Program Overview

The CVS program is a 20-month cohort program, which begins in the fall each year. Students are offered a position in one of the sonography majors: Cardiovascular Sonography (adult echocardiography, pediatric echocardiography, and vascular sonography) or Diagnostic Medical Sonography-General (abdominal and obstetrics/gynecology).

Admittance is selectively granted to students who have completed two years of required general education and prerequisite courses. Student applications for placement in the fall cohort are due by February 1 every year. Applications are available online.

Why Study Cardiovascular Sonography at Grand Valley?

• A commitment to quality is demonstrated through continuous accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
• Students in the program are qualified to take national board registries through the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) before graduation, which allows them to become board-registered sonographers immediately upon graduation. GVSU's sonography programs are the only programs in the State of Michigan with this distinction.
• Strong curriculum and knowledgeable, clinically practicing faculty prepare students for leadership within the field.
• Students enjoy small class sizes, a cohort educational experience, and clinical education at multiple physicians' offices and hospitals.
• Rotation of clinical site placements exposes students to diverse experiences, allowing students to network across multiple health systems and develop broad skill sets.
• Laboratory facilities utilize state-of-the-art sonographic equipment to prepare students for current and emerging techniques and protocols.

Location & Format

All undergraduate students begin their academic career on the Allendale Campus. Students in this major continue their upper division studies on the GVSU Health Campus, near the Grand Rapids Medical Mile.

• Face To Face

Coursework

Classes are tailored to prepare students to be successful professionals through lecture, lab, and clinical courses:

• Anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology
• Sonographic specialties
• Ultrasound physics and instrumentation
• Research
• Patient care
• Professionalism

Career Options

The United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Statistics projects that the ultrasound field will grow 17 percent in the next decade, much faster than average growth. Sonographers are currently in demand for clinics, physician offices, traveling ultrasound services, research institutions, and hospitals.

Combined Degree Programs

This undergraduate degree can be combined with a master's degree to save you time and money, and get you into the workforce sooner. On average, students save $8,500 in our combined degree programs and take up to four fewer classes than if earning the degrees separately.

You can even build your own combined degree from programs in different disciplines to further personalize your education and meet specific career goals.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the cardiovascular sonography (CVS) program is a competitive selective process that requires a secondary application. Prospective students can access the application at www.gvsu.edu/cvs/. 

Helpful Links

• Scholarships
• Financial Aid
• Tuition & Fees
• Study Abroad
• Course Catalog
• Health Professions Programs
• Cardiovascular Sonography Programs
• Health Science Programs

For More Information

gvsu.edu/cvs
500 Lafayette Ave. NE, Suite 106
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 331-5444

gvsu.edu/admissions