Summer I 2026
Introduction to Cardiac Sonography Techniques
Approved: MM/2026 DSAE 1303 3A0/5A0 INTRODUCTION TO CARDIAC SONOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES CREDIT 3 SCH Semester Credit Hours (2 hours lecture, 2 hours lab) MODE OF INSTRUCTION Face to Face Instruction PREREQUISITE/CO-REQUISITE: Acceptance into the cardiac sonography program. COURSE DESCRIPTION An introduction to scanning techniques and procedures with hands-on experience in a lab setting. Emphasis is placed on the sonographic evaluation of the normal adult heart. COURSE OBJECTIVES Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to: • Demonstrate ergonomic scanning techniques • Demonstrate appropriate measurements in each modality. • Describe a normal cardiac sonogram. • Demonstrate patient care and positioning. INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION Instructor: Melissa Mann (Lecture/Lab) Mark Adams (Lab) Email: mamann@lit.edu maadams@lit.edu Office Phone: Mrs. Mann 409-257-0057 Office Location: GATEWAY 111 Office Hours: Please see Starfish to schedule an appointment REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AND MATERIALS 1. The Notebook 8.0 edition, by Susan King DeWitt, BS, RDCS, RCS http://echocardiographer.tripod.com as well as the workbook that corresponds with this textbook. 2. Computer with internet access 3. Webcam for taking exams Suggested Textbook and Materials 1. Textbook of Clinical Echocardiography By: Catherine Otto MD ISBN#978-1-4160-5559-4 2. Sound Advice for the Ultrasound Lab: Echocardiographic Protocol By: Tom Whelan RT(R), RVT, RDCS, FASE The Advanced Health Education Center ATTENDANCE POLICY Students are expected to be in class unless prior arrangements have been made Absences must be limited to serious illness and/or immediate family emergencies. Three (3) lecture absences will result in a letter grade reduction. Two (2) lab absences will result in a 10 point grade reduction from the overall lab average. Excessive tardiness (more than 15 minutes/class or more than 2 consecutive classes) will result in an absence being awarded. Also, leaving class early will result in an absence being awarded. In the event that LIT is forced to cancel classes due to inclement weather, DMS classes and clinical rotation will also be canceled. Notification of closures will be made through local radio and TV stations. Students out of the immediate broadcast area should contact the Program Director for information. It is extremely important that students communicate with the faculty regarding absences by telephone and/or email at all times. DROP POLICY If you wish to drop a course, you are responsible for initiating and completing the drop process by the specified date as listed in the College Calendar on the Student Success web page. If you stop coming to class and fail to drop the course, you will earn an “F” in the course. LECTURE COURSE CALENDAR WEEK TOPIC READINGS ASSIGNMENTS (Due on this Date) 1 (6/1 – 6/3) (M) Go over Syllabus and Class Rules (W) Begin Thorax PP (Cross sectional/relational anatomy of the Thorax) Blackboard/Handout PP/ Notebook: (Chapter 1: Pages 1-24) Unit I PPs and Homework Assignments via Blackboard 2 (6/8- 6/10) (M) Continue Thorax PP (Cross sectional/relational anatomy of the Thorax)/ Blackboard/ Notebook Notebook (Chapter 1- Pages 1-24)/ UNIT I TEST OPEN ON Blackboard 6/11/26 (W) TEST I DURING CLASS ON LAPTOP Unit I PPs and Homework Assignments via Blackboard HOMEWORK FOR UNIT I TEST DUE BEFORE TAKING TEST ON Blackboard BOTH DUE 6/11/26 3 (6/15- 6/17) (M and W) Intro to Echo TTE PP (Anatomy and Physiology of the Heart) Blackboard/ Notebook Chapter Notebook (Chapter I- Pages 1-24) / Chapter III Pages 41-52) Unit II PPs and Homework Assignments via Blackboard 4 (6/22-6/24) (M and W) Intro to Echo TTE PP (Anatomy and Physiology of the Heart) Blackboard/ Notebook Chapter Notebook (Chapter I- Pages 1-24) / Chapter III Pages 41-52) Unit II PPs and Homework Assignments via Blackboard 5 (6/29-7/1) (M) Intro to Echo TTE PP (Anatomy and Physiology of the Heart) (W) TEST 2 DURING CLASS ON LAPTOP Blackboard/ Notebook Chapter Notebook (Chapter I- Pages 1-24) / Chapter III Pages 41-52) Unit II PPs and Homework Assignments via Blackboard UNIT II TEST OPEN ON Blackboard 7/1/26 HOMEWORK FOR UNIT II TEST DUE BEFORE TAKING TEST ON Blackboard BOTH DUE 7/1/26 6 (7/6-7/8) (M and W) Parasternal Views PP Blackboard/ Notebook Chapter III (Pages 41-52)/Chapter IVa Pages 61-82) Unit III PPs and Homework Assignments via Blackboard 7 (7/13-7/15) (M) Parasternal Views PP (W) TEST 3 DURING CLASS ON LAPTOP Blackboard/ Notebook Chapter III (Pages 41-52)/Chapter IVa Pages 61-82) Unit III PPs and Homework Assignments via Blackboard UNIT III TEST OPEN ON Blackboard 7/15/26 HOMEWORK FOR UNIT III TEST DUE BEFORE TAKING TEST ON Blackboard BOTH DUE 7/15/26 8 (7/20 -7/22) (M/W) APICAL VIEWS PP Blackboard/ Notebook Chapter III (Pages 41-52)/Chapter IVa (Pages 83-94) Unit IV PPs and Homework Assignments via Blackboard 9 (7/27-7/29) (M)TEST 4 DURING CLASS ON LAPTOP (W) SUBCOSTAL/ SUPRASTERNAL VIEWS PP Blackboard/ Notebook Chapter III (Pages 41-52)/Chapter IVa (Pages 95-105) Unit IV PPs and Homework Assignments via Blackboard UNIT IV TEST OPEN ON Blackboard 7/27/26 HOMEWORK FOR UNIT IV TEST DUE BEFORE TAKING TEST ON Blackboard BOTH DUE 7/27/26 10 (8/3-8/5) (M) SUBCOSTAL/ SUPRASTERNAL VIEWS PP (W) TEST 5 DURING CLASS ON LAPTOP Blackboard/ Notebook Chapter III (Pages 41-52)/Chapter IVa (Pages 95-105) Unit IV PPs and Homework Assignments via Blackboard UNIT V TEST OPEN ON Blackboard 08/05/26 HOMEWORK FOR UNIT V TEST DUE BEFORE TAKING TEST ON Blackboard BOTH DUE 08/05/26 11 (8/10–8/12) (M) TEST 6 - ABBREVIATION TEST Abbreviations for Test ---- will not be discussed TEST VI – ABBREVIATION TEST (DURING CLASS TIME – NOT ON BB) (W) 8/12 -LAB SCAN FINAL DURING LECTURE AND LAB TIME in class. You are responsible for memorizing on your own DUE DURING CLASS ON 8/0/26 • This schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor. LAB COURSE CALENDAR DATE LAB ACTIVITY INFO NEEDED ASSIGNMENTS (Due on this Date) 6/3 Go over Syllabus and Class Rules/ Continue Thorax Lecture Protocol / Tips/ Instructions found on Blackboard 6/10 Knobology/ Begin Parasternal LAX Protocol / Tips/ Instructions found on Blackboard VIDEO LAB QUIZ # 1 DUE ON BB BY MIDNIGHT ON FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2025 6/17 Parasternal LAX Protocol / Tips/ Instructions found on Blackboard 6/24 Parasternal SAX Protocol / Tips/ Instructions found on Blackboard 7/01 Review All Parasternal Protocol / Tips/ Instructions found on Blackboard 07/8 Apical Views Protocol / Tips/ Instructions found on Blackboard VIDEO LAB QUIZ # 2 DUE ON BB BY MIDNIGHT ON FRIDAY, JULY 10,2026 07/15 Apical Views/ Subcostal Views Protocol / Tips/ Instructions found on Blackboard 07/22 Review Apical Views/ Subcostal Views Protocol / Tips/ Instructions found on Blackboard VIDEO LAB QUIZ # 3 IN CLASS WEDNESDAY, JULY 22,2026 07/29 Review all Views Protocol / Tips/ Instructions found on Blackboard VIDEO LAB QUIZ # 4 IN CLASS WEDNESDAY, JULY 29,2026 08/05 Review all Views Protocol / Tips/ Instructions found on Blackboard 08/12 SCAN FINALS SCAN FINALS DUE 08/12/26 VIDEO LAB QUIZ # 5 DUE BY NOON ON BB WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12,2026 • This schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor. COURSE EVALUATION There are two components to this course, lecture and lab. They come together for a combined overall grade. Lecture is worth 74% of the overall grade and Lab is worth 26%. The exact breakdown is found below. Final Semester grades will be calculated according to the following criteria: 1. Unit tests 69% 2. Class Participation/Homework 5% 3. Lab 26% a. Lab Video Quizzes (6.50% of the 26%) b. Participation (13% of the 26%) c. Lab Final (6.50% of the 26%) GRADE SCALE • 93-100 A • 85-92 B • 77-84 C (MUST PASS THE CLASS WITH A 77 or HIGHER) • 69-76 D (NOT ABLE TO CONTINUE IN THE SONOGRAPHY PROGRAM) • 0-68 F Course Outline A. Cross sectional anatomy/relational anatomy of the thorax a. Chest cavity i. Bony thorax ii. Lungs iii. Mediastinum iv. Heart v. Breast B. Normal Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology – Chapter 1 a. Anatomy of the heart i. Cardiovascular Circulation (including pulmonary artery and venous return) ii. Cardiac Anatomy and Terminology iii. Pericardium iv. Chambers vessels and valves (anatomy/relationships/function) v. Coronary circulation b. Physiology of the heart i. Blood flow through the heart and lungs c. Phases of the cardiac cycle i. Systole ii. Diastole iii. Isovolumic times iv. Intracardiac pressures C. Echocardiography Windows and Imaging Planes - Chapter 3 a. Parasternal b. Apical c. Subcostal d. Suprasternal D. Technique a. Knobology – (specific to echo) – Mostly taught in intro to Sonography. i. Artifacts – (specific to echo) – Mostly taught in intro to Sonography. b. Ergonomics (focused on in intro to Sonography) i. Patient positioning ii. Sonographer technique and positioning TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS For the latest technical requirements, including hardware, compatible browsers, operating systems, etc., review the Minimum Computer and Equipment Requirements on the LIT Online Experience page. A functional broadband internet connection, such as DSL, cable, or WiFi is necessary to maximize the use of online technology and resources. DISABILITIES STATEMENT The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are federal anti-discrimination statutes that provide comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. LIT provides reasonable accommodations as defined in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, to students with a diagnosed disability. The Special Populations Office is located in the Eagles’ Nest Room 129 and helps foster a supportive and inclusive educational environment by maintaining partnerships with faculty and staff, as well as promoting awareness among all members of the Lamar Institute of Technology community. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Special Populations Coordinator at (409)-951-5708 or email specialpopulations@lit.edu. You may also visit the online resource at Special Populations - Lamar Institute of Technology (lit.edu). STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT STATEMENT It is the responsibility of all registered Lamar Institute of Technology students to access, read, understand and abide by all published policies, regulations, and procedures listed in the LIT Catalog and Student Handbook. The LIT Catalog and Student Handbook may be accessed at www.lit.edu. Please note that the online version of the LIT Catalog and Student Handbook supersedes all other versions of the same document. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE STATEMENT Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) recognizes the recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, have changed the landscape of many career disciplines and will impact many students in and out of the classroom. To prepare students for their selected careers, LIT desires to guide students in the ethical use of these technologies and incorporate AI into classroom instruction and assignments appropriately. Appropriate use of these technologies is at the discretion of the instructor. Students are reminded that all submitted work must be their own original work unless otherwise specified. Students should contact their instructor with any questions as to the acceptable use of AI/ChatGPT in their courses. STARFISH LIT utilizes an early alert system called Starfish. Throughout the semester, you may receive emails from Starfish regarding your course grades, attendance, or academic performance. Faculty members record student attendance, raise flags and kudos to express concern or give praise, and you can make an appointment with faculty and staff all through the Starfish home page. You can also login to Blackboard or MyLIT and click on the Starfish link to view academic alerts and detailed information. It is the responsibility of the student to pay attention to these emails and information in Starfish and consider taking the recommended actions. Starfish is used to help you be a successful student at LIT. ADDITIONAL COURSE POLICIES/INFORMATION 1. No food, drinks, or use of tobacco products in class. 2. Cell Phones and any other electronic devices must be turned off while in class. 3. Do not bring children to class. 4. All assignments are due at the beginning of class and/or when stated in the syllabus. LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED and will result in a grade of ZERO! 5. All exams will be on the dates specified unless the instructor makes a change. If the student misses an exam due date, the student will be given a 0 after midnight on the day that it was due. Before midnight, the day of the test, the score will drop 10 points for every hour the exam is late beginning with the time it was due. For example, if the test is due at 7:00 and the student turns in the exam at 7:01 the grade drops 10 points. At 8:00 pm, the grade will drop 20 points, etc. The time is set by the individual instructor so 7:00 pm is only an example. 6. It shall be considered a breach of academic integrity (cheating) to use or possess on your body any of the following devices during any examination unless it is required for that examination and approved by the instructor: Cell phone, smart watch/watch phone, laptop, tablet, electronic communication devices (including optical), and earphones connected to or used as electronic communication devices. Cheating on any (lecture/lab) exam results in immediate dismissal from the program and an F for the course. 7. All exams will be online on Blackboard. You will be using LockDown Browser with Webcam Monitoring. The rules for the tests are: - Disable all notifications on your computer. This is how LockDown Browser is used to take a test. ▪ Locate the “LockDown Browser” shortcut on the desktop and double-click it. (For Mac users, launch “LockDown Browser” from the Applications folder.) ▪ If prompted to close a blocked program (e.g. screen capture, instant messaging) choose Yes. ▪ Log into the course, navigate to the test and select it. ▪ A Startup Sequence will guide the student through a webcam check and other items required by the instructor. ▪ The test will then start. ▪ 20-point deductions for each occurrence: ▪ Where you are taking your exam must be well lit. If it is not well lit, you will have 20 points deducted from your test. ▪ Your face must be visible the entire length of the test. If your face cannot be seen even for a few seconds you will have 20 points deducted from your test. ▪ No music should be playing nor should a TV/radio/video be on in the background. • You may not read the questions out loud. If you do so, you automatically receive a 20-point deduction. ▪ You may not wear sunglasses, hats, hoodies, earbuds, headphones, etc. during the exam. Your ears must be fully visible the entire exam, failure to comply with this will be a 20-point deduction. If you do this on another exam it will turn into a 50-point deduction. 50-point reduction or a zero on the entire test • You must be in a private location. If another person is seen or heard while you are taking your test this could be misconstrued as cheating resulting in a 50-point reduction or a zero. That is up the situation and your instructor. • All phones, notes, books, and other papers must be removed from the testing location. If these items are seen during your exam, you receive an automatic zero on the exam. • Do NOT leave the exam room for any reason, if you do, it is an automatic 50-point deduction. • Any suspicious activity that appears to be cheating will result in a zero. Testing Tips - You must use Google Chrome browser. o You must have a webcam and a microphone attached to your computer. o Be prepared to scan the room with a camera, if you cannot move your computer, you will need to have a mirror available to assist with scanning the room. o It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that ALL of the above requirements are met. By completing the verify signature portion of the exam, you are accepting responsibility for your actions during the exam. Failure to follow the requirements will result in deductions from your exam grade when reviewed by your Instructor. 8. You will have the length of the class to finish an exam. No extra time will be given. 9. If you fail any test, you are required to get ahold of me and schedule a collaborate session/in person session to review the material. It is your duty to be prepared for this meeting. 10. Any taping of the material, when we go over tests/ results, will be considered cheating and you will be dismissed from the program. It is our duty to prepare you for the registry. 11. Students with special needs and/or medical emergencies or situations should communicate with their instructor regarding individual exceptions/provisions. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate such needs to the instructor. 12. There will be no extra credit assignments given in this course. 13. Additional class policies as defined by the individual course instructor and sonography handbook. Texas HB 1508 and Texas Occupations Code 58.001: As a point of information required by Texas HB 1508 and the Texas Occupations Code 58.001, if you are applying for admission to a program that may prepare an individual for an initial occupational license as defined under Texas Occupations Code 58.001 and/or if you later decide to change to a program that prepares you for an initial occupational license as defined under Texas Occupations Code 58.001, in accordance with state law, please be advised of the following: 1. An individual who has been convicted of an offense may be ineligible for issuance of an occupational license upon completion of the educational program. 2. Each licensing authority that may issue an occupational license to an individual who completes an educational program must establish guidelines which state the reasons a particular crime is considered to relate to a particular license and any other criterion that affects the decisions of the licensing authority. 3. Local or county licensing authorities may issue additional guidelines related to criminal history. Applicants should contact their respective local or county licensing authority for more details. 4. A person may request a criminal history evaluation letter regarding the personal eligibility for a license issued by a licensing authority under Texas Occupations Code 53.102. Applicants are encouraged to review all applicable eligibility requirements related to the respective occupational license. Questions related to eligibility requirements should be directed to the applicable licensing authority.