Master of Cardiac Sonography (4751)

Approved Abbreviation: MCardiacSon
Western Sydney University Program Code: 4751
AQF Level: 9

This program applies to students who commenced in 2020 or later.

Students should follow the program structure for the session start date relevant to the year they commenced.

For commencement year 2018, please refer to: 4751.1 - Master of Cardiac Sonography

The Master of Cardiac Sonography is an accredited graduate entry program which integrates online and on-campus learning activities with students’ workplace training sonography practice. It enables students to develop the theoretical, practical, and professional skills, together with the research proficiency that support the advanced practice of cardiac sonography.

◾ Director of Academic Program - Dr Kate McBride

Early Exit

Students may exit this program on completion of 80 credit points with a 4743 Graduate Diploma in Cardiac Sonography

Study Mode

Three years part-time

Program Advice

Dr Paul Stoodley

Prospective students should visit the following websites for general enquiries about this program.

Enquire about this program| Local Admission | International Admission |

Location

Location
Campus	Attendance	Mode	Advice
Campbelltown Campus	Part-time	External	See above

Accreditation

This program is accredited with the Australian Sonographers Accreditation Registry. Students will be eligible to be registered as a student sonographer, and upon graduating will be eligible to be an accredited cardiac sonographer. Graduates may also be eligible for professional membership with appropriate professional associations.

Work Integrated Learning

Western Sydney University seeks to enhance student learning experiences by enabling students to engage in the culture, expectations and practices of their profession or discipline. This program includes a placement or other community-based unpaid practical experience.

There is a mandatory work component required for completion of this program. Please contact the Program Advisor listed above for information.

International students should also refer to the link below for more information and a link to the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students

Clinical training of a minimum three days in cardiac sonography each week (or 21 hours) is required for the duration of the program (as per entry requirements). This is necessary for program accreditation and will be made clear to all program applicants and reaffirmed when students are offered a conditional position in the program. Students are responsible for making these arrangements, which must be confirmed two weeks prior to the start of semester 1 year 1.

When students are offered a conditional position in the program, they will be sent a clinical practice verification form, which is to be returned as soon as possible, so that measures to verify the suitability of the clinical experience can commence. That is, upon receipt of the signed verification form, the program coordinator will review the form to confirm that the student will have access to appropriate and supervised clinical training.

Clinical supervisors (at the students’ site) will be provided with numerous means of support. Initially, they will be contacted by the program coordinator to verify their support for the student. They will receive a clinical supervisors guide and instructional video. Information about the content of program units and assessment items will be provided at the start of each semester, and prior to practical assessments at the end of each semester.

Admission

All Applicants must:

Have a completed Graduate Diploma or equivalent in Cardiac Sonography with a minimum GPA of 5.0
Submit a written expression of interest in the research component (final 3 subjects) of the Masters of Cardiac Sonography
Have a cardiac sonography position (with a minimum of three days imaging per week) for the duration of the program. Written verification must be provided to the university by commencement of the program.

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas must be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local and International applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

http://www.uac.edu.au/
https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Applicants seeking admission on the basis of work experience must support their application with a Statement of Service for all work experience listed on the application.

Statement of Service

One additional entry requirement applies to NZ students only: successful and full completion of an MRTBNZ approved cultural competency (Maori) module two weeks prior to course commencement.
MRTBNZ cultural competency (Maori)

Additional Information

Applicants with the Graduate Diploma in Cardiac Sonography award from Western Sydney University:

Will be granted Advanced Standing for the 80 credit points of Graduate Diploma subjects
Students must complete RADI 7001 Advanced Principles and Practice of Sonography and HLTH 7008 Introduction to Biostatistics before commencing the RADI 7010 Research Project in Cardiac Sonography.

Applicants with cardiac sonography qualifications from universities other than Western Sydney University:

May apply for recognition of prior learning (RPL) for up to 60 (50%) of the 120 credit points needed to successfully complete the program. RPL will be assessed on an individual basis.
Students granted RPL of 60 credit points must complete RADI 6002 Research Foundations for Sonography and RADI 7025 - Applied Cardiac Sonography before undertaking RADI 7001 Advanced Principles and Practice of Sonography, HLTH 7008 Introduction to Biostatistics and the Research Project in Cardiac Sonography subjects.

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 120 credit points which include the subjects listed in the recommended sequence below.

Recommended Sequence Current

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Autumn session		Credit Points
RADI 5001	Physics for Diagnostic Ultrasound	10
RADI 7002	Practice of Cardiac Sonography 1	10
	Credit Points	20
Spring session
RADI 6001	Pathophysiology in Diagnostic Ultrasound	10
RADI 7003	Practice of Cardiac Sonography 2	10
	Credit Points	20
Year 2
Autumn session
RADI 6002	Research Foundations for Sonography	10
RADI 7004	Practice of Cardiac Sonography 3	10
	Credit Points	20
Spring session
RADI 7025	Applied Cardiac Sonography	10
RADI 7005	Practice of Cardiac Sonography 4	10
	Credit Points	20
Year 3
Autumn session
RADI 7001	Advanced Principles and Practice of Sonography	10
HLTH 7008	Introduction to Biostatistics	10
	Credit Points	20
Spring session
MEDI 7066	Medical Research Project (PG)	20
	Credit Points	20
	Total Credit Points	120

Replaced Subjects

The subjects listed below count towards completion of this program for students who passed these subjects in 2024 or earlier.

RADI 7006 - Principles of Cardiac Sonography 1, replaced by RADI 5001 Physics for Diagnostic Ultrasound

RADI 7015 - Principles of Vascular Sonography 1, replaced by RADI 5001 Physics for Diagnostic Ultrasound

RADI 7008 - Principles of Cardiac Sonography 3, replaced by RADI 6002 Research Foundations for Sonography

RADI 7009 - Principles of Cardiac Sonography 4, replaced by RADI 7025 Applied Cardiac Sonography