Surgical Technology 

Area of Study: Surgical Technology 
Degree/Certificate: Associate of Applied Science degree in Surgical Technology 
Program Description

The surgical technologist is an allied health professional who assists the surgeon and surgeon assistants with surgical procedures in the operating room. As a surgical team member, surgical technologists work with other surgical personnel to prepare the operating room for the surgical procedure. The curriculum is designed to provide students with communication skills, basic sciences, introduction of surgical skills, and hands-on simulation of current technology in the form of mock surgical procedures. The program provides four semesters of experience in the operating room to prepare students as surgical technologists. Students are prepared to take the National Certifying Examination for Surgical Technologists. The preferred education for the Surgical Technologist is an associate degree. Graduates will be eligible to work in hospitals, surgery clinics and other surgery specialty areas.

This program is designed to prepare students to demonstrate the following program outcomes:
Surgical Technology Degree Outcomes.pdf

Program Requirements
Program Admission Requirements:

Application may be submitted to the Health Careers Enrollment Center after meeting the following requirements:

  • High School Graduate/GED
  • Complete ENG-1010 with “C” or higher
  • Eligibility for MATH-1141
  • Complete the following (“C” grade or higher in each):
    • MA-1020
    • BIO-1100 or CHEM-1010 and 1020
    • BIO-2330 (or 1430)
    • SURT-1000
  • Time limit on admissions requirements prior to application is seven years
  • GPA required: 2.5 admissions requirements, 2.5 overall
Other Information:
  • 14 students accepted per year (contingent upon available clinical sites)
  • All admissions requirements (except ENG-1010) must have been completed within the past seven years, and may only be repeated once to improve a grade.
  • Upon acceptance to the program and prior to a clinical assignment, students must submit evidence of good health, personal healthcare insurance coverage, and certification in CPR.
  • Accepted candidates will be required to attend a student orientation session after acceptance into the program.
  • Program only starts in the Fall Semester. Students are strongly encouraged to take BIO-2340 and BIO-2500 and may take any of the GERS and Program Requirements (other than the “SURT” courses) while waiting.
  • Criminal background check required.

Suggested Semester Sequence

First Semester   Credits

BIO-1100

Introduction to Biological Chemistry

3

BIO-2330

Anatomy and Physiology I

4

ENG-1010

College Composition I

3

SURT-1000

Survey of Surgical Technology

1

SURT-1300

Introduction to Surgery

5

SURT-130L

Surgery Lab

2

 

Total

18

Second Semester   Credits

BIO-2340

Anatomy & Physiology II

4

SURT-1330

General Surgery

5

SURT-1911

Clinical Experience I

3

Communication

See Catalog for AAS Degree requirements

3

Total

15

Summer Semester   Credits

HTEC-1610

Introduction to Pharmacology

2

MA-1020

Medical Terminology I

3

MATH-1141

Applied Algebra and Mathematical Reasoning or higher (1)

3

SURT-1921

Clinical Experience II

2

Total

10

Third Semester   Credits 

BIO-2500

Microbiology

4

HTEC-1110

Ethics for Health Care Professionals

1

SURT-2300

Surgical Specialties

5

SURT-2851

Clinical Experience III

3

Arts & Hum/Soc & Beh Sci

See Catalog for AAS Degree requirements  (2)

3

Total

16

Fourth Semester   Credits

OTAT-1980

Therapeutic Use of Self

2

SURT-2862

Clinical Experience IV (C)

4

Arts & Hum/Soc & Beh Sci

See Catalog for AAS Degree requirements  (2)

3

Arts & Hum/Soc & Beh Sci

See Catalog for AAS Degree requirements  (2)

2

Total

11

Program Total Credits

 

70

Notes

(1) MATH-1800-1819/2800-2819 and 1820/2820 may not be used to meet his requirement..

(2) Minimum 8 semester credits of Arts & Hum/Soc & Beh Sci required.

(C) = Capstone course

Program Outcome