Cardiovascular Technology, B.S.
Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate a solid base of knowledge in biology.
- Students will demonstrate a solid base of knowledge in chemistry.
- Students will demonstrate a full range of technical, procedural, and behavioral competencies needed for national certification as a cardiovascular technologist.
The Bachelor of Science degree with a major in cardiovascular technology is awarded upon satisfactory completion of at least 126 credit hours of academic work, including all courses prescribed in the curriculum below as well as the successful completion of an externship at an approved facility, which will comprise the 36 hour CVT training concentration.
Admissions
Admission to CVT training programs is very competitive, and only a limited number of candidates can be admitted in each class. For this reason the following retention standards are applied during the academic portion of this program at USC:
- Retention. Students are required to maintain a GPA of at least a 3.0 throughout the program. Upon completion of the specified academic requirements, only students who have gained admission into an approved CVT training facility will be retained in the program.
- Transfer students admitted to this degree program must complete the last 30 credit hours of academic work in residence at the University of South Carolina prior to entering the intensive CVT training program.
- Students who have already completed a CVT training program or CVT internship will not be eligible for acceptance into this major.
- If dismissed from CVT training program, the student will also be dismissed from the CVT major.
Degree Requirements (126 hours)
Program of Study
| Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| 1. Carolina Core | 32-44 |
| 2. College Requirements | 12-15 |
| 3. Program Requirements | 23 |
| 4. Major Requirements | 59 |
Founding Documents Requirement
All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade in the subject areas of History, Political Science, or African American Studies that covers the founding documents including the United State Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation and one or more documents that are foundational to the African American Freedom struggle, and a minimum of five essays from the Federalist papers. This course may count as a requirement in any part of the program of study including the Carolina Core, the major, minor or cognate, or as a general elective. Courses that meet this requirement are listed here.
Requirements (120 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Carolina Core (32-44 hours) | ||
| CMW - Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written 1 | ||
| CC-CMW course(s) | 6 | |
| AIU - Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding 1 | ||
| MATH 122 | Calculus for Business Administration and Social Sciences | 3-4 |
| or MATH 141 | Calculus I | |
| STAT 201 (or equivalent) or higher | 3 | |
| SCI - Scientific Literacy 1 | ||
| BIOL 243 & 243L | Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory | 4 |
| BIOL 244 & 244L | Human Anatomy and Physiology II and Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory | 4 |
| GFL - Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language | ||
| Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the minimal passing grade on the exit examination in the 122 course is required for all baccalaureate degrees. Students can demonstrate this proficiency by successfully completing Phase II of the Proficiency Test or by successfully completing the 122 course, including the exit exam administered as part of that course. | ||
| CC-GFL course(s) | 0-6 | |
| GHS - Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking | ||
| CC-GHS course(s) | 3 | |
| GSS - Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences | ||
| CC-GSS course(s) | 3 | |
| AIU - Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding | ||
| CC-AIU course(s) | 3 | |
| CMS - Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component 2 | ||
| CC-CMS course(s) | 0-3 | |
| INF - Information Literacy 2 | ||
| CC-INF course(s) | 0-3 | |
| VSR - Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility 2 | ||
| CC-VSR course(s) | 0-3 | |
| 2. College Requirements (12-15 hours) | ||
| Foreign Language (0-3 hours) | ||
| Only if needed to meet 122-level proficiency | 0-3 | |
| Analytical Reasoning (3 hours) | ||
| CSCE 102 or higher | 3 | |
| History (3 hours) | ||
| The College of Arts and Sciences requires one additional GHS course beyond the Carolina Core GHS requirement. If the Carolina Core GHS requirement is fulfilled by a U.S. history course, the College of Arts and Sciences history requirement must be fulfilled by a non-U.S. history course. If the Carolina Core GHS requirement is fulfilled by a non-U.S. history course, the College of Arts and Sciences history requirement must be fulfilled by a U.S. history course. Please select the College of Arts and Sciences history requirement from the approved list. | ||
| U.S. and non-U.S. History Courses | 3 | |
| Social Science (3 hours) 1 | ||
| PSYC 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Fine Arts or Humanities (3 hours) 1 | ||
| CLAS 230 | Medical and Scientific Terminology | 3 |
| 3. Program Requirements (23 hours) | ||
| Supporting Courses (23 hours) 3,4 | ||
| BIOL 101 | Biological Principles I | 3 |
| BIOL 101L | Biological Principles I Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 102 | Biological Principles II | 3 |
| BIOL 102L | Biological Principles II Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 111L | General Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| CHEM 112 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 112L | General Chemistry II Lab | 1 |
| PHYS 201 | General Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 201L | General Physics Laboratory I | 1 |
| WGST 113 | Women's Health | 3 |
| Cognate or Minor (0-18 hours) Optional 3 | ||
| Intensive Clinical Training Program: The 18-month intensive clinical training program replaces the cognate. | 0-18 | |
Minor: | ||
In place of the cognate a student in the College of Arts and Sciences may choose a minor consisting of at least 18 credit hours of prescribed courses. The minor is intended to develop a coherent basic preparation in a second area of study. It differs from the cognate inasmuch as the courses must follow a structured sequence. Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the minor. No course may satisfy both major and minor requirements. At least half of the courses in the minor must be completed in residence at the University. A list of minor programs of study can be found at Programs A-Z . | ||
| 4. Major Requirements (59 hours) 3,4 | ||
| Major Courses (17 hours) | ||
| BIOL 302 | Cell and Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 303 | Fundamental Genetics | 3 |
| CHEM 333 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 331L | Essentials of Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| HSPM 412 | Health Economics | 3 |
| HSPM 500 | Introduction to Health Care Management and Organization | 3 |
| SOWK 678 | Transforming Health Care for the Future | 1 |
| Major Electives (6 hours) | ||
| Select six hours from the following: | 6 | |
BIOL/CHEM 300-699 | ||
| Cardiovascular System: From Development to Disease | ||
| Medical Ethics | ||
| CVT Training Concentration (36 hours) | ||
| Following the academic portion of the Cardiovascular Technology Program, an 18 months clinical training program in an approved facility will be the final stage of the degree program. Students will declare one of the following concentrations that aligns with their intended training pathway. Students will enroll in one 12-credit course for the 3 terms they are enrolled in the training program, and will be awarded 36 credit hours upon completion of the clinical portion of the training. Students who have already completed a CVT training program or CVT internship will not be eligible for acceptance into this major. 5 | ||
| Combined Echo/Vascular Concentration (36 hours) | ||
To be taken 3 times for a total of 36 hours | ||
| Adult Echocardiography Concentration (36 hours) | ||
To be repeated 3 times for a total of 36 hours | ||
| Vascular Sonography Concentration (36 hours) | ||
To be repeated 3 times for a total of 36 hours | ||
| Invasive Cardiovascular Technology Concentration (36 hours) | ||
| Invasive Cardiovascular Technology Clinical | ||
To be repeated 3 times for a total of 36 hours | ||
| Electrophysiology Concentration (36 hours) | ||
| Electrophysiology Clinical | ||
Electrophysiology | ||
- 1.
Must be passed with a grade of B or higher.
- 2.
Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements — Overlay-approved courses offer students the option of meeting two Carolina Core components in a single course. A maximum of two overlays is allowed. The total Carolina Core credit hours must add up to a minimum of 31 hours. Some programs may have a higher number of minimum Carolina Core hours due to specified requirements.
- 3.
Must be passed with a grade of C or higher.
- 4.
May not be attempted more than twice.
- 5.
Approved Facilities include: Harry T. Harper, Jr. School of Cardiac and Vascular Technology, Piedmont Augusta (Augusta, GA), Claude W. Smith, MD School of Cardiovascular Technology at the Medical University Hospital Authority of MUSC Health (Columbia, SC), CVT Leadership Program, Prisma Health (Greenville and Columbia, SC), Hoffman Heart and Vascular Institute, St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center (Hartford, CT), Piedmont Technical College (Greenwood, SC), Cardiac and Vascular Institute of Ultrasound (Mobile, AL), Resonance Ultrasound Academy (hybrid format in SC and other sites).
Major Map
A major map is a layout of required courses in a given program of study, including critical courses and suggested course sequences to ensure a clear path to graduation.
Major maps are only a suggested or recommended sequence of courses required in a program of study. Please contact your academic advisor for assistance in the application of specific coursework to a program of study and course selection and planning for upcoming semesters.