Associate Degree in Vascular Ultrasound | Lackawanna College

Vascular Ultrasound

At A Glance

Two-year, four-semester program based on real-life application.
Graduates use medical ultrasound to gather data necessary to diagnose a variety of conditions and diseases.
The career field is growing and opportunities are expected to increase 14% between 2020 and 2030.
Graduates can earn between $29,910 and $98,070, depending on experience.
Available at the Scranton campus.

Welcome to Vascular Ultrasound–Associate Degree

If you’re a numbers person and budgets and financial analysis interests you, Lackawanna College’s Associate Degree in Accounting may be for you. The program prepares students to work in entry-level positions with corporate or non-profit businesses or to continue onto a four-year degree program.

Your Career Starts Here

Vascular sonography is growing and is expected to increase 14% over the next 10 years, making this career field an ideal choice for those wanting to help others and looking for career opportunities. With an associate degree, graduates work at such business as:

  • Hospitals and primary clinics
  • Physician offices
  • Medical and diagnostic laboratories

More About the Program

With a degree from Lackawanna College, students will be able to provide healthcare patient services using medical ultrasound to gather data necessary to diagnose a variety of conditions and diseases.

The Course Work

Lackawanna’s two-year associate degree program requires 70 credit hours of course work and includes science and vascular courses, labs and clinical experiences as well as the College’s basic core courses. Courses students typically encounter include:

  • Medical Terminology
  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Intro to Patient Care
  • Intro to Ultrasound Physics
  • Upper Extremity Arterial D & A
  • Lower Extremity Arterial D & A
  • Clinicals
  • Medical Ethics

Lackawanna admits a maximum of 25 students annual for the Vascular Sonography program.

Additional Information

2021 Vascular Ultrasound Student/Graduate Outcome Information

Program Design
Accredited concentrationsVascular
Length of program (in months)24
Total students admitted in 20217
How many times per year is this program offered?1
Retention Rate
Number of students admitted7
Number of students graduating5
Retention rate71%
Job Placement Rate
Number of graduates in 20215
Number of graduates employed4
Job placement rate80%
Graduate Survey Results
Number of graduates in 20215
Number of graduate surveys returned3
Graduate survey return rate60%
Employer Survey Return Rate
Number of employed graduates from 20214
Number of employer surveys returned1
Employer survey return rate25%
Credential Success Rate
Number of students taking vascular credential5
Number of students earning credential from ARDMS4
Number of students earning credential from CCI0
Total number earning vascular credential0
Vascular credential success rate80%

Vascular Ultrasound Program Goals and Objectives

Lackawanna College’s vascular technology program aims to prepare competent entry-level vascular technologists in cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.

Cognitive domain

  • Students will learn through successful didactic and clinical training following the standards of the ultrasound curriculum. Student outcomes will be measured through written tests, quizzes and projects as well as hands-on examinations.
  • 100% success of students passing the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) or the Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) examination upon graduation from the program.
  • Minimum entry-level competency of all program graduates.
  • Minimal attrition.
  • Meetings with clinical site liaisons. Through site visits, written and verbal correspondence, and at the beginning of each semester, a meeting is held to discuss the expectations of the students, the instructors and the facilities.
  • Capable of completing documentation of history and physicals.
  • Proficiency of patient care skills.

Psychomotor domain

  • Meetings with clinical site liaisons. Through site visits, written and verbal correspondence, and at the beginning of each semester, a meeting is held to discuss the expectations of the students, the instructors and the facilities.
  • Identify normal anatomy and patient pathology.
  • Effectively prepare preliminary study reports.
  • To perform all competencies effectively and efficiently.
  • Continuing education through local societies and national organizations.

Affective domain

  • Professionalism.
  • Broaden patient relation skills.
  • Behavior-based on ethical reasoning and judgment.
  • To be able to work effectively and efficiently within a clinical setting.
  • Feedback from employer and graduate surveys.

Methods to Assure Appropriateness of the Program’s Goals and Objectives

The following methods are used to assure that both programs’ goals are met:

  • Advisory Board: Periodic meetings take place to discuss the program’s progress and to reassess resource requirements and community needs.
  • Departmental meetings: Held on a monthly basis to discuss and handle various issues and concerns related to the program.
  • Meetings with clinical site liaisons: Through site visits, written and verbal correspondence, and at the beginning of each semester, a meeting is held to discuss the expectations of the students, the instructors and the facilities.
  • Testing: Throughout the course of the program.
  • Student surveys: Performed each semester.
  • ARDMS registry exam: Upon first graduates and followed annually by utilizing the ARDMS school reports system
  • Employer feedback: Will be used upon first graduating class and utilized in a timely fashion following each graduating class thereafter.

Analysis of Data Collected

  • Student surveys are compiled and reviewed by both the director of the program and the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
  • Reports are generated each semester on student grades, attrition, GPAs, and class size and reviewed by the Program Director and Vice President of Academic Affairs.
  • The curriculum is evaluated yearly by faculty, the director, and the Vice President with student input as well as close contact with the medical directors.

Criteria and Requirements for the Vascular Ultrasound Program

Application to Lackawanna College and a separate application to the ultrasound program:

Priority consideration will be given to applicants prior to the deadline of March 1st. Applications received after the deadline will be considered as space is available.

Must meet the college’s minimum requirements:

Applicant must submit proof of high school or GED completion with an official high school transcript or GED equivalent.

Lackawanna College will determine the applicant’s current academic ability based on a combination of the following.

  • SAT or ACT test scores, if applicable
    • Recommended SAT scores: 500 Verbal and 500 Math.
    • Recommended ACT scores: 20 or higher in each relevant section.
    • Most scores are valid for up to 3 years from the test date.
  • College Transfer Credits
    • If transferring credits from another college/university, official college transcripts are required. Transfer credits must be at least 3.0 or greater to meet ultrasound program academic standards.
    • Placement Test
    • Applicants without valid SAT/ACT scores and who have not previously earned college credits will be required to take the ACCUPLACER exam for determination of current academic ability. Applicants must achieve ‘College Ready’ scores in reading, writing, and math to be considered qualified for one of the ultrasound programs.
  • Completion of a Biological Science course
    • If completed in high school, the course must be no more than 3 years old.
    • Completion of science-type course(s) at the high school or college level must again be evidenced in the form of an official high school or college transcript.

Due to the very specific nature of these degree programs, applicants with transfer credits may only transfer credits related to program core courses including the following:

  • Anatomy and Physiology I – 4 credits
  • Anatomy and Physiology II – 4 credits with lab (if taken within three years)
  • College Algebra
  • Computer Applications
  • College Writing
  • Effective Speaking
  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Medical Ethics (subject to review)
  • Medical Terminology (subject to review)
  • Transfer students with an Associate Degree in Science may be considered for bypass of the pre-ultrasound semester, subject to review.
  • All other courses within the curriculum must be completed at Lackawanna College under the ultrasound program.

Interviews will be scheduled for qualified ultrasound program applicants who submit a fully completed application with all materials by the previously stated deadline:

  • The top 25 applicants for vascular and cardiac
  • The top 20 applicants for DMS
  • Mandatory Informational Meeting will be required prior to the start of the selected program.

Qualified students will be notified of the date and time upon selection into the program. The meeting will review the ultrasound department’s policies and expectations. The meeting will also allow for a question and answer session and a tour of the Lackawanna College ultrasound facilities.

Timeline

March 1: Deadline for application.

Waiting lists are created in all three ultrasound programs, and additional seats may become available up until the start of the Fall semester. Please call the Admissions office at (570) 961-7814 for more information.

March 1-28: Application review period and interviews.April 1: Program acceptance letters and alternative option letters will be mailed to all applicants.

Acceptance Letter will indicate their status in the specific program of choice and will outline all requirements needed to solidify a place on the official list for that program.

June 1: Deadline for all accepted students to make commitment to program. All requirements will need to be complete at that time *

Items for Official Placement into Program*

  • $100 commitment fee
  • Official high school transcripts
  • Official college transcripts
  • SAT/ACT scores, if applicable
  • FAFSA

Alternative Option letters will explain to students that they are not denied from attending the college, but have not been accepted into one of the three Allied Health Ultrasound Programs. In this letter, it will include suggested courses for a candidate to complete to better qualify themselves for re-application in the future.

December 15: The selected candidates will then have until December 15 of the pre-semester to obtain/complete the following requirements to stay on the list for the upcoming semester:

  • CPR Certification
  • FBI Clearance
  • State Clearance
  • PA Child Abuse Clearance
  • 2 Step PPD
  • Recent Physical Examination
  • Hepatitis B vaccination (3 shots) or waiver
  • 2 Letters of Recommendation
  • CPR Certification
  • FBI Clearance
  • State Clearance
  • PA Child Abuse Clearance
  • 2 Step PPD
  • Recent Physical Examination
  • Copy of Immunization Records
    • Vericella Vaccination Date or Date/Year of Chicken Pox
  • Hepatitis B vaccination (3 shots) or waiver
  • 2 Letters of Recommendation

* All coursework must be successfully completed prior to enrollment in Clinical III.

Curriculum

All Lackawanna College curriculum guides can be found on the Portal. – Free-form Content – Main View | Academic Year 2022-2023 | Curriculum Guides | Portal (lackawanna.edu)

Application

Download the Ultrasound Program Application and Information Packet

* All coursework must be successfully completed prior to enrollment in Clinical III.

Accreditation

The ultrasound programs at Lackawanna College, are accredited, upon the recommendation of the JRC-DMS, by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), 9355 113th St. N, #7709 Seminole, FL 33775. For details, visit www.caahep.org.