If you are a medical radiation or other allied health professional and want to broaden your career prospects, this master degree may be for you.

In just three years of part-time study you will extend your knowledge, practical skills and understanding of medical sonography, with the opportunity to learn advanced clinical skills, or pursue research. This is great news for students who want to study in among work and other life commitments, giving you the freedom to learn wherever, whenever. 

Practical learning is a major focus, with students embarking on 2,000 cardiac ultrasound cases and associated clinical placements. This degree in only offered online, with attendance at an on-campus final clinical assessment. It can only be studied part-time, over a minimum of three years. 

This qualification may also suit qualified sonographers seeking to upskill in an area of interest.

What you'll need

Applicants are responsible for organising their own training position in an ultrasound department in order to complete the required scanning experience.

What you'll learn

Through a combination of theory and practice you will gain advanced technical skills and a strong understanding of health science, physics, anatomy and pathology. You will focus on the cardiovascular system including estimation of cardiac pressures and congenital heart disease.

You will acquire:

• advanced knowledge in a specialist area of medical sonography
• critical thinking and analytical skills for effective practice as a medical sonographer
• foundational research knowledge.

You can choose to study areas of your interest, including management and ethics, or research.

You will also be required to complete at least 2,000 supervised cardiac scanning cases (verified by an ASAR accredited sonographer or equivalent).

There is a current shortage of specialised sonographers in Australia and New Zealand.1 Sonographers require highly developed technical skills and a strong understanding of health science, physics, anatomy and pathology for examination of the heart. As a graduate, you can find work as an accredited medical sonographer in metropolitan, rural and remote locations, across settings including:

• private and public medical imaging departments
• specialist areas including cardiac laboratories and cardiology practices
• hospitals 
• tertiary education providers.

As a masters graduate you may also choose to pursue a career in research and can further your studies with a Masters by Research or a Doctor of Philosophy qualification.

1Parliament of Australia, Diagnostic imaging workforce.

Professional accreditation and recognition

This program enables graduates to apply for full professional accreditation from the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR) under the Cardiac Sonography category. Evidence of scanning experience in an Australian or New Zealand clinical setting is required for such accreditation.