Master of Medical Sonography (Cardiac), University of South Australia (UniSA). 2020 information for Australian students

This degree is only available to Australian students

You're considered an Australian student if you are any of the following:

Australian or New Zealand Citizen
Australian Permanent Resident (including Humanitarian Visa holders)

Australian students

Start Date
February
July

Campus
City East

Duration
1.5 year(s) full-time

Program Code
IMSOF

SATAC Code
4CM525 (External)

Study as
Part-time only

Mode
Online

Fees
$AU 27,900 per 1.0 EFTSL for students enrolled in 2020

Entry requirements
Applicants must:
hold a relevant allied health or health science degree completed at a bachelor’s degree level or higher from a recognised higher education institution, and have a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5 (credit average) or international equivalent; OR

hold a recognised Graduate Diploma in Cardiac Sonography or equivalent qualification and have a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5 (credit average) or international equivalent; OR
be an Accredited Cardiac Sonographer with 5 years accredited experience; OR
be an Accredited Cardiac Sonographer with 2 years accredited experience where accreditation was awarded following completion of a recognised degree

Note: Applicants are advised that the program requires the completion of 2000 clinical cardiac sonography experiences across various pathologies in a supervised clinical placement. Applicants are responsible for organising their own training position in an ultrasound department in order to acquire the scanning experience.

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Students in this program are required to secure their own supervised training position for the duration of their study. Students that have not secured a placement are unable to progress in the program after the first four courses.

Aim

The program provides health scientists and other allied health professionals with the mechanism to develop the competencies of a new advanced professional area in medical cardiac sonography and, if desired, to undertake research or further studies in this specialist area.

Content & Structure

The program requires completion of courses totalling 54 units of study, together with the satisfactory completion of 2000 clinical examinations of cardiac ultrasound across various pathologies. The eight core courses (36 units of study) develop knowledge, clinical skills, critical thinking and analytical skills for effective practice as a medical cardiac sonographer. One core course (4.5 units of study) provides foundational research knowledge. The remaining units of study provide the opportunity for students to advance their knowledge in specialist areas of medical sonography practice or to undertake research in a specific area of medical sonography.

What courses you'll study

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units
LEVEL 1
Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation	RADY 5030	4.5	Rule(s): 2,3
Professional Issues for Sonographers	RADY 5024	4.5	Rule(s): 3
Cardiovascular Physiology and Pathology	RADY 5037	4.5	Rule(s): 3
Cardiovascular Physiology and Pathology	RADY 5037	4.5	Rule(s): 3
LEVEL 2
Advanced Cardiac Haemodynamics	RADY 5032	4.5
Clinical Applications of Echocardiography	RADY 5038	4.5	Rule(s): 4,6
Advanced Cardiac Pathology	RADY 5033	4.5	Rule(s): 4,6
Cardiac Sonography Portfolio	RADY 5035	4.5	Rule(s): 4,5,7,11
LEVEL 3			Rule(s): 1,8
RESEARCH PATHWAY			Rule(s): 9
Qualitative Design for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Research	NURS 5151	4.5
OR
Quantitative Design for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Research	NURS 5152	4.5
AND
Minor Thesis 1	HLTH 6014	4.5
Health Science Minor Thesis 2	HLTH 5186	9
PROJECT PATHWAY
Minor Thesis 1	HLTH 6014	4.5
OR
Allied Health Research Evidence Translation	REHB 5118	4.5
Plus 13.5 Units of electives chosen from the following:
Health Ethics	HLTH 5002	4.5
Research for Advancing Nursing, Midwifery and Health Care	NURS 5153	9
Health Science Advanced Skill Project	HLTH 5184	9
Health Science Advanced or Extended Practice Report	HLTH 5147	4.5
Managing Employee Performance and Rewards	BUSS 5398	4.5
Qualitative Design for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Research	NURS 5151	4.5
Quantitative Design for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Research	NURS 5152	4.5

Rules & notes

Rules

1. Students who have successfully completed the Graduate Diploma in Medical Sonography (Cardiac) from the University of South Australia (or equivalent) will be granted 36 units of credit and will commence the program from level 3.

2. Credit will be given for this course if the student can provide proof of completion of the Diploma of Medical Ultrasonography Part 1, awarded by the Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine, within 5 years prior to enrolment in the program.

3. Students must successfully complete the four Level 1 courses prior to enrolling in the remainder of the program.

4. Students must provide evidence that they have a supervised external training position for the duration of these courses. For all domestic students and for international students training in Australia, supervision must be provided by a sonographer(s) registered with the Australian Sonographers Accreditation Registry (ASAR).

5. Students must maintain a clinical experience logbook which documents a minimum of 2000 examinations of supervised cardiac ultrasound experience (verified by an ASAR accredited sonographer) over the duration of the program. Students will be required to submit evidence at prescribed milestones set by the Program Director.

6. At the completion of this course students must submit a Clinical Progress Report.

7. Students must have completed at least 1800 clinical cardiac ultrasound examinations and at least 2 Clinical Progress Reports to enroll in this course.

8. Students must select either the Research or Project pathway of study from this point in their program.

9. Students undertaking this pathway must have written agreement from a suitably qualified member of staff that they are willing to supervise the student for the duration of the pathway.

10. Participation is required in clinical placements where students are required to physically handle people including lifting and supporting people with disabilities.

11. For this course all students must attend a compulsory OSCE examination on campus in Adelaide.

Notes

1. The program is offered on a part-time basis over a minimum of 3 years, and only by external delivery.

2. Students who are unable to secure a training position after completing level 1 courses in the program will be offered exit with a Graduate Certificate in Medical Sonography Principles and Theory (Cardiovascular). The Graduate Certificate exit award will NOT provide the student with ASAR accreditation.

Professional accreditation and recognition

This program enables graduates to apply for full professional accreditation from the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR) under the Cardiac Sonography category. Evidence of scanning experience in an Australian or New Zealand clinical setting is required for such accreditation.