and management positions.

Program Type

Prospective sonography students may want to find out if the program is online or hybrid. Fully online programs offer students the convenience of being able to complete all coursework from their home or office, while hybrid programs include a combination of online and in-person coursework, which can be beneficial for those who enjoy a more interactive way of learning. The majority of available sonography programs can be completed fully online, although certain clinical work required for graduation will likely need to be completed in-person.

List of Online Programs Related to Cardiac Sonography

Online Certificate in Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Distance learning certificate programs in diagnostic medical sonography train individuals for careers in ultrasound technology. Courses cover how to review patient history to help with diagnostic results, performing proper imaging procedures, recording pathology and physiology data and communicating effectively with patients and physicians. Specific coursework can include medical terminology, ultrasound physics, computer science, abdominal sonography, ultrasound instrumentation, cross-sectional anatomy, medical ethics and law and pathological images.

Online Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Online bachelor's degrees in diagnostic medical sonography are designed to prepare students for a variety of professional positions in ultrasound, including in the fields of abdominal, OB-GYN, echocardiography and other vascular procedures. Students can also pursue management positions in sonography and ultrasound or become sonography instructors.
Throughout this type of program, students will take general courses like college algebra, English and computer science, as well as field-specific coursework and clinical practice. Specific classes may include medical law, introduction to DMS principles, sonographic survey, cardiac and vascular sonography, diagnostic cardiac imaging, neurosonography and applied sonographic procedures.