Guide to the Master in Sonography in 2014

Masters (MS) in Sonography are primarily for students who want to enter management, private industry, research, teaching, or a highly specialized field of ultrasound technology. For this reason, there is a limited selection of CAAHEP-accredited ultrasound technician programs in 2014 that offer the master’s degree option: University of Missouri and Nova Southeastern University. It is important to regularly check for additions when you are ready to search for and select a program. However, it is important to attend one of the CAAHEP-accredited programs and maintain ARDMS registration because these are the best credentials sonography students can claim.

Advantage of Earning a Masters in Sonography

The main advantage of earning a Master of Sonography is that it allows professionals to pursue a broader range of opportunities. The master’s degree qualifies sonographers to publish in medical journals, teach at a college or university, do research, or work in private industry as a consultant. Some students choose to pursue a master’s degree because they want to achieve the highest level of education in their chosen career.

Tips on how to choose the best EM in ultrasound

To earn the most valued and recognized master’s degree in the health ultrasound industry, students must attend a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs. Although there are only two, the advantages of earning degrees from any CAAHEP-accredited school include increased employment opportunities, increased professional recognition in the industry, and the assurance that the highest national standards of instruction and training are met.

• Make sure the minimum admission requirements can be met before applying
• Fully understand the program requirements because that will affect the curriculum or required courses.
• Schedule an appointment with the appropriate program administrative representative to determine transferable undergraduate credits
• Gain a clear understanding of the professional advantages that a master’s degree in sonography will bring to students
• Ensure clinical training can be completed.

What to expect from an MS program in sonography

The MSc is unique from other degrees in that it focuses on additional sonography topics such as education, research, management, and problem solving.

Requirements

Only students who have earned a bachelor’s degree can apply for a master’s degree in diagnostic medical sonography. Admission requirements may require a minimum TOEFL score, a minimum undergraduate GPA, a minimum GRE score, and the completion of designated prerequisite classes such as chemistry and medical terminology. Additionally, students will be required to complete all departmental applications as needed.

Length

The master’s degree generally takes from one year to 15 months to complete when attending school full time. That’s the equivalent of 35 to 40 hours per week for 52 weeks. However, if the student needs to complete required courses outside of the master’s curriculum at the same time, she may take up to two or three years to complete the program. This is true at the University of Missouri when the student has earned a bachelor’s degree in a health care specialty other than ultrasound technology.

The CAAHEP-accredited master’s program in sonography at Nova Southeastern University leads to a concurrent degree. The student earns a Master of Health Sciences and a Bachelor of Science in Cardiovascular Ultrasound. However, admission requires that the student already have a bachelor’s degree.

Tuition fees and costs

Tuition and fees for master’s programs are quite different for public and private schools and for in-state and out-of-state residencies. A private school could charge up to $40,000 per year, while a public school could cost considerably less, about $15,000 per year. Graduate scholarships are available to help pay for graduate school, but they are not as plentiful as scholarships for other types of sonography degrees. It is important to check with the school and current employer, who may offer an ultrasound scholarship in exchange for a long-term job commitment.

Curriculum

The curriculum may include a combination of general, cardiac, and vascular graduate courses, in addition to master’s-level classes. It depends on whether the student’s undergraduate transfer credits meet the minimum educational requirements of the graduate program. General sonography classes are the same or similar to the courses required for a bachelor’s degree. Students will choose courses from the general concentration plus courses related to their chosen cardiac or vascular concentration.

Salary and Job Outlook

Many diagnostic medical sonographers who have a master’s degree work in the educational industry at colleges, universities, or professional schools as teachers, researchers, or administrators. This group of sonographers earned a median annual wage of $74,950 or $36.05 per hour as of May 2013 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Sonographers working in general medical and surgical hospitals, which do not require a master’s degree, earned an average annual salary of $67,540 or $32.47 per hour. The sonographer with a master’s degree has other employment options that include self-employment, working for a private company, or becoming an administrator.

The MSc in Diagnostic Medical Sonography is not required for many positions, but will expand employment options. Projected job openings for sonographers for the period 2012 to 2022 are 35,300, representing a growth rate of 22 percent. There is likely to be a growing demand for sonographers with a master’s degree as the national health care program continues to expand, leading to more outpatient facilities or ambulatory care centers and specialized medical centers. This will create more administrative and training positions for sonographers.

A List of the Best Diagnostic Medical Sonography Masters Degrees in 2014

School Name: Nova Southeastern University
Program: Master

School Name: University of Missouri-Columbia
Program: Master